COMET'S VIEWERS INVITED TO VALENCIA.Byline: Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writer Stargazers and comet watchers can get a closer look at Hale-Bopp on Saturday when an amateur astronomy Amateur astronomy, a subset of astronomy, is a hobby whose participants enjoy studying celestial objects. It is usually associated with viewing the night sky when most celestial objects and events are visible, but sometimes amateur astronomers also operate during the day for events club celebrates National Astronomy Day Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. This event was started in 1973 by the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, Doug by offering free telescopic views at Valencia Valley Park. Eighteen- and 20-inch telescopes will be set up at dusk in the northwest corner of the park, next to Valencia Valley Elementary School Valley Elementary School is an elementary school located in Beavercreek, Ohio and is part of the Beavercreek City School District. The principal is Lisa Walk. External links
Comet Hale-Bopp Comet Hale-Bopp (formally designated C/1995 O1) was probably the most widely observed comet of the twentieth century, and one of the brightest seen for many decades. made its closest approach to Earth on March 22, when it came within 122 million miles, said Jim Mahon, president of The Local Group. Hale-Bopp came within 85 million miles of the sun April 1. On Saturday, Mahon said, the comet will pass about 135 million miles from Earth. ``It remains brighter than most of the stars in the sky. It's an obvious naked-eye object in the west-northwest sky, approximately one hour after sunset,'' said Mahon, whose group is named for the collective designation given the Earth's galaxy, the Milky Way Milky Way, the galaxy of which the sun and solar system are a part, seen as a broad band of light arching across the night sky from horizon to horizon; if not blocked by the horizon, it would be seen as a circle around the entire sky. , and neighboring galaxies like Andromeda. Astronomy buffs should look for the comet about 25 degrees above the horizon, preferably in an area with few city lights. Nonetheless, Mahon said people will enjoy the celestial spectacle even if they don't retreat to wilderness areas with inky-black skies. Astronomers describe Hale-Bopp as a ``dirty snowball,'' a ball of ice and dust 25 miles wide - perhaps the brightest comet in a century. Amateur astronomers Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp Thomas Bopp (born 1949) is a manager at a construction materials factory and an amateur astronomer. He is best known as co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp in 1995. It was the first comet he observed. Comets are traditionally seen as a bad omen. discovered the comet on the same night in July 1995, when it was beyond the orbit of Jupiter. Comets this bright rarely pass by Earth, experts say. Hale-Bopp will be visible until about the beginning of May, but the optimum viewing period began the last two weeks of March and will continue through mid-April. Since Hale-Bopp was discovered, it has sparked a host of fears and conspiracy theories ''This is a list of conspiracy theories; it contains alleged conspiracies that are not accepted by mainstream academics. For a discussion of conspiracy theories in general, see conspiracy theory. - most recently that a UFO UFO: see unidentified flying objects. (United Functions and Objects) A programming language developed by John Sargeant at Manchester University, U.K. was hurtling through space behind the comet. Last month, 39 Heaven's Gate cultists committed suicide in Rancho Santa Fe in the belief that they would hitch a ride on that spaceship. Mahon said he hasn't noticed any increased interest in Hale-Bopp due to its newfound notoriety from the Heaven's Gate connection. ``We've run some comet programs since (the mass suicide), one of them at Placerita Canyon Nature Center,'' Mahon said, referring to a stargazing star·gaze intr.v. star·gazed, star·gaz·ing, star·gaz·es 1. To gaze at the stars. 2. To daydream. Noun 1. event that drew about 75 people Saturday night. ``The people who were there wanted to look at a comet, and I didn't get one question about a UFO.'' ``There's so much gorgeous, mysterious stuff out there that you don't have to make up any bizarre theories,'' added Mahon, a manufacturing engineer at Rocketdyne in Canoga Park who has been an amateur astronomer for a decade. ``It's a neat universe - I don't need to have aliens in it to make it exciting.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Amateur astronomers are inviting stargazers to gather Saturday in Valencia to view comet Hale-Bopp as it hurtles through the night sky. David R. Crane/Daily News |
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