Page 4
More than
by Do reen Foutz
Assirtant News Edw.:
He can be found in the Reed
Commons tossing large objects
into the air. He loves to exhibit
his talent in hopes of recruiting
others to join him.
Jeff Bach, also known as "Jeff
the Juggler," isn't quite sure what
inspired him to become a juggler,
"1 used to say it was boredom,
Pholo courtesy of Nicholas Traub
FIRE IS FUN... or at least according senior Jeff Bach. Bach can
often be seen oncampus throwing things around.
Comet visible with naked eye
by Jennifer V. Colvin
Editor in Chief
Whew did you feel that? That
was Comet Hyakutake making
its pass only 10 million miles
from Earth.
Brighter than Comet Halley of
1985-86, Comet Hyakutake was
discovered January 30 by
astronomer Yuji Hyakutake.
Unless it fades considerably, this
comet should be the brightest to
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Path of Comet Hyahutake L d
irytan
1996): Comet Group.
Astronomy Department. university of t . College Part
but I don't think it was
boredom...it just seemed to catch
on...making it more difficult is a
lot of fun just to see how many
objects I can get up to," Bach
said.
Entertaining may have fueled
his interest in juggling, "One
thing that might have pushed me
into juggling was that I wanted
to be in some form of
-40110
pass by Earth since Comet West
in 1976.
The most exciting thing about
Comet Hyakutake is that it
should be visible to the naked eye
every clear, dark night of late
March through April.
But seeing this comet is not
like watching a meteor shoot
across the sky. Instead, for many
hours each night it will appear as
a little glowing cloud with a
slightly brighter core and perhaps
News
just up in the air
entertainment. I'm sure you've
seen Steve Martin movies...he
was a professional juggler before
that; he juggled at Disney
World," Bach said.
When juggling at school, Bach
usually has company. Bill
Dietrich, a veteran juggler, often
joins Bach in the Commons.
"He showed me a whole bunch of
different patterns, and now we
teach each other patterns," Bach
said.
Bach and Dietrich are willing
to help aspiring jugglers learn the
techniques. "Pick up some
things and give it a shot," Bach
said.
No one has ever found out
what they're capable of without
an attempt, "Usually when I do
shows or acts anywhere and
people ask me 'Can you do
this?'...l work on it...now knives
and fire are easy. I do just three
machetes, but four torches. Fire
is fun," Bach said.
Bach, a 21-year old 08 English
Creative Writing major, is
hoping to graduate next
December.
Juggling is central to several
aspects of Bach's life, one of
which is school, "My thesis is
basically centered around
juggling. It is centered around
applying aspects of juggling to
life, which would be multiple
things in balance. There are so
many things going on. Basically
life is a juggling act as a
metaphor," Bach mid.
a dim tail
If you are in the mood for star
gazing, take a walk outside
tonight around 11:00 p.m. Face
east and find the brightest star in
the sky. Hold your fist out at
arm's length in front of you and
look past it one fist-width below
Arcturus (the brightest star in the
sky), you should see the comet's
Sky Gazers Alert!
To the right is a
picture of Comet
Hyakutake which
was discovered
January 30.
The left map
shows the path of
the comet as it
makes it way
across the sky
throughout late
March Into late
April.
To see the comet,
look Into the east
sky and find the
brightest star. Hold
your fist out at arms
length and a fist
width below the
star is the head of
the comet.
Phob courtesy of Nicholas Traub
WILLING TO HELP aspiring jugglers learn techniques, "Jeff
the Juggler" often juggles with veteran juggler Bill Dietrich.
Originally from Millcreek, people from all over the world,
Bach currently resides at home. for the past few years. At this
He lived on campus for three convention Bach has juggled with
years before moving back home. people from Korea, Sweden, and
"I was trying to decide if living Australia.
on campus was affecting my Bach plans on juggling in the
grades—it affected my roommates- future, "Immediately after I get
-each semester someone new out of school I would like to try
learned how to juggle," said juggling for a year...l'd like to
Bach. try cruise ships," Bach said.
Juggling has taken Bach to Las
Vegas to the International
Juggling Convention. According
to Bach, this is where the art of
juggling is passed on. Bach has
attended 'the convention, ,which
draws anywhere from 200-2000
head. If there is any tail visible,
it will extend to the right.
If you want a better view,
bring along some binoculars.
If tonight isn't clear enough to
find it, the comet will be visible
all night in the north on Match
25.
After dark Monday night,
examine the sky and about two
fist-widths left of the Big
Dipper's handle, the comet
should appear. By midnight, the
comet will be about two fist
widths directly below the coma
of the Big Dipper.
Thursday, March 21, 1996
Although Bach continues to
improve his juggling, he still has
not reached his final goals, "I
plan on reaching them this year,
objectwise, and getting up to
nine," Bach said. ••• •
If you try a telescope, be sure
to use its lowest magnification
because it will show only a part
of the comet at once.
Also, any interested star gazers
should attend Behrend's own Dr.
Roger IKnarke's lecture "Great
Comets Approaching" Thursday,
March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Science
101.
In addition, a week of comet
observing sessions beginning
Monday, March 25 and ending
Friday, March 29 from 7:00 to
9:00 p.m. will be open to
everyone.