ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210009
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHYRN MCCUE
note: above
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on March 22, 1996. A graphic about the comet
Hyakutake un Thursday's paper contained an incorrect World Wide Web
address. The correct one is http://www.skypub.com/comes/hyaku3.html.n
A newly-discovered comet - billed by astronomers as the brightest in 20 years - should reach its peak brightness this weekend.
WHERE TO GO?
Anyplace dark with a view of the eastern horizon.
Gary Close, planetarium assistant at the Science Musuem of Western Virginia, suggests driving outside the city limits at least 10 miles. Any direction would be OK except west, because the glow of city lights would interfere as we looked to the eastern horizon.
Mill Mountain is out. Too many city lights (not to mention the neon glare).
Most anywhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway should be good. Close said the Cahas Mountain overlook, at milepost 139, and Devils Backbone overlook, at milepost 144, have a clear view of the eastern horizon.
WANT A FORMAL OUTING?
On Saturday, the Hopkins Planetarium is holding its monthly skywatch session at Green Hill Park in Salem, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Telescopes will be available for the public to use.
WHEN TO LOOK
The comet will probably be brightest this weekend and should be easy to see anytime after 11 p.m.
WHERE TO LOOK
Look almost overhead near the very bright star Arcturus. To find Arcturus, extend the ``arc'' of the handle of the Big Dipper to the first very bright star.
``Face east, look high, and spot the brightest star in this part of the sky. The star is Arcturus; you can't miss it. Hold your fist out to arm's length in front of you. Sighting past it, look one fist width below Arcturus. That's the location of the comet's head.''
- Sky and Telescope magazine
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
Close saw the comet last week. It was 30 million miles away, and was the size of two full moons - but was still fairly faint, so you had to know where to look to see it. By this weekend and early next week, as the comet moves to within 9 million miles away, it should become much brighter, and may even have a tail, Close said.
And it won't zip across the sky like a falling star. It will appear to remain stationary. If you watch it for an hour or more, you may detect a change in position compared to other stars, he said.
ON THE INTERNET
If you can't stay up late, or don't want to drive out into the darkened countryside, or otherwise miss Comet Hyakutake, catch it on-line:
http://www.skypub.com/comet/hyaku2.html
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Color graphic by ROBERT LUNDSFORD/STAFFby CNB