Tuesday, 20. November 2007
It’s not Hailey’s, but Comet Holmes may be worth a view
You remeber: Comet 17P/Holmes shocked astronomers on Oct. 24, 2007, with a spectacular eruption. In less than 24 hours, the 17th magnitude comet brightened by a factor of nearly a million, becoming a naked-eye object in the evening sky. (Related Entry: Comet Holmes Undergoes Huge Outburs)

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Last night I searched the sky, there was the comet, a kind of blurry smudge, quite distinct in appearance from the nearby twinkling stars. There is a great deal of light pollution in my neighborhood; even so, I could see it with naked eyes. With binoculars, I could then make out much greater detail.

You too can see Comet Holmes and it does not take previous knowledge of astronomy to find it. I hope that many families will venture out on a clear night to observe it because this comet should not be missed.

Although Comet Holmes is now fading to the limits of naked-eye visibility, tonight provides a good time to the sky show, as the comet passes right in front of Mirfak, the brightest star in the constellation Perseus. The map below helps you locate the fuzzball in relation to the easily recognizable "W" of Cassiopeia's chair in northern skies.

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It is easy to distinguish the comet from the stars. The comet is blurry, whereas the stars twinkle. If you can do so, look at the comet through binoculars or a telescope. That way you may even see the beginnings of a tail, which a few astