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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gatech!ut-sally!utastro!anita
From: anita@utastro.UUCP (Anita Cochran)
Newsgroups: net.astro.expert
Subject: Re: Halley's Comment/Feb 12/Isreal
Message-ID: <270@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-Jan-86 18:50:12 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.270
Posted: Mon Jan 13 18:50:12 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 15-Jan-86 00:27:27 EST
References: <473@whuts.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 36
Summary: Not possible

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