October 96 Observations

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10/31/96 6:15 -> PM EDT
Hale-Bopp
*1996 Oct. 31.96 UT: m1=4.6, Dia.=18', NE...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
[NE visible at 6:15 PM EDT(prior to ast darkness). 1/2 degree tail visible shortly after with direct vision.]
Hale-Bopp
*1996 Nov. 1.00 UT: m1=4.6, Dia.=15',DC=7.0...10x50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
[3+ degree tail. :)]
Continues to brighten! :)

Also observed M31, M33, M57, Double Open Cluster, with an Orion 80mm Short Tube Refractor at 16X.



10/30/96 7:00 -> PM EDT
Comet Hale Bopp
1996 Oct. 31.02 UT: m1=4.8, Dia.=18', NE...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD) Comet easier to lock on to than 10/28, seeming larger and slightly brighter!
10/28/96 7:15 -> PM EDT
Comet Hale Bopp
1996 Oct. 29.03 UT: m1=4.9, DIA=15', NE...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD) [1/2 deg tail and fairly stellar nucleus obvious with averted vision. Comet much easier viewed with direct vision than previous reports. Observation not compensated for proximity to horizon.]
Viewed M31, M33. Saw -4 mag meteor. Saw two meteors thru 80mm refractor in the exact same spot 30 seconds apart. Then the moon shut down the observing for the night. A very slim window this soon after the full moon.
10/15/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Comet Hale Bopp
1996 Oct 16.03 UT: m1=5.2, DIA=15', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD) What a time it has been, chasing Hale Bopp for over a year. It is now sinking low in the evening sky and within a month it will be too close to the sun. I will indeed miss this dynamic hairy monster beast of a comet until it returns in Feb 97.
10/15/96 5:00 -> AM EST
Comet Tabur
1996 Oct 15.35 UT: m1=5.2, DIA=10', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
10/14/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Comet Hale Bopp
1996 Oct 15.02 UT: m1=5.2, DIA=18', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
[much easier naked eye object than my previous reports]

10/12/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Hale-Bopp
1996 Oct 13.04 UT: m1=5.4, DIA=18', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
[> 2 degree tail]

10/11/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Hale-Bopp
1996 Oct 12.04 UT: m1=5.4, DIA=15', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
[> 2 degree tail]
10/11/96 5:00 -> AM EST
Comet C/1996Q1 Tabur
1996 Oct 11.35 UT: m1=5.3, DIA=10', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
10/10/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Comet C/1995O1 Hale Bopp
1996 Oct 11.03 UT: m1=5.4, DIA=12', DC=6.5...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
10/09/96 5:00 -> AM EST
Comet C/1996Q1 Tabur
1996 Oct 9.35 UT: m1=5.2, DIA=12', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
10/07/96 5:00 -> AM EST
Comet C/1996Q1 Tabur
1996 Oct 7.35 UT: m1=5.2, DIA=12', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD) [fairly easy naked eye object]
10/06/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Comet C/1995O1 Hale Bopp 1996 Oct 7.04 UT: m1=5.5, DIA=15', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros (Mt Airy, MD)
1006a.jpg

10/05/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Comet Hale Bopp C/1995O1
1996 Oct 6.04 UT: M1=5.5, DIA=15', DC=7.0...10X50B...George Varros Mt Airy MD
[still just naked eye with averted vision. Curved tail > 1.5 degree in PA~100 thru PA~125]

Some CCD images
1005a.jpg
1005b.jpg
10/04/96 5:10 -> AM EST
Comet Tabur C/1996Q1
*1996 Oct. 4.35 UT: m1=?, Dia.=15', DC=7.5...10x50B....George Varros(Mt. Airy, Maryland) [Naked Eye even with close last quarter moon very close by]

10/03/96 8:00 -> PM EST
Comet Hale Bopp C/1995O1
*1996 Oct. 4.03 UT: m1=5.5, Dia.=15', DC=7...10X50B....George Varros(Mt. Airy, Maryland) [1.5 deg tail starts in PA ~100 and curves to PA ~120. M1 questionable due to coma's close proximity to two faint stars]


10/01/96 5:00 -> AM EST
Comet Tabur C/1996Q1
C/1996 Q1 (Tabur) would be fairly easy naked eye if the Moon was not a factor. Comet Tabur is well condensed but small ~10'. Not enough time to make reliable observation.


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