If you somehow haven’t heard already, there’s going to be a solar eclipse today, April 8. The sun, moon, and Earth are going to be perfectly aligned for a brief window, and if you live in one of the areas where it will be visible, you’ll be able to see the phenomenon for around four-and-a-half minutes. Many people won’t be able to actually see the eclipse with their own eyes, however (and looking directly at it can cause immediate, permanent damage to your vision). So NASA is partnering with a few video game companies, including the National Esports Association, Microsoft, Epic Games, and Twitch streamers to teach people about the eclipse in a safe way that anyone, anywhere can share in, including streaming in-game events in Minecraft and Fortnite.
The “Look Up!” initiative is a three-part partnership in which NASA is working with NEA, Microsoft, and Epic Games to educate players about solar eclipses with a Twitch stream spotlighting eclipse-themed Minecraft and Fortnite modes alongside different streamers. The stream will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on NEA’s Twitch channel and feature streamers playing eclipse-themed modes in Minecraft and Fortnite. The Minecraft event will include “educational elements” in which the streamers will solve puzzles and answer questions about eclipses on the moon. The Fortnite segment will show players “venture through different areas that can be accessed by moving through different parts of the eclipse’s path of totality.” (Thanks, PCGamer.) All of this will be streamed alongside footage of the solar eclipse.
Depending on where you live, you may see either a total or partial eclipse. But no matter where you are, looking directly at an eclipse will damage your eyes if you don’t have eclipse glasses. While you can find those in some local stores in the lead-up to the event, they can sell out pretty quickly. If you don’t manage to get your hands on those, a NASA stream is a pretty safe alternative, and it sounds like you might learn a lot, as well.
