[vsnet-chat 410] Fictitious novae and comets

["Jan Hers" <janhers@pixie.co.za>]

I think almost everyone has come across them at some time or another: a
misidentified object thought to be a novae or a comet. During our time at
the Johannesburg Observatory long and sad experience had made us wholly
sceptical of all such reports, and our first reaction was not to believe
any of them, but as there was always a possibility that they MIGHT be true
they  all  had to be fully
evaluated anyway, in spite of misgivings.

But probably the most striking instance happened within the confines of the
Observatory itself.  One member of the staff, whose daily work consisted -
of all things! - of the photographic survey of comets and asteroids, was
greatly excited one day to find  a spectacular nova on one of  his plates.
But very disappointingly, it turned out to be the planet Mars.

Regards,
Jan Hers.

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