Comet Holmes

[Hungry4info]

So uh... anybody besides me looking at Comet 17P Holmes every night for the past couple of nights?

In case you didn't know, it broke up or something, and is now a mag 2 object. It was a mag 17 object, thus, it's brightness increased ~1,000,000-fold.

Saw it yesteroday through my 13 centimetre reflector and it appeared to be a diffuse spherical haze with a dense bright nucleus.

Saw it tonight through the same telescope and the sphere was larger and dimmer, the nucleus appeared about the same.

(Note: When I say nucleus, I refer to the inner dense bright region, not the solid rock at the centre. I call it a nucleus because the image I get resembles a cell)

[MKruer]

Unfortunately I live in a big city and I would not be able to see it short of it coming to hit the earth.

[BobHegwood]

Unfortunately I live in a big city and I would not be able to see it short of it coming to hit the earth.

That's alright... We can use more water...

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

[symaski62]

http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0017P/2007.html

[Adirondack]

Though the comet isn't that bright in Celestia (well, it is invisible at all when observed from Earth)
as it is on the night sky, give it a try:
http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/show_addon_details.php?addon_id=1083

Switch on orbits and names for comets, go to the surface of Earth (northern hemisphere)
and take a look to 'Perseus'. Grab your binoculars and go finding the comet as a white blot
in your backyard.


Adirondack

[BobHegwood]

Okay, I'll admit it when I'm mistaken. Just watched a National
Geographic program concerning comets, and - as usual - I didn't
know what the hell I was talking about.

A very good non-technical explanation of the Oort Cloud and the
Kuiper Belt got my attention. Early solar system creation theories
were explained so that I could understand them, and I now see why
some scientists argue that there could well have been enough comet
strikes on the Earth to account for oceans. I still find it hard to
grasp, but the ideas are sound.

I was also unaware of the fact that comets can also be found with
diameters in excess of 600 miles, and that they are generally
constructed with about 50% water at their nuclei.

Very interesting to watch and listen to these explanations. Why can't
some of YOU guys explain things in simple terms?

Thanks, Brain-Dead

[symaski62]

[BobHegwood]

What's yer point?

[Adirondack]

What's yer point?

Short question, brief answer:
Holmes magnitude is decreasing.

Adirondack

[BobHegwood]

What's yer point?

Short question, brief answer:
Holmes magnitude is decreasing.

Adirondack

Like I said before, "Why cant' more of you people give answers we
can understand?"

Thanks Ulrich...

[Adirondack]

Thanks Ulrich...

Bob, you want a pic?
Here it comes...



Adirondack

[BobHegwood]

Thanks Ulrich...

Bob, you want a pic?
Here it comes...
Adirondack

See? Wasn't that easier than trying to make my poor head hurt with
all of that gibberish above? <grin>

You ARE the MAN, Ulrich. BTW, I KNOW I'm really not this dumb, but
I still think that communicating one's point should take precedence
over establishing one's intelligence.

[Fightspit]

Here the actual position of Comet 17P Holmes:

http://www.heavens-above.com/comet.aspx ... 118&tz=CET

[PlutonianEmpire]

I think I might've seen it the other night despite some city lights...