Comet Holmes

[votefornimitz]

100% cloud cover on my end...<br />Pity too, I rode about 20 miles to escape the light pollution... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">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...</span> </div>

 

[Mee_n_Mac]

I'll admit to some laziness here ...<br /><br />Assuming Holmes stays bright for the near future, how long will it be visible for ? I have no concept of it's orbit at all.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------------</p><p><font color="#ff0000">Ask not what your Forum Software can do do on you,</font></p><p><font color="#ff0000">Ask it to, please for the love of all that's Holy, <strong>STOP</strong> !</font></p> </div>

 

[robnissen]

<font color="yellow">a hint of orange or red, perhaps</font><br /><br />To me its more orange/yellow, pretty bright yellow. Very cool, not a cloud in the sky tonight in DC. Almost a full moon directly overhead, and does not diminish the comet at all.

 

[adrenalynn]

Mee - <br /><br />Assuming it will stay bright probably isn't a safe assumption. It's blowing off a lot of material...<br /><br />But following that assumption - a couple weeks, at least. Maybe three. Maybe more depending upon what you're looking at it with. With a 16" scope, it's visible pretty frequently, even before it started erupting. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> It's on about a 7.5 year orbit, if memory serves.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Lucky you, Rob! NoCal was socked in tonight. I caught a couple minute window where it was moderately viewable and took just a single snapshot to add to my animation. I might have to break my own rule and image process it more than the other frames, though. It was still behind a thin veil of clouds.<br /><br />It is a pretty amazing sight though, isn't it? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

visible in India?Conan Doyle never wrote about this?

 

[MeteorWayne]

4.33" in 18 hours Glug Glug!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I observed throughout the evening and again about 5:15 in the morning. It seemd a bit larger at 5AM than in the evening through my 8 inch Dob.<br />May or may not be real as I didn't do any full measurements.<br />Also peeked through the neighbor's Astroscan for a wide field view in the evening.<br /><br />My impression was the stalike nucleus was centered within the coma, with a brighter area from the nucleus in the moonward direction. An amazing sight! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

It continues to move further away from us and the sun; however it will be in Perseus through March, before spending April and May in Auriga.<br /><br />In it's discovery year (1892) it had 2 outbursts.<br /><br />This image comes closest to showing what I saw in the scope.<br /><br /> Image by John W Briggs Oct 26 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Thought some might enjoy the discovery story:<br /><br />E. Holmes (London, England) was a regular observer of the Andromeda galaxy (M31), so he knew the region very well. On the evening of 1892 November 6, with skies that were not very favorable, he finished making a few observations of Jupiter and some double stars with his 32-cm reflector, and then decided to take a quick look at the faint companions of Mu Andromedae and the nearby galaxy M31 before quitting for the night. Upon turning the reflector toward that region, he saw what he thought was M31 enter the field of the finder, but when he looked through the eyepiece he saw something different. Holmes said he "called out involuntarily, 'What is the matter? There is something strange here.' My wife heard me and thought something had happened to the instrument and came to see." The object in the field of Holmes' telescope was a comet with a coma about 5 arc minutes across and with a bright nucleus. The date was then November 6.98. Holmes was able to determine a rough positon on November 7.03, before clouds moved in. He immediately wrote to E. W. Maunder (Royal Observatory, Greenwich, England), W. H. Maw (England), and Kidd (Bramley, England). Kidd immediately expressed some skepticism about Holmes' find because of its nearness to M31; however, on November 7.75, Kidd and Bartlett (Bramley) spotted the comet with the naked eye. The comet was independently discovered by T. D. Anderson (Edinburgh, Scotland) on November 8.9 and by J. E. Davidson (Mackay, Queensland, Australia) on November 9.5.<br /><br /><br />From Gary Kronk's Cometography <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Yes I did enjoy that MeteorWayne.<br /><br />Thank you very much.<br /><br />I am yet to see Comet Holmes myself. Thought my luck was in last night as the clouds were well<br />broken right up until just before<br />it got dark enough, when sure enough, a huge sheet of stratus moved in at that point.<br /><br />I will try again later.<br /><br />Comet Holmes has been known a while then, just shy of 105 years.<br /><br />There are charts here showing predicted movement of Comet 17P/Holmes as it<br />slowly moves from Perseus into Auriga spring next year,<br />so is well placed for us all in North America, Europe & northern Asia for some time yet.<br /><br />I have lookend for info, for looking for possible reasons for the dramatic outburst.<br /><br />Have not found anything official.<br /><br />Meteor Impact? Gas eruption? Any guesses?<br /><br />Perhaps observations will reveal details about size of Nucleus, rotational period of Nucleus, etc?<br /><br />ESA page here on the orbital elements of Jupiter Family Comet 17P/ Holmes.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

