Spectral Constellations

Spectral Constellations is an artwork produced by artist duo Semiconductor, it was commissioned through a residency with the Stellar Nursery astrophysics group and DJCAD at the University of Dundee via the Science and Technology Facilities Council projects ‘The planet-disk connection’ and ‘Reading between the lines’. The piece forms part of a series of generative animations, driven by scientific data of young stars. This data, collected by scientists using a method called Spectroscopy, creates an understanding of structures around distant young stars, where gas and dust come together to form planets. Scientists study the light this matter emits, using prisms to split it into its constituent wavelengths, revealing its elemental make-up. By analysing this data over time, spatial formations of the matter can be decoded. The artists have used this data to create an artwork from LED panels, one of which will be accessioned into the University collections.