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From: canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Alpha Carinae)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: StarDate: March 2 Predawn Stargazing (COMET REPORT)
Message-ID: <2902@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 11:50:08 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2902
Posted: Tue Mar 11 11:50:08 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Mar-86 04:09:21 EST
References: <450@utastro.UUCP> <2060@bmcg.UUCP> <2062@bmcg.UUCP>
Organization: RA: 6h 22m 30s; Dec: -52d 36m
Lines: 37
Keywords: Comet Halley viewing
Summary: Halley Observations

In article <2062@bmcg.UUCP>, dann@bmcg.UUCP (Dann McCreary) writes:
> In article <2060@bmcg.UUCP> dann@bmcg.UUCP (Dann McCreary) writes:
> >
> >By the way, I think that Sunday morning, the 9th, may offer quite a lovely
> >show - the comet in the sky along with a nearly-new crescent moon. (...)
> >I'll be interested in hearing reports from (...) viewers. other
> >
> After checking moon rise times in the almanac, I think that maybe *Saturday*
> morning, the 8th, may be better for a moon/comet combination view. (...)
> 

I was very fortunate to be in Death Valley over the weekend of March 8-9,
and obtained a very impressive view of Halley from Furnace Creek.  Could
not see the comet Saturday AM due to cloud cover, but Sunday the 9th was
crystal clear.  My impression:  it was easily visible to my near-sighted
eyes without my glasses; it looked slightly brighter than 3rd magnitude.
Naked eye, the tail appeared to be 1.5 to 2 degrees in length.  It was at
its best at 4:30 AM.

By far the best view was through my 7x50 binoculars; literally stunning!
The tail stretched easily over 5.5 to 6 degrees.  The shape of the tail
and coma was reminiscent of its shape as seen in photos taken in 1910,
though much more spectacular, since tail structure tends to get "burned
out" in long exposure photography.

I had wanted to get some photos myself, but I had made a fatal error:
I set up too close to the Texas Springs campground, and word got out that
I had a scope set up, and was looking at the comet.  Literally within
minutes I was mobbed by about 3 dozen people, all anxious and eager to
see and hear about this celestial marvel.  So I (sigh) opted for an
impromptu pre-dawn talk and show of the comet over my plans to photograph
it.

Anyone else have interesting observations?
-- 
Frank Dibbell     (408-746-6493)     ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,sun}!amdahl!canopus
Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA     [This is the obligatory disclaimer..]