Data Sonification: The Sombrero Galaxy (Optical Only) | NASA Chandra

Data Sonification: The Sombrero Galaxy (Optical Only) | NASA Chandra

This a sonfication of the Sombrero Galaxy, also known as M104, viewed here in optical (visible light). Sombrero is one of the largest galaxies in the nearby Virgo cluster, about 30 million light years from Earth. Some of the prominent features of the Sombrero include its large bulge of stars in the center and the thick band of dust that appears as the dark lane across the galaxy’s mid-section. Like the Milky Way, Sombrero is a spiral galaxy. However, we see Sombrero edge-on from our vantage point from Earth, rather than the face-down perspective that is more familiar.

Astronomers often look at objects in space through multiple telescopes. Of course, different telescopes can detect different types of light. Each brings its own pieces of information to whatever is being observed. This is similar in some ways to how different notes of the musical scale can be played together to create harmonies that are impossible with single notes alone.

In the past few years, NASA has been producing “sonifications” of astronomical data of objects in space. This project takes the digital data captured by its telescopes in space—most of which is invisible to our unaided eyes—and translates them into musical notes and sounds so they can be heard rather than seen. Each layer of sound in these sonifications represents particular wavelengths of light detected by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, and Spitzer Space Telescope in various combinations.

These sonifications were led by the Chandra X-ray Center (CXC) and included as part of NASA's Universe of Learning (UoL) program. The collaboration was driven by visualization scientist Kimberly Arcand (CXC), astrophysicist Matt Russo, and musician Andrew Santaguida (both of the SYSTEM Sounds project).

Credit: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

Duration: 24 seconds

Release Date: June 20, 2023

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