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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Idaho
The Most Critical Part of UCLA’s Win Over Idaho State
The UCLA Bruins didn’t make it look all that pretty on Wednesday night, defeating Idaho State by a score of 84-70.
Yes, the final result is nice, but UCLA opened up a 27-point second-half lead at one point and allowed a far inferior opponent to eke its way back into the game.
Nevertheless, the Bruins improved to 4-1 with the victory, and we should probably focus on one key positive for the squad in the win: their three-point shooting.
Perimeter shooting had been a critical issue for UCLA over its first four games. Even in its 40-point triumph over Lehigh last Friday, the Bruins went just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.
But against Idaho State, UCLA connected on nine of its 14 long-range attempts in what was, by far, its best shooting effort of the season.
Tyler Bilodeau went 4-of-4 from downtown, and Eric Dailey Jr. went 2-for-3.
Let’s not get it twisted: the Bruins are still a work in progress from deep. They are making just 31.7 percent of their three-pointers this season, which ranks 205th in the country.
It’s not far off from last year when UCLA finished 213th in the nation in three-point shooting in what ended up being a 16-17 campaign.
This is definitely an area in which the Bruins need to show dramatic improvement in order for anyone to take them seriously as legitimate contenders in the Big Ten, but Wednesday evening represented a major step forward for the team.
UCLA brought in four significant transfers for the 2024-25 campaign with the hope that the incoming talents would bolster their NCAA Tournament chances.
The Bruins entered the year ranked 22nd in the country, but a loss to New Mexico instantly dropped them out of the top 25.
The problem is that UCLA has not placed an incredible emphasis on outside shooting, which was clear in its defeat at the hands of New Mexico when it shot 5-of-23 from distance.
But again, baby steps. Beating Idaho State is expected, but it’s the little things the Bruins did in the process that made the victory more impressive.
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Idaho
Southwest Idaho Health District votes to remove the Covid-19 vaccine
NAMPA, Idaho — In October, the Southwest Idaho Health District voted 4-3 to remove the COVID-19 vaccines from its facilities. So, what does this mean to the residents in their six-county district?
- Southwest Idaho Health District votes to remove COVID-19 vaccines.
- Board Chair Kelly Aberasturi explains his view on vote.
(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)
Owyhee County Commissioner Kelly Aberasturi was one of the three who voted to continue providing vaccines because he feels taking the shot or not is an individual choice, and that the District shouldn’t get in the way of that. “I voted against it but not that I believe in the shot but because I believe it’s individual rights who can make their own decision.”
I asked Aberasturi what the discussion was like before they took the vote. “A couple of the commissioners are pretty conservative, and they just didn’t think that they should be giving out a vaccine that has negative effects on some certain individuals.”
To be clear, the CDC recommends everyone over six months get an updated COVID-19 vaccines and emphasizes they are safe. So where can you go to get one if you are in the Southwest District? I reached out to the Central District Health and they told me anyone can visit their Boise clinic by scheduling an appointment for their immunizations — no matter where they live or work. They accept most insurance and have options for those under-insured or uninsured. They won’t turn anyone away based on where they live.
The F.D.A.’s top vaccine official urges everyone eligible to get immunized.
Idaho
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