Morning viewing of Comet Hale-Bopp from Albuquerque, N.M, latitude 35.1 degrees north."Best viewing " means the time before the light of dawn begins washing over the sky, obscuring the view of the comet.Times vary only slightly, by a few minutes, in the rest of New Mexico. Viewing times and sunrise and sunset times for other locations are available from the U.S. Naval Observatory.
"Above horizon" indicates the comet's height at the "best viewing time" indicated. A fist held out at arms length is about 10 degrees high.Date Sunrise Time Best Viewing Above Horizon 3/21 6:08 a.m. 4:44 a.m. 11.0 degrees 3/22 6:07 a.m. 4:42 a.m. 10.1 degrees 3/23 6:06 a.m. 4:41 a.m. 9.2 degrees 3/24 6:04 a.m. 4:39 a.m. 8.3 degrees 3/25 6:03 a.m. 4:38 a.m. 7.3 degrees 3/26 6:01 a.m. 4:36 a.m. 6.4 degrees 3/27 6:00 a.m. 4:35 a.m. 5.4 degrees Source: U.S. Naval Observatory
After March 27, the light of dawn will begin washing the comet as it rises, and the best viewing shifts to the evening sky.