ESA Uses Solar Orbiter to Turn Solar Flares into Sound 214k1m Offering New Insights

Solar Orbiter data has been used by ESA to create an audio-visual representation of solar activity 5h2m45

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 16 January 2025 12:15 IST

ESA Uses Solar Orbiter to Turn Solar Flares into Sound, Offering New Insights

Photo Credit: Pixabay/Buddy_Nath 3kr1n

Solar Orbiter turns three years of solar activity into sound.

Highlights

ESA’s Solar Orbiter transforms solar flares into sound
New way to study solar activity via audio and visuals
Solar maximum marked by increased solar flare activity

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Solar activity over the past three years has been transformed into audible sound through data collected by the Solar Orbiter, a t mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. This innovative sonification captures the progression of solar flares, highlighting changes in solar activity as the Sun approaches its 11-year cycle peak. Visual and auditory cues were used to represent solar flares, allowing researchers and the public to experience these events in a novel way.

Visual and Auditory Interpretation of Solar Data 1l5s36

atmosphere was depicted in yellow. Each blue circle was paired with an audible tone, increasing in frequency as solar activity intensified.

Correlations with the Solar Cycle 1o46q

As reported by space.com, the frequency of solar flares has increased, aligning with the Sun's approach toward solar maximum, the most active phase of its cycle. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric istration (NOAA) and NASA have confirmed that the solar maximum is currently underway, marking an ideal period for observing phenomena such as the northern lights.

How Solar Cycle 25 Will Shape 2025 Sun's Activity Flares and Impacts

Orbital Proximity Reflected in Sound 2k6973

Klaus Nielsen, d with DTU Space and Maple Pools, developed the sonification. It was noted that the background hum within the audio reflected the elliptical orbit of Solar Orbiter. Every six months, the spacecraft's proximity to the Sun changes, with the sound intensifying as it moves closer and softening as it moves farther away.

This collaboration provides insights into the Sun's behaviour, offering an engaging way to study space weather and solar activity. The project highlights the potential of integrating auditory elements into scientific data for enhanced understanding.

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