{"id":2041,"date":"2024-03-15T19:26:36","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T19:26:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurorasaurudev.wpengine.com\/?p=2041"},"modified":"2024-03-15T19:26:55","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T19:26:55","slug":"standing-in-awe-of-the-universe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?p=2041","title":{"rendered":"Standing in awe of the universe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Note: this post contains discussion and imagery of solar eclipses.<\/p>\n

Few things are as <\/span>awe-inspiring<\/span><\/a> as the aurora or a solar eclipse. In just a few weeks, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, and provide a rare opportunity to connect with the natural world. In this post, we consider awe and hope to inspire you to take part in participatory science during the upcoming April 8, 2024 eclipse. We\u2019ll highlight the <\/span>Eclipse Soundscapes<\/span><\/a> project, which <\/span>uses multiple senses<\/span><\/a> to not only gather data, but enhance the eclipse experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Left: Employees and visitors at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory stopped to watch the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017, image: NASA\/Josh Krohn. Right: Aurora chasers Vincent Ledvina and Andy Witteman view an aurora, image: Vincent Ledvina.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Awe-inspiring aurora<\/b><\/p>\n

We often hear of people\u2019s feelings of comfort in observing something beautiful like aurora and the night sky. Aurora chasers know awe well, often calling on poetic metaphors to illustrate their experiences. For example, Aurorasaurus Ambassador Notanee Bourassa beautifully <\/span>described<\/span><\/a> the Northern Lights as \u201cthe visual representation of cosmic music being played on electromagnetic field lines.\u201d This blending of senses applies not only to auroras, but other cosmic phenomena.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to awe researcher Dacher Keltner, mind-bending experiences can create a feeling of profound connection between people and the world around us. Awe can also open up new neural pathways\u2014creating a small window to potentially rewire your thought patterns or reframe your priorities. Scientists who have studied this experience believe that getting your mind blown by the northern lights, an eclipse, or other natural phenomena could provide a burst of clarity. That can be useful in making big life decisions or even just in grounding yourself in gratitude for what you already have\u201d (<\/span>Outside Online<\/span><\/i><\/a>).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It may well be part of what draws aurora lovers to the chase: as aurora chaser and student Vincent Ledvina once <\/span>pointed out<\/span><\/a>, \u201cEveryone says, \u2018but you\u2019ve seen the aurora already, why do you want to see it again?\u2019 And my response is, no two displays are the same\u2014you discover something different each time.\u201d The same could be said of eclipse chasing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Listening to a solar eclipse<\/b><\/p>\n

Whie aurora chasing is a game of chance, eclipse chasing is more predictable. Like the aurora, however, there\u2019s nothing quite like experiencing a total solar eclipse in person, with all available senses. Evaluators who studied awe during the 2023 annular eclipse at an event in New Mexico found that \u201ceclipse viewers rated the annular solar eclipse as a 7.43\/10 of their most awe-inspiring experiences\u2026. Many people named the 2017 total solar eclipse as the most awe-inspiring event they have ever seen\u201d (<\/span>Fischer et al., 2023<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

One way that eclipses can be awe-inspiring has to do with the ways a viewer can feel and hear changes in the environment, as well as seeing them. There is also a lot of science to this kind of multisensory observation. A century ago, a study by William M. Wheeler and a team of collaborators invited the general public to help study how the August 31, 1932 solar eclipse affected animal and insect behavior. The study compiled 498 personal observations from game wardens, naturalists, and members of the general public. The evidence noted changes in animal behavior and soundscapes during the eclipse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eclipse Day visitors had the opportunity to take part in Eclipse Soundscapes during the October 14, 2023 partial solar eclipse at Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico. Image credit: Eclipse Soundscapes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, participatory science project <\/span>Eclipse Soundscapes<\/span><\/a> seeks to build on the historic Wheeler study by asking members of the public to observe and analyze data collected during the October 14, 2023 annular eclipse and April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. There are many ways to <\/span>get involved<\/span><\/a>! Sensory observations will be different for everyone and they welcome that variety of sight, sound, and feeling! One user noted that participating \u201chas opened my mind up to the many senses we can use to understand our surroundings more.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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As part of the Eclipse Soundscapes commitment to accessibility and inclusion, project materials were adapted to be accessible to the blind and low vision community and anyone else who will benefit from tactile cues. Here, an AudioMoth recorder<\/a> is outfitted with \u201cbump dots\u201d so users can identify switches and ports by feel. The ES device instructions were written to intentionally include reference to these tactile cues.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eclipse Soundscapes has also strived to increase inclusion and the accessibility of their project, including the data collection process and tools. Different role options allow participants to choose the role that best fits their needs – from one that requires equipment and training (<\/span>Data Collector Role<\/span><\/a>), to one that requires no equipment and takes place outdoors on eclipse day (<\/span>Observer Role<\/span><\/a>), to one that requires no equipment and can be done anytime (<\/span>Apprentice Role<\/span><\/a>). After the eclipse, the general public will be invited to help with the analysis of the audio data collected as <\/span>Data Analysts<\/span><\/a>! Each role offers participants a certificate of completion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For educators and students, we especially recommend checking out the quick-start <\/span>Observer role<\/span><\/a> for a cool record of eclipse observations or <\/span>Apprentice role<\/span><\/a>, which includes <\/span>free lessons<\/span><\/a> about eclipses. There is a lot to dig into on their website!<\/span><\/p>\n

MaryKay Severino, Education Director at ARISA Lab and the co-lead on Eclipse Soundscapes, says: \u201cExperiencing a natural phenomenon\u2014like eclipses or auroras\u2014with all of the senses available to you grounds you in the moment and connects you to the universe. During natural events, this feeling can be profound and inspiring, igniting joy and curiosity in everyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n