THIS PAGE WAS LAST REVISED 19/03/97 14:43:50
Viewing Comet Hale-Bopp at 30° N. Latitude
Many plots of the position of Comet Hale-Bopp in the sky have been made for observers in the more northern latitudes. As a service to star gazers at the University of Florida and north-central Florida, I have prepared a set of plots customized for Gainesville, Florida at 30° north latitude. These plots may well be of interest to others at similar latitudes.
January through early March
The best viewing during January, February, and early March will be in the morning, just before dawn. This plot shows the times when Comet Hale-Bopp rises and when it reaches 5° and 15° above the horizon. Also shown are the times of "Nautical Dawn" and sunrise, as well as moon rise and moon set. The best viewing periods (when the comet is at least 5° above the horizon before dawn with no moon in the sky) are shown shaded.
The plot above shows the position of Comet Hale-Bopp at "Nautical Dawn" when the rising sun has reached a point 12° below the horizon. The sky at this time will be just be starting to brighten. The comet should be visible against the sky for a few (less than 10) more minutes.
The path of Comet Hale-Bopp against the stars during January, February, and March.
Late March through early May
The best viewing during late March, April, and early May will be in the evening, just after dusk. This plot shows the times when Comet Hale-Bopp reaches 15° and 5° above the horizon, and when it sets. Note the time change from EST to EDT on the night of April 6/7. Also shown are the times of "Nautical Dusk" and sunset, as well as moon rise and moon set. The best viewing periods (when the comet is at least 5° above the horizon after dusk with no moon in the sky) are shown shaded.
The plot above shows the position of Comet Hale-Bopp at "Nautical Dusk" when the setting sun has reached a point 12° below the horizon. The comet should become visible against the sky a few minutes before this.
The path of Comet Hale-Bopp against the stars during March, April, and May.
My Own Observing Notes
JPO's Observing notes of Comet Hale-Bopp
Other Sources of Hale-Bopp Information
The home page operated by Russell Sipe and the discoverers, Hale and Bopp.
A nice page from the Jet Propulsion Lab
Here are good sources of further information (borrowed from www.halebopp.com):
Footnotes
Note however that Gainesville Florida is almost exactly 30 minutes west of the centerline of the Eastern time zone and the times here reflect that offset. If we were on the centerline (75° west longitude), risings and settings would be 30 minutes earlier than tabulated here. The easiest way of correcting for your location is to look up the time of sunrise or sunset in the newspaper for your location and compare that with the value on the plot. The difference tells you how much to shift the times for your own use.
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This page is maintained by John P. Oliver;
write me at oliver@astro.ufl.edu
I am proud to be a member of EAAA
This material is being made available to you subject to a variety of caveats.
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created 01/18/97;
Last revised 03/19/97 14:43