Sights and Sounds of Space

Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa
August 13, 2002

The University of Iowa booth at the 2002 Iowa State Fair featured selected research areas, art demonstrations, and speakers. The space plasma wave group was invited to be the Center Stage attraction on August 13, 2002, and present The Sights and Sounds of Space between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m., with Bill Kurth, George Hospodarsky, and Kathy Kurth representing the UI Department of Physics and Astronomy plasma wave group.

In addition to providing general information about the University of Iowa's role in space research, George and Bill discussed how signals returned from plasma wave receivers in space are converted into sounds, and how these signals are used in scientific studies. Fair attendees listened to signals generated by lightning and the interaction of the solar wind with planetary magnetospheres, and those which limit the intensity of the Van Allen radiation belts. Approximately 600 people visited the booth. This presentation included information gathered by the Cassini, Galileo, Voyager, Cluster, and Polar missions.