Comet Holmes

heyscottie · Oct 26, 2007

So, I finally got a peek at Comet Holmes last night before the clouds came in, and was very impressed. I'd say it's definitely magnitude 2.5 or so now, and shows up very nicely and unmistakably in binoculars. Right now, it looks like the best globular cluster you've ever seen. I still saw no evidence of a tail, but it may develop over the coming days ... here's hoping!

billslugg · Oct 27, 2007

heyscottie Prospects of a tail are slim. We are looking straight down the tail. The comet is 2.5 AU from the Sun and on a line Sun-Earth-Comet. From the comet, viewing the Earth, the Sun is only 15 degrees off to one side. Keep an eye on the news. If it broke up, the big telescopes might see pieces any day now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

votefornimitz · Oct 27, 2007

It still going to be visible tonight? I was busy looking at the moon before the clouds set in to actually notice the comet, nor did I even know it existed, and I am gonna be ticked if I miss it because I wasn't paying attention... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves... </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 27, 2007

According to my photometrics last night, it was a teeny bit brighter than the night before. Canceling that ~15% brighter perigee moon is a bit of a challenge, but overall, I see no reason why it won't be at least as visible tonight as it was last night. Looking at the output from my sky camera right now, I'm just hopeful my cloud cover breaks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

votefornimitz · Oct 27, 2007

I'm going to be looking in the Perseus area of the sky still, no? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves... </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 27, 2007

Yuppers! Perseus appears to have grown another kneecap, effectively. At first blush, it appears the coma is exploding from around the core. I'm just processing my images to create a blink comparison (lining them up and such) right now. But it appears the coma might be expanding and thinning nearly 20%/24hrs. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

Yes indeed. Clouds permitting, I'll take a look as soon as it gets dark (~ 2 hours from now) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 27, 2007

I'm going to post an animation in "Amazing Images" showing the expansion and apparent disassociation of the coma from the core. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

Wow, it's bright. The sky isn't even dark yet, and it's easy to spot. It's a little below and left of alpha Perseus from here, and unmistakably bright and fuzzy. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 27, 2007

Drool! Sounding like it might have expanded more since last night. Several hours before it's worth dragging the scope out here... Is that naked-eye fuzzy, or binoculars-fuzzy? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

Both, actually. Of course, I know Perseus better than the average bear <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 27, 2007

<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> @ both statements. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

usn_skwerl · Oct 27, 2007

i just literally ran back up the stairs to the computer. does anyone know if there was something supposed to be coming back in tonight, at like...now? i was looking for perseus (not a contellation im very familiar with), and i spotted something coming from the east but it entred the atmosphere nearly directly overhead, slightly west. it was headed towards the big dipper. it lasted about 2 1/2 to 3 seconds, and noticably slowed down. color was yellowish orange, fairly intact. magnitude, about -1 or -2. it arced im guessing about 50 degrees from point of entry to point of dissipation. im in Philly, PA. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

usn_skwerl · Oct 27, 2007

Interesting night. After posting above, I went back out after a quick look at heavens-above to locate Perseus and the comet, saw it was between Cassiopia and the moon, roughly, and spotted an unpredicted satellite flying past the west side of Cassiopia in a SW direction. After I lost sight of the mystery-sat, I located the comet. pretty cool! Didn't need binocs (I don't have a pair anyway) but sadly, because I live in Philly, I didnt spot the tail. will be going back out to look at it again in a little while. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

Neither visible satellite tonight was supposed to be that bright, To find the comet, first find Cassiopia. It's about 30 dgrees to the right of the north star. Look directly below toward the horizon; the brightest object is alpha Perseus, unless you wait too long and CApella comes up, which is blindingly bright/ Below and to the left is the fuzzy comet. Above and to the left is gamma Persei, about mag +3.6 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

There is no tail, as it is pointed directly away from us. It's just a fuzzball. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

usn_skwerl · Oct 27, 2007

i think i spotted it...a hint of orange or red, perhaps? It was cool. I used Cass and the moon, along with Triangulum to coordinate me. Polaris is too dim to see from my house, unfortunately. How I referenced.... http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/usn_skwerl/?action=view&current=comet1.jpg <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Mee_n_Mac · Oct 27, 2007

Rain here tonight ... clouds last night ... aarrghhh ! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -----------------------------------------------------Ask not what your Forum Software can do do on you,Ask it to, please for the love of all that's Holy, STOP ! </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

Just ballparking it, I'd guess about Mag +2.8 to +3.0 It's dimmer than alpha, and brighter than gamma Persei With the near full moon up now, it's hard to judge. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

Testing · Oct 27, 2007

Check your PM. Just went out to look at the sky again. RAIN in LA County, praise the LORD RAIN! No seeing tonight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 27, 2007

Considering the circumstances; rain is better than a comet <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

usn_skwerl · Oct 27, 2007

not in our case...you still herding the critters two by two, MW? I got the ark finished, and had just put it on the front...uh...dock at about 10 this morning. sure enough, the sun peeked through. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Testing · Oct 27, 2007

Light but steady, hope some goes South. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 27, 2007

Lite cloud cover here, but I'm going to risk an opening and head someplace darker. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

billslugg · Oct 27, 2007

I just caught Holmes for 5 minutes through a hole in the clouds at 2135 EDT. I have my 20x80's tonight and it is an improvement over the 8x21's last night. I had expected the 'hollowed out' look I'd read about, but was surprised to see a 'fried egg' with a much brighter inner coma about 1/3 the outer coma width. The outer coma was asymetrical with the SW quadrant dimmer. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Comet Holmes

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