Comet Halley from Alabama

By the fall of 1985, Comet Halley fever was all the rage. While those in the know had a firm understanding the comet wasn't going to be the best, it was still the event of a lifetime. It was also clear the comet would be best viewed from lower latitudes.

So, I took some time off from college and drove to Lillian, Alabama to stay with astro-friend Marshal Holman for a couple of weeks. In those days, Marshal's backyard, near the gulf coast, was dark enough for some pretty good observing. So it was December 30, 1985, that I recorded these field drawings of Halley through Marshal's 20-inch dobsonian and my own 4.25-inch f/4 RFT at 17x. On this evening, Halley and it's narrow tail was clearly visible to the naked eye. The tail had brightened, just over the past 24 hours.

I had found Halley to be underwhelming. Visible for only a few minutes during twilight, the excitement for the evening was soon over and it was back to the real business of time for me, finding faint galaxies.

During January, 1986, Halley slipped behind the Sun to reappear in the morning sky, somewhat better and with a longer tail. Perhaps my most memorable Halley observing session was a fine cold morning at a site near Mansfield, Ohio with plenty of friends and wonderful skies and I even managed to shoot a nice color slide of the comet.

But by far, my most memorable Halley event was helping to staff an early AM public viewing session at a park, south of Columbus, Ohio. Cars were lined up for miles, heading both directions on a narrow, two-lane country road. Just outside the gate to the park, I stood in the middle of road, umbrella in hand, explaining that it wasn't going to be possible see the comet in the pouring rain.

My faith in comets were restored by the great pair of the 1990's, Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp. Sure would be nice to have a comet that those again!

For the full story, see:
http://ladyandtramp.com/images/astroimages/halley.jpg