Eclipse Soundscapes Training: Observing with All Senses (Observer Role)

This instructional video introduces the multisensory observation framework used by participants serving in the Eclipse Soundscapes (ES) Observer role during the October 14, 2023 annular solar eclipse and the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. The video explains how ES Observers conducted structured qualitative observations centered on eclipse maximum. Participants were instructed to observe for a minimum of ten minutes before eclipse maximum, during eclipse maximum, and ten minutes after eclipse maximum. Within these defined time windows, volunteer scientists documented what they heard, saw, felt, and otherwise perceived as environmental conditions shifted. The multisensory approach emphasized attention to changes in soundscapes, animal activity, light levels, temperature, wind, and other environmental cues. This framework supported methodological consistency across geographically distributed locations while broadening participation to include individuals with varied sensory experiences. Understanding how to conduct structured multisensory observations was essential to the ES Observer role. The timing protocol and observational guidance ensured comparable qualitative data collection across sites. This video was part of the official Eclipse Soundscapes (ES) training materials and is preserved to document the scientific framing, participation protocols, and accessibility-informed instructional design provided to volunteer scientists. Archiving this resource supports transparency, methodological consistency, and future reuse of the Eclipse Soundscapes participation framework. General Eclipse Soundscapes Project Information The Eclipse Soundscapes Project (ES) was a NASA Volunteer Science project funded through NASA Science Activation that studied how solar eclipses affect life on Earth during the October 14, 2023 annular solar eclipse and the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. ES revisited historic research showing that animals respond to eclipses and used modern technology and public participation to expand that research. Eclipse Soundscapes was an enterprise of ARISA Lab, LLC and was supported by NASA award No. 80NSSC21M0008. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in project materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.