dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (12/19/85)
Moonlight is about to interfere with our view of Comet Halley. More -- after this. December 19 In the Light of the Moon Comet Halley is now up each evening. It sets around midnight. According to some estimates, the comet should become visible to the naked eye by the end of this month. But while the comet gets nearer the sun, and grows brighter, Earth's companion moon continues to wax toward its full phase -- casting more light in our night sky. The moon will interfere with our view of Halley until around the end of the month. If you want a look at the comet, your best bet now is to wait awhile until the moon goes out of the evening sky. That'll be towards the end of December, or in early January. Then go someplace where it's dark -- away from the lights of the city. Also, do take along some binoculars when searching for Comet Halley. Even if you can see the comet with just your eye in late December, you'll be able to see it better with binoculars. The comet is still in the constellation Pisces -- setting around midnight. As the days pass, the comet will be setting sooner after the sun. By next month -- when the comet is predicted by some to become barely visible to the naked eye from a country location -- it'll be in the west after sunset. Comet Halley is now moving toward the opposite side of the sun from Earth. It passed closest to us on the inbound leg of its orbit last month. In about another week, it'll be about 100 million miles from both the Earth and sun -- heading to its closest point to the sun -- perihelion -- on February 9. Script by Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1984, 1985 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin