STORYLINE

Record Setting Solar Prominence Highlighted By Eclipse Remains a Mystery

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The eclipse on April 20 attracted astronomers, amateur stargazers, and eclipse chasers from all over to the island. The exceptionally dry and clear weather of West Maui makes it a perfect place to view astronomical events. A partial eclipse isn’t the rarest event in the universe but what was discovered that day is changing what we know, or don’t know in this case, about stars. A record setting solar prominence was clearly visible to all and has many worried about what effects Veilcorp’s Icarus Project is having on the sun.

One of the most impressive features of the sun is a solar prominence. The fiery loops of plasma extending far outward into space, following magnetic fields, are as beautiful as they are impressive. These gigantic loops of plasma can extend far into space. An average sized prominence can reach out thousands of kilometers, with the largest recorded before April 20 measuring over 800,000 kilometers long. Prominences can last a long time, days or sometimes even months. However, the prominence activity noted on the day of the eclipse is unlike anything astronomers have ever seen.

While many are concerned, Aldrick Lehmann, astronomer and lead engineer of the Hoku telescope, urges caution, noting that scientists are still researching how and why prominences are formed.

“The truth is that we just don’t know what could be categorized as normal. We’ve only had the technology to properly study the phenomena a short time. What we can say accurately is that we’ve never seen so many prominences at once before, and the first recorded description is from the 14th century. In addition, the longest has been estimated to be over 1.3 million kilometers long, that’s almost twice as long as any ever observed before, roughly the diameter of the sun. A coronal mass ejection from a prominence so large would of course be a concern. It’s interesting that this sort of activity has never been seen before the start of the Icarus Project, but I can’t say that Veilcorp is responsible, or even that it’s dangerous. What is clear however, is that we need more time and data in order to understand what is going on.”

Veilcorp has no shortage of critics, but the Icarus Project has easily been the most controversial program in the company’s history. Extracting 127 (Unbiseptium) directly from the sun, the program has been a target for environmentalists and safety officials alike. However, until now, most concerns have been focused on the economic and environmental impact that the increased exposure and stockpiling of 127 would cause. Despite Veilcorp safety assurances, the effects of the project have been a point of contention, with both sides citing conflicting studies. This is the first time that there has been any evidence that the project is impacting the sun itself, and it has many worried.

Sebastian Malu, a Barraloha instructor at the Kokua Wellness center and founder of the Eternal Cycle Church has been one of the most vocal critics in Lahaina. Over the past two months, he and his followers have camped out in front of the municipal Veil Station, protesting the company’s continued solar extraction of 127.

“The sun is the heart of our solar system. It’s energy feeds the plants and those of us who are able to tap into our inner beings. The Icarus project has pierced our heart and is feeding like a parasite from this most vital cosmic organ. Like other sensitives, I felt an increase in my electromagnetic energy as soon as the project started. I must admit that at first I appreciated the upgrade in intuition and awareness that I received, but the intensity of that increase began to be problematic. I spend a good portion of my day now trying to slow down my absorption of the sun’s energy before it’s too late. I urge other enlightened souls to do the same. I know it can leave you exhausted, but until we convince Veilcorp to stop stabbing our heart, it’s our best option.”

Veilcorp spokesperson Lisa Hunt says that the Icarus project is a multinational endeavor and points out that the brightest minds from around the globe have deemed the project safe. “While the cause of the prominences observed on April 20 are uncertain, the science surrounding the safety of the Icarus Project is clear. There is not, and never has been, any indication that the solar extraction of 127 is dangerous: to the sun, to the planet, to plants and animals, or to people who pretend to have magical powers. Remember, Icarus simply harvests 127 that is naturally made in the corona and captures it before it decays into less interesting elements, it doesn’t increase production in any way. I suggest we all take a deep breath, stop believing everything we read on the internet, and let the scientists study this amazing solar event.”

