Overview

• The composite merges observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, ESA’s XMM-Newton, GALEX, Spitzer and ground-based optical and radio telescopes to map M31 across the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Each wavelength layer is assigned a distinct pitch and volume for the sonification, allowing listeners to perceive high-energy and low-energy regions through sound.
• Andromeda’s rotation curve measurements in the 1960s by Dr. Vera Rubin provided some of the earliest compelling evidence for dark matter in galactic halos.
• The release pays tribute to Rubin’s legacy and offers new benchmarks for galactic evolution models by combining diverse datasets.
• Researchers plan to build on these multi-wavelength insights using the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to further probe dark matter’s nature.