GENERAL NEWS ABOUT COMET HALE-BOPP 1995-O1
----------------------------------------
John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy Inc
www.nyskies.org
nyskies@nyskies.org
1995 September 1
Introduction
----------
This series of articles was written during the era of comet Hale-
Bopp in 1955-1997. They show the build up of excitement as the comet
strengthened and document some of the comet's record-smashing
behavior.
Because Hale-Bopp was so brilliant and showy, many astronomers
accept that it may be the grandest comet they'll see in their
lifetime. For sure as at mid 2009 there was no other comet that
matched or rivaled it.
The articles are collected here into one file under the date of
the first of them. They were treated to minor editing.
= = = = =
POTENTIALLY BRILLIANT COMET, 1995 01 HALE-BOPP
--------------------------------------------
1995 September 1
[The information for this new comet comes from various Internet posts,
including those from Mark Kaye, Gary Kronk, and Paul Schlyter. The
ephemeris for 1995 was calcked by John Pazmino using Deep Space.]
Excitement is mounting over a slow moving 11th magnitude glow
spotted in Sagittarius on 22 July 1995 by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp,
both using 40cm reflectors. We already have a pretty good idea of the
path the object, comet 1995 01 (Hale-Bopp), will take as it enters the
inner solar system in early 1997. The "O" is the letter, not the
numeral. The big question is: How bright will it become? The answer
depends a lot on whether the comet, still beyond Jupiter, is now
undergoing an outburst that makes it much brighter than normally.
Nevertheless, Brian Marsden announced on IAUC 6202, August 4th [of
1995], that this may become a spectacular comet for the northern
hemisphere in late March and early April of 1997, as bright as
magnitude -1.7! Marsden adds that several features of Hale-Bopp's
orbit are reminiscent of the Great Comet of 1811, which remained
visible for 17 months and sported two tails, one of which grew to 70
degrees long.
Discovery
-------
After several months of no comet discoveries (one of the longest
dry spells in recent years), on 24 July [1995] Alan Hale (Cloudcroft
NM) and Thomas Bopp (near Stanfield AZ) independently reported a new
comet.
The comet was discovered by Hale shortly after 11 PM local time on
22 July 1995 and was independently found by Bopp about a half hour
later. The comet was then in Sagittarius not far from M70. It was
diffuse, with some condensation, and about magnitude 10.5.
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams made the announcement on
IAUC 6187 on 24 July. IAUC 6188 listed numerous precise positions that
had been received from Australia and Japan after confirmation.
A prediscovery image was announced on IAUC 6198. R McNaught of
Anglo-Australian Observatory found the image on a plate exposed by C
Cass on 22 April 1993[!]. The comet's total magnitude was then 18 and
the coma was 0.4 arcmin across. The orbit given on IAUC 6198 indicates
the comet was then 13.1 AU from the Sun
Observations
----------
Observations made during the first few days after discovery
indicate the comet was magnitude 10.5 - 11. It had some condensation
and possibly a short tail toward the north. The coma was about 1 or 2
arcmin in diameter.
As at start of August various observers indicate the comet is
magnitude 10.5, about 2 to 3 arcmin across, and weakly condensed.
There is still a trace of a tail, or a slight elongation of the coma,
towards the north.
IAUC 6194 notes that CCD imaging by W Offutt (Cloudcroft NM)
during 24-31 July seemed to indicate the coma was shrinking. It was
also mentioned that Z Sekanina (JPL) examined the measurements Offutt
obtained from his images and commented that the coma may be spiral
shaped, similar to that shown by comet Schwassmann-Wachmann-1 when it
undergoes an outburst.
IAUC 6191 on 26 July gave the first orbit computation (listed as
highly uncertain). Based on 57 positions obtained on 24-26 July, it
indicated the comet would pass perihelion in early 1997! IAUC 6194 on
1 August gave a parabolic orbit based on 208 positions obtained during
24 July to 1 August. This new orbit, which is still considered
"somewhat uncertain", had a perihelion date of 1 April 1997 and a
perihelion distance of 0.9 AU.
McNaught's prediscovery image was announced on IAUC 6198 and
enabled Marsden to compute a very precise orbit. This new orbit
indicated the general correctness of the orbit on IAUC 6194, except
that the comet is moving in a long-period ellipse with a period of
about 4,000 years, but the original orbit may have had a period of
about 3,200 years. Marsden comments that comet Hale-Bopp "is not on
its first pass from the Oort Cloud".
The orbit from IAUC 6198, based on 248 positions, is as follows
(equinox 2000.0); these are used in the ephemeris below:
Epoch=1995 October 10.0 TT
Perih = 1997 April 1.3922 TT Eccen = 0.996348
Perih Dist = 0.916702 AU Arg of Perih = 130.4405 deg
Asc Node = 282.4733 deg Incl = 88.8797 deg.
