Free Admission: View the 2023 Eclipse at The Centennial Observatory

Saturday, October 14th, the first eclipse visible in Twin Falls since August 2017 will pass over. There’s a special viewing available to see the eclipse through a telescope at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science.

Unless you are looking to make an impromptu trip, a full eclipse will not be visible. If there’s time to get out of town, Great Basin National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyon DeChelley, or Chaco Canyon are a few places to hit. If you get in the car now, you can make it.

When is the Free Telescope Viewing for the Eclipse?

For those staying closer to home, the Centennial Observatory in the Herrett Center will open to the public for free telescope viewing on Saturday, October 14 for this annular eclipse. Twin Falls will experience a partial eclipse, but it should be a spectacular sight.

The observatory will open at 9 AM. The beginning of the eclipse should appear at 9:08 AM. The maximum coverage of the eclipse will be about 85% and occur at about 10:25 AM. The last contact of the eclipse should be at 11:50 AM, and then the observatory will close at noon.

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Regular sunglasses are not safe for eclipse viewing. Make sure to get your solar eclipse viewing glasses available at many local retailers. There are even options for using welding glass, but it must be rated #14 or higher. Wear protective eyewear over the eyes, not over a telescope or binoculars. As a project, you can prepare a box with the kids to make viewing safe.

Enjoy the eclipse this year. In 2024 it will be viewable from Mexico through Maine. That makes for a much longer trip.