HALE-BOPP MAY BE VISIBLE IN EASTERN SKY; COMET IS EXPECTED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT IN MARCH AND APRIL

Just before sunrise, with a clear sky, skywatchers might be able to catch a glimpse of a comet that is making its first appearance in this neck of the galaxy.

The Hale-Bopp Comet was discovered two years ago when it was 650 million miles away. The fact that it was seen so far out makes the comet unique. Astronomers say its size and brightness will become a beautiful sight in March and April as the comet comes closest to Earth.

The nearest it is expected to get will be about 123 million miles, but that will be close enough to make the "fluffy snowball" easily seen with the naked eyes, said Michael Cobb, chairman of the Southeast Missouri State University physics department.

A comet is mainly composed of gases with a core of frozen gases and maybe liquids. The sun's rays heat and reflect off the gases and dust particles that are released by the heat, causing the comet to appear to glow. Cobb said the reason Hale-Bopp is so luminous might be because of the gases involved.

"It might have a very low melting temperature," Cobb said. "Otherwise you wouldn't have seen it so far away."

Astronomers believe it may be the first time this comet has come into the solar system.

"We can't prove it hasn't been through before but we don't have any previously discovered comets that match this trajectory," Cobb said. "At any given time there's probably a half dozen very faint comets around that the astronomers study. When it can be seen by the naked eye is fairly rare, maybe one every year and a half."

The comet can be seen in the eastern sky just before sunrise. Cobb said it can be detected with naked eyes but is better viewed with binoculars or a telescope. He is hoping for some clear skies to better view it.

"It's been so cloudy I don't think I've seen it in about a month," he said.

Roy Eckberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said cloudy skies will prevail through the rest of this week.

"I wouldn't expect a real clear sky anytime in the next couple of days," Eckberg said. "Maybe on Saturday."

There is a chance of rain Wednesday and Friday, and Eckberg said high clouds will be common the rest of the week.

Cobb will be giving a presentation on comets at 7 p.m. March 26 in room 121 of Rhodes Hall at the university. The university's new astronomy club is also planning viewing days when it will have telescopes set up for public use. Those days have not been scheduled yet.

"It still hasn't gotten as impressive as we'd hoped," Cobb said. "March and April are actually the better months."