The comet's brightness trend is still a matter of question. The
brightness in April 1993 is about 4 magnitudes fainter than the
predicted magnitude based on the comet's currently accepted brightness
model. Although this is a photographic magnitude and may run a little
faint, this observation still offers additional evidence that the
comet may be experiencing an outburst. It is, however, interesting
that McNaught also announced that the comet was not visible on a plate
exposed on 1 September 1991. The plates in question have normal
magnitude limits of 21 and the predicted magnitude for the 1991
observation should have been only one magnitude less than that of the
1993 observation.
The explanation might be that the comet was also undergoing an
outburst at the time of the 1993 photograph. On the other hand, it
could indicate that the current brightness model does not fit this
comet and might need to be revised. Additional observations are needed
before an accurate brightness model can be developed.
An ephemeris for the remainder of 1995 appears below. It employs a
somewhat more optimistic magnitude forecast, since it now appears that
Hale-Bopp wasn't going through a temporary outburst when discovered.
Ephemeris for 1995 01 (Hale-Bopp) during the rest of 1995
---------------------------------------------------------
Absolute Magnitude: -1.96 Magnitude Coefficient: 10.00
Time of Observations: 20:54 EST Starting JD=2449938.5793)
Period: 3976.91 Years Ephemeris computed for J2000.0
DATE RA (J2000) DECL AU AU ELONG PHASE PA MAGN
1995 hr mn deg mn f/Sun f/Earth f/Sun deg tail calc
------ -- ---- --- -- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----
AUG 28 18 22.7 -30 50 6.840 6.289 119.3 7.4 83.5 10.4
SEP 7 18 19.3 -30 22 6.754 6.358 109.0 8.1 85.6 10.4
SEP 17 18 17.1 -29 54 6.668 6.438 98.9 8.6 87.3 10.3
SEP 27 18 16.2 -29 26 6.581 6.521 89.0 8.8 88.5 10.3
OCT 7 18 16.5 -28 58 6.493 6.604 79.3 8.7 89.4 10.3
OCT 17 18 17.9 -28 31 6.405 6.681 69.7 8.4 90.1 10.2
OCT 27 18 20.3 -28 4 6.316 6.748 60.4 7.9 90.7 10.2
NOV 6 18 23.7 -27 37 6.227 6.801 51.1 7.1 91.1 10.1
NOV 16 18 27.8 -27 11 6.138 6.836 42.0 6.2 91.6 10.1
NOV 26 18 32.7 -26 45 6.047 6.850 33.1 5.1 92.2 10.0
DEC 6 18 38.1 -26 18 5.957 6.842 24.2 3.9 93.2 10.0
DEC 16 18 43.9 -25 51 5.865 6.808 15.4 2.6 95.8 9.9
DEC 26 18 50.2 -25 22 5.773 6.748 6.9 1.2 105.6 9.8
= = = = =
IT'S COMING IN!
-------------
1996 August 1
Comet Hale-Bopp is coming in! Altho found over a year ago, it was
a tiny dim smudge in Sagittarius until spring 1996. Now it's starting
to flourish in our evening sky within easy binocular reach from the
City.
It moves slowly across the stars in Scutum, Serpens, and Ophiuchus
all thruout the summer and fall. Hale-Bopp will leave us for a while
in the winter when the Sun pulls it into his twilight glare.
If you can right now spot M11, M13, or M15, examples of
conspicuous DSOs, you'll have no problem with Hale-Bopp. Because of
its slow motion you'll be able to follow Hale-Bopp across spells of
cloudy weather. What a welcome relief from the mad dash of Hyakutake
in this past spring!
Binoculars show Hale-Bopp as a well-defined patch with a brighter
center. Depending on the local sky clarity, you may notice an oval or
wedge shape to it. While no or a small Moon is always best, Hale-Bopp
is visible under a large Moon in a tempered form. You'll see just the
condensed core like a misty star.
The tail remains short over the months. The Comet is still far
from the Sun and our perspective is more or less along its length. Do
bear in mind that, like with Hyakutake, the length and pizazz of the
tail is quite sensitive to your local sky conditions.
The table was generated from Deep Space with the orbital elements
of mid-March 1996 from JPL. The chart [omitted] was produced from the
same elements with Earth Centered Universe. Both are moxied for the
evening hours in New York. Only minor changes occur with newer orbital
refinements.
