Archives - Astronomy: Page 29
Author: thelanguageguy (Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:05 pm)
Title: Music on Saturn
A new headline this week in Science magazine highlights sound patterns that eminate from the poles of the planet Saturn. These sounds are a result of intense emissions of radio waves caused by Saturn's magnetic field. Apparently, these emissions very greatly in frequency and time, resulting in rising and falling tones. These sounds have been digitally recording by the Cassini space craft during its mission to Saturn and have been broadcast back to Earth. They can be heard on the Science magazine site at
www.science.com. This gives a whole new perspective on the use of ambient sound. I'm sure that John Cage would love it!
It sounds spacey.
Here's the direct link:
http://cassini.physics.uiowa.edu/space-audio/cassini/SKR1/
It sure is spacey!
I looked into the subject a little bit more and found that sounds from magnetic fields have been observed and recorded for other planets in the solar system. Apparently, none thus far have been as intense and wide ranging in frequency as those from Saturn. Maybe it's got something to do with all those rings! It looks like space exploration is starting to pick back up with the recent Mars and Saturn explorer missions and the successful shuttle mission going on right now. Maybe we'll get to hear music from some of the other planets!