• On 20 July, València Innovation Capital will open an interactive exhibition space where visitors can discover what the historic total eclipse on 12 August will be like, using virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
• The proposal will offer a reliable way of understanding one of the most extraordinary astronomical phenomena of recent decades and will revisit the history of the 1905 eclipse, which made the Valencian Community an international centre of excellence for astronomy.
València Innovation Capital, Valencia City Council’s innovation strategy, will launch an informative and immersive experience on 20 July at Las Naves to mark the total solar eclipse that will be visible from Valencia on 12 August – a historic event that has not occurred for over a hundred years.
The initiative will bring this astronomical phenomenon to the general public through an interactive experience that combines science communication, virtual reality and artificial intelligence to explain how an eclipse occurs, what significance it has had for the development of astronomy and science, and how to observe it in complete safety.
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey linking two historical moments separated by more than a century. In 1905, the last total eclipse visible from the peninsula turned the north of the Valencian Community into the centre of international astronomical research. However, weather conditions prevented the phenomenon from being fully recorded. Now, thanks to immersive technologies, the public will be able to symbolically ‘complete’ that eclipse and experience a recreation of the totality from a perspective impossible to witness with the naked eye.
The experience includes a virtual reality tour that will allow visitors to observe the eclipse from space, helping them to understand the alignment between the Sun, the Moon and the Earth, as well as the main phenomena associated with totality, such as the solar corona, the diamond ring and Baily’s beads. In addition, there is an installation that will allow each visitor to step into the shoes of the great astronomical expeditions of the early 20th century, thanks to a commemorative portrait generated using artificial intelligence.
As well as offering an innovative experience, the exhibition places particular emphasis on science communication and prevention. Through a range of educational materials, it will explain the importance of viewing the eclipse only with approved protective equipment and will offer advice on how to enjoy the phenomenon without risking damage to your eyesight.
The Councillor for Innovation, Paula Llobet, has stated that “on 12 August we will witness an extraordinary event and we want the public to be able to enjoy it safely, with curiosity and a better understanding of this unique phenomenon. At València Innovation Capital, we continue to promote initiatives that use innovation to bring knowledge closer to the public. In this case, virtual reality and artificial intelligence are becoming tools to make science communication more engaging and accessible.”
Álvaro Monzón, CEO and co-founder of DeuSens, says: “We have designed an experience that combines science communication and technology, so that virtual reality and artificial intelligence can help people understand such a complex phenomenon in a simple and visual way.”
The event will run from 20 July to 31 August at Las Naves and is aimed at the general public, as well as families, young people and organised groups. During the tour, visitors will be able to learn about the scientific principles behind the total solar eclipse, which will be visible from Valencia on 12 August, and discover how technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence can be used as tools for disseminating knowledge.