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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]

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