View Full Version : Comet Holmes visible in NE sky
Anybody see the comet yet? I hope to catch it this weekend, or sooner if the skies cooperate.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap071105.html
Thanks for the "heads up". Just found out about it this morning myself.
Some cool photos of it from around the world at this link too
http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_holmes_page15.htm?PHPSESSID=cfqhfs1qc9k2oi qltf3u23rhn3
I saw it in the foothills of Boulder last week. A good buddy of mine is an astronomer and he pointed it out to us. We even looked at it through binoculars. Quite impressive!
Here is what he sent:
When Comet Holmes suddenly brightened by nearly a million times, it
became a snap to spot with just your eyes. Now it's developing
structure and a bit of a tail. Don't miss this celestial treat!
The comet is easily visible in the coming week from 8 PM onwards
and is situated not far from Cassiopeia (the famous W)
For more details and a star finder chart see:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10862521.html
After you locate the comet with your eyes, it is best viewed with a
binocular. The darkest your observing site the better, but you can
see a nice image even from right outside your house.
Alligator
11-14-2007, 16:18
Even I can find Cassiopeia:). I had read about it but didn't see the location, thanks for the info.
Moon Monster
11-14-2007, 17:25
I've been watching it from a city even with bright city lights the past couple weeks.
Naked eye can't see it the following way, but find a telescope or local observatory (or binoculars even):
http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/holmes/13nov07/Sebastian-Voltmer1.gif
Picking it up now with 7 by 50 binos. It appears as a fuzz ball and is easy to pick out of the NE sky. Just in time too, gonna cloud up soon here.
Oh great, I have a place to view this kind of stuff (farm in the country) and it gets cloudy...
Fingers crossed it clears up fast!
Plenty of ideas on how to celebrate the comet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28cult%29
warraghiyagey
11-14-2007, 20:30
Picking it up now with 7 by 50 binos. It appears as a fuzz ball and is easy to pick out of the NE sky. Just in time too, gonna cloud up soon here.
I actually first heard about it a couple weeks ago during the world series. Been looking at it with naked eyes every clear night since.
I actually first heard about it a couple weeks ago during the world series. Been looking at it naked every clear night since.
Getting a bit chilly for that ain't it?:D
warraghiyagey
11-15-2007, 01:42
Getting a bit chilly for that ain't it?:D
Hmmm. My post sure looked funny the second time around. But hey, I enjoy a good stiff breeze as much as the next guy.:)
Uncle Silly
11-15-2007, 12:30
Hmmm. My post sure looked funny the second time around. But hey, I enjoy a good stiff breeze as much as the next guy.:)
huh huh... huh huh... he said "stiff"...
</end best butthead impersonation>
What was the comet that passed through in the approx. 1996-1997?
warraghiyagey
11-15-2007, 12:47
What was the comet that passed through in the approx. 1996-1997?
That was the Hale-Bopp comet. (Not to be confused with the she-bop comet). Also visible to the naked eye for a few weeks.
That was the Hale-Bopp comet. (Not to be confused with the she-bop comet). Also visible to the naked eye for a few weeks.
Yeah that's it! I remember being on the Somerset Resevoir in Vermont at night and seeing it clear as a day, an awesome spectacle :)