Listen to the Sounds of Discovery with 5,000 Exoplanets Data Sonification for NASA

According to the NASA Exoplanet Archive, 5,000 exoplanets were discovered as of March 21, 2022. The history of humankind's exploration of planets outside of our solar system is shown in this animation and sonification. Users are able to hear the rate of discovery by converting NASA data into sounds, and the notes themselves also include extra information.

A circle emerges at the location of each exoplanet when it is found in the sky. The size of the circle represents the relative size of the planet's orbit, and the color represents the method used to find the planet. Each new realm is represented by a different note in the song. The relative orbital period of the planet is indicated by the note's pitch. Planets that orbit their stars more fast are heard as higher notes than planets that orbit their stars more slowly.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Russo, A. Santaguida (SYSTEM Sounds)