Summer Stars : Astronomy: Amateur stargazers head for the hills to scan the sky for a comet’s tail, Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons.

Astronomy enthusiasts throughout the Southland will be turning their telescopes and binoculars northeastward for the next few weeks in hopes of catching a rare glimpse of Comet Austin’s fiery tail.

While Comet Austin may not turn out to be bright enough to rate as a “great comet” by astronomers’ standards, the possibility of catching the comet on the run excites amateur stargazers. Planetarium programs, lectures and star parties are being scheduled in many locations so comet-seekers can explore this unusual event.

But what else are you likely to see from your front yard if you look up on a clear night?

Stars may number in the billions, but if you’re a Southland city dweller, you can see only about 100 stars and five bright planets, said Tom Dorff, former president of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Urban lights obliterate most of the stars.

“If you’re in a very dark area, you can see about 3,000 stars,” Dorff said.

Yet even in the half-light of an urban night, there is plenty to see. Jupiter, for example, is highly visible now.

“What’s fun about Jupiter is (that) when its four moons cross in front, you can actually see their shadow down on the planet,” said Steve Reynolds, a Long Beach writer and amateur astronomer. “When one of the moons goes behind (the planet), it just blinks out, so you can tell that it’s moving. It’s something that happens in one night, so it doesn’t take a monstrous amount of time to see.”

As for constellations, city viewing is actually preferable, because you can’t see as much.

“It’s like having a filter where only the brightest stars show through. Sometimes when I go up to the mountains, I can’t even recognize a common constellation because there are so many stars,” Reynolds said.

When you poll members of local astronomy clubs, everyone has a favorite place to star-hunt. Mountains and deserts an hour or two from any city top the list.

“The best area is Mt. Pinos in the Frazier Park area,” said Bob Collins, of the Polaris Astronomical Society, which meets in Encino. “The parking lot there is full on a dark weekend, between the third quarter moon and the new moon.” (Take Interstate 5 to the Frazier Park turnoff, follow that road west for seven or eight miles, to a sign directing you to Mt. Pinos.)

Generally, the higher the mountain, the clearer the air. Also, some mountains tend to have less air turbulence. Still-air conditions at Palomar Mountain and Mt. Wilson made them ideal observatory sites, Dorff said.

Big Bear is a another popular site for setting up telescopes. In the desert, Joshua Tree is a favorite spot. Members of Orange County Astronomers often meet at Anza, between Idyllwild and Palomar Mountain.

“But you don’t have to go that far to look for a comet,” said John Sanford of the Orange County Astronomers. “A good place would be off the main divide road off the Ortega Highway, between Capistrano and Elsinore. Before you drop down to Elsinore, there’s a scarp about 2,500 feet up, which is very good for looking.”

Kirk Palmer, telescope operator at Griffith Park Observatory, tells only his friends where he goes--”fewer headlights coming up the mountain ruining your pictures,” he said.

Darkness for stargazing is crucial. “White light almost blinds you for a half-hour to 45 minutes,” said Bruce Dale, of the Los Angeles Valley College Astronomy Club. Astronomers carry red flashlights, and those who smoke close their eyes while lighting their cigarettes, he said.

Experts recommend getting involved in an astronomy club before purchasing a telescope. Often, those who buy a telescope that is essentially a toy become discouraged and give up stargazing. Better telescopes have 100-pound mounts to stabilize them and motor drives to counteract the rotation of the Earth. They cost a minimum of several hundred dollars.

“I’m the president of my club and I do not own a telescope,” said Bronwen Bellanger, of the Los Angeles Valley College Astronomy Club. “I don’t have to because there are lots of people in the clubs who have telescopes.”

In fact, there are occasions when a pair of binoculars is preferable to a telescope. When you use binoculars it’s as though you have bigger eyes letting in more light.

“If you want to look at constellations and where the Milky Way is, binoculars usually will beat any telescope because of the wider view,” Reynolds said. “It’s like having a wide-angle lens on your camera.”

According to Palmer, 100 to 200 people an hour spend about five seconds each peering through Griffith Park Observatory’s 12-inch refracting telescope. ( Refracting telescopes bend light through lenses, while reflecting telescopes use mirrors to bring an image to the eyepiece.)

“How much people see depends on how much they try. In five seconds, I can see an awful lot, and so can beginners who want to,” Palmer said.

When Tom Dorff shows Saturn to children and adults as part of his “Lights in the Sky” program, their reactions vary from, “My God, it really does have rings!” to “I never thought I’d be able to see this with my very own eyes.”

Reynolds explained the appeal of stargazing: “There are just a couple of pieces of glass between you and what you’re looking at. You’re not watching it on TV, and you’re not looking at a painting. You’re actually looking straight at the stars.”

Clubs for Amateur Astronomers

Southland astronomy clubs offer activities and information for amateur stargazers. Membership is not always required to attend meetings, lectures or star parties. Here is a sampling of clubs:

* Santa Barbara Astronomy Club meets at Carroll Observatory, Westmont College, Santa Barbara. Call Clyde Kirkpatrick, (805) 685-2705.

* Ventura County Astronomical Society meets at Moorpark College. Call Grant Sessions, (805) 642-8657.

* The Local Group Astronomy Club of Santa Clarita Valley meets at Placerita Nature Center. Call LaVerne Booth, (805) 259-3284.

* Polaris Astronomical Society meets at Western Savings & Loan, Woodland Hills. Call Ray Coutchie, (818) 347-8922.

* Los Angeles Valley College Astronomy Club meets at Los Angeles Valley College, Van Nuys. Call Bronwen Bellanger, (818) 781-1200, Ext. 335.

* Los Angeles Astronomical Society meets at Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park. Call Tom Dorff, (213) 926-4071. The society presents free public workshops in Monterey Park on Wednesday nights.

* Pomona Valley Amateur Astronomers meets at Harvey Mudd College, Claremont. Call Billie Darrah, (714) 860-5373.

* Riverside Astronomical Society meets at Riverside Community College. Call Clifford Holmes, (714) 689-6893.

* San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers meets at Cal State San Bernardino. Call David Garcia, (714) 884- 0657.

* Astronomical Society of the Desert meets at the College of the Desert, Palm Desert. Call Ashley Thomas McDermott, (619) 346-8041.

* Orange County Astronomers meets at Chapman College, Orange. Call John Sanford, (714) 639-8446.

* San Diego Astronomy Assn. meets at Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater in Balboa Park. Call Greg Cade, (619) 560-1155.

24-Hour Star Gazer Hot Lines

These 24-hour recorded telephone messages tell callers what to see and do, astronomically speaking. Tapes are changed weekly:

* Night Sky Information Line, San Diego: (619) 239-NITE.

* Sky Report, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles: (213) 663-8171. New message each Wednesday.

* Starline, Orange County: (714) 633-2253.

* Starline, Ventura County: (805) 529-7813.

* Stargazers Hot Line, Riverside: (714) 689-0116.

* Sky & Telescope Information Line: (900) 226-4477. Information about Comet Austin, other sky events, and various aspects of the hobby of astronomy, aimed at beginners. Calls cost $1 per minute.

* Skyline: (617) 497-4168. This line, used by serious amateurs, is sponsored by Massachusetts-based Sky & Telescope magazine.