Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!zehntel!tektronix!hplabs!amdahl!canopus From: canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Flaming Asteroid) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Comet Halley Message-ID: <908@amdahl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 9-Jan-85 20:09:03 EST Article-I.D.: amdahl.908 Posted: Wed Jan 9 20:09:03 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Jan-85 02:56:42 EST References: <4683@tektronix.UUCP> <178@gcc-opus.ARPA> Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 28 > Speaking of Comets, I was looking up at Orion's belt just after Christmas, > and noticed a very bright star, about 90 degrees to my right, rather low in > the sky. Can someone tell me what that was. If it was in the West, it was the Planet Venus. [Obviously, if you were facing Orion, which is in the South, West *would* be to your right] > I'm planning on purchasing a book on star gazing - any suggestions would > be welcome. There are soooo many! Check out a local library first. ASTRONOMY magazine is pretty good for entry-level types. Isaac Asimov has some good books (The Universe, I believe). > (should this be in net.astro ?) Probably. To answer a prior question concerning the visibility of Halley's Comet in a telescope, a Japanese amateur recently photographed it. To see a magnitude 16 non-stellar object like a comet would probably require a scope of 20 inches aperture, and a VERY clear night. When it brightens to around 11 or 12 magnitude, it should be easy in a 12 inch scope. -- Frank Dibbell (408-746-6493) ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,nsc}!amdahl!canopus [R.A. 6h 22m 30s Dec. -52d 36m] [Generic disclaimer...]