Idaho
The types of solar viewing telescopes at the College of Southern Idaho
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —There are a few times in your life that people will encourage you to look at the sun. Well, starting Wednesday, May 29 that’s exactly what the Centennial Observatory will be doing as they break out the solar viewing telescopes. Now, you may be wondering what makes a solar telescope different from a standard telescope. The College of Southern Idaho has three types of solar telescopes that are available to them. The first type is a model called a “folded refractor” it has the unique feature of being the only telescope that you don’t look directly through.
“Your normal telescope you’d think of having as having a lens in the front, a lens on the back. This one has both of those, but in between it has mirrors that allow it to kind of fold up,” Observatory Coordinator at the Centennial Observatory Chris Anderson said. Without the traditional lens to look through the image is instead projected onto a piece of paper set within the telescope and this makes it better for larger groups. “There was a company back East that made these specifically for classrooms and they’ve continued to make them ever since,” Mr. Anderson explained.
The second model they have available to them is a traditional telescope, but adjusted with a specialized filter that is added onto it making it possible to view both the sun and the stars when needed. “We have a white light solar filter in it right now and a white light filter just dims the sun way, way down and lets you see what’s going on, on the surface,” Mr. Anderson explained. As of right now, the sun has been fairly active, but the peak of our current solar cycle is expected to hit within the next year or two and a half years.
The third model that they have at their disposal is also the most advanced, it’s called a “Hydrogen Alpha Telescope”, and it blocks out all color except for a specific shade of red that is emitted from the sun called the “Chromosphere”.
“If you’re used to thinking about what you see during a total solar eclipse. So, this little red thing’s poking out from around the edge of the sun. That’s the chromosphere,” Mr. Anderson explained. When looking through the telescope you see a black dot with a grainy, almost oatmeal-like texture that is the sun, and it’s all thanks to the specialized filters that are built into the telescope itself, but that’s not the only cool thing about it. “It is a computer-controlled telescope. It does track the sun automatically, so I don’t have to work about it keeping up,” Mr. Anderson said.
Now, while the sun is extremely active you may want to get in on sun spots, Chris Anderson implores everyone to come down and visit rather than trying to see the sun on your own.
“If you don’t have the proper equipment, don’t try to look to look at the sun with a telescope. That’s an incredibly dangerous thing to do. What a lot of people don’t realize is that it’s not just about whether you’re feeling discomfort. There are ways to filter the sun down in a way that you don’t feel any discomfort, but you’re still doing damage,” Mr. Anderson said.
Even with powerful welder’s glass unless it is a number 14 glass or dark you can still permanently damage your eyes. It is simply safer to not take the risk, rather visit Centennial Observatory on one of the many solar viewing days that will be open to the public. The sun viewing days are every Wednesday following Memorial Day until Labor Day from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M.
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The USDA has issued a public health alert for various meat and poultry products containing FDA-regulated dairy that may have been contaminated with salmonella. The recall was originally issued on April 30th, but the contaminated product list could continue to grow as more products are identified.
The Food Safety and Inspection arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the public health alert and there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products listed below, consumers are still advised to dispose of the items or return them to the place of purchase. Great Value and Pork King Good products sold at Idaho Walmart stores are included in the alert and recall.
Public Health Alert and Food Recall Issued For Pizza and Pork Rinds Sold in Idaho
As of right now, the food list includes pork rinds, breakfast pizzas, and chicken bacon ranch pizzas. The list could grow and the USDA advises consumers to check the list frequently. We will also update the list here when possible. The contaminated products carry a variety of ‘Best By’ and ‘Produced On’ dates, so check the lists carefully to make sure you don’t consume a contaminated product.
The nationwide brands to look for are Mama Cozzi’s from Aldi stores, Pork King Good, and Great Value at Walmart Stores.
Photo Credit USDA – 1
Photo Credit USDA – 1
You can also look through these label photos to see if you have the product in your freezer.
Photo Credit USDA Recalls
Photo Credit USDA Recalls
Photo Credit USDA Recalls
Photo Credit USDA Recalls
Photo Credit USDA Recalls
If you feel sick and have consumed a contaminated product, the USDA advise you to contact your health care provider.
Guy Fieri’s Top Idaho Moments On Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
Food Network just posted a compilation video of Guy at these spots!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
With Idaho’s primary election coming up, which ballots are Idaho voters eligible to cast? Well, it depends.
The state leaves it up to political parties to decide whether their primary is open or closed.
WATCH: Open or closed? More on Idaho primary elections
Voting in Idaho: What are closed primaries?
The Republican Party has a closed primary, meaning only registered Republican voters can participate. Meanwhile, the Democratic primary is open to all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation.
RELATED | How to register to vote in Idaho
Voters can change affiliation to take part in a different party’s primary, but state law requires voters to switch their affiliation no later than the 12th Friday before the primary, which in the May 2026 election has already passed.
A previously unaffiliated voter can affiliate with a party of their choice on the day of the primary and participate in its primary.
Each voter is only allowed to cast one ballot.
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