Comet Halley. April 24, 1986.
5 minutes exposure. 3M 1000 slide film. 50mm f/1.8 Yachica camera.
Comet Halley. April 24, 1986.
10 minutes exposure. 3M 1000 slide film. 50mm f/1.8 Yachica camera.
Combination of the above two photographs.
On April 24, comet Halley was situated about 40 degrees to the west of the full moon. As a result, very little of the comet could be seen. However that night there was a total eclipse of the moon. For this night I had made sure I was in a region of very dark and very clear skies. I was about 1000km north of Perth at the end of a lecture tour on the comet.
As the partial stages of the eclipse progressed and the skies darkened, more and more of the comet and its tail became visible. At one stage it seemed as though the comet was actually growing its tail! During totally the view with the naked eye was astounding. Nearly overhead was this 3rd magnitude comet with a long faint tail reaching downwards past the eclipsed moon. It looked for all the world like a long sword hanging in the sky with a drop of blood falling from the end of it! A truly remarkable sight! Unfortunately the comet and the moon were just too far apart to fit on the one photograph. The photographs below show the photographs that I took in an attempt to record the sight.
Comet Halley. April 24, 1986.
10 minutes exposure. 3M 1000 slide film. 50mm f/1.8 Yachica camera.
Combination of the above two photographs.
The above photographs were taken during the total eclipse. They overlap with the next photograph.
