Comet 17P/Holmes Is Naked-Eye!

Started by Dave Mitsky, 10/24/2007 05:21PM
Posted 10/24/2007 05:21PM | Edited 10/25/2007 07:53AM Opening Post
The periodic comet 17P/Holmes has undergone a major outburst and has increased 14 magnitudes in brightness to naked-eye visibility. It is currently near Alpha Persei.

http://www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html

Dave Mitsky

Chance favors the prepared mind.

De gustibus non est disputandum.
Posted 10/25/2007 07:46AM #1
The actual change in brightness was over 14 magnitudes (over 500,000 times) from 17 something to 2.5! The source that I quoted had it wrong.

There are articles on (and pictures of) this historic outburst at
http://www.spaceweather.com/ and http://www.space.com/spacewatch/071025-comet-holmes.html

Dave Mitsky

Chance favors the prepared mind.

De gustibus non est disputandum.
Posted 11/01/2007 03:26AM #2
I took a look at it this evening from Atlanta. It was extremely easy to find as a naked eye object and looked pretty good-sized in hand-held binoculars.

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I have several telescopes, but none are semi-APO, APO, or in anyway valuable.
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Posted 11/01/2007 04:29PM #3

On Tuesday night (Oct. 30), I was able to see it's coma naked eye. I've been able to see it as a "star" since the 24th, but now it's coma is large enough that it is unmistakable the naked eye, even my heavily light polluted urban sky.

K. Michael M.

Dave Mitsky said:

The periodic comet 17P/Holmes has undergone a major outburst and has increased 14 magnitudes in brightness to naked-eye visibility. It is currently near Alpha Persei.

http://www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html

Dave Mitsky