Rock, star
March 4, 2018 1:03 PM Subscribe
After the discovery of seven Earth-like planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 (a dwarf star 40 light years from us) in 2016 and 2017, the scientists studying the planetary system couldn't create a model of it that didn't quickly collapse until they took into account certain data about the way the system was formed. The orbital resonance of the system got others wondering what it would sound like if we could hear it. This was when "an astrophysicist, a musician, and an astrophysicist/musician decided to explore what happens when the rhythms and harmonies of astronomical systems are translated into music so they can be heard by human ears."
By scaling up the orbital frequencies of the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system millions of times, they were able to create a harmony we can hear. They are also using this approach to make astronomy accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired through audio-based planetarium shows.
Quirks and Quarks: Hear the tune that explains the deep space mystery of Trappist-1
From the SYSTEM Sounds Youtube channel:
TRAPPIST Sounds : TRAPPIST-1 Planetary System Translated Directly Into Music
Saturn's B Ring for Harp and Drums
SATURN Sounds Part 1: Moons And Rings Translated Into Music
The Pleiades Play Hip Hop (Light Curves Converted To Sound Waves)
True Love Waits - The Inner Solar System Plays Radiohead's Saddest Song (Feat. Thom Gill)
By scaling up the orbital frequencies of the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system millions of times, they were able to create a harmony we can hear. They are also using this approach to make astronomy accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired through audio-based planetarium shows.
Quirks and Quarks: Hear the tune that explains the deep space mystery of Trappist-1
From the SYSTEM Sounds Youtube channel:
TRAPPIST Sounds : TRAPPIST-1 Planetary System Translated Directly Into Music
Saturn's B Ring for Harp and Drums
SATURN Sounds Part 1: Moons And Rings Translated Into Music
The Pleiades Play Hip Hop (Light Curves Converted To Sound Waves)
True Love Waits - The Inner Solar System Plays Radiohead's Saddest Song (Feat. Thom Gill)
Musica universalis...
Heh. Ironically enough, given its namesake:
Dr. Russo did a similar musical treatment of Kepler 90, another star with seven planets. “It’s just horrendous,” Dr. Russo said. “It’s very uncomfortable to listen to.”
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:34 PM on March 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Heh. Ironically enough, given its namesake:
Dr. Russo did a similar musical treatment of Kepler 90, another star with seven planets. “It’s just horrendous,” Dr. Russo said. “It’s very uncomfortable to listen to.”
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:34 PM on March 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Something gloriously steampunk about using, essentially, a player piano to better understand astrodynamics.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:27 PM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:27 PM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Here's hoping those planets get named after the Von Trapp singers, and we then discover there are several intelligent races at war there. It was a dark day when the Gretls finally tracked us down in New Brigitta...
posted by ulotrichous at 3:45 PM on March 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by ulotrichous at 3:45 PM on March 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Now I want to hear Kepler 90. It doesn't appear to be on their website though.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 4:15 PM on March 4, 2018
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 4:15 PM on March 4, 2018
Hmmm, this almost makes me want to write a proper post on sonification. And I'm not a post-writer normally.
posted by daisystomper at 4:58 PM on March 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by daisystomper at 4:58 PM on March 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
Semi-previously, but this is so much better.
posted by Rumple at 7:24 PM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Rumple at 7:24 PM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Aw, crap. Sorry, Rumple! I meant to include a “previously” linked to that post.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:00 PM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:00 PM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is fascinating, and makes me think of how many branches of physics, mathematics, astronomy or other disciplines would benefit from sonification. (Daisystomper, I would love to read your post!)
After all, if visualization is just one way to conceptualize information, why couldn't sonification be effective - particularly for data that is wave-based or could be meaningfully rendered that way? I imagine that there are kinds of data it might be easier to make sense of sonically rather than visually.
Now I'm reminded of a scene in Contact in which a blind scientist identifies additional data embedded in the signal of an incoming space message. (Man, I love the thrill of discovery in that movie.)
posted by dendritejungle at 11:57 AM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
After all, if visualization is just one way to conceptualize information, why couldn't sonification be effective - particularly for data that is wave-based or could be meaningfully rendered that way? I imagine that there are kinds of data it might be easier to make sense of sonically rather than visually.
Now I'm reminded of a scene in Contact in which a blind scientist identifies additional data embedded in the signal of an incoming space message. (Man, I love the thrill of discovery in that movie.)
posted by dendritejungle at 11:57 AM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
It sounds a lot like Ennio Morricone, doesn't it?
I'll take my Holst outta here.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:21 PM on March 5, 2018
I'll take my Holst outta here.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:21 PM on March 5, 2018
daisystomper, in case my favorite weren’t endorsement enough, I really hope you’ll make that post.
posted by invitapriore at 9:01 PM on March 5, 2018
posted by invitapriore at 9:01 PM on March 5, 2018
So we went to see Matt Russo's Our Musical Universe planetarium show last night. Really enjoyed it!
Now I want to hear Kepler 90. It doesn't appear to be on their website though.
Heh. Me too. I did ask him about Kepler 90 and he said it was just unintelligible and not worth it, not even in an "ugh, that's awful but interesting" kind of way.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:18 AM on March 21, 2018
Now I want to hear Kepler 90. It doesn't appear to be on their website though.
Heh. Me too. I did ask him about Kepler 90 and he said it was just unintelligible and not worth it, not even in an "ugh, that's awful but interesting" kind of way.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:18 AM on March 21, 2018
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