Listen to the spooky echoes of a black hole

As well as admiring beautiful pictures of space, you can also listen to those pictures via sonifications. These take images and translate them into eerie sounds to illustrate the wonderful and strange phenomena of our universe. NASA’s latest sonification illustrates the rings of X-rays that have been observed echoing around a black hole in the V404 Cygni system.

The sonification was made using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, both of which look in the X-ray wavelength. The data from the optical wavelength come from the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii. Taken together, you can see how the X-ray bursts propagate outward from a central point which is the black hole.

The black hole itself remains invisible, as it absorbs all light.

The black hole in V404 Cygni. The black hole in V404 Cygni is actively pulling material away from a companion star — with about half the mass of the Sun — into a disk around the invisible object. A burst of X-rays from the black hole detected in 2015 created the high-energy rings from a phenomenon known as light echoes, where light bounces off of dust clouds in between the system and Earth. In these images, X-rays from Chandra are shown, along with optical data from the Pan-STARRS telescope that depict the stars in the field of view. X-ray: NASA/CXC/U.Wisc-Madison/S.

Heinz et al.; Optical/IR: Pan-STARRS

However, even though black holes are themselves invisible, the material around them can glow brightly. As material like dust and gas is attracted to the black hole due to gravity, it joins into a swirling disk around the black hole called an accretion disk. This material rubs together and creates heat due to friction, and can become so hot that it glows.

In the case of the black hole in the V404 Cygni system, the black hole is pulling material away from a companion star and this material produces intense bursts of energy. This radiation includes X-rays, which are shot out from the black hole and interact with the dust and gas around it. These interactions are visible as concentric rings of X-rays which are created when the black hole flares.

When listening to the sonification, you can hear the melodious sounds of background stars, with each star visible in the optical wavelength translated into a note, with the volume and pitch of the note corresponding to the brightness of the star. On top of that, you can hear the scratchy sound of the bursts of X-ray radiation forming rings around the black hole. The sounds start in the center of the image and move outward, covering the concentric rings detected by the X-ray telescopes.

If you listen closely you can hear the difference between Chandra data, which is mapped onto higher pitch sounds, and Swift data, which is mapped onto lower pitches.

Editors’ Recommendations

Tags:

chef-and-brewer listed on couponmatrix.ukeveryone-active listed on couponmatrix.ukloveholidays listed on couponmatrix.ukmac listed on couponmatrix.ukrapid-online listed on couponmatrix.ukskyparksecure listed on couponmatrix.uk
chef-and-brewer listed on couponmatrix.ukWith over 140 pubs across the UK, Chef and Brewer know more than a little about excellent food and service. Every Chef and Brewer has its own unique flavour and carefully combines relaxed surroundings with a delicious and great-value menu, so you can dine comfortably with every visit. Reserve a table today with the exclusive Chef and Brewer vouchers and gather the family together for a feast to remember. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply popping in for a spontaneous dinner, at Chef and Brewer, everyone’s invited.
everyone-active listed on couponmatrix.ukEveryone Active is on a mission to get people moving - and with more than 190 leisure centres all over the UK, it's the perfect place to start your health journey! Make the most of an Everyone Active discount code to jump start your fitness with a membership plan that suits you - whether you want to grow your confidence in the pool, get your Zumba on or hit the treadmill, Everyone Active provides the flexibility and facilities to help you reach your goals.
loveholidays listed on couponmatrix.ukLove Holidays are passionate about travel, and as one of fastest growing travel agents in the UK are encouraging people to share that passion by teaming up with Groupon to offer great holidays at discounted prices. Browse their site and piece together your ideal holiday by using their comprehensive search engine to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for. Search by budget, star-rating and even temperature for when you’re planning to go away to ensure you book the exact type of break you need. Add a Love Holidays discount code and make a big saving on your next much-deserved break!
mac listed on couponmatrix.ukMAC is a cosmetics brand without equal, with a wide range of innovative products individually crafted to allow everybody to incredible, whatever their race, age or gender. From primer to bronzer, these amazing items are sure to help you shine, so pick up a MAC discount code and save a small fortune on your new go-to cosmetic products. Whilst beauty may only be skin deep, the ethics behind this brand can help you feel as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.
rapid-online listed on couponmatrix.ukWith a history of over 40 years providing the highest quality electrical equipment, it’s fair to say that the folks at Rapid Electronics know their stuff. With shops for both industrial and educational customers including electricals, cables, components and glassware, you’ll find your fair share of quality equipment to get for less with a Rapid Electronics discount code. From the smallest semiconductor to the biggest power tool, you’ll have all you need to build something new with Rapid Electronics. You always need the occasional odd screw or cable to replace something lost or broken, so cut the cost of any last-minute purchases by buying odds and ends in the Rapid Electronics clearance. With a host of hundreds of wires, tools, fixings and transformers to browse, it’s the ideal place to pick up any sudden entries on your shopping list. You never know what discontinued component may next hit the sale shelf, so check back regularly if you want to restock in bulk with a limited budget. Be it a computer chip or an electrical relay, there’s an near-endless inventory amongst Rapid Electronics components. If you’re an electrician who’s always on call for the latest repair, check out what Rapid Electronics vouchers we have at Groupon to knock the cost of your shop. Even if some speakers need a new buzzer, you can get tunes back in no time thanks to Rapid Electronics formidable arsenal of quality components.
skyparksecure listed on couponmatrix.ukSkyParkSecure is one of the UK’s largest airport parking providers with a website that allows you to compare prices at 28 airports across the UK. And with a SkyParkSecure discount code, you’re even more likely to get a parking bargain. From long haul to city breaks, SkyParkSecure will keep a careful eye on your precious vehicle, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - no matter where you are in the world.