T: 1997 APR 1.16687000 Peri: 130.59440000 |
e: 0.99504000 Node: 282.47090000 | (J2000.0)
q: 0.91412000 i: 89.42830000 |
Absolute Magnitude: -2.11 Magnitude Coefficient: 10.00
Period: 2501.97 Years Ephemeris computed for equinox 2000.0
1996 RA (H,M) D (D,M) R DELTA ELONG PHASE PA MAG
------ -------- ------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---
JUL 15 18 33.1 -10 23 3.756 2.785 160.0 5.3 125.2 5.9
JUL 25 18 18.8 -9 26 3.647 2.743 148.4 8.4 111.8 5.7
AUG 4 18 5.4 -8 32 3.537 2.734 136.2 11.4 105.6 5.6
AUG 14 17 53.7 -7 43 3.425 2.752 124.2 14.1 101.7 5.4
AUG 24 17 44.1 -7 0 3.313 2.790 112.7 16.4 98.7 5.3
SEP 3 17 37.0 -6 23 3.199 2.840 101.6 18.0 96.0 5.2
SEP 13 17 32.3 -5 50 3.084 2.896 91.1 19.0 93.2 5.1
SEP 23 17 30.0 -5 20 2.968 2.951 81.2 19.5 90.3 5.0
OCT 3 17 29.9 -4 51 2.851 2.998 71.9 19.5 86.9 4.8
OCT 13 17 31.8 -4 22 2.732 3.033 63.2 19.0 83.0 4.7
OCT 23 17 35.6 -3 49 2.612 3.052 55.0 18.2 78.2 4.5
NOV 2 17 41.1 -3 11 2.490 3.051 47.5 17.1 72.3 4.3
NOV 12 17 48.1 -2 26 2.368 3.027 40.8 15.8 64.8 4.0
NOV 22 17 56.5 -1 30 2.244 2.980 35.0 14.6 55.2 3.8
DEC 2 18 6.3 -0 21 2.119 2.909 30.5 13.6 42.9 3.5
(beyond 2 December the Comet is in the twilight zone of the Sun)
R = distance from Sun in AU; 1 AU = 150,000,000 kilometers
DELTA = distance from Earth in AU; 1 AU = 150,000,000 kilometers
ELONG = angular distance between Comet and Sun on the sky in degrees
PHASE = angular distance between Earth and Sun as seen from Comet
PA = angular position of tail in degrees; 0 = N, 90 = E
MAG = total magnitude of Comet based on recent observations
= = = = =
MAGNITUDE ESTIMATION METHODS
--------------------------
1996 September 1
[Because of the comet fever in the AAA the question came up about
assessing the brightness of a comet. A comet is a diffuse patch
whereas the comparison stars are points. You are trying to gage one
kind of visual target against an other kind. This is an age-old
syndrome among astronomers: just look at the riotous variation in the
cited brightness for deepsky objects! So I extracted thus this piece
from the International Comet Quarterly website section on currently
visible comets. It is a good summary of methods for assessing a
comet's brightness, with some trivial spot editing.]
Some contributors are now starting to specify the magnitude
estimation method that is used (this is not required, but is for
observations submitted to The International Comet Quarterly). The goal
of making a magnitude estimate is to obtain the total integrated
brightness of the comet's head or coma. This is done by comparing
defocused stars, of known brightness, to the comet. Specifically, the
average surface brightness of the comet is compared with the surface
brightness of defocused stars. Here is a quick summary of the
different methods:
The Sidgwick or In-Out Method: The in-focus comet is compared to
the. out-of-focus comparison stars. It is very important that the
defocused stars must be the same size as the comet. This is the most
popular method and works very well for diffuse comets. Strongly
condensed objects, such as C/1995 01 (Hale-Bopp), are more difficult
to estimate using this method because it is very difficult to determine
the comet's "average" surface brightness.
The Bobrovnikoff or Out-Out Method: The comet and comparison stars
are put out-of-focus together. Very easy to do. Works well for very
strongly condensed objects. Can result in a significant underestimate
of brightness in very diffuse and/or large comets.
The Morris or Equal-Out Method: This method was developed to
bridge the gap between the Sidgwick (works well for really diffuse
comets) and Bobrovnikoff (best for strongly condensed comets) Methods.
The comet is put slightly out-of-focus - just enough to "flatten" the
brightness profile so that it is easier to determine the comet's
average surface brightness. The average surface brightness of the
comet is memorized as is its out-of-focus diameter. The comparison
stars are then defocused to the comet's out-of-focus diameter
(somewhat larger than its in-focus diameter). This.method is
considered more difficult than the other two methods by some
observers. Note that when the comet is very condensed, this method
"becomes" the Bobrovnikoff Method and when the comet is very diffuse,
it becomes the Sidgwick Method. Thus, the other two methods are
subsets of this method.
