NASA's Chandra Highlights Planetary Parade

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In late February, people in the Northern Hemisphere can witness a special sight as six planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and others - will all be visible in the night sky. To mark this rare "planetary parade", NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has released new sonifications that translate astronomical data into sound, allowing people to experience these planets in a unique way.

Why it matters

Chandra's sonifications provide a novel way for the public to engage with and understand the science behind our solar system. By translating X-ray data into auditory cues, Chandra is making its observations accessible to a wider audience, including those with visual impairments. This aligns with NASA's commitment to sharing its discoveries as broadly as possible.

The details

Chandra's sonifications combine the observatory's X-ray data with infrared and optical imagery from other NASA missions like Hubble and Cassini. For Jupiter, the woodwind sounds represent the X-ray data, including the planet's auroras, while other instruments convey the complex cloud layers. The Saturn sonification features a siren-like sound following the arc of the rings, with synthesizers playing as the scan passes over the planet itself. The Uranus sonification uses a cello to trace the planet's ring, with higher frequencies representing the X-rays detected by Chandra.

• In late February 2026, six planets will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere night sky.