Comet Holmes

usn_skwerl · Oct 29, 2007

Andrew, are you facing potentially dangerous amounts of liquid DHMO (and trace elements in suspension) accumulation (2.5cm+) on the surface of the planet at your coordinates? The northeastern areas of the U.S. above sea level were faced with significant layering of liquid DHMO for several sols until 48 hours ago. The local vegetation appears quite confused. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Oct 29, 2007

I would not say dangerous amounts (during the Summer we did), but it was a nuisance, enough to get wet & of course the DHMO had condensed to veil the nocturnal skies, thus severely depriving me of visual observations of interplanetary ice / dust ball. Today, it could not be more different. It is almost dark here now & I am going out to the coast to get a clear N E view over the English Channel towards France. I will be back later to report. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 29, 2007

Enjoy, Andrew!! <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>

robnissen · Oct 29, 2007

I like viewing it a little before 2 A.M. (daylight time), when it is a little north of being directly overhead -- at D.C. latitude.

adrenalynn · Oct 29, 2007

Yes, it is. In Perseus' "left thigh". My own favorite viewing time/angle for the West Coast is between 20:30 and 22:30 PDT. That puts it in the north eastern sky, Capella (in Auriga, under Perseus)having risen enough to give a clear marker star. The advantages to earlier viewing are: The moon is still obstructed for me (that advantage goes away by 21:00 right now at my site), and the shallower angle makes both telescope and binocular viewing much more comfortable. At the same time, it's high enough to clear our worst light pollution, and any smog/haze we might have. <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>

heyscottie · Oct 29, 2007

I'm looking forward to each night of seeing this, and eagerly watching the moon wane....

3488 · Oct 29, 2007

Thanks MeteorWayne, I sure did. I went to a small seaside town called Dymchurch on the Kent coast. Got to Folkestone, where was headed intitially & the Dymchurch bus was just sitting there @ the bus station, so I got on (much less light pollution @ Dymchurch). Yes Comet 17P/Holmes was there for the taking. It was much larger & brighter than I had expected. Perseus did look odd, that much was even obvious in the light polluted skies of Ashford. I took loads of pictures, will post links here when I get them back (will get the film processed & a CD Rom made up tommorow). Took some of Holmes next to Mirfak & the Alpha Persei cluster. 50mm lens & 220mm zoom. It was incredibly beautiful. The waning Gibbous moon was low over the English Channel, there were high Cirrus Clouds to the North & also there was a multicoloured Moon Arc to the left & took several images of that too. Perseus was in the clear & there was Holmes & I was quite literally amazed at how big & bright it was. Mars rose above the Kent coast. It really was a good trip. The dihydrogen monoxide ice veils @ the tropopause vacated the area, leaving the sky almost 100% clear after a while. Got some nice shots of the moon over the Kent coast. When the pictures are developed & CD rom made up, I will link them to this thread (tomorrow hopefully). I also took in Comet 17P/Holmes in 7 x 50 binoculars & the colour was strange, sort of greenish, a bit like Comet 1996 B2/Hyakutake in the Spring of 1996??? Cyanogen???? I will go again on Thursday (day off then) as the weather still looks favourable then. The moon will have waned to 58% by then & rising @ 22:17 UT, so should be a much darker sky. Weather forecast looks crap here for Friday, so I will go on Thursday. BTW today's APOD: <</safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 29, 2007

I'm happy for you, much as I would be for anyone whose veil parts to get an opportunity to see this unique comet. Look forward to your pix!! Wayne <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>

3488 · Oct 29, 2007

I hope they come out, should do. I've got three frames left, so will take some Autumn shots on the way to work tommorow to finish off the film. Fantastic comet, somewhat larger & brighter than I had expected. I wonder if we will ever find out why Holmes has brightened by such an enormous amount?? Apparently the Nucleus is thought to be only 3.4 kilometres across, mountain sized. So something really weird has happened for Holmes to appear so bright from so far away being such a small comet!!! Anyway good night all, I'm off to bed now. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

scottcarlin · Oct 29, 2007

I live in Ohio, what time will I be able to see it and in which direction?

