HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Astronomers spot new comet
Advertiser Staff
Mauna Kea astronomers searching the night sky for asteroids that could strike Earth have discovered a new comet, the first that has been discovered by scientists working at the Mauna Kea telescopes.
The comet spotted on Halloween night has been officially named "P/2005 V1 Bernardi" after University of Hawai'i astronomer Fabrizio Bernardi, who first found it in images taken from the 11.8-foot Canada-France-Hawai'i Telescope.
The comet has a tail estimated to be more than 13,000 miles long, and it orbits the sun about once every 10 years.
It was about 280 million miles away from Earth when it was discovered, or almost three times the distance from Earth to the sun. Its path never brings it close enough to Earth to be visible to the naked eye.
Bernardi is working with David Tholen, a UH astronomer who heads a NASA-funded program to find asteroids that pass so close that they are potentially dangerous.
POWER OUTAGE AFFECTS THOUSANDS
About 16,000 Big Island homes and businesses lost power yesterday morning when two of Hawai'i Electric Light Co.'s generators unexpectedly tripped off line.
HELCO was investigating why the Puna Combustion Turbine Generator No. 3 in Kea'au and the Keahole Combustion Turbine No. 4 in Kona tripped off line at 7:37 a.m.
Other generating units were started, and service to all customers was restored by 7:54 a.m., the utility said.
WAIPAHU
NEW STORY TIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Waipahu Public Library will host a free 50-minute weekly preschool story time and activities program Tuesday mornings, starting today at 10:30 a.m., through Feb. 14.
The program, recommended for children ages 3 to 5, will feature stories read aloud, sing-along songs and activities such as coloring, crafts and puzzles.
MAKAHA
SUSPECT ARRESTED IN HOME INVASION
One of two men suspected of breaking into the Makaha home of a 42-year-old man and beating him repeatedly early Sunday morning was arrested minutes after the incident, said police, who were continuing to look for the second man.
The victim told police he had locked and secured his home in the 84-100 block of Hana Street and was inside with other family members when the two men broke in and assaulted him before leaving.
Police officers found one of the men near the corner of Farrington Highway and Lahilahi Street and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree burglary.
NANAKULI
CAMP RAID NETS THEFT ARRESTS
Police involved in a crackdown on illegal camping at Tracks Beach Park in Nanakuli arrested two men Sunday morning on suspicion of car theft and carrying a loaded gun in public.
The officers were issuing citations to people camping illegally at the park about 2:40 a.m. when they spotted a Dodge pickup truck that had been reported stolen. As officers rushed toward the truck on foot, the driver and his passenger jumped out. The officers reported seeing a handgun next to the passenger seat. The gun was in plain view because the passenger left the truck door open, police said.
The two men were chased down and the driver, 28, was arrested for suspicion of operating a stolen vehicle. The passenger, 38, of Nanakuli Valley, was arrested on suspicion of improperly keeping a loaded firearm.
