Hyakutake, Big Dipper, and Observatory Dome
Vic Winter, Courtesy ICSTARS
In one of the more spectacular pictures yet taken, Comet Hyakutake is shown here on March 26
high in the dark Missouri sky. In the foreground is Elmcrest Observatory
complete with a dim red light glowing inside the dome. The stars in the
background moved slightly during the exposure causing them to appear as streaks instead of points of light. Nevertheless,
the constellation of
Ursa Major - including the Big Dipper - is
visible. Can you spot it? (Hint: Hyakutake's tail flows through the
Dipper's handle.) Photographs with both recognizable foreground and
background objects visible can be quite striking as they add angular
perspective and contrast to the outworldly and unfamiliar comet. Dare
anyone try to compete with city lights and capture the
Eiffel Tower or the
New York skyline
in front of the comet?