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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gatech!ut-sally!utastro!anita
From: anita@utastro.UUCP (Anita Cochran)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: Halley's Comet
Message-ID: <425@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 11:33:49 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.425
Posted: Tue Feb 25 11:33:49 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 05:37:04 EST
References: <199@fluffy.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 32

In article <199@fluffy.UUCP>, keith@fluffy.UUCP (Admin) writes:
> 
> 	For some time now I have been reading that the best
> viewing of Halley's comet will be in the Southern hemisphere
> in March and April.  Does anyone know exactly how good the show
> will be?  Will it still be so far away that binoculars will be
> needed to distinguish it from stars or will it be more easily seen?
> 
> 	Keith Crews

The comet will be no closer to the southern hemisphere of earth than
to the northern hemisphere (okay, marginally but imperceptibly closer).
The difference between seeing it in the northern and southern hemispheres
is the height above the horizon that the comet will get to.
If viewed from the southern hemisphere, the comet will be up for more
of the night and will be higher above the horizon.  This means that
one will not have to fight the haze that is on the horizon even in
non-polluted, dark sites.  One will also have longer each night to view
it.  But, if one needs binoculars to see it in the northern hemisphere
then one will need binoculars to see it in the southern hemisphere.
The important thing in the north is to find a dark site (no city lights)
with good viewing to the southeast horizon when it is a morning object
(march and beginning of april) or a good southwest horizon in the end of april.
I wouldn't expect to see it well if your latitude is much above 35 degrees N.
Obviously, the further south you go, the better the conditions will be
but there are plenty of good places to see the comet from the southwest
of the U.S.
-- 
 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