There are other methods, most notably the Beyer or Way-Out Method,
but the ones given above are the methods recommended for making
magnitude estimates today. Each method requires practice, particularly
when comparison stars are not in the comet's field.
= = = = =
UPDATED COMMENTS ON THE 1993 OBSERVATION OF C/1995 01 (HALE-BOPP)
---------------------------------------------------------------
1997 January 1
[Dr Brian Marsden, CBAT, posted this statement on his website on 24
October 1996. For a wider distribution to the paper-based world, he
let EYEPIECE reprint it here. It relates to a prediscovery image of
Comet Hale-Bopp from 1993.]
Since late 1995 there have been suggestions in the Internet
stating that the 1993 Apr. 27 prediscovery image (cf. IAUC 619B) of
this comet is "not correct", with orbit solutions indicating it to be
in error by as much as 30 arcsec. When the image was first noticed, by
R. H. McNaught on a plate taken with the U.K. Schmidt, it was some 9
arcmin from the preliminary ephemeris then available (1995 Aug. 1). It
should be also noted that McNaught's reexamination in late 1995 showed
his measurement to be good to well within 1 arcsec. Furthermore, his
measurement of the trail of the faster-moving minor planet (3343) on
the same plate demonstrated that the exposure was correctly timed.
As I surmised long ago, the problem with fitting the comet's orbit
is quite clearly that, if one tried a standard orbit solution, the
sheer weight of the 1995 data would throw a large residual into the
single 1993 position, basically on account of the systematic errors in
the GSC reference-star system used for most of the measurements. After
all, the many hundred 1995 observations covered only a small part of
the sky. By substantially reducing (e.g., by a factor of ten) the
relative weight of the 1995 data, it was in fact possible to fit the
1993 position completely satisfactorily. The alternative of invoking
the effects of nongravitational forces on the comet seemed very
unlikely at the comet's large heliocentric distance, even if one
believed, as some did, that the comet's great activity involved
enormous relative mass loss in terms of vaporizing carbon monoxide.
If the surmise were correct, it would presumably be found that the
fit to the 1993 Apr. 27 observation would again improve as the comet's
observed arc extended, with the observations during 1996, though
continuing to be numerous, covering a greater area of sky. This did in
fact happen, acceptable orbital solutions being possible quite early
in the year with the relative weight of the current data reduced to
only a factor of five. since then there has been further steady
improvement. Finally, the latest orbit solution, given on MPC 28052,
utilizing 1385 observations extending to 1996 Oct. 16, is fully able
to incorporate the 1993 observation with unit weight:
C/1995 01 (Hale-Bopp) Epoch 1997 Mar. 13.0 TT =JOT 2450520.5
T 1997 Apr. 1.13453 TT Marsden
q 0.9141030 (2000.0) P Q
z +0.0053639 Peri. 130.59083 -0.13311754 -0.17030684
+/-0.0000018 Node 282.47069 +0.28232889 +0.93779364
e 0.9950969 Incl. 89.42936 +0.95003690 -0.30255358
C/1995 01 (Hale-Bopp) Epoch 1996 Nov. 13.0 TT = JOT 2450400.5
T 1997 Apr. 1.13080 TT Marsden
q 0.9141849 (2000.0) P Q
z +0.0053093 Peri. 130.58402 -0.13312498 -0.17032095
+/-0.0000018 Node 282.47167 +0.28221190 +0.93782748
e 0.9951463 Incl. 89.43066 +0.95007062 -0.30244072
The (O-C) of the 1993 observation is -1.2 arcsec in R.A. and -0.4
arcsec in Decl. Actually, the point has been reached where it really ~
does not matter whether the 1993 observation is included or not. The
outcome is almost precisely the same whether considered in terms of
the orbital elements and their formal errors or in terms of the near-
perihelic sky position, which is now formally predictable to better
than 1 arcsec.
Statements to the effect that occultations by the comet's nucleus
can be predicted more accurately using orbital solutions that omit the
1993 observation are thus patently false. This is not to say that
occultations near the time of perihelion can yet be precisely
predicted. Sources of error are the small nuclear size, the star
catalogues used and nongravitational forces in the cometary motion.
The first of these will require last-minute relative measurements of
comet nucleus and star to be occulted to better than 0.05 arcsec. In
the absence of such measurements, star-catalogue errors are likely to
result in near-perihelic unpredictability to some arcseconds. The
possible effects of nongravitational forces are unknown, and they
proved to be a severe problem in predicting the post-perihelic
position of comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake), for example. While both
comets are clearly very active, one might surmise that the larger
relative size of C/1995 01 (Hale-Bopp) will result in little
nongravitational influence on this comet's motion.
