How can a blind or visually impaired person experience an eclipse? Is it possible for astronomy-related events, which have a visual nature, to be inclusive? Can astronomical observation events reach vulnerable groups? On August 12th, 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross the Iberian Peninsula, and the Institute of Space Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (ICE-CSIC) will take advantage of this opportunity to bring science closer to the general public and school students through Eclipse Inclusivo: Un eclipse, muchas formas de vivirlo, a science outreach project funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).
The Eclipse Inclusivo project aims to foster a sense of shared experience under the same sky and to bring science closer to the general public, school students, people with visual impairments or blindness, and vulnerable groups during the year leading up to the eclipse in an inclusive way through two main components: Eclipse Compartido and Eclipse en la escuela. Finally, on August 12th, 2026, an inclusive event will be held in Catalonia to observe the eclipse.
Eclipse Compartido will produce and distribute LightSound devices, a tool that allows users to experience an eclipse through sound. These devices, based on Arduino technology, transform light intensity into sound: as the Moon covers the Sun, the pitch attenuates and becomes deeper, audibly reproducing the eclipse process. As part of the project, educational workshops about the Sun and eclipses will be offered to blind and visually impaired people using tactile models of the Sun and sonification tools via the LightSound device. These activities are carried out in collaboration with the ONCE Educational Resource Center in Barcelona.
These devices, developed by Harvard University, have been successfully used to observe solar eclipses over the past decade in the United States, Chile and Argentina. The project will identify events organized throughout Spain to observe the total solar eclipse and contact the relevant organizations to distribute LightSound devices on loan. The goal is to make eclipse viewing events across the country fully inclusive.
An inclusive astronomy
In the framework of the ‘Vacaciones en Paz’ program, Eclipse Compartido will organise a day of hands-on activities in the Barcelona region about the Sun and eclipses for Sahrawi refugee children spending the summer with host families. This activity will take place within the Amanar project, fostered by GalileoMobile and with the participation of Spanish astronomical research centres and several NGOs, which aims to inspire the Sahrawi community through astronomy.
The final event of the project organised by ICE-CSIC to observe the total solar eclipse of August 12th, 2026, the details of which will be announced soon, will be aimed at people with blindness and visual impairment, as well as Sahrawi children and their host families who have participated in the eclipse preparation workshops.
Meanwhile, Eclipse en la escuela is a branch of the project that will bring astronomy to schools in vulnerable areas of the Barcelona metropolitan area, in preparation for observing the total solar eclipse. A training course on the Sun and eclipses will be offered to Primary and Secondary Education teachers.
The course will provide scientific knowledge and pedagogical tools for addressing these topics in the classroom in a participatory and inclusive manner. Furthermore, participating teachers will have access to a solar telescope on loan for use in their schools. Finally, a science challenge competition about the Sun and eclipses will be organized to foster creativity and collaborative learning among teachers and students. The course is offered in collaboration with the Centre de Recursos Pedagògics Específics de Suport a la Innovació i la Recerca Educativa (CESIRE) of the Department of Education of the Government of Catalonia.
Desde España existe una oportunidad única para asistir a eventos astronómicos excepcionales como son los tres eclipses de Sol del 12 de agosto de 2026, 2 de agosto de 2027 y 26 de enero de 2028. Eclipse Inclusivo plantea la observación del próximo eclipse de manera que nadie quede atrás, promoviendo un sentimiento de pertenencia y fomentando el interés en campos STEM.
There is a unique opportunity to attend exceptional astronomical events in Spain, such as the three solar eclipses of August 12th, 2026, August 2nd, 2027, and January 26th, 2028. Eclipse Inclusivo addresses observing the next eclipse in a way that ensures no one is left behind, promoting a sense of belonging and encouraging interest in STEM fields.
