[net.usenix] comet watching in Denver

ables@mcc-db2.UUCP (King Ables) (12/16/85)

How about comet watching?  We're so high there that the atmosphere
is a lot thinner, that should make for a better view.  I know that
the comet goes behind the Sun for us around February 9, is it too
close by January 15-18 to make it worth trying to see?  Are there
any observatories in the area that might put on some sort of program?
I guess it would have to be right after sundown.

-King
ARPA: ables@mcc
UUCP: {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!mcc-db2!ables
			or ut-sally!im4u!milano!mcc-pp!ables

ajs@hpfcla.UUCP (12/31/85)

> How about comet watching?  We're so high there [Denver] that the atmosphere
> is a lot thinner, that should make for a better view.

Not necessarily, city lights, moonlight, and clouds are much more
important than just altitude.  Lessee, there's a crescent moon on the
12th and 13th, so by the 15-17th I suspect moonlight will wash out the
view, if city lights don't.  Good luck.

Alan Silverstein

thomas@utah-gr.UUCP (Spencer W. Thomas) (01/07/86)

I have been able to spot comet Halley from my house in Salt Lake City
(on a clear night) using binoculars.  But it's not as nice as it appears
in a really dark sky.  But, by the time of the conference, the moon may
be in the way, anyway.

-- 
=Spencer   ({ihnp4,decvax}!utah-cs!thomas, thomas@utah-cs.ARPA)
	"Ask not what your kernel can do for you, but rather what you
	 can do for you kernel!"