Falling stars: Acoustic influences on meteor detection

As particles enter the earth’s atmosphere they produce a burst of electromagnetic energy, including visible and radio-wave emissions. Consequently, just as meteors can be detected visually in the night sky they can be “heard” using radio telescopes. The current project investigated the potential influence of these audio signals on meteor detection. Anecdotally, and in related research, it has been found that auditory signals can enhance or even alter visual perception of objects. The current project examined the specific effects of accompanying auditory signals on the detection of meteors. Meteors present an interesting case of audiovisual integration in that detection paradigms often entail extended vigilance and extremely brief, yet brilliant astronomical events. Experiments specifically investigated how auditory signals that varied in spectra influenced changes in visual magnitude and duration judgments of meteors. In addition, research targeted how extraneous auditory cues during a vigilant meteor search might contribute to false judgments. Results are described in terms of audiovisual integration and the relation of perceptual mechanisms to meteor detection.