Comet may be visible in N.Z. this month

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 2

Comet may be visible in N.Z. this month

PA Wellington Comet watchers in New Zealand can try spotting Halley’s Comet on its reappearance from behind the Sun as early as February 22, says an astronomer, Mr Dennis Goodman. Mr Goodman, of the Carter Observatory, said that watchers with a very low eastern horizon could try glimpsing the comet about 5 a.m., just before the morning twilight began. The comet will make its closest approach to the Sun on February 9, when it will be just over 87 million kilometres from it. The comet will be travelling at more than 54 kilometres a second. “Unfortunately, from the perspective of the Earth, the comet lies on the opposite side of the Sun and at a distance of about 230 million kilometres from Earth,” said Mr Goodman. “We are not able to view the comet, and the programme to observe the comet at this time from the space shuttle Challenger has obviously been scuttled as a result of the recent tragedy.” After its closest ap-

proach to the Sun, the path of Halley’s Comet brings it fairly quickly into the southern hemisphere sky. From about February 25, the presence of a near full moon in the morning sky will make viewing of the comet extremely difficult. But from about March 8, the Moon will be disappearing from the morning sky and the comet rising soon after 2 a.m. — about 2% hours before morning twilight begins. Observers in an area with a good dark sky and a good eastern horizon should be able to glimpse the comet, together with a tail of perhaps 15 degrees to 20 degrees in length. A near full moon will hinder viewing of the comet at the end of March, but in early to mid-April New Zealanders will get good views of the comet, when it will be visible all evening, and almost overhead in the early-morning hours. Observations made during January by the experienced New York comet observer, Mr John Bortle, be slightly brighter than initial predictions.