THE ART OF COMET HUNTING .2.

More than 20 years ago, my first published article appeared in the RAS C's National Newsletter. Called ''The Art of Comet Hunting,'' it made the point that the search for comets is more of an art than a science. This year's Ruth Northcott lecture is an update of that early paper. After seven visual discoveries and twelve photographic ones shared wit h Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker, I wish to share my ideas on what comet hunting really is: a bit of art, a bit of sport, and occasionally som e science. This lecture will recall my early years in Montreal, and th en in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. where through many happy hours at the te lescope I had the chance to think about what comet hunting is really a ll about. It will also recount some little known comet tales, such as the calculation of the orbit of one of Charles Messier's comets by a f riend in prison awaiting the guillotine; the comets found by Barnard a fter a dream about discovering comets; and the discovery of a pair of comets following the same orbit because I declined to watch a total so lar eclipse. Comet hunting is a special activity that combines patienc e, observing skill, and patience. This lecture is intended to give its audience, and the accompanying article should give its readers, a fee l for what it's like to look for comets in the darkness, and what it's like to find one.