Over The Horizon

Comet Spotting

After having given the northern hemisphere a spectacular display, Comet Hale-Bopp finally becomes visible in the southern hemisphere in early May on its way back out of the solar system.

At the beginning of May the comet will be able to be easily seen by the naked eye low in the northwestern sky just after dusk.

For best viewing, get away from nearby light sources -- pick an out-of-town location if you can -- with a clear view to the northwestern horizon.

The sky should be dark enough an hour after sunset (check your local newspaper for specific sunset/sunrise times), and the comet will be visible for 20 minutes to an hour from this time.

The comet will look like a fuzzy point of light. Even a small pair of binoculars should be able to provide a view of the comet's tail, and telescopes will show the double tail of lit-up dust and gas following the head of the comet.

During May and June, the comet will be between one and 11 degrees above the horizon, depending on what part of the country you're viewing from. (A finger width held at arm's length is around 2^o; a clenched fist held at arms' length is about 10^o.)

On May 9, a thin crescent moon will be just above the comet.

In the week of June 1, Comet Hale-Bopp will pass near Betelgeuse, the bright red star in the constellation of Orion -- try viewing it from just after 6pm; the comet sets around 7pm.

The comet will eventually disappear into the twilight in July, reappearing in the early morning sky before dawn. Try looking for it an hour or so before sunrise low in the eastern sky.

By mid-July it will be rising in the east around 5.30am. At magnitude 3.3, best viewing would be by binocular or telescope as it speeds away from the Sun.

Geoff Hitchcox, Christchurch, Alan Gilmore, Mt John Observatory.