Cosmic light

Yunchul Kim's ARGOS takes processes and methods of scientific research and mixes them into an artistic experience. The fireworks of flashing lights visible in his installation correspond to real time detection of muons reaching Earth's surface.

Muons are created by decay of cosmic radiation in the upper atmosphere. Cosmic rays can come from a variety of sources in space; but most of them are high-energy remnants of supernovae explosions. Every time a muon collides with one of the 41 Geier-Müller counters in the ARGOS installation, a light flashes.

The installation is part of the Hubble travelling exhibition Our Place in Space.