George Alcock’s 2nd comet
George Alcock possible Britain’s greatest naked eye observer
of the night sky discovered his second comet on August 30th
1959. This was just two days after his
47th birthday. Yet just 5 days earlier he had discovered his first comet.
Alcock’s first comet was discovered in Corona Borealis his
second was in Cancer. He had spent 6 years sweeping for comets and had found
two in 5 days. His first discovery was the first from Briatin since WF Denning
discovered a comet in 1894.
After a 65 year dearth of British comet discoveries (and not
for the lack of people trying) the discovery of two British comets in a week
was, and still is, a fairytale event.
George Alcock would go on to discover another 3 comets not to
mention 5 novae!!
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