Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utastro.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!ut-sally!utastro!anita
From: anita@utastro.UUCP (Anita Cochran)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: Pleiades, Meteors, Comet Halley
Message-ID: <585@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Aug-85 21:42:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.585
Posted: Wed Aug 21 21:42:35 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 01:29:12 EDT
References: <1428@cbosgd.UUCP> <473@bbncc5.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 34

> []
> 
> This past weekend, attendees of Stellafane at Springfield, VT, were
> treated to two sightings of Halley's Comet, believed to be the fifth
> and sixth thus far.  (in this apparition :-) This was achieved with
> large telescopes, in the 24" range, under pretty good conditions.  The
> estimated magnitude now is about 14, so it would probably be a few
> more weeks before 8-12" telescopes will find it.  But now may be the
> time to start trying.
> 
> /jr

We observed comet Halley last week but with a much larger telescope --
the 2.7 m (107 inch) at McDonald Observatory.  When the comet came
out of the sun in August, it was "recovered" by J. Gibson (Palomar),
R. West (European Southern Observatory) and T. Seki (Geisei).  Their
measured magnitudes were from 16.5 on July 19 to 16 on August 4.
Together, they made 10 observations.  When we observed Halley last
week, it was probably 15.5 to 16 mag and diffuse (very weak
central condensation).  This magnitude is well out of the range
of a 12 inch telescope and is 2 magnitudes FAINTER than the
predictions. (Note that Stellafane observers do not have the
fifth and sixth sightings this apparition but for such small telescopes,
their sightings are commendable.  We hope they are contributing
to the International Halley Watch Amateur net.)  The faint magnitude
does not bode well for this being a spectacular trip for Halley.
-- 
 Anita Cochran     uucp:  {noao, ut-sally, ut-ngp}!utastro!anita
                    or     seismo!ut-sally!utastro!anita
                   arpa:  anita%utastro@UTEXAS.ARPA  
                   snail: Astronomy Department
                          The University of Texas at Austin
                          Austin, TX  78712
                   at&t:  (512) 471-4461