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Hale-Bopp has mostly finished its record-breaking run, but the scientific analysis goes on. Journal science writer John Fleck offers some links to help keep track of the science along with what's left of the spectacle.
Ron Baalke at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory tracks the latest developments on Hale-Bopp, making his comet page a one-stop shop if you're in a hurry. At the European Southern Southern Observatory, Richard West tracks comet science and has details for Southern Hemisphere observers. Charles Morris, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., is an old friend of comet discoverer Alan Hale's, and his Comet Observation Home Page is the Internet's premiere gathering place for hard-core comet-watchers.
If a comet could be said to have an "official Web site," HALEBOPP.COM is it. Set up by California Internet consultant Russel Sipe with help from Alan Hale, it includes fun science along with some of the best discussions available on the Web of the allegations that an alien spaceship is dogging the comet. While much of the late-night talk-show hoopla over Hale-Bopp's alleged "companion" has died down, if you're still interested, Olivier Hainaut of the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy has put together several helpful pages debunking the allegations. Closer to home, astronomer Amy Simon at New Mexico State
University (Hale's alma mater) has details on
local
activities in Southern New Mexico. Albuquerque comet watchers will want to check
out The Albuquerque Astronomical Society's
page, with information on Albuquerque-area comet-watching
activities. Other sites:
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