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Writer's pictureJamal El-Masri

Cosmic symphony: Scientists turn space into music


Cosmic symphony: Scientists turn space into music
Cosmic symphony: Scientists turn space into music

Collaboration between NASA and musicians has birthed a distinctive project—transforming a Chandra X-Ray Observatory photograph of the Milky Way into a mesmerizing musical piece. This innovation not only casts our home galaxy in a fresh light but also underscores the fusion of science and art for global engagement.


The Chandra X-Ray Observatory, offering a unique cosmic viewpoint by capturing unseen X-rays, prompted Kimberly Arcand, an astronomy visualization expert at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, to collaborate with musicians. Together, they created a musical guide for interpreting the celestial photograph.


Expanding beyond the Milky Way, celestial wonders like the Crab Nebula, the Carina Nebula, Messier 104, and the WD2 star cluster have been "sonified" by astrophysicist and musician Matt Russo, and sound engineer Andrew Santaguida, via their project System-Sounds.



In this cosmic symphony, each light wavelength—optical, infrared, and X-ray—has its musical track. The galactic center piece, featuring a piano for the infrared spectrum, provides harmonious interpretations of visual wavelengths detected by the telescope.


Exploring the celestial symphony, scientists play cosmos as a universal language transcending borders. This collaborative effort emphasizes science as a unifying force across continents, echoing the intrinsic value of a united pursuit of understanding beyond geographic constraints.


Youtube credits: @ChandraXray

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