The European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled a captivating audio-visual representation of solar activity, utilizing data from its Solar Orbiter mission in collaboration with NASA. This innovative project spans three years of solar observations, transforming complex data into an auditory experience.
The video features blue circles that appear across the Sun's surface, each accompanied by distinct audible tones. As the timeline progresses, the frequency and size of these circles, representing solar flares, increase, reflecting the Sun's approach to solar maximum, the peak of its 11-year activity cycle.
To create this representation, ESA integrated images from two of Solar Orbiter's instruments: the Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) and the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI). STIX identifies the location and magnitude of X-rays emitted during solar flares, while EUI captures the Sun's outer atmosphere.
Currently, the Sun is experiencing heightened activity, as confirmed by NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, making this an optimal time for observing phenomena such as the northern lights.
The video also illustrates Solar Orbiter's elliptical orbit, showcasing close approaches to the Sun every six months. The accompanying sound changes in volume, mirroring the spacecraft's proximity to the Sun, creating an immersive experience.
This sonification project, developed by Klaus Nielsen from DTU Space, offers a unique perspective on solar dynamics, allowing both auditory and visual learners to appreciate the complexities of solar phenomena.