The moon was full on March 5. Observers were competing with its light during this period, but the comet's brightness continued to allow observations. The comet was typically reported between 10 and 15 arc minutes across, indicating no increase since the end of February, but moonlight was the most likely deterent. Interestingly, Charles Morris and Terry Lovejoy both reported the magnitude had increased to 5.0 and 5.1, respectively, by the 6th, indicating the comet was very close to the brightness predictions. Gary Kronksaw the comet with 20x80 binoculars early on March 10 just 5.6 degrees from the moon. By the 13th, observers were reporting a coma diameter over 20 arc minutes, with an average naked-eye magnitude near 4.
Explanation: This enhanced composite image detailing structure of the comet and dust tail of Hale-Bopp was recorded May 5, 1996, one day before the comet's passage from north to south across the plane of Earth's orbit. As the comet descends into murky twilight for northern hemisphere observers it will become increasingly easy to view from the south. Along with Southern Hemisphere observers, astronomers and a fleet of spacecraft of the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics program have been anxiously awaiting this north/south crossing. The comet's interaction with the changing equatorial solar wind and magnetic field during this crossing is expected to produce distortions and disconnections of Hale-Bopp's ion tail. Whisker-like structures, probably part of the ion tail, are visible above extending from the lower left of the bright comet.
Explanation: What's happening to Comet Hale-Bopp's blue ion tail? The comet's ion tail is fluctuating more rapidly as it passes a region of changing solar wind. As the comet passes from north to south, it crosses the plane of the Sun's equator, where the solar magnetic field changes direction. Ions from the solar wind, which cause Comet Hale-Bopp's ion tail, to act unpredictably here. Therefore, Comet Hale-Bopp's ion tale may show unusual structure or even a disconnection - where the tail appears to break off and then reestablish itself later. The picture to the left, taken April 30th, 1996, indeed shows unusual structure in the blue ion tail.
