Posted on 01/03/2017 8:35:33 PM PST by BenLurkin
It’s the Comet Empire!
I remember that one well: sitting for hours each night for days waiting to see something.
It was sure worth the wait! < /sarcasm>
We are stargazers. The website Heavens-above.com alerts us to the Space Station sightings in our area, Iridiums flaring and all the satellites going across, with time, magnitude and direction. Have been looking for the comets, but it has been overcast lately. Stargazing is always good for the reminder that my problems are insignificant in comparison to the Universe.
Thanks for the link!
I know I read that book years ago, but don’t remember much. I looked at Amazon just now thinking I might pick up a used copy of the hardcover for a few bucks. But they want $50+ for a “Used - Good” copy. Forget that! :)
RE: viewing of comets through telescopes:
Usually a naked eye comet is far more pleasing to look at with the naked eye, or with very wide field binoculars, rather than through a telescope because the coma itself is usually relatively featureless compared to a sky-crossing tail. The only exception to that in my experience was Hale-Bopp, which had a visible corkscrewing of gas jets that made it look uncannily like the Whirlpool Galaxy when viewed in my 14.5” Newtonian telescope.
In my comet viewing experience, Huakutake was the best (so I’ll assign it a 10), Hale-Bopp was 2nd best at about a 7, and everything else that I’ve seen was a 2 or less.
I’m looking forward to Comet Trump.
Yes “Trump Comet”. Comets were thought to be messengers of doom so Islamists and libtards might see it that way. Tell them even the universe is pro Trump and watch their heads spin around
LOL! As bitter as I was (and, I guess, still am!) about the experience, I’m glad others make the effort to catch comets as they come by and take joy in finding them.
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