As noted on IAUC 6287, the last perihelion passage of C/1995 01
occurred close to 4200 years ago. In the absence of nongravitational
forces near perihelion, the next return after 1997 will be some 2380
years hence.
= = = = =
IT'S FLYING DOWN THE WIRE!
------------------------
1997 February 1
Comet Hale-Bopp, 1995-01, is heading onward toward the Sun
virtually on schedule and within prediction. Despite some temporary
trepidation in brightness last year, Hale-Bopp is already a mean comet
hitting magnitude 3 in early January 1997. While mid northern
observers lost it during conjunction with the Sun, arctic countries
with their round-the-clock night followed it all along.
By readtime it'll be prominent in the predawn sky even from the
city. Who will turn in the first sighting from anywhere within the
five boros? From Manhattan? From below 59th Street? From Times Square?
From ... [snip].
The chart here [omited] gives the track thru the stars at 05:00
New York time -- NOT at Oh UT -- as a representative hour for viewing.
It was prepared from Deep Space from the orbit elements listed below.
Hale-Bopp is a binocular sight in Aquila, Sagitta, Vulpecula, and
Cygnus. In darker skies or with sharper vision, it should be seen by
naked eye.
The trick is to first see Altair and Deneb. These two stars anchor
the path in the sky. Altair is 15 degrees above the horizon pretty due
east in mid February at 05:00; Deneb, 30 degrees, northeast. They may
be blocked by skyline or horizon shmutz.
Your chances improve steadily during February for two reasons. The
Sun moves away from this region, lifting it into the early morning
darkness. Hale-Bopp brightens to 2nd magnitude by end January, 1-1/2
by mid February, 1 by end February. Assuming all goes well we got a
big bright beautiful comet in the morning sky as February closes.
The tail, too, will lengthen both from intrinsic growth and our
more sideways perspective of it. The chart shows a nominal size based
on a 1/10 AU (15 million kilometer) true length.
If you fix to photograph the comet, start practicing now! So many
readers were saddened by Hyakutake because they didn't prepare for any
picture-taking. You better get out and polish your star photography
skills, particularly in the winter night. And, please!, get your film
developed right away so you can compare the results with your field
notes! Film and processing are truly very cheap education.
Being that you'll be looking in predawn, with dark-adapted eyes,
with most local lights shut off, under clear [and cold] winter skies,
there's a chance you'll catch a glimpse of the 'summer' Milky Way. If
you do, let us know! Give the usual dissa & datta.
For those with comet-plotting programs, the elements, tweaked for
12 January 1997, are:
peri date = 1997 April 1.13427 peri AU = 0.9141138
excentric = 0.9950938 inclinat = 89.42956 deg
asc node = 282.47088 deg arg peri = 130.58980 deg
The crossover into the evening sky for us in the City is about
March lOth when Hale-Bopp moves into Cepheus. It'll then be low in the
northwest shining at magnitude zero! And then ... .
= = = = =
THE HALE-BOPP COMET IS STUPENDOUS!
-------~------------------------
1997 May 1
I had to give up on summarizing the reports of comet Hale-Bopp
from our readers simply due to the sheer number of reports! I got
notes about the comet mostly via email and -- surprise! -- mostly
from comet-watchers not affiliated with the Association. Why? EYEPIECE
and the Association are quite well regarded far beyond our cozy
praecinct in the city.
The one lament everyone had when giving a report was about the
weather. The entire country was hit by contrary weather, either
allnight clouds or clouds surrounding the comet-viewing hour. Some
people report trying for many days -- or weeks! -- before finally
getting a clear sight.
So, what I have here are the names, dates, and places of the
observers listed chronologicly. Yes, a lot of you folk buttonholed me
at our meetings to recount your views. But everything blends together
and I can not separate who saw what from where at when. Please, if you
want to be in our list, do come back to me. I'll get uou in the
continuation of this table next month.
Once a person spotted Hale-Bopp, he generally followed it
regularly thereafter. In the table I indicate such a person by 'all
Mar' or 'all Apr' in place of logging in each report from that person.
Oh, one other thing. Please deliberately state in the body of
your report the actual date, hour, and observing site. Do NOT count on
these being noted correctly in the email header or signature. Merely
saying, "I went out yesterday from work and saw the comet ..." is too
loose. Try, "I went out on March 17th, 6:00PM, from work in
Jackmanville, Missouri, and saw the comet ...". OK? Thanks!
