Total solar eclipses, like Monday’s highly anticipated one, are generally considered visual experiences.
Lasting memories of the day might include a few minutes of total darkness, brought on by the rare alignment of the sun, moon and Earth.
The highlight for some, if they’re lucky enough to get their hands on a pair of special glasses to protect their eyes, could be a glimpse of partially shaded sunshine.
But eclipses have always been more difficult to experience for people who are blind or visually impaired. This time around, several groups are hoping to change that by using educational tools and materials designed to make the event more accessible.
“Unfortunately, there are a number of barriers to accessing astronomy content if you are visually impaired or blind. It’s a very visual science,” lamented Heidi White, outreach officer at the Trottier Institute for Exoplanet Research at the University of Montreal.
“However, in recent years, considerable work has been done to try to create educational resources for members of the blind community so that they can learn about astronomy in a very interactive way. »
In Montreal, considered one of the best places in Canada to experience the eclipse, resources will be available throughout the city for people with visual impairments.
This includes the Montreal Science Centre, which tapped devices from Harvard University designed to turn the eclipse into an audio experience.
Developed in 2017, LightSound solar eclipse sonication devices use a technique that converts light intensity into sound. As the moon eclipses the sun, the light will begin to dim and the LightSound portable device will emit a changing musical tone.
The science center will have two of the 900 devices distributed by the university in a specially accessible area. The devices can be connected to headphones or a speaker to project sound for a group.
“We thought these LightSound devices would allow visually impaired or blind visitors to feel the brightness diminish,” said Sara Arsenault, director of the Montreal Science Center Foundation.
“They would feel it at the same time as other citizens around. »
The LightSound device illustrates how the eclipse can be a “multi-sensory event,” said Daniella Morrone, an education specialist with Discover the Universe, a Canadian astronomy training program for teachers.
“I think there’s a misconception about the eclipse that it’s only something you can observe visually,” she explained. But there are ways to use tools, like the LightSound tool, to observe the day of the eclipse and how much the brightness decreases. »
There are also various natural ways to experience the eclipse, besides seeing it through a special pair of glasses, Heidi White added.
“If you’re on the path of totality, it’s actually a kind of multisensory experience, because even though you’re not able to witness the change of light – the darkening or the visual elements in the sky – you can feel it, says Mme White. The temperature will drop. You can hear it – birds will start singing songs at evening twilight, and so there are ways to experience it. »
At the same time, the Trottier Institute aims to increase accessibility to education for visually impaired people through the distribution of tactile books on eclipses, developed by NASA’s Virtual Solar System Exploration Research Institute.
Using raised surfaces and contrasting textures, the books explain the Earth-Moon-Sun system, various eclipse configurations, and the totality paths of past solar eclipses.
The institute also worked to personalize the books by adding French Braille labels near the English Braille already included.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event,” insisted M.me White. It is absolutely essential that we allow as many people as possible to have the transformative experience of being there to witness the total solar eclipse. »