SKR is a new work by r a d i o q u a l i a, in the Radio Astronomy series, which uses radio signals from Saturn, recorded by the Cassini space probe, and converted into sound by Donald Gurnetts' team at the University of Iowa.  Cassini's Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) receiver studies Saturn's kilometric radiation (SKR) and its magnetosphere, recording waves and turbulence generated by the charged dust stream particles of its rings, and phenomena such as atmospheric lightening, solar wind and magnetospheric plasma waves.

The RPWS began recording Saturn's radio waves as early and 2002, and since Cassini entered Saturn's magnetosphere in July 2004, the auroral Saturnian kilometric radiation (SKR), which dominates the kronian radio spectrum, is observed quasi-continuously. In 2006 discovered that Saturn has lightning, deep in its atmosphere, which generates strong radio emissions, similar to the cracks and pops one hears on an AM radio during a thunderstorm.  This emerging Saturnian radio meteorology will form the auditory basis of SKR.  It also weaves in a recording made of Saturn's ice rings during Cassini's double ring pass in 2004. When the Cassini spacecraft reached Saturn on June 30th 2004, it twice passed through a gap in Saturn's rings. Innumerable particles of ring-dust hit the spacecraft at a relative speed of  20 km/s.  Most of the hits were to the Cassini's high-gain antenna. Each time an ice-dust particle hit Cassini's antenna, the impact produced a burst of plasma (a cloud of ionized gas) which was recorded by the RPWS, producing an "hailstorm" effect.

SKR also includes other field recordings made during the Radio Astronomy project, particularly very low frequency radio recordings made by r a d i o q u a l i a in the icy region of Antarctica in 2007.


SKR  - live mix, 15.11.08

2003.  Part of the Audible New Frontiers project exhibited at The Physics Rooms in new Zealand, 19 August - 13 September 2003 & broadcast on radio New Zealand: http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/gallery/2003/newfrontiers/



comma_data_return

iceberg breaking up - field recording made in Antarctica for residency resulting in Radio SANAE, Antarctica's first artist-run radio station, based in the Dronning Maud Land sector of Antarctica, at the base, SANAE IV. (72É 03' S 02É 47' W) 2006-2007
  
  

iceberg breaking

field recording made by Adam Hyde on board ice-breaking ship en route to Antarctica for residency resulting in Radio SANAE - &nbsp;Antarctica's first artist-run radio station - based in the Dronning Maud Land sector of Antarctica, at the base, SANAE IV. (72É 03' S 02É 47' W) 2006
  
  

ice breaker

Field recording of very low frequency (VLF) radio activity received via a NASA INSPIRE receiver at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, Latvia, 2004. 

VLF: Ionosphere I

Field recording of very low frequency (VLF) radio activity received via a NASA INSPIRE receiver at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, Latvia, 2004.

VLF: Ionosphere III

New Zealand's national broadcaster, Radio New Zealand commissioned a two-part radio documentary tracing the history of r a d i o q u a l i a's work with sound and radio art. Part 1 was thematic and chronological overview of our sound art / radio art practice, featuring recordings of past projects such as gl^tch.bot, pso.Net and Free Radio Linux.

  It was broadcast live on National Radio on 18 April 2004.

Revolutions Per Minute 1: Frequency Shifting Paradigms in Broadcast Audio

Audified radio waves from the Sun.&nbsp;When there is a solar flare on the Sun's surface, it is accompanied by a burst of radio energy projected into space, which can be heard as sound when audified using an ordinary radio receiver. Recorded by r a d i o q u a l i a at the makrolab in Scotland 28.07.02, in collaboration with the Windward Community College Radio Observatory, Hawaii. Part of the Radio Astronomy Project: http://www.radio-astronomy.net


  
    

Solar Observation 26.07.02

Audified radio waves from Jupiter. 
The complex interplay between the planet Jupiter and its volcanic moon, Io, produces "radio noise storms", which can be heard on the radio band from about 15 MHz up to 38 MHz.  L-Bursts (long bursts of radiation) vary slowly in intensity with time, lasting from a few seconds to several tens of seconds and have bandwidths of a few MHz.   L-Bursts sound like ocean waves breaking up on a beach.   
Recorded by Radio JOVE and the Windward Community College Radio Observatory, Hawaii. 
Part of the Radio Astronomy Project: www.radio-astronomy.net

Jupiter S-Burst

This pulsar lies near the centre of the Vela supernova remnant, which is the debris of the explosion of a massive star about 10,000 years ago. The pulsar is the collapsed core of this star, rotating with a period of 89 milliseconds or about 11 times a second. 
Recorded by Jodrell Bank Tadio Observatory: http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/pulsar/Education/Sounds/sounds.html
Part of the Radio Astronomy Project: www.radio-astronomy.net

Vela Pulsar

One way of listening to Jupiter and it's moon system is by analysing the moons' plasma emissions. These recordings are of Ganymede, Europa & Callisto.  The sounds are audified plasma waves which make a violent shaking sound which then evolves into a loud melodic 'twinkling' sound
They are recorded by the Plasma Wave Receiver on board the NASA spacecraft, Galileo, and turned into sound by the University of Iowa.
Galileo's 14-year mission came to an end on 21 September 2003. 
It passed into Jupiter's shadow and disintegrated in the planet's atmosphere.

Part of the Radio Astronomy Project: www.radio-astronomy.net

Ganymede, Callisto & Europa

r a d i o q u a l i a is an art collaboration by New Zealanders, Adam Hyde and Honor Harger, founded in 1998 in Australia. Since 1999 they have been based in Europe. r a d i o q u a l i a create broadcasts, installations, performances and online artworks. Their principal interest is how broadcasting technologies can be used to create new artistic forms, and how sound art can be used to illuminate abstract ideas.

Key works include: The Frequency Clock (1998 - 2003) , Free Radio Linux (2002 – 2004), Radio Astronomy (2004 - now)

They have exhibited at museums, galleries and festivals, including: NTT ICC, Toyko; New Museum, New York; Gallery 9, Walker Art Center, USA; Sónar, Barcelona; Ars Electronica festivals, Linz, Austria; Experimental Art Foundation, Australia; Maison Europeenne de la Photographie, Paris; and the Physics Room, New Zealand.
In August 2004 they were joint winners of a UNESCO Digital Art Prize (second place) for Radio Astronomy.

http://www.radioqualia.net/
http://www.radio-astronomy.net
  
    

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