This year, as participants all over the world switch off their lights (March 31) for Earth Hour, one of the astronauts living on the International Space Station will be the first to observe the event from onboard the orbiting outpost.
Earth Hour will take place worldwide on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, during which time people are encouraged to turn off their lights for an hour to raise awareness about climate change and to highlight the need for sustainability.
Dutch astronaut André Kuipers will keep watch over the planet from the space station's orbital perch 240 miles (386 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, according to officials at the European Space Agency (ESA).
"There is no better way to raise awareness for the future of the most beautiful planet in the universe," Kuipers said in a statement. "Working to understand our planet is what ESA does every day, and taking part in Earth Hour enables people to join us in this commitment."
