Star-Bulletin
Great fun for everyone trying to find Hale-Bopp.
Step out on the lawn tonight!
Comet fever. As events go, it's fairly celestial. Comet Hale-Bopp is causing folks who normally stare only at their toes to regard the heavens in awe. Comet brings out
astronomer in us allEven though the "prime" viewing period of Hale-Bopp has passed, the comet is apparent during more fortuitous hours these days, an hour or so after sunset, instead of the hour of the wolf just before dawn.
Pre-recorded comet-information is available through the museum hot line (848-4162), or follow this guide from museum astronomy evangelist Ken Miller.
"It's to the northwest," Miller said. "Face the direction where the sun went down, and put out your arm and make a shaka sign. Three shaka-sign widths to the right of sunset is northwest. One shaka-sign up into the sky, about an hour after sunset, and there Hale-Bopp will be."
The best viewing area is dark and unobstructed, so those on the leeward and north shores, and the central plain, away from street lights, have the best view.
"But even from Honolulu, you'll see what looks like a fuzzy star," said Miller. "In a truly dark area you'll see a tail about two fingers long."
The best magnifiers to use are binoculars; a telescope gets you too close to see the entire tail.
The museum offers a "Great Comet Expedition," 5 to 9 p.m. April 11 at a darkened area of the leeward coast. Astronomers will lead comet-making demonstrations and telescope-viewing. Admission -- $25; $22 for members and $15 for children -- includes a limited-edition T-shirt. Reservations:848-4106.
Hale-Bopp Web sites
Bishop Museum: http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/planet/HBHP.html
By Burl Burlingame, Star-Bulletin