Bruneau observatory opens heavens to public

Maria Goepfert-Maguire helps her daughter, Jodie, catch a view of the sun while participating in a stargazing event at Bruneau Dunes State Park on Friday. (Photo by Brian Orban)

Dozens of amateur and veteran stargazers gathered in force at Bruneau Dunes State Park to celebrate the first day of this year's observatory season.

Held next to the park's Steele-Reese Education Center, the evening's celestial gazing started early in the evening as park rangers and volunteers set up a trio of telescopes fitted with special filters to allow guests to safely view the sun.

For hours, visitors were treated to several solar prominences -- vast streams of glowing, ionized gas suspended in the sun's magnetic field.

Many of the evening's guests stopped into the Steele-Reese Education Center for a briefing on the evening skies and what people could expect to see that night.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper's online edition.