Kepler 11: A Six-Planet Sonata

Sonification of the transits of the remarkable Kepler 11 planetary system.
- Alex Harrison Parker, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Audio available for download: http://www.astro.uvic.ca/~alexhp/new/...


Kepler 11 has a compact system of six planets, detected by the Kepler observatory through their transits of their host star: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler-11

Here, I've taken each transit seen by the observatory and assigned a pitch and volume to it. The pitch (note) is determined by the planet's distance from its star (closer=higher), and they are drawn from a minor 11 chord. The volume is determined by the size of the planet (larger=louder).

The near-4:5 mean-motion resonance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_...) of the innermost two planets is audible as the notes "beat" against each other.

A triple-transit (three planets crossing the face of the star at once) in August 2010 is also audible. This event is what is illustrated in the artist's impression of the system used in the top-right of the wikipedia page.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Chris Hall]

Again, amazing.

[OneDayWeAreFree]

This is really really cool.

[fenderplayer96]

A wonderful idea. The result's a little eerie, and I'm not quite sure if knowing it's based on the orbits of distant planets makes it more or less so. Really quite beautiful, either way.

As suggested by another commenter, have you thought about doing something similar with our solar system? It'd be interesting to hear what "home" sounds like :)

[fenderplayer96]

I imagine it'd take a bit of work to figure out where all the planets are when the music starts, but other than that we already know all of the sizes and orbital periods. I too would like to hear it.

Just one thing, though... eight planets plus Pluto - I'd add Ceres too - and other decent-sized minor planets (say Charon, Sedna, Eris and Quaoar) – I think the pianist may run out of fingers ;)

[sprink2006]

This is fascinating! Thank you for it's creation!

[Jason Tomczak]

It's said that polyphony, written back in the time of the Renaissance, was meant to do just this, but with the geocentric model and strong religious connotations.

[tramalai]

Turned out this was uploaded on my birthday. Greatest birthday gift ever. Thank you!

[hummingfrog]

Very pleasant! But this is basically wind chime music.

[genteelsatyr]

The music of the spheres! It's an excellent idea, and I hope you find more systems that are similarly pleasing to the ear.

[mizarkey]

Has anyone done this with our solar system? Include Pluto sized objects and you'd have quite a few notes to work with.