usn_skwerl · Oct 29, 2007

right now, roughly above the moon. make a straight line between the moon and a contellation that looks like a "W." the comet has a yellowish hue. check this link to see exactly where it is. pic is facing towards the east. moon is on far left. Follow it up to the W, divide, youll see the yellow, hazy comet. its small; doesnt look like much more than a star, really, and not extremely bright, but its easy to spot with the eye. http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/usn_skwerl/?action=view&current=ohio.jpg additionally, use the three stars making the triangle to the right as an arrow, facing away from the comet. if it's dark enough, you cant miss the triangle constellation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Oct 30, 2007

APOD for Tuesday 30th October 2007. Coma expanding. I should be back later with some pictures. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

jasonpply · Oct 30, 2007

will i be able to see it in canada east coast nova scotia and tonight is it the same above the moon please say yes but dont lie now i will take my binocs to work tonight for sure weather channel please say "grey skys are gonna clear up"

usn_skwerl · Oct 30, 2007

Just look for the three stars forming the skinny triangle to split the difference between the "W" constellation, and the moon, kind of (the moon isnt in the same spot as last night, it's a little further down towards the horizon, a little further from the "W". Once you do that, you can use the binocs to spot the hazy yellow dot. It's the only noticeably yellow dot in that area. That'll be the comet <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

alokmohan · Oct 30, 2007

Is it visible from India?

adrenalynn · Oct 30, 2007

Yup! Look for it in the same place. Left thigh of Perseus. Below Mirfak, above Capella. Figure a rise time of something like 20:30 local time. Depending upon how much of the horizon you can see, plan on starting to look for it around 21:30-22:30 local. Visible until close to daybreak. <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 30, 2007

To answer a common question, yes it is visible from the entire northern hemisphere. In fact, if you live above 40 degrees north latitude, it is currently circumpolar, i.e. it never goes below the horizon. If you closer to the equator than 50 degrees south, it is visible for part of the early morning hours, low on the horizon. For the are between, it is visible for a good part of the night. <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>

aaron38 · Oct 30, 2007

That APOD picture is really cool. I wonder what the 28-29th look like. Last night I though it looked even bigger and brighter than it did on Sunday night. I attributed it to the moon being farther away. But it looks like it IS bigger. How long will it be before it starts dispersing? I'm planning on driving out to dark skies Thursday night, but might go tonight if it's going to start fading.

MeteorWayne · Oct 30, 2007

There's really no way to tell. This is a rather unprecedented outburst for a comet at that distance from the sun. My impression last night was it was bigger, but dimmer, I estimated about mag +3.2. Also the central condensation (through the scope) was not as bright or distinct as two nights ago. <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 30, 2007

Either way, it's something unexpected, normally invisible to the naked eye, especially in the city. And also it's just pretty friggin cool. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 30, 2007

For those in the US with telescopes, maybes set up your telescope in the front yard to entertain parents and teenagers during trick or treating tomorrow!! <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>

heyscottie · Oct 30, 2007

Wayne: I agree. My estimation was closer to +3 (it seemed almost exactly the same as Delta Per, which is +3.01). The coma seemed larger, though I may have just been able to see more of it with the moon below the horizon. The central brightening still seemed fairly distinct and bright, but perhaps slightly less so than the day before.

MeteorWayne · Oct 30, 2007

More than Hale-Bopp??? <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>

Mee_n_Mac · Oct 30, 2007

How long do you think it will take to traverse, do we have days of viewing left or weeks...? See Adrenalynn's and MW's answers to my same question back on pg 2 or there abouts. I also note that the thread in Amazing Images had a nifty orbit visualization which I'll try to post a link to here. Here's that orbit diagram. <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 30, 2007

Months, but future brightness unknown, most likely dimming. <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>

Comet Holmes

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