Stephen Lieber 29 Jan dawn Rockaway pt QN
Marshall Applewhite &
John Craig all Feb dawn Rancho Santa Fe CA
John Leppert all Feb dawn Rocklake ND
Cindy Stepanowicz all Feb dawn near Utica NY
Keith Knapp 10s Feb dawn Albuquerque NM
Saul Levy 14 Feb dawn Tucson AZ
Leonard Lakey 17 Feb dawn Wichita KS
Richard Wilhite 17 Feb dawn Camden SC
EIleen Thomas 19 Feb dawn Ward Hill SI
Jim Van Nuland 19 Feb dawn San Jose CA
Bruce Kamiat 20 Feb dawn Mitchell Sq MH
John Pazmino 20s Feb dawn Lenox Hill MH
Jan Wallace 21 Feb dawn Santa Clara CA
Arline Caldwell 22 Feb dawn Amagansett LI
Kevin Smith 23 Feb dawn Greenville VA
Joe Primavera 24 Feb dawn Carl Schurz Pk MH
Jan Wallace 24 Feb dawn San Clara CA
Neil Tyson 27 Feb dawn near Nassau Mall MH
Annette Bartle all Mar dusk Lenox Hill MH
Joe DiNapoli all Mar dusk Staten Is SI
John Gerometta all Mar dusk Phoenix AZ
Paul Goelz all Mar dusk Rochester Hills MI
Bob Hirschfeld all Mar dusk Phoenix AZ
Steve Kaye all Mar dusk Canarsie BK
Cindy Stepanowicz all Mar dusk near Utica NY
EIleen Thomas all Mar dusk Ward Hlll SI
Doyle Beaty all Mar both Quito, Ecuador
Micahel Boschat all Mar both Halifax NS
Annemarie Franklin &
Wendy Carlos all Mar both Union Sq MH
Bruce Kamiat all Mar both Mitchell Sq MH
John Leppert all Mar both Rocklake ND
Michael Monahan all Mar both Westtown NY
John Pazmino all Mar both Gelfand's Hill BK
George Zay all Mar both La Mesa CA
Leonard Lakey 2 Mar dawn Wichita KS
Richard Plasencia 3 Mar dawn Cedar Rapids IA
Nick Martin 5 Mar dusk Bonnyton House, Ayrshire, Scotland
Nick Martin 6 Mar dawn Bonnyton House, Ayrshire, Scotland
Ken Poshedly 6 Mar dawn near Atlanta GA
Thomas Jonard 7 Mar dawn Columbus OH
Bruce Kamiat 7 Mar dawn Mitchell Sq MH
Hark Wagner 7 Mar dawn near Lassen Peak CA
Joe Dinapoli &
Eileen Thomas 7 Mar dusk Penn West MH
Rick Fluck 7 Mar dusk Idaho Falls ID
Brent Watso 7 Mar dusk Arches Natl Pk UT
Graham Beedle 8 Mar dawn Monifieth, Dundee, Scotland
Rob Lightbown 8 Mar dawn Caribou, ME
Peter Michell 8 Mar dusk 44dN 80d35'W
Brent Watson 8 Mar dusk Arches Natl Pk UT
Daviid Clark 9 Mar dawn 44deg 27'N 68deg 52'W
Ted deMontagne 9 Mar dawn Sheep Meadow, Central Park MH
Hartmut Frommert 9 Mar dusk Radolfzell, Germany
Leonard Lakey 9 Mar dusk Wichita KS
Doyle Beaty 10s Mar both Quito, Ecuador
Rik Davis 10s Mar both near Charlottesville VA
Hartmut Frommert 10 Mar dawn Radolfzell, Germany
Steven Martin 10 Mar dawn Andover KS
Bruce Bawcom 10 Mar dusk Folsom CA
Tom Rutherford 10 Mar dusk Blountville TN
Brian Halbrook 11 Mar dawn Marquette MI
Jacob Thumberger 11 Mar dawn Hamilton OH
Joseph Enrico 12 Mar dawn Oceanside LI
Greg Crinklaw 12 Mar dusk San Diego CA
Roger Schuelle 12 Mar dawn Cupertino CA
Don Young 12 Mar dusk Rochester NY
Carl Fortunato 13 Mar dawn Bronx BX
bon McInnis 13 Mar dusk Victoria BC
Don Young 13 Mar dusk Rochester NY
Victor Ruiz 15 Mar dawn Gran Canaria, Spain
Harald Schenk 15 Mar dusk Sheboygan WI
John Stewart 15 Mar dusk Columbus OH
Bruce Kamiat &
4 others 16 Mar dawn Fahnestock St Pk NY
Paul Goelz 19 Mar dawn Rochester Hills MI
Dan Boudreault 16 Mar dusk Ft Bragg NC
Hartmut Frommert 17 Mar dusk 47.75N, 9E, Germany
Micheal Monahan 18 Mar dawn Westtoen NY
Paul Goelz 19 Mar dawn Rochester Hills MI
Jim Mellom 20s Mar dusk near Tripoli, Tunisia
Chris Steyaert 20s.Mar dusk Central Park South MH
Dave Turkel 20s Mar dusk Yorkville MH
