CELESTIAL BODIES
How Sounds In Space Came About
Celestial Bodies is a project inspired by sounds in space. Because space is a vacuum, sound cannot travel the way it usually does on Earth to reach our ears.
However, even in outer space, sound does exist as electromagnetic vibrations. NASA uses special instruments that detect these electromagnetic signals coming from space objects, and converts them into sounds we would hear if these noises could be produced in the galaxy. The NASA Voyager, INJUN 1, ISEE 1 and Hawkeye space probes used Plasma Wave Antennas to record vibrations within the range of human hearing (20 Hz – 29kHz).
Below are YouTube videos that show the recordings of the sounds in space.
Our Concept & Work
Our concept also encompasses MAN’s theme of passing, as the space represents the passing of time – from the beginning of time (the Big Bang) until present day. Our work also suggests elements of time travel, space warping and planetesimals.
We envisioned our final piece to be an abstract representation of the sounds from space, as we wanted to move away from the more sci-fi themes one would usually see related to outer space in movies, etc. Therefore, although beginning our work with a big bang animation, we worked on it progressing towards a more fluidic and beautiful type of movement. In order to achieve a smooth, liquid kind of motion, we used After Effects and particles.
Below are some screenshots and short sample clips of what we have so far.
We are currently working on how to piece the separate clips together and get them to transition smoothly as a whole. We are also experimenting with various camera angles, panning and zooming in/out, etc.