On April 8th, North America will be graced with a magnificent celestial event: a total solar eclipse. This rare occasion is expected to be even more spectacular than the last one that occurred seven years ago. For those lucky enough to be in the path of totality, they will witness the Sun’s light being completely blotted out except for that of the corona for nearly four and a half minutes.
But for those who are blind or visually impaired, they too can experience this celestial event through the help of an innovative device called LightSound. Designed and developed in 2017 by Harvard astronomer Allyson Bieryla and Wanda Díaz-Merced, an astronomer who is blind, LightSound uses sound to allow individuals to experience the eclipse through audio cues. The sensor on the LightSound device emits high-pitch musical tones under normal light, which gradually drop as the Moon blocks the Sun’s light.
The LightSound Project is completely open source and provides downloadable DIY instructions in English, Spanish, and French on how to build your own device. The project had a goal of building over 750 devices in conjunction with other institutions in time for the April 2024 total solar eclipse. Several listening events are planned for April 8th from Colombia to Canada, providing an opportunity for people to experience the eclipse together.
This total solar eclipse presents an exciting opportunity for people across North America to witness a spectacular celestial event. Whether viewing it in person in the path of totality or experiencing it through the innovative LightSound device, this event is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who witness it.
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