This Hubble image reveals RS Puppis, a kind of variable star called a Cepheid variable. As variable stars go, Cepheids have comparatively long periods– RS Puppis, for instance, varies in brightness by almost a factor of five every 40 approximately days.RS Puppis is unusual; this variable star is shrouded by thick, dark clouds of dust allowing a phenomenon known as a light echo to be revealed with sensational clarity. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)- Hubble/Europe Collaboration, Acknowledgment: H. Bond (STScI and Penn State University).
RS Puppis is a glittering star 200 times larger than our Sun and wreathed with dust showing starlight. Found about 6,500 light-years away, this star rhythmically dims and brightens over a six-week cycle.
In this sonification, researchers represent information in the image as sound for a brand-new, joyful way of experiencing RS Puppis. Pitch is assigned based on instructions from the center; as the circle takes a trip inward, light closer to the top is high pitched, and light closer to the bottom is lower. Light toward the left is heard more in the left speaker and light toward the right is heard more in the best speaker. In addition, brightness in the image is mapped to louder volume.
By NASA
January 1, 2023
