Melody of a Dying Star

12 November, 2014 / Read time: 1 minute

ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) is a state-of-the-art radio telescope developed and operated by 20 countries and territories in East Asia, Europa and North America in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. Connecting 66 parabola antennas deployed in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, ALMA works as a giant radio telescope with a diameter up to 10 miles. ALMA detects faint radio waves emanated by distant celestial objects to study the origin and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets. Obtaining a clue to the origin of life is another goal of ALMA.

In 2011, ALMA observed radio waves from a dying star “R Sculptoris.” The ALMA MUSIC BOX made use of this data, and translated the 70 different radio images onto 70 musical discs.

Credits:
Produce: Masaaki Hiramatsu (NAOJ) Sorahiko Nukatani (NAOJ) Sari Hayashiguchi (Epiphany Works)
Creative Direction, Music Box Production: Masashi Kawamura (PARTY NY) Qanta Shimizu (PARTY NY) Jamie Carreiro (PARTY NY) Eiji Muroichi (PARTY NY)
Sound Engineering, Motion Graphics Program: Taeji Sawai (Qosmo) Nao Tokui (Qosmo) Toru Urakawa (Qosmo)
Film: Satoshi Oda filmed at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT ‘The Fab Mind’ (2014.10.24~2015.2.1) Exhibition