Can You Hear the Stars?
Look at all the stars! An astronomer is a scientist who studies stars. Most astronomers use their sense of sight. They look at stars through telescopes. They see data about stars in graphs.
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Wanda Díaz-Merced is an astronomer. But she does not see the stars. She hears them! When Díaz-Merced was young, she lost her sight. She uses a computer to turn data about stars into sounds.
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The sounds tell her about stars. How hot are they? How long do they stay bright? Sometimes, Díaz-Merced learns more when she listens to the data. She can hear patterns that cannot be seen. Her work has led others to think of new ways to study stars.
What Do You Think? Why is it important to find new ways to study stars?
Photo Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and A. Aloisi (STScI/ESA)