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Comet Hale-Bopp:

Table of observational data


DATE

 m1

Observed

Magnitude

Coma Diameter

Tail Length

(° )

Max Tail Width

(° )

Position Angle

(° )

Notes

1996

9 Jun

+ 6.3

~ + 9.3

1’.6

 

 

10 (coma)

DC = 2

16 Jun

+ 6.3

+ 8.2 ± 0.1

 

 

 

 

 

7 Jul

+ 5.7

+ 7.5 to 8.0

(5’.1 ± 0.3) x 2’.0

 

 

N-S (coma)

Comet at Opposition

15 Jul

+ 5.6

~ + 6.0

 

 

 

N-S (coma)

 

16 Jul

+ 5.6

+ 6.3

 

 

 

 

 

4 Aug

+ 5.3

+ 6.7 ± 0.2

4’.7 ± 1.2

 

 

N-S (coma)

DC = 5

17 Aug

+ 5.1

+ 6.3

5’.5 x 3.6

 

 

N-S (coma)

 

1997

26 Jan

+ 1.2

+ 3.7 ± 0.2

 

 

 

 

 

8 Feb

+ 1.3

+ 3.0 ± 0.2

 

 

 

315 (coma)

DC = 6?

20 Feb

+ 1.5

~ + 2.5

 

0.5

 

295

Tail first observed

10 Mar

+ 0.4

~ + 1.3 to 2.2

 

1.6

 

 

DC = 8?

18 Mar

- 1.6

 

 

3.2

 

330

 

19 Mar

- 1.6

- 0.5

 

3.2

4.5

332

DC = 7 to 8

23 Mar

- 1.7

 

 

{1.9}

 

 

Thin cloud layers

24 Mar

-1.7

- 1

 

5.2 to 5.8 (dust)

3.5 (gas)

1.0 (dust)

0.6 (gas)

354 to 308 (dust)

358 (gas)

 

28 Mar

- 1.8

 

 

5.7

1.3

0 to 315

 

29 Mar

- 1.8

 

7’.0 to 7’.3

5.2 (dust)

4.2 (gas)

1.1

0 to 324 (dust)

5 (gas)

Shells observed

30 Mar

- 1.8

 

 

7.5 (dust)

6.0 (gas)

2.2

351 to 300 (dust)

18 (gas)

 

31 Mar

- 1.7

 

9’.1 ± 1.3

3.7 (dust)

3.3 (gas)

1.5

0 to 332 (dust)

38 (gas)

Shells observed

1 Apr

- 1.7

 

 

2.9

 

323

Haze / Light Pollution. Comet at opposition

3 Apr

- 1.7

 

 

6.5 (dust)

4.1 (gas)

2.1

7 to 327

 

9 Apr

- 1.6

 

 

6.2 (dust)

5.1 (gas)

2.7

23 to 329

 

10 Apr

- 1.5

 

 

7.7 (dust)

4.9 (gas)

2.6

 

 

12 Apr

- 1.5

 

10’.4 ± 1.3

6

 

 

 

The value m1 is the predicted apparent visual magnitude as listed in the British Astronomical Association (BAA) Circulars. These are themselves taken from circulars issued by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

(The data listed here are from personal observations and they are likely to differ from those given in other sources).

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Copyright  Martin J Powell  October 2001