There seems to be something unique about this comet.<br />It also had two outbursts (not as bright as this one apparently) in it's year of discovery (1892), but none known since then.<br /><br />Perhaps different ices mixture?<br /><br />Since it only reaches 2 AU at perihelion, it never gets very close to the sun, so maybe it takes a while for the gentle heat to work down to a level where ice can be sublimated?<br /><br />It does come close to Jupiter occasionally, perhaps Jove causes tidal stresses that are released when the warmth works down to the interior?<br /><br />Rather fun to speculate on...<br /><br />I wonder if the HST will get a few shots during discretionary time?<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

I sincerely hope so MeteorWayne. HST would be a real asset in learning more about this <br />comet.<br /><br />2 AU @ Perihelion, so solar radiation would be 330 watts per square metre,<br />yes that would maybe take a while to warm up volatiles beneath an ice / dust crusty surface.<br /><br />Jupiter's tidal flexing might help in deformation duringits occassional encounters, so I suspect <br />the currect orbit will not remain very long term.<br /><br />Very interesting.<br /><br />I just hope to get to see it, damn weather <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" />.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

BTW, if you enjoy following comets,<br /> this page is essential weekly reading <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

I do very much freind.<br /><br />Thanks for your link, its in my Favourites now.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[billslugg]

Here is a photo taken early AM Sun Pacific time, supporting a claim of comet break up. Two nuclei. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thank you very much billslugg.<br /><br />Comet 17/P Holmes has split, definately.<br /><br />Lets hope the HST will be trained onto it ASAP.<br /><br />I just hope to see it soon, before it fades back.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[billslugg]

Thanks Andrew, but I must interject the latest theory. Stu Goldman over at Sky and Telescope posits that Holmes has been an alien space craft observing us for over 100 years and we are seeing the rocket exhaust from its departure. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[heyscottie]

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say it has definitely broken up, but I am looking forward to better imagery.<br /><br />Observing tonight, I found it more diffuse than in previous nights, though not any dimmer overall.<br /><br />I fancied I did see an extremely faint and short tail until I started thinking a bit and realized what I thought I saw wasn't even trending in the right direction for a tail to form if there was one. It's really too bad about our geometry here -- this could have been as fine a view as Hale-Bopp.

 

[robnissen]

<font color="yellow">It's really too bad about our geometry here -- this could have been as fine a view as Hale-Bopp. </font> <br /><br />Yes it is. It is really quite stunning. I just came in from outside, and it is directly overhead and clearly visible as a comet with the naked eye. Speaking of Hale-Bopp, for several weeks it sat right outside my kitchen window, it could be clearly seen from inside at the dinner table. My girls, who were about 4 and 7 then, believed it was their own personal comet put there by god.

 

[alokmohan]

Sky and telescope?I dont believe.Give me web.

 

[adrenalynn]

I think I'm going to disagree that we're seeing evidence of a split-up.<br /><br />Here's my latest imagery tonight, with an astrometric plate solution, using the USNO database as my data-source. I think what you'll find is that that's not a "double core" but rather background stars shining through the thinning coma.<br /><br />Stars down to 12.67mag or so line-up near perfectly. In fact, given that small scope, bright sky/moon, and my expectations for the combination of its optics and my inexpensive point-and-shoot camera doing the imaging - I'm darned impressed. It solved to within a few fractions of a second.<br /><br />http://www.jlrdesigns.com/astrophotography/holmes-star-id.jpg <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[billslugg]

alokmohan<br /><br />Sorry, I should have used a winky face to alert you that he was kidding! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Kidding.ok,ok.

 

[aaron38]

I can see it clearly, even through Chicago burbs light polution. Can easily tell that it has a dimension and is not just a single point.<br />A pair of 12x binoculars easily resolves it as a ball of light. To me, it has looked the same brightness for the last 3 nights.<br /><br />Have any of the ISS/Shuttle astronauts been able to get a picture of it?

 

[3488]

Hi aaron38,<br /><br />Very good question. From the ISS/STS, they will have a wonderful clean view.<br /><br />I will observe the comet myself in a little while, it will be the first time I have seen it<br />(due to copious amounts of dihydrogen monoxide veiling & liquid H20 precipitaion<br />yesterday).<br /><br />Below previous Comet observations from STS.<br /><br />Comet Hale-Bopp from STS 82 Discovery.<br /><br />Comet Hale-Bopp from STS 83 Columbia.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>