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BANK ROBBERY: Suspect looked suspicious PAGE 7A
NASA ambassador shares how to view upcoming solar eclipse BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER THE LOWDOWN EDITOR
Eyes up, protective glasses on — this summer, Minnesotans will get a chance to see a partial eclipse of the sun. On Aug. 21, the moon’s rotation around the earth will place it directly between the sun and the earth, blocking out sunlight in certain parts of the country in the middle of the day. To help local families prepare for the eclipse and other amazing space phenomena, NASA Ambassador Chris Mick presented “Celestial Events
of 2017” at Hardwood Creek Library in Forest Lake Aug. 1. The path of the eclipse will not pass directly over Minnesota, but Mick said the moon will block out about 83 percent of the sun. “There are ways to observe it with safety-rated glasses, but (in the direct path of the eclipse) the effect will be more dynamic,” he said. “The light really shifts. It’s happening at midday, but it will be like twilight or evening for the minute or two it’s happening.” Solar eclipses occur more frequently than most people realize, according to NASA.
Typically there is an eclipse every 18 months or so, but it is not visible in all parts of the world, making the phenomenon seem more rare than it is. The last solar eclipse visible from the United States took place in 2012. This event was an annular eclipse, meaning that the moon was positioned further away from the earth and did not completely block out the sunlight. Unlike the 2012 event, the 2017 eclipse will be total. The next total eclipse visible from the U.S. will take place in 2024. SEE ECLIPSE, PAGE 9A
NASA.GOV | SUBMITTED
A solar eclipse is caused when the moon’s rotation around the earth places it directly between the sun and the earth, blocking out sunlight.
New Century College president aims to break barriers to student success BY SARA MARIE MOORE VADNAIS HEIGHTS EDITOR
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
1980’s fashion flashback tour
Austin Miller, John Zarembo and Brandon Hatch begin their journey during the annual Tour de Bar benefit bicycle ride around White Bear Lake Saturday, Aug. 5. They and other members of their team chose clothing that highlighted some of the flamboyant fashion choices from 1980s. Find more photos on page 1B.
VADNAIS HEIGHTS — A recent college graduate told the new Century College president that college textbooks are expensive and not well used by professors. “I agree,” said new Century College President Angelia Millender at a question-and-answer event hosted by the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce in Vadnais Heights Aug. 1. Millender said one of her focus points as president will be to help incorporate open source textbooks. But first, content of such textbooks, often funded to be freely used, needs to be validated by the college. A position was recently created to continue the work already done by the college for open source textbooks. For Millender, addressing textbook costs is all about the students. Textbook costs, that can be up to $300 to $400, is just one barrier Millender is aiming to remove to help students succeed. Textbook prices held high by constant new editions with minor changes create a learning gap for students who can’t afford the books.
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