RELEASE NO.:  96-4


Comet Watch at NASA/Wallops Visitor Center March 23

The public is invited to attend a Comet Watch from 8 p.m.to midnight, Saturday, 
March 23, 1996, at the Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, 
NASA Visitor Center, Wallops Island, VA.

Comet Hyakutake should be the brightest comet since Comet West in 1976 and far 
brighter than Comet Halley in 1985. The comet should easily be visible to the 
naked eye.

The NASA Visitor Center will open its grounds the evening of March 23 for the 
public to share in the experience. The Visitor Center provides an area away from 
city lights. 

The Visitor Center also will have available computers hooked into the Internet 
so participants can view the latest photographs of Comet Hyakutake from sites 
around-the world.

Participants should bring their own refreshments. Alcoholic beverages are not 
permitted. Also, binoculars will enhance the viewing of the comet.

The NASA Visitor Center is located on Route 175 about five miles from 
Chincoteague, VA, and six miles from Rt. 13.  Admission is free. It is open from 
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday. For further information, please call 
(804) 824-2297 or 824-1344.  The TDD number is 824-1344.

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