Chandra Shows Red, White, Blue Space for US 250th

Chandra Shows Red, White, Blue Space for US 250th

In celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States, NASA has unveiled four cosmic images from its Chandra X-ray Observatory rendered in red, white, and blue that represent the wonders of the universe the agency explores. The images are accompanied by a trio of new sonifications – a technique that translates astronomical data into sounds.

The image set begins with Cassiopeia A in the top panel, where X-rays from Chandra have been combined with an infrared image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Chandra’s X-ray vision reveals the blast wave that tore through the star, as well as elements in the debris field like iron, calcium, and oxygen.

In the bottom row, the first image on the left is the nebula NGC 3603, which contains a massive cluster of stars and is located in the Milky Way Galaxy. This new composite image contains Chandra’s X-ray data and shows diffuse emissions near the galaxy’s center along with point-like X-ray sources throughout the middle of the image. Optical, infrared, and ultraviolet light from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveal stars in the center of the image and dust and gas toward the bottom, making this nebula and the stars forming within it appear primarily red, white, and blue.

The middle panel of the bottom row is a new look at the galaxy NGC 4736, also known as Messier 94. In this image, X-rays of different wavelengths from Chandra are layered with a visible light image from astrophotographers using their telescopes on the ground. Messier 94 is a spiral galaxy with a bright inner ring around it, called a starburst ring, where new stars are forming, perhaps fueled by gas driven in the unique oval-shaped structure seen here.

The final image in this red, white, and blue quartet features ZwCl 0024+1652, a distant galaxy cluster in which astronomers have found evidence for dark matter by using specially processed data from Hubble. X-ray data from Chandra shows the enormous reservoir of superheated gas that pervades this galaxy cluster, with much more mass than all the galaxies taken together.

New sonifications of the three images along the bottom row of this mosaic are also available, allowing listeners to experience data through sound. The translation of NGC 3603 into sound begins with a left to right scan, where the brightnesses of the sources dictate volume. Chandra’s observations of compact sources sprinkled throughout the galaxy are heard as piano notes, while the diffuse X-ray emission is mapped to a range of audio frequencies.

In the sonification of NGC 4736, the radar-like scan moves clockwise, and the brightness of the sources dictates the volume of the sounds. X-rays from Chandra have been turned into wind-like sounds that follow the shape of the X-ray emission. Neutron stars and stellar-mass black holes detected by Chandra are mapped to pitched tones on a glass marimba.

For ZwCl 0024+1652, the sonification begins as a circle on the outside of the image and moves inward. The volume is linked to the brightness of the data, reaching one peak as the circle passes over the dark matter detected by inference from Hubble optical observations and another as it reaches the core. The background stars are heard as a swelling glockenspiel-like sound, and the galaxies are played on a piano.

The sonification program is led by the Chandra X-ray Center and included as part of NASA's Universe of Learning program. The collaboration was driven by visualization scientist Kimberly Arcand, astrophysicist Matt Russo, and musician Andrew Santaguida, along with consultant Christine Malec.

Meanwhile, Disneyland is also celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States with a patriotic twist on its Soarin’ attraction. The new Soarin’ Across America ride will feature 12 shots of instantly-recognizable American vistas, including Washington, DC, the Statue of Liberty, and Mount Rushmore. The ride is part of Disney Celebrates America, a company-wide commemoration of the country’s birthday.

According to Walt Disney Imagineering Portfolio Executive Creative Director Tom Fitzgerald, the team wanted to create a portrait of America, showcasing the country’s special places and landscapes.

Other patriotic offerings at Disneyland during Disney Celebrates America include special flag retreat ceremonies honoring veterans, themed decor, the return of the Celebrate America! fireworks spectacular, military band performances, and a celebratory cavalcade honoring America.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory, managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, continues to explore the universe and uncover its secrets. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.