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A quarter of a century ago, NASA released the \u201cfirst light\u201d images from the agency\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory. This introduction to the world of Chandra\u2019s high-resolution X-ray imaging capabilities included an unprecedented view of Cassiopeia A, the remains of an exploded star located about 11,000 light-years from Earth. Over the years, Chandra\u2019s views of Cassiopeia A have become some of the telescope\u2019s best-known images.<\/p>\n
To mark the anniversary of this milestone, new sonifications of three images \u2013 including Cassiopeia A (Cas A) \u2013 are being released. Sonification is a process that translates astronomical data into sound, similar to how digital data are more routinely turned into images. This translation process preserves the science of the data from its original digital state but provides an alternative pathway to experiencing the data.<\/p>\n
This sonification of Cas A features data from Chandra as well as NASA\u2019s James Webb, Hubble, and retired Spitzer space telescopes. The scan starts at the neutron star at the center of the remnant, marked by a triangle sound, and moves outward. Astronomers first saw this neutron star when Chandra\u2019s inaugural observations were released 25 years ago this week. Chandra\u2019s X-rays also reveal debris from the exploded star that is expanding outward into space. The brighter parts of the image are conveyed through louder volume and higher pitched sounds. X-ray data from Chandra are mapped to modified piano sounds, while infrared data from Webb and Spitzer, which detect warmed dust embedded in the hot gas, have been assigned to various string and brass instruments. Stars that Hubble detects are played with crotales, or small cymbals.<\/p>\n \n