David McConnell 22 Mar dusk LaGuardia Airport QN
Claudio Veliz 22 Mar dusk Long Island City QN
Joe Enrico 23 Mar dusk Oceanside LI
David Greenberg 23 Mar dusk Mt Kisco NY
Brian Halbrook &
Mike Beauchamp 23 Mar dusk AuTrain MI
Alexander Simon 23 Mar dusk Forest Hills QN
George Acosta 24 Mar dusk Richmond Hill QN
Graham Beedie 24 Mar dusk Monifieth, Dundee, Scotland
Myrna Coffino 24 Mar dusk Yorkville MH
Basil McDonnell 24 Mar dusk West New Brighton SI
Adele Peckford 24 Mar dusk Sherman-Verdi Sq MH
Daniel Smith 24 Mar dusk Commack LI
James Wing 24 Mar dusk Auburndale QN
Andy Downey 26 Mar dusk Central OH
Dave Franks 26 Mar dusk Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Rick Rules 26 Mar dusk Wichita KS
Paul Rybski 26 Mar dusk Whitewater WI
Susanne Vlcek 26 Mar dusk Gibsons BC
George Acosta 27 Mar dusk Richmond Hill QN
Tony Cecce 27 Mar dusk Corning NY
Mark Wagner 28 Mar dusk San Gatos CA
Mark Wagner 29 Mar dusk Fremomt Park CA
Richard Plasencia 30 Mar dusk Cedar Rapids IA
Annette Bartle all Apr dusk Lenox Hill MH
Myrna Coffino all Apr dusk Yorkville MH
John Pazmino all Apr dusk Gelfand's Hill BK
Cindy Stepanowicz all Apr dusk near Utica NY
Eileen Thomas all Apr dusk Ward Hill SI
Jan Wallace all Apr dusk Santa Clara CA
Dave Lord 1 Apr dusk Coconut Creek FL
Gene Kwiecinski 1 Apr dusk Pelham Bay Pk BX
Larry Gerstman 1 Apr dusk Carnegie Hill MH
about 30 AAAers 2 Apr dusk Amer Mus of Natl Hist MH
Joe Brooks 2 Apr dusk Utica NY
Ludek Novotny 2 Apr dusk Borup, Denmark
Michael Boschat &
4 others 3 Apr dusk Beaverbank NS
Saul Levy 3 Apr dusk Tucson AZ
Doyle Beaty 4 Apr dusk Quito, Ecuador
Jack Dittrlck 4 Apr dusk Kew Gardens Hills QN
Basil McDonnell 4 Apr dusk West New Brighton SI
David Nevin &
Nancy Mohrmann 4 Apr dusk Jones Beach LI
Mark Prober 4 Apr dusk Jones Beach LI
Pong Sum 4 Apr dusk Lawrenceville NJ
Mark Wagner &
Richard Navarrete 4 Apr dusk Henry Coe St Pk CA
Claudio Veliz 4 Apr dusk Columbia U Obsy MH
about 800 New Yorkers 5 Apr dusk Frisbee Hill, Central Pk MH
Doyle Beaty 5 Apr dusk Quito, Ecuador
Brian Nestel 5 Apr dusk WaImea HI
Gerald Pearson 5 Apr dusk Rock Island IL
Harald Schenk 9 Apr dusk Sheboygan, WI
Anton Sidoti 9 Apr dusk Danbury CT
James Wing 9 Apr dusk Auburndale QN
nine AAAers 10 Apr-dusk AAA-HQ MH
That's it for now. I'll continue the list -- and include all
catchup and corrected reports -- next month.
= = = =
THE HALE-BOPP COMET DAZZLES THE WORLD
-----------------------------------
1997 June 1
I continue my list of Hale-Bopp reports still flooding into
EYEPIECE from all over the world.. Like for the list last month the
accounts are sent In mostly by email from observers not yet affiliated
with the Association. There were a bunch of reports I had to toss for
the idiotic. omission of some crucial fact. Like the placename of the
viewing site. Or the explicit date and hour of viewing. Or -- no
kidding! -- the identify.of the very observer.
Please, never assume the header or signature will correctly
disclose the proper site, date, and name. Put them deliberately in the
text.
The weather still is a chronic source of complaint. Many of you
saw the comet on one occasion and then were blocked off of any further
views for days and weeks by clouds! Yet others toughed it out thru
haze, mist, skyglow, cold (it's still winter in northern Great Lakes
and Canada).
