Not 6, but 8!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… 8.

No, dear reader, we are not learning to count, nor are we reciting the 8 times table in digital root.

We are talking about the alignment of eight planets taking place this February.

Yes, you read that correctly: EIGHT!

A Planetary Parade Worth Counting

News reports mentioned that six planets paraded across the sky in January and that in February, seven would align—since Mercury, not wanting to miss this grand event, has joined the group.

However, when looking at the Solar System’s layout, we can identify eight planets, arranged in order from the Sun:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Now, to avoid any discrimination, we must include in our count the "third rock from the Sun" (who remembers the TV show with that name?).

After all, we observe a parade of seven planets from Earth, but Earth itself is also a planet, so it must be part of the event—don’t you agree?

Thus, as reported, the parade will not feature six planets, as in January, nor seven.

In February, all eight planets will be present!

It will be like watching the most dazzling runway show, featuring some iconic supermodels: Cindy, Linda, Naomi, Christy, Claudia, Kate, Elle, Gisele...

Could there be a better way to celebrate the month of love than by witnessing such a rare cosmic event?

Imagine all the romantics gazing at the sky, sharing a moment worthy of “Love Is in the Air.”

A Celestial Symphony

Just as music is enriched by adding instruments, creating more complex and immersive melodies, the planets need to adorn the cosmos with creative formations, occasionally playing with unique alignments.

Now that the composition is complete—with all eight planets in the orchestra—we are witnessing a true celestial symphony.

A symphony is traditionally a musical composition for a full orchestra, where each instrument plays a harmonious role in creating a grand masterpiece.

Just as different sections of an orchestra come together to form a rich and immersive melody, the planets, in this rare alignment, seem to be playing in harmony, composing their own cosmic music.

How Would This Celestial Symphony Sound?

In which key would it be written?

Since the planets move around the Sun, would it be in the key of G (Sol)?

Pythagoras believed that the movement of planets created the Music of the Spheres—an inaudible melody, impossible to translate into musical notation, yet revealing the fundamental harmony of the universe.

Since ancient times, humanity has gazed at the sky in wonder.

This fascination led us to understand that life is intrinsically linked to the movements of celestial bodies:

  • The seasons determine harvests,
  • The tides guide navigation,
  • The rising and setting of the Sun regulate time itself.

These precise and interconnected cosmic rhythms compose a celestial harmony, reflected in the diversity and balance of life on Earth.

An Unheard Symphony, Yet Not Hidden

Yet, despite being inaudible, the celestial symphony is not hidden—much like the soul of Bernardo Soares, who confesses:

“My soul is a hidden orchestra; I don’t know what instruments it plays, strings and harps, timpani and drums, within me. I only know myself as a symphony.” (Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet).

"I only know myself as a symphony"... what if the same is true for the cosmos?"

Sonifying the Universe: A New Way to Experience Space

In 2020, NASA launched its first continuous program to "sonify" astronomical data—converting cosmic phenomena into sound.

The “A Universe of Sound” project emerged as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted NASA's 3D modelling and printing project designed for blind and visually impaired communities.

Since sonifications are fully digital, they became an alternative way to continue working with community partners during physical isolation.

On the project’s website, one can read:

“Have you ever wondered what the Music of the Spheres would sound like? The Hubble Space Telescope reveals cosmic wonders through images, but these astronomical phenomena can also be experienced through other senses. By sonifying data, the same digital information used to create images is transformed into sound. Elements like brightness and position are mapped to different tones and volumes. Although sound does not travel through space, sonifications offer a new way to experience and understand astronomical data. These sonifications allow the public—including blind and visually impaired communities—to ‘hear’ images of the universe and innovatively explore its data.”

Hearing the Universe for the First Time

In a 2020 article, Christine Malec, a musician and astronomy enthusiast who has been blind since birth, recalls hearing her first sonification—a rendering of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system:

"I got chills because I felt I was getting a vague impression of what it means to perceive the night sky or a cosmological phenomenon."

She adds:

"Music gives data a spatial quality that astronomical phenomena have, but words cannot convey. It appealed to my musical sense because it was done harmoniously—it wasn’t discordant."

That was intentional, says Kimberly Arcand, a scientist involved in the project:

"We wanted to create a result that was not only scientifically accurate but also, hopefully, pleasant to listen to. It was a matter of ensuring the instruments played together in symphony."

A Beautiful and Inclusive Cosmos

We truly live in a wonderful world.

Scientific progress allows us to access the many wonders that surround us.

But above all, science is also on a path toward inclusion—even if progress is sometimes slow.

Just as Mercury refused to be left out of the planetary parade, scientists work tirelessly to ensure that the beauty of the cosmos can be experienced by all—whether through sight, sound, or even touch.

Thus, perhaps one day, everyone will be able to say:

"It was its inaudible music that I carried home with me, and I now listen to it quietly in my soul." (Vergílio Ferreira, Pensar, #64)

References:

  1. The Book of Disquiet, Vol. I, Presença, 1990, p. 128
  2. NASA’s A Universe of Sound: source
  3. NASA’s Sonifications of Hubble Images: source
  4. Science News Article on Space Sonification: source
  5. Vergílio Ferreira, Pensar, #64

Talk to us: pxp.cminho@gmail.com


Column published in Correio do Minho on February 20, 2025.


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