6243tes@whuts.UUCP (STERKEL) (01/10/86)
I am a total astro neophyte that cannot either obtain
the answer (or understand the answer) to this simple
question:
I will be in Isreal on February 12, and anticipate
viewing conditions to be better than where I live
(Northern NJ). If my premises are correct, where/
when/how do I spot and photograph Halley's Comet?
(I know how to do successful star trail photos,
so I only need detailed location info).
Is it possible to layout a crude starmap as part of
the response?
Thanks in advance.
--
[opinions are obviously only my own; Terry
not necessarily those of my asso- ihnp4!whuts!6243tes
ciates or those of my employer.] cornet 232-2899canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Alpha Carinae) (01/13/86)
In article <473@whuts.UUCP>, 6243tes@whuts.UUCP (STERKEL) writes: > I will be in Isreal on February 12, and anticipate > viewing conditions to be better than where I live > (Northern NJ). If my premises are correct, where/ > when/how do I spot and photograph Halley's Comet? It will be difficult to see Comet Halley on Feb 12th because the comet will be on the opposite side of the sun as viewed from the Earth. It will most likely be early March before the comet will be visible again in the early dawn sky. -- Frank Dibbell (408-746-6493) ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,sun}!amdahl!canopus Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA [This is the obligatory disclaimer..]
anita@utastro.UUCP (Anita Cochran) (01/14/86)
In article <473@whuts.UUCP>, 6243tes@whuts.UUCP (STERKEL) writes: > I am a total astro neophyte that cannot either obtain > the answer (or understand the answer) to this simple > question: > I will be in Isreal on February 12, and anticipate > viewing conditions to be better than where I live > (Northern NJ). If my premises are correct, where/ > when/how do I spot and photograph Halley's Comet? > (I know how to do successful star trail photos, > so I only need detailed location info). > Is it possible to layout a crude starmap as part of > the response? > Thanks in advance. It is not possible to view Halley's comet at the time you will be in Israel. Comet Halley is in orbit around the Sun (just as the Earth is). On February 9, it will be at the point in its orbit where it is closest to the Sun. Unfortunately, at the time, the Earth will be on the OPPOSITE side of the sun from the comet so you would have to look through the Sun to see the comet. This is not possible. Here is a VERY crude diagram to illustrate this: ... The circle of dots is the Earth's . . orbit around the Sun (*). On Feb. . -@- . 12 we will be at the position marked . - * - . with an X. The part of the ellipse -. .- marked with - is the comet's orbit - .X. - near the Sun. The @ is the comet's - - position on Feb. 12. Notice that the Sun is between us and Halley (yes we are both in the same plane (for the moment). -- Anita Cochran uucp: {noao, ut-sally, ut-ngp}!utastro!anita arpa: anita@astro.UTEXAS.EDU snail: Astronomy Dept., The Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712 at&t: (512) 471-1471