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Whistler!

Space Weather Sounds Scavenger Hunt

Do you like a challenge?

These webpages can provide it! Although some think that space is empty, there are actually many different types of atoms and other particles throughout space. Close to the Earth, our magnetic field can provide a conduit for spectacular and interesting phenomena, such as aurorae and various types of radio emissions. With web resources, challenge yourself to find the different types of radio emissions and log them, in the same way as would a bird watcher. To learn more, read on...

When we turn on a radio, invisible radio waves are intercepted by an antenna, amplified by the receiver in the radio, and converted to (invisible) sound waves. A radio receiver is tuned to a specific frequency within a certain band on the radio dial; for example, 850 (or 850 kHz) AM or 89.3 (89.3 MHz) FM. AM refers to Amplitude Modulation, FM to Frequency modulation. These terms refer to the way the sound is put onto the radio wave. But are there other bands?
There are also the following:

Band Frequency Range Wavelength Range
Extremely Low Frequency < 3 kHz > 100 km
Very Low Frequency 3 - 30 Hz 10 - 100 km
Medium Frequency 300 kHz - 3 MHz 100 m - 1 km
Super High Frequency 3 - 30 GHz 1 - 10 cm
Extremely High Frequency 30 - 300 GHz 1 mm - 1 cm
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NASA Logo Image Curator: Mitzi Adams
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Last Updated: July 08, 2016