We're getting delirious sightinqs from the southern hemisphere.
After the many long months listening to northern stories and ogling
northern imagery, the south folk are absolutely wild about this comet.
Yes, there are a flock of catchup listings here. A lot of you got
hold of me at our various meetings and blurted out a story. But in the
din around me I lost.track of who saw what and where and when. Thanks
for telling me again in calmer moments!
Now to answer a frequent question. 'all Mar', 'all Feb', &c do not
mean the comet was observed on all or even most days in the month. It
means that sightings were made repeatedly in the month. This notation
I use to collect multiple sightings in a month into one entry.
Uh, ummm, what happened to the actual stories themselves? We got
them all safe and sound. Should I post them on the Association's web
site at www.aaa.org? [By 2009 these reports may be lost.]
Joe Fedrick all Feb dawn CoOp City BX
Frank Schmidt all Feb dawn Queens Village QN
Tony Hoffman 13 Feb dawn Brooklyn NY
Jan Wallace 24 Feb dawn Santa Clara CA correction
Lee Baltin all Mar dawn Key Biscayne FL
Katrina Eubanks all Mar dusk Dover DE
Joe Fedrick all Mar dusk CoOp City BX
Frank Schmidt all Mar dusk Queens viilage QN
Peter Michell 8 Mar dusk Orangeville ON correction
David Clark 9 Mar dawn Bucksport ME correction
Tony Hoffman 9 Mar dawn Brooklyn NY
Antoinette Booth 11 Mar dawn Bay Ridge BK
Hartmut Frommert 17 Mar dusk Radolfzell, Germany correction
George Acosta all Apr dusk Richmond Hill QN
Annette Bartle all Apr dusk Lenox Hill MH
Myrna Coftino all Apr dusk Yorkville MH
Joe Fedrick all Apr dusk CoOp City BX
Alexandre Millot all Apr dusk Noumea, New Caledonia
John Pazmino all Apr dusk Gelfand's Hill BK
Cindy Stepanowicz all Apr dusk near Utica NY
Eileen Thomas all Apr dusk Ward Hill S1
Howard Timmons all Apr dusk Lithonia GA
Jan Wallace all Apr dusk Santa Clara CA
Sid Lee 10 Apr dusk Calgary AB
David Miller 13 Apr dusk Hills Creek, Australia
George Zay 13 Apr dusk La Mesa CA
Jean-Christophe
Millot 14 Apr dusk Noumea, New Caledonia
Doyle Baeaty 19 Apr dusk Quito, Ecuador
Willie Koorts 21 Apr dusk Sutherland, South Africa
Tony Beresford 25 Apr dusk Adelaide, Australia
Nick Hansen 25 Apr dusk Adelaide, Australia
Elvis Hargrove 29 Apr dusk Rio Grande Valley TX
Maxine Oliri &
Michael Oliri 29 Apr dusk Adelaide, Australia
Peter Williams 29 Apr dusk Geelong, Australia
John Pazmino all May dusk Gelfand's Hill BK
Eileen Thomas all May dusk Ward Hill 51
Mathew Milne 3 May dusk Palmerston North, New Zealand
Tony Beresford 4 May dusk Adelaide, Australia
Ralph Buttigieg 6 May dusk Sydney, Austraila
Tony Crece 7 May dusk Corning NY
Penny Orell 7 May dusk Monmouth NJ
Peter Williams 7 May dusk Geelong, Australia
Jan Kuceraa 11 May dusk Brno, Czech Republic
That's it for now. But the reports keep rolling into EYEPIECE
right up thru presstime! I'll post them in next month's lIst. And if
this comet remains within naked-eye range until New Year's of 1998
I'll have to continue this column for a while. But, hey!, you may
never, like never, see an other comet like Hale-Bopp for the rest of
you life. Just go to sleep tonight with that thought, OK?
= = = = =
HALE-BOPP STILL GOING STRONG
--------------------------
1997 July 1
I continue the listing of Hale-Bopp reports and fill in the
catchup ones, too. Hale-Bopp is sliding into the twilight glow in the
southern hemisphere by late Hay and early June. Hence. the influx of
reports sort of 'shut off'. Don't worry. This comet is coming back
into our morning sky in the fall.
Antoinette Booth 1 Apr dusk Owls Head Pk BK
Antoinette Booth 2 Apr dusk Owls Head Pk BK
Andy Christy 25 Apr dusk Canberra, Australia
Andy Christy all Hay dusk Canberra, Australia
Alexandre Hillot 10 Jun dusk Noumea, New Caledonia
= = = = =