STORYLINE

Veilcorp and Lahaina Rally Around Injured Tourist With History of Vacation Mishaps

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A Colorado man is recovering in the Lahaina Medical Center this morning, after suffering a severe stingray attack yesterday, while wading in the Baby Beach area with his wife. Stingray attacks can be very painful and require medical attention, but doctors realized 60-year-old Robert Waldowski’s injuries were quite serious, after x-rays revealed that a portion of the fish’s stinger was still embedded in his heel, dangerously close to his tibial artery. While the attack was noteworthy, it is not the reason that Robert is in the news this morning, and why so many have pledged to do all they can to make what’s left of his trip as nice as possible. It turns out Mr. Waldowski has a long, (almost unbelievably long), history of animal attacks while on vacation.

“I wasn’t surprised at all when I felt the stab in my foot,” says Robert. “I remember telling my wife, ‘it’s happening again,’ just before I blacked out from the pain.” The story of Waldowski’s animal attacks begins back in the year 2000 when he was a senior in college, enjoying a spring break with his friends, in the mountains outside of Denver. “We were just throwing around a ball and waiting for breakfast. I didn’t even see the mountain lion until the back of my neck was in it’s mouth. I spent a week in the Hospital that time.”

Robert says the same group of friends convinced him to go with them to Pack Creek Alaska, to watch brown bears during the salmon run the next year. The area is known for having one of the largest concentrations of brown bears in the world when the fish are spawning, and is a favorite place to go for nature lovers, and those trying to get pictures of huge bears. However, in 2001 Pack Creek was famous for a horrendous bear attack caught on film. “That was a bad one. It took a few months before I was back on my feet,” adds Robert.

The list of attacks continued for years: gored and trampled by a bison while visiting Yellow Stone Park in 2004, Robert spent 3 days in a hospital in 2006 after being bitten by a bushmaster, the longest viper in the world, while on vacation in Bolivia, and while on safari in 2009, Waldowski’s boat was capsized by a bull hippo with many in his group never found alive. “It wasn’t just the Hippos we had to worry about, the river was full of crocodiles too. Some of us made it to a sandbar after the Hippo bit the boat in half. We waited 20 hours in ankle deep water, worried that a crocodile was going to grab one of us, until help arrived. I love the outdoors and nature, I really do, but sometime during those hours standing there, I accepted that for whatever reason, nature did not like me. I promised myself that the wilderness adventures were done and all my vacations were over. If I made it, I’d stay safe and sound where I belonged. I kept that promise for 30 years, until my wife convinced me to go to Lahaina for my 60th birthday. There weren’t any animals that could hurt me if we stayed in town, and we’d only wade a few feet out into the water, and only where there was shark netting. I guess they haven’t invented stingray netting yet,” says Robert.

“When Veilcorp heard about the Waldowski’s story we had to do something to turn Robert’s luck around,” says Veilcorp Spokesperson Lisa Hunt. “We’ve offered to pay for the remainder of their vacation, and have pulled a few strings to make sure that the rest of their visit is a great one. On top of that, we’re going to give them tickets for another vacation next year, anywhere in the world they’d like to go. We’re not much on superstition around here, but we’d suggest someplace with few large predators” joked Hunt. This is not the first time the company has offered tourists in unusual circumstances free travel. Last Fall, Harrison Lehmann was given free tickets for life after he was born inside the Lahaina veilstation.

“We heard that Robert likes looking at the stars, so we’ve arranged a private tour of the newly operational Hoku Telescope and ‘Science City’,” says Hunt. Hula Noodle owner “Uncle” Ralph Umeke says the couple can enjoy a free meal any time of day for the rest of their stay. He adds, “The shop is 100% pet free so Robert doesn’t have to worry about being bitten or scratched while he’s enjoying a bowl of noodles.”

Even the exclusive Kokua Wellness Center and Spa has offered their support to the Waldowskis. Wellness specialist and spokesperson Yvonne Masters says, “We’d love to do anything we can to help the Waldowskis cast aside the negative feelings of the last few days, through massage, tonal therapy, and our relaxing urchin-based body scrub. We’d even like to offer Robert a complimentary crystal cleanse, and aura realignment to make his presence more agreeable to wildlife.”

