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(meteorobs) Comet Hale-Bopp March 19/20
Date: March 19/20, 1997
Time: 2250 to 2330 UT
Location: 5th Floor apt, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA
Observer: Michael Boschat
Latitude: N 44d 39'
Longitude: W 63d 36'
Height above sea level: 58 meters
Limiting mag.: 4.0
Seeing (1 to 5 - best to worst): 1.5 - 2
Instrument: Tento ( USSR made ) 10x50 binoculars, 80mm refractor f/11
Magnification: 48x, 122x
Object(s): Comet Hale-Bopp
Description;
Hale-Bopp was see at 2245 UT with my 10x50's.
At 2255 UT I used my 80 mm refractor at powers of 48x and 122x to observe
the " arcs " in front of the white nucleus, which appeared stellar looking.
Since it was still twilight this cut down on the galre of the comet
nucleus and was helpful seeing this deatil.
I noticed 3 " arcs ", the first one ( 1 ) close to the nucleus was short
and bright, the second one ( 2 ) a bit away was a little larger and bright,
the third ( 3 ) was larger and fainter than the first 2. A curious thing,
the space between the 2nd and 3rd arcs' looked almost like a shadow ( # )
close to the 2nd arc. Similar to Saturn's shadow on the globe, where
there is a bright area and the shadow right with it.
Arc Arc Arc
N 1 2S 3
\ \ 48x - 122x
E / \# \ 80mm refr.
\ \# \
*\ \# \
\ \# \
\# \
\
The # indicates where the "shadow" effect was located.
Note; I used a diagonal so the image should be flipped over with dust tail
on left.
Estimate of comet magnitude I put it at about -1.5 magnitude.
Close to Mercury's in the evening sky.
Clear skies
__________________________________________________________________
Michael Boschat ( Astronomer ) E-mail: andromed@atm.daldot ca
Atmospheric Sciences Phone: (902) 494-7060
Dept. of Oceanography FAX: (902) 494-2885
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
CANADA, B3H 4J1 ASTRONOMY Web Page: http://www.atm.daldot ca/~andromed