The Space Echoes
“Every piece of scientific data tells a story. Through this project, I want to bring the audible sounds in the solar system turned by NASA’s scientific instruments into visualization. I hope people to hear, feel and see the mystery from the space and get closer to the universe we’re living in. The combination between creative coding and the sound visualization creates a unique visual language for the echoes from the space.
Full version of individual visualization: (Click on the image to get the full experience)
Sun Sonification
First Likely Marsquake Heard by NASA
Beware of Jupiter's Largest Moon Ganymede
Sounds of Saturn: Hear Radio Emissions of the Planet and Its Moon Enceladus
Chorus Radio Waves Within Earth Atmosphere
Juno: Entering Jupiter's Magnetosphere
Project Development
The inspirations of this project are coming from the generative art and NASA’s Spooky Sound from Across the Solar System album. When I firstly hear the space sound from the NASA’s album, I’m deeply attracted by the texture of the sound. Scientists converted their discoveries into audible sounds to make us able to hear the space. As an artist, I want to seek a way to convert audible sounds into a creative visualization to give these mystical gifts of the universe an artistic expression.
Research
The first part of my research is based on scientific research which helps me to understand the formation of the sounds. I choose six sounds that I hope to study further. Based on the principles, features and feelings of each sound, I draw out some sketches that help me to find a general idea of the visual effects.
Coding Inspiration
perlin noise
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The first part of my research is based on scientific research which helps me to understand the formation of the sounds. I choose six sounds that I hope to study further. Based on the principles, features and feelings of each sound, I draw out some sketches that help me to find a general idea of the visual effects.
Coding Inspiration
perlin noise
Moodboard
From the principles and textures of space sound, I created different moodboards to help me further develop the visualization.
During my designing process, I would listen to these sounds over and over again and trying to imagine a scene that sends back from the space. It feels like communicating with the unknown space about its mysterious activities. When I’m hearing the sounds, there are many adjectives jump to my mind to help me building up the expression.
Coding Sample
Showcase
My goal is to create an environment for the audience to immerse in the sound and the visualization. Therefore, I choose an empty space to present my project. When they enter the space, it feels like they are entering the unknown universe. Audience will have their own interaction and conversation within the space.
My setting for the showcase space is simple. I use a white wall for projection and I put two acrylic caps and a set of speakers to ensure the sound experience of the audience. For the acrylic caps, audience can choose to sit on them or wear them like astronauts. Overall, the space is a free place for audience to spread their imagination and use heart to feel the universe we are living in.
Images
