How can someone who cannot see the stars recognize the difference in their brightness, track the change in the light of a distant star, or explore an image of a galaxy? The answer may lie in converting astronomical information into sounds that carry scientific meanings that humans can perceive with their sense of hearing.
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This idea underlies an initiative launched by the International Astronomical Union, through the Focus Group on Comprehensive Astronomical Communication of the Office of Astronomical Communication, inviting those working in the dissemination of astronomical culture around the world to conduct field experiments using sound to explain astronomical phenomena, and then share their results and experiences with the group.
The initiative is part of the Union’s efforts to make astronomical knowledge accessible to all segments of society, regardless of their sensory abilities or scientific and social backgrounds.
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The call is not only aimed at the blind and visually impaired, but also includes school students, the general public, and those interested in science and those who are not, with the aim of testing the ability of sound to simplify astronomical concepts and arouse scientific curiosity.
Those in charge hope to collect and analyze successful experiences, in preparation for creating a practical guide to good practices, which will be published later for the benefit of those working in astronomical communication around the world.
How do stars and galaxies turn into sounds?
The idea is based on a technique known as "sonification," which is a way of representing scientific information in sound patterns.
For example, the brightness of stars can be linked to the power of sound, or the change in light coming from a star can be converted into a change in tones, so that the listener can perceive the differences and changes without having to see a graph.
This does not mean that the stars actually produce these sounds that we hear directly; the sounds here are a representation of astronomical data according to rules set by the designers.
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