u/UnknownEntitty024

I took these a couple months back not long after I got my dobsonian, first time really using it, and I was hooked immediately. I've been meaning to post these for a while now, still easily one of my favorite purchases!

Nothing Fancy for gear, the telescope is a Dobsonian skywatcher classic 200p, and the eyepiece is just the stock 25mm that shipped with it. I won't lie the camera method was shoddy, I just put my phone camera up to it. But still happy with the way these turned out!

https://preview.redd.it/vhx48ovn2rah1.jpg?width=3060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a22a495789e0c3c1b66bc4dbfb5a5875d87794d7

https://preview.redd.it/tafgaoro2rah1.jpg?width=3060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e84089326a262f15110f97f6cd13583878b5004

So, I've been noticing the Flock license plate cameras popping up around town and started digging into it. So, I filed a public records request with the city for the actual contract to see what data's being collected and who has access to it.

Turns out there's already a legal fight brewing over this in Caldwell, Twin Falls, and Wilder. a group called Deflock Idaho is arguing that some of these contracts let Flock use collected data to train their own AI, which they say violates the state law, limiting this data to law enforcement use only. Idaho Falls hasn't had anywhere near the same public discussion or scrutiny that those other cities have.

I haven't found any local group in Idaho Falls specifically organized around this — so if you care about this too, or want to see what turns up in my records request, drop a comment or DM me.

Edit: I have started r/idahofallsunwatched if you guys want to keep up with this beyond just the one post, records request updates, city council stuff, whatever else comes up locally around this.