As eclipse watchers eagerly anticipate the celestial event on April 8, individuals who are blind or visually impaired are finding innovative ways to experience the total solar eclipse crossing North America. High school senior Yuki Hatch, a visually impaired student and aspiring computer scientist for NASA, is excited to listen to the eclipse using a LightSound box that translates changing light into sounds. The device, developed by astronomer Wanda D?­az-Merced and Harvard astronomer Allyson Bieryla, will be distributed to locations hosting eclipse events in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. Hatch and her classmates at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired will be able to hear the eclipse through the device's flute, clarinet, and clicking sounds.

In addition to the LightSound device, the Perkins Library in Watertown, Massachusetts, plans to broadcast the changing tones of the eclipse over Zoom for members to listen online. The library's outreach manager, Erin Fragola, emphasized the importance of making events accessible to individuals with vision loss. Meanwhile, the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired will be using the Cadence tablet from Tactile Engineering to allow students to feel the moon move over the sun during the eclipse. Sophomore Jazmine Nelson is excited to use the tablet at NASA's big eclipse-watching event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where she will be able to feel like she is a part of the rare celestial event.

These innovative devices are providing individuals who are blind or visually impaired with the opportunity to experience the beauty of the total solar eclipse through sound and touch. The collaboration between astronomers, engineers, and educators is ensuring that everyone, regardless of visual ability, can participate in this unique astronomical event.