Comet Holmes

[MeteorWayne]

Basically, it's that a comet has enough of various ices that when it gets close enough to the sun, the warmth causes the ices to sublimate (turn from solid to gas) expelling the gas, and dust moved by the expanding gas.<br /><br />So it goes from a starlike point (the origin of the word asteroid means starlike) into a fuzzy object with the gas glowing like neon bulbs do in one tail, and the dust reflecting sunlight in another tail.<br /><br />And maybe glowing from other means, though that's controversial <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> (for you MM <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> )<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]

Has anyone seen it today? <br /><br />Is it continuing to fade?<br /><br />Hopefully, we might get to see it Saturday evening, when the cloud may break.<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>

 

[spaceinvador_old]

I was outside a few hours ago and saw it easily with the naked eye. That was about 10pm pacific time. I didn't even know this thing was out there till tonight. Guess I should be lurking in here more often. I spotted it right away. To bad it doesn't have the classic tail, but this is different.

 

[adrenalynn]

No additional detectable fading the last couple nights.<br /><br />I'm starting to image, with very very long exposures (or lots of stacks), some tail, although on this approach, it's not the nice long classic tail. <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>

 

[3488]

Thank you very much SPACEINVADOR & Adrenalynn for you updates.<br /><br />Despite the forecast for sunny weather<br />here this afternoon, guess what? IT IS OVERCAST <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> .<br /><br />I can only hope that tonight it will still be clearer & I can contribute something more worthwhile.<br /><br />I know this is not Comet Holmes, but is Comet McNaught. I just had to<br />link this here. Very uplifting indeed, both the images & the soundtrack by Enya (IMO one of the finest musicians ever).<br /><br />Comet 17/P Holmes article from Spaceflightnow.com.<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]

Nice image here showing ion tail.<br /><br />ANother nice one here a negative version showing streamers. <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]

Thanks MeteorWayne.<br /><br />A brilliant scoop. I missed that one.<br /><br />Yes a definate tail.<br /><br />Of course the changing geometry is beginning to favour views of the tails.<br /><br />Great stuff.<br /><br />Hopefully these later observations will shed light on to what actually happened & why the dramatic<br />flare up.<br /><br />Weird, but wonderful comet. Hopefully will get to see it later, the cloud is expected to<br />break tonight. <br /><br />It is dark now, but is still overcast. Your clocks go back tonight don't they?<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]

Yes about 12 hours from now I have to start adding 5 hours to my watch time instead of 4. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Of course I have to reset all the other clocks in the house bacause Ann and the cats run on Eastern time <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Hopefully it will clear up after the remains of Noel pass by and I will get some meteor observing in as well as another view of Comet Holmes. Last night was the first in a week we were clouded out. <br /><br />MW <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 of course, Ann & cats will use clock time. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />I am off out now, going to mum's for a little while. Will be back later.<br /><br />Hope you get to see something. I will report back later.<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>

 

[3488]

Still cloudy here, so nothing to report as yet unfortunately. <img src="/images/icons/frown.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>

 

[adrenalynn]

I need to process mine. Not as pretty as that first one, but it was a couple days ago that I took it, so it was an earlier developing tail (from our aspect).<br /><br />Skies are brilliant blue here right now. So sharp they're painful to look at. Scope is in the dark cool closet under the stairs with the camera already mounted, try to cut down on time to equalibrium. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> My living room looks like a photography store exploded in it. I count five tripods, two scope cases, two large gelcells, eleven various interface cabls, two more cameras, ..., all topped by Orion and Optics catalogs. What a mess. Been a good month for observing though! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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>

 

[3488]

Here it is 3:05 AM UT.<br /><br />Just been outside & there are gaps in the clouds now. Comet 17/P Holmes was there.<br /><br />The comet looks much larger now, about a third of the diameter of the Moon.<br /><br />Does look fainter, though I suspect that is because the light is spread over a larger area.<br /><br />Through 7 x 50 binoculars, Holmes, appears to have lost the perfect circular shape<br />& does look a little ovoid 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>

 

[votefornimitz]

1/3 the size of the moon? What are you're light pollution conditions? What I saw of it tonight seemed quite a bit smaller than that....<br /><br />I would agree that it's fainter and more ovoid though, and it also is appearing in roughly the same region as Perseus... <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>

 

[adrenalynn]

Under heavy light pollution but decent seeing, I'd agree that the coma is somewhere near that apparent size in the 5" scope. <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>

 

[adrenalynn]

<font color="yellow">Through 7 x 50 binoculars, Holmes, appears to have lost the perfect circular shape <br />& does look a little ovoid now.</font><br /><br />This was shot at about the same time you were observing. 2000ish mm focal length.<br /><br />http://www.jlrdesigns.com/astrophotography/holmes-11-03-07.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>

 

[alokmohan]

Is it visible in Kolkata.

 

[adrenalynn]

Yes. In Perseus. <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>

 

[usn_skwerl]

heavens-above for the win <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Thanks.Asis may appreciate,wake up all night and see.Cherry also.

 

[3488]

Thank you very much Adrenalynn.<br /><br />I have downloaded your image. Yes that is the general form I saw. In your photograph, <br />which is enormously more detailed than anything I could see, does show the brighter inner<br />coma starting to look more ovoid, exactly what I saw in my 7 X 50s. <br /><br />The fainter outer coma in your image, still looks perfectly circular.<br /><br />I will check out again later.<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>

 

[alokmohan]

How in India.

 

[adrenalynn]

http://www.stellarium.org/<br /><br />In Perseus <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>

 

[rybanis]

Gonna go out at some point this week and take a look at this guy through the binocs. I'm looking forward to it...if I can stay awake. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[holmec]

Here's a pic of its current postion<br /><br />Postional Image of holmes17p <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

Holmes is developing very nicely. I notice tonight that even in my massively light-polluted front yard, I can distinguish it as a fuzzball instead of a point-source <i>to the naked eye</i><br /><br />Imaging this evening for a total of 2hrs 46mins 10sec (stacked) shows a faint tail on the outter coma, and it appears the inner coma is starting to elongate into a tail as well. The bright and sharp starfield, even within the outer coma, proves it's not registration error...<br /><br />I'll post it once it's processed...<br /><br /> <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>