Sounds of the Sun - NASA (2024)

Data from ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has captured the dynamic movement of the Sun’s atmosphere for over 20 years. Today, we can hear the Sun’s movement — all of its waves, loops and eruptions — with our own ears.

This sound helps scientists study what can’t be observed with the naked eye.

“Waves are traveling and bouncing around inside the Sun, and if your eyes were sensitive enough they could actually see this,” said Alex Young, associate director for science in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Sun is not silent. The low, pulsing hum of our star’s heartbeat allows scientists to peer inside, revealing huge rivers of solar material flowing around before their eyes — er, ears. NASA heliophysicist Alex Young explains how this simple sound connects us with the Sun and all the other stars in the universe. This piece features low frequency sounds of the Sun. For the best listening experience, listen to this story with headphones. Credits: Produced at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center by Katie Atkinson and Micheala Sosby

Data from SOHO, sonified by the Stanford Experimental Physics Lab, captures the Sun’s natural vibrations and provides scientists with a concrete representation of its dynamic movements.

“We don’t have straightforward ways to look inside the Sun. We don’t have a microscope to zoom inside the Sun,” Young said. “So using a star or the Sun’s vibrations allows us to see inside of it.”

These are solar sounds generated from 40 days of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory’s (SOHO) Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) data and processed byA. Kosovichev. The procedure he used for generating these sounds was the following. He started with doppler velocity data, averaged over the solar disk, so that only modes of low angular degree (l = 0, 1, 2) remained. Subsequent processing removed the spacecraft motion effects, instrument tuning, and some spurious points. Then Kosovichev filtered the data at about 3 mHz to select clean sound waves (and not supergranulation and instrumental noise). Finally, he interpolated over the missing data and scaled the data (speeded it up a factor 42,000 to bring it into the audible human-hearing range (kHz)). For more audio files, visit the Stanford Experimental Physics Lab Solar Sounds page.Credits: A. Kosovichev, Stanford Experimental Physics Lab

These vibrations allow scientists to study a range of complex motions inside the Sun, from solar flares to coronal mass ejections.

“We can see huge rivers of solar material flowing around. We are finally starting to understand the layers of the Sun and the complexity,” Young said. “That simple sound is giving us a probe inside of a star. I think that’s a pretty cool thing.”

The sounds of the Sun are on display at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. An immersive art installation, called Solarium, uses vivid imagery and sonification to transport listeners to the heart of our solar system.

ByKatie AtkinsonandMicheala Sosby
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the field of heliophysics and solar astrophysics, I can attest to the groundbreaking work that has been carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). The wealth of data accumulated over two decades has provided unprecedented insights into the dynamic movements of the Sun's atmosphere. My familiarity with the subject extends to the sonification of this data, a transformative process that allows us to "hear" the Sun's activities.

The utilization of data from SOHO, sonified by the Stanford Experimental Physics Lab, is a testament to the innovative techniques employed in the study of celestial bodies. This sonification captures the natural vibrations of the Sun, converting them into audible sounds that enable scientists to explore phenomena that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. The work of A. Kosovichev, who processed the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) data from SOHO, stands out as a remarkable example of the meticulous procedures involved in this auditory exploration.

The article emphasizes the significance of these solar sounds in unraveling the mysteries of the Sun's interior. The pulsating hum, described as the Sun's heartbeat, reveals intricate details about the Sun's internal dynamics, including waves, loops, and eruptions. This auditory approach, as explained by NASA heliophysicist Alex Young, serves as a unique window into the otherwise concealed layers of the Sun.

The sonification process itself involves filtering doppler velocity data, removing spacecraft motion effects, and selecting clean sound waves. A final transformation, scaling the data to bring it into the audible human-hearing range, highlights the interdisciplinary nature of this work, combining astrophysics, data science, and audio processing.

Beyond the scientific implications, the article touches upon the artistic aspect of this research. The "Solarium" art installation at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, demonstrates the fusion of vivid imagery and sonification to create an immersive experience. This artistic endeavor not only makes scientific findings accessible to a broader audience but also underscores the interconnectedness of science and art in exploring the wonders of our solar system.

In conclusion, the integration of data from ESA and NASA, coupled with the sonification techniques employed by the Stanford Experimental Physics Lab, has enabled scientists to "listen" to the Sun's movements. This auditory exploration, as showcased in the article, opens up new avenues for understanding the Sun's complex behavior and reinforces the idea that, through innovative approaches, we can uncover the secrets of celestial bodies that remain hidden from direct observation.