ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 1997              TAG: 9703120086
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: A-1  EDITION: METRO 

THE COMET'S COMING CLOSER|

LENGTH: Short :   22 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  ERIC BRADY/THE ROANOKE TIMES. 1. & 2. IF YOU'RE-an early
          riser - of the predawn variety - you may be acquainted already with 
          this invader of our solar system. Comet Hale-Bopp, which last 
          journeyed this way when the great pyramids were rising in Egypt, is 
          getting brighter every night. It will come closest to Earth on March
          22; then it'll become visible in the evening sky, reaching its 
          highest point during the first week of April. These photos were 
          taken Tuesday about an hour before sunrise from the Blue Ridge 
          Parkway, between mile markers 129 and 130, overlooking Roanoke and 
          Roanoke County. color.