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Subject: COMET
From: Gerry Reynolds
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Wed Mar 27 08:18:07 1996

We finally got some clear skys here in Colorado Monday night. I
was able to get away from city into mountains (elev: 6500) and
even with moon up was able to see 40 degrees of tail naked eye.
After moon set (after midnite) could see 58 degrees. Observed
nucleus under moderate mag (123x) and clearly saw a jet exiting
rearward. Timed the aparent motion using an illuminated reticle
and got ~1 arcmin/min. I filmed it previous tues through the
scope at 1600mm (I don't have piggyback or a regular SLR) using
Ektachrome 1600 at 1, 2, 4, and 6 minute exposures. The 2 minute
exposure is back (last exposure of a roll) and clearly shows the
nucleus and its grainy coma (visually appeared grainy as well)
and the beginning of a tail. It was slightly underexposed and I
would guess the 4 or 6 minute exposure would be better (my scope
is f6.3). I guided using a star so the comet moved but was not
apparent on film. The nucleus core saturated the film and the
diffused nature of the coma hid any motion blur.

Enjoy,

Gerry Reynolds
gerry@fc.hp.com