Sunday, March 27, 2011

HALE BOPP

If you were banished to the prairie, do you think you’d miss the bright lights of the city? You need to know there are some hefty compensations out here. The sky is so dark that you feel as though you’re walking through the thick canopy of stars, not under it. The horizon is actually visible; unobstructed sunsets and sunrises are delivered daily.

To get us off to a very good start, the first year we lived here the Comet Hale-Bopp appeared at the end of our lane. (Ordinarily if the sky turns green, it’s not a good sign. We have special basements for that in the Midwest.) We had our own personal comet show. We set up two folding chairs in front of the garage doors and peered at the green sky for a couple of weeks. Hale Bopp was not subtle––no one ever said, “Hey, Clarice, you think that’s that comet thingee over there?”

If I had noticed a new comet, I’d have hesitated to mention it anyone. But Mr. Hale and Mr. Bopp did not hesitate when they spotted this beautiful display within the constellation Sagittarius. They reported it to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. I am certain that would not have occurred to me, because I was unaware that there was a place to report “transient astronomical events.” This organization gathers such information and sends out telegrams!

It's a good thing I didn't know about the Central Bureau  other transient events appeared to me––that Coot, the crop-duster, a floater––they all look the same to me until they’re pretty darn close. Imagine the headline:  Williamsburg Woman reports duck to Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.

Turns out Comet Hale Bopp was anything but a new comet; people in ancient Egypt set up their folding chairs in front of the Pyramids and watched it.

We all can be happy that Mr. Hale and Mr. Bopp didn’t hail from my hometown, a little German farming community in Michigan. Comet Reimenschneider-Eisenbeiser probably wouldn't have caught on. Now Comet Pickleseimer, that’s a different story,

To report your own transient astronomical events:

More on Comet Hale Bopp:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale-Bopp