Three separate scores have been created in response to three live data feeds. These live data feeds are collected and collated by Astrophysicist Gabi Matzeu into the form of graph data files and interpreted into three unique musical scores. These scores are used to then create compositions based on a formula devised in response to the data.
The raw data is also used in the creation of the sound itself, feeding data into various sound processors and hardware to form the framework used to create the sound world for this installation.
Astrophysicist Gabi Matzeu – explanation of live ESA data feed:
The data used in the context of this installation is essentially a collection of individual photons that originate in a region very near to a super massive black hole (SMBH). This black hole is a billion times more massive than our Sun (i.e., 2000000000000000000000000000000000000000 kg).
This SMBH is hosted in a very exotic type of galaxy that emits an enormous amount of radiation detected across the entire electromagnetic spectrum called active galaxies. These highly energetic photons travel undisturbed for around 3 billion years until they reach the detectors on board our man-made space telescopes, such as XMM-Newton and NuSTAR that are orbiting the Earth.
The principal use of this data is to perform a detailed spectral analysis in order to obtain important information contained in these photons and the physical properties that characterize these extreme regions in space. This relatively new field of astrophysical research is called X-ray astronomy and is considered to be at the forefront in are understanding of the most powerful phenomena yet observed in our Universe.
The raw data is also used in the creation of the sound itself, feeding data into various sound processors and hardware to form the framework used to create the sound world for this installation.
Astrophysicist Gabi Matzeu – explanation of live ESA data feed:
The data used in the context of this installation is essentially a collection of individual photons that originate in a region very near to a super massive black hole (SMBH). This black hole is a billion times more massive than our Sun (i.e., 2000000000000000000000000000000000000000 kg).
This SMBH is hosted in a very exotic type of galaxy that emits an enormous amount of radiation detected across the entire electromagnetic spectrum called active galaxies. These highly energetic photons travel undisturbed for around 3 billion years until they reach the detectors on board our man-made space telescopes, such as XMM-Newton and NuSTAR that are orbiting the Earth.
The principal use of this data is to perform a detailed spectral analysis in order to obtain important information contained in these photons and the physical properties that characterize these extreme regions in space. This relatively new field of astrophysical research is called X-ray astronomy and is considered to be at the forefront in are understanding of the most powerful phenomena yet observed in our Universe.