1949n1 19490702 bappu

 photographic image and observation.  
 
 
 
 
 
"This is a cross-section of the original discovery photographic plate of comet C/1949 N1 (Bappu-Bok-Newkirk) [comet marked with a red-V surrounded by marked reference stars]. The comet was accidentally discovered by the trio: exposure taken by the 22-year old Vainu Bappu during the dawn of July 2, 1949, comet noticed by Gordon Newkirk and its presence confirmed by Bart Bok at Harvard University the next day. Newkirk had looked through the binocular microscope and suddenly exclaimed, "Hey that looks like the trail of an asteroid of something!" Upon which Prof Bok took a look and commented, "That is no asteroid - that is a hairy comet." All the 3, each, received the Donohoe Comet Medal for the discovery by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP). 
 
 
For years, the whereabouts of this photographic plate of the comet accidentally discovered by Professor M.K. Vainu Bappu - the father of modern Indian astronomy - was unknown to the Indian professional community. Amar Sharma, an ardent comet amateur from India helped in restoring the knowledge of this plate, in communication with Prof William Liller, who directed him to Prof Jonathan Grindlay, DASCH project, and Alison Doane, the Curator of Astronomical Photographs, HCO. Alison gave a search for the plate in their humongous archives, and actually made the relieving confirmation that the plate still exists in the Harvard University's Plate Stacks. It all happened because Prof Liller revealed to Amar, infact, his very close friend and colleague was Bappu himself during their Harvard student days of 1950s! They had once again seen the plate together later, sometime in early 1970s, so it should possibly still have been there. Amar Sharma extends a special thanks to Prof Liller, Prof Grindlay and Alison for resurrecting this seemingly lost piece of history, with an Indian cometary connection. 
 
 
Photo Courtesy: Amar A. Sharma, Nikaya Observatory, Bangalore 
Photo Credit: Alison Doane, Curator of Astronomical Photographs at the Harvard College Observatory. 
 
 
 
19490702 Bappu