JMU Astronomy Park Invites Public to View Suddenly Brilliant Comet

From: Public Affairs

HARRISONBURG — The JMU Department of Physics and Astronomy invites the public and the JMU community to take a free and close-up view of the Comet Holmes at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the JMU astronomy park.

Last week, Comet Holmes went from being barely visible with the most powerful telescopes to being clearly visible to the naked eye, a brightening of a million fold within only a few hours, said JMU Assistant Professor William Alexander. "This has astronomers excited, yet perplexed and puzzled," said Alexander. "Telescopes all over the world have been taking measurements of this unique event, likely caused by the comet breaking apart."

Those who come out to the astronomy park, on the grassy mall beside the Physics and Chemistry Building on JMU's campus east of Interstate 81, will be able to view the comet through 10-inch telescopes. Binoculars also will be available to view the comet as it passes through the constellation Perseus.

The telescopes will be available until 9 p.m.

Plenty of parking will be available in Lot D-2 across Carrier Drive from the Physics and Chemistry Building. A campus map is available at: http://www.jmu.edu/map/.