What Is Space Noise?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Space is practically void of mass, so there is no medium for true soundwaves to move through. However, there is a phenomenon known as cosmic or

galactic radio noise

. This mass of static echoes throughout our universe and is composed of radio signals, electromagnetic waves and radiation.

What kind of noise does space make?

No, you cannot hear any sounds in near-empty regions of space. Sound travels through the vibration of atoms and molecules in a medium (such as air or water). In space, where there is no air, sound

has no way

to travel.

What is space noise called?

Cosmic noise, also known as

galactic radio noise

, is not actually sound, but a physical phenomenon derived from outside of the Earth's atmosphere. It can be detected through a radio receiver, which is an electronic device that receives radio waves and converts the information given by them to a audible form.

Do planets make sounds in space?

Not exactly. The planets don't sing pretty music when spaceships fly by. But, they do give off all those emissions that Voyager, New Horizons, Cassini, Galileo, and other probes can sample, gather, and transmit back to Earth.

The music gets created as the scientists process the data

to make it so that we can hear it.

Can you hear white noise in space?

On the International Space Station,

air circulation fans and fluid coolant pumps produce a constant level of background white noise

, despite sound mufflers and insulation built into the equipment to keep it as quiet as possible. Over time this noise can affect an astronaut's hearing.

What is the loudest thing in the world?


The Krakatoa volcanic eruption

: Not only did it cause serious damage to the island, the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 created the loudest sound ever reported at 180 dB. It was so loud it was heard 3,000 miles (5,000 km) away.

Do stars make noise?

Like bubbles rising in a pot of boiling water, sound waves move through a star's interior because of temperature changes. … But unlike on these planetary bodies, stellar

sound waves are generated continuously by turbulence in the near-surface layers of stars

.

Does space have a smell?

In a video shared by Eau de Space, NASA astronaut Tony Antonelli says

space smells “strong and unique

,” unlike anything he has ever smelled on Earth. According to Eau de Space, others have described the smell as “seared steak, raspberries, and rum,” smokey and bitter.

Can you breathe in space?

We're able to breathe on earth because the atmosphere is a mixture of gases, with the thickest gases nearest the earth's surface, giving us the oxygen we need to breathe. In space,

there is very little breathable oxygen

. … This prevents the oxygen atoms from joining together to form oxygen molecules.

Does the sun make noise?


The surface of the Sun produces sound waves

because the surface is convecting and this produces pressure waves that travel into the inner corona. But yes, the surface does produce sound waves, but they have very low wavelengths measures in hundreds of miles! …

Can you talk in space?

When astronauts are out in space,

they can whistle, talk

, or even yell inside their own spacesuit, but the other astronauts would not hear the noise. In fact, the middle of space is very quiet. … That's why the astronauts use radios to communicate—even if they're floating in space right next to each other!

Can you hear noise on the moon?

Are there any audible sounds at all on the moon? … However, the Moon is in space, and space is mostly a vacuum (there are always some atoms floating around, but they are VERY far apart and don't interact with one another). Thus

there is no sound on the Moon.

How long is one hour in space?

The time dilation on that planet—one hour equals

7 Earth years

—seems extreme. To get that, you'd apparently need to be at the event horizon of a black hole.

How quiet is space?


Space isn't completely quiet

— in fact, it's rather loud. … That being said, if you scream in space, the sound will still technically travel; just at too low a frequency for our ears to be heard. In essence, there's no medium for the vibrations to travel through.

What can sound not travel through?

Sound waves are travelling vibrations of particles in media such as air, water or metal. So it stands to reason that they cannot travel through

empty space

, where there are no atoms or molecules to vibrate.

How cold is space?

Hot things move quickly, cold things very slowly. If atoms come to a complete stop, they are at absolute zero. Space is just above that, at an average temperature of 2.7 Kelvin

(about minus 455 degrees Fahrenheit)

. But space is mostly full of, well, empty space.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.