Robert and Amy say they can’t believe the outpouring of concern and support, “I guess Aloha Spirit is alive and well in Lahaina,” says Amy. She adds, “We want to thank everyone who’s sent cards and letters, as well as all the businesses offering their support, especially Veilcorp and Ms. Hunt. Robert can’t wait to get out of here, and see the telescope. In the meantime, we’re going to do a little research and try to find a place we can use our free tickets, that doesn’t have any poisonous animals.”

STORYLINE

Construction of Hoku Telescope completed at “Science City”

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After 5 years of construction atop the dormant volcano Haleakala, the Hoku Telescope is set to become the latest research tool in what is commonly called “Science City.” The result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense, The Air Force, The University of Maui Lahaina College, and Veilcorp, the telescope will become an important new tool at the Air Force Maui Optical Supercomputing Observatory. While not as large as some other Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs), the unique construction process and mirror polishing techniques used on the Hoku sets it apart from its peers.

At an altitude of over 10 thousand feet, the Haleakala Observatory in West Maui is a remarkable spot for studying the stars. The weather conditions on top of the dormant volcano are ideal. Exceptionally dry and clear, with little wind or light pollution from major cities, the summit is one of the most sought after locations in the world for ground-based telescopes. Collectively called Science City, a number of other projects call the site home including: The Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC), the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC), The Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS), The Maui Optical Tracking and Identification Facility (MOTIF), and others.

Consisting of nine primary segments, the Hoku Telescope is an amazing feat of engineering. The telescope’s 122 mirrors are arranged in a honeycomb structure making it 6x lighter than a solid mirror of the same dimensions. Made from high quality E-6 glass, the mirror’s pattern keeps them from distorting under their own weight like other mirror designs would. In addition, the individual sections are very thin allowing them to follow the surrounding temperature. As the mirror cools through the night, the glass cools with it. This process avoids the creation of turbulence that could spoil any images. While impressive, this isn’t what sets the Hoku apart from other ELTs. It’s the telescopes method of construction and state-of-the-art polishing process that makes it special.

Lead engineer Aldrick Lehmann says, “The ultra high precision method used to shape and polish the mirrors is a breakthrough. It’s such a step forward in fact that the process has been classified, so I can’t give too many specifics. What I can tell you is that the Hoku should have a resolving power 20x that of the Hubble. However, the specialized manufacturing wouldn’t matter if it weren’t for veil technology. These mirror pieces have very low tolerances and a traditional transportation process would have likely ruined them. We were only able to transport them safely thanks to the DOD’s mobile veil system. Any amount of vibration, humidity, or temperature change had the potential to ruin all the work we did. Having the ability to move the finished segments a few yards from the polishing facility and through a gateway directly to the site, made construction possible without spending millions in specialized shipping.”

The Hoku will enable astronomers to conduct research which is impossible with other ground based instruments. Astronomer and NSF fellow Henry Lu says that he is excited to have the telescope available for his research. “There’s no telling what the Hoku will allow us to learn. Anytime a technology comes along that can remove limitations you get the potential for discovery. My main research currently revolves around KIC 8462852 or Boyajian’s Star. The star’s unusual light fluctuations were first noted in 2015 and there has been numerous theories about the cause ranging from comet dust, to salacious claims of extraterrestrial involvement. Recently it appears to have gone dark for some reason. I’m hoping that the Hoku will be able to provide an answer for us. I believe the cause is an unprecedented concentration of comets and comet debris, but we’ll have to wait and see where the data leads. Let’s put it this way, I’m not expecting any out-of-galaxy visitors anytime soon.”

In addition to Lu’s work, the Hoku will be used by the Air Force to track satellites, asteroids, and other near-Earth objects as well as a number of other projects. The telescope is set to begin operations on the 9th after all its systems have gone through an intensive checklist.