The research data was accessed through Dr Sarah Badman in an art science collaboration with Lancaster University during summer 2019. Sarah’s original Hubble Space Telescope observations of Jupiter’s ultraviolet aurorae were mostly captured in 2014, when Juno was orbiting Jupiter and receiving radio waves in response to magnetospheric activity. The complex interrelationship between these two sets of data became the focus of Sarah’s research and later my installation. The nearest projection focuses on the sonification of Sarah’s observations of Jupiter’s aurorae. The furthest projection focuses on sound visualisations of radio signals received by Juno from Jupiter and recorded by the Waves instrument (University of Iowa).

Space Science Collaborator: Dr Sarah Badman, STFC Ernest Rutherford Research Fellow, Lancaster Physics Dept.
Advisors: Professor Isobel Hook (Observational Astrophysics), Professor Jim Wild (Space and Planetary Physics),
               Dr Carla Banks (Research Communications), Joe Bourne (Global Engagement).
Curatorial team for SPINE commission: Ewa Ratcliffe (Global Experiences) and Richard Smith (Lancaster Arts)
Sponsored by: Global Experiences, Lancaster University & supported by Lancaster Arts.

Remotely sensed auroral data from Jupiter (lower left) has been processed through sonification software, Sonic Photo, allowing digital images to be converted into sound. This sonic data has then been re-analysed back into a visualisation (lower right), using Overtone Analyzer software, showing some partial glitching through slowing down the sound. The sonified and re-visualised auroral research data was projected through large acrylic tubes to become revolving striated structures that recall Echelle spectrographs.

My collaboration with Dr Sarah Badman led to accessing her original Hubble Space Telescope observations of Jupiter’s ultraviolet aurorae. These observations were mostly captured at the same time that Juno was orbiting Jupiter and receiving radio waves in response to magnetospheric activity. The complex connection between the auroral brightness and magnetospheric processes has been researched by Sarah:

"We are entering a new era of understanding of giant planet environments thanks to the Juno mission at Jupiter and concurrent Hubble Space Telescope images of Jupiter’s UV aurora. The combination of these measurements allow us to probe how the vast magnetosphere responds to changes in the external (e.g. solar wind) and internal (e.g. the volcanic moon Io) conditions." (Badman, 2019)

The sonification and sound visualisation of this interrelationship between Jupiter's auroral ionosphere and its magnetospheric activity became the focus of my dual screen installation. The nearest projection focused on sonifications of Badman’s Hubble observations of Jupiter’s aurorae. The furthest projection focused on sound visualisations of radio signals received by Juno from Jupiter and recorded by the Waves instrument (University of Iowa). These included radio waves of the bow shock of Juno passing between the interplanetary solar wind environment and Jupiter’s magnetosphere; receiving plasma wave signals at an increasing density while the Juno spacecraft interacted with the charged particles of Jupiter’s ionosphere on Perijove 4; and Juno receiving signals from Jupiter’s intense auroras (Kurth, 2016). This visualised data has been back projected onto 140 x 140 cm acrylic screens coated with holographic rear projection film that reflect images forward and backwards into the space.

Although sonification might be perceived to be far less accurate than other ways of interpreting scientific data, it has been inclusively explored by astrophysicist, Wanda Diaz Merced, who became blind after she had become a professional astronomer (Ted Talk, 2016). Sonification and sound visualisation of astrophysical data could allow for a more inclusive experience for the visually impaired to interpret this data in equivalent ways. "Science is for everyone," Wanda says. "It has to be available to everyone, because we are all natural explorers." The re-analysis of sound back into image creates evidence of an interpretive equivalence for the visually sighted: mediated through digital processes and refraction it becomes a visual experience of sound.

Professor of Space Physics Jim Wild, said: "What is fascinating about this project is that it takes precise scientific data from high-quality instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope and turns that data into something that is more about emotion and experience which helps people to engage with our science through a new route." Lancaster University News

Above: Private View at Through the Looking Glass, curated by Lumen and Becky Lyon and Natasha Sabatini. This exhibition received 1,360 visitors between 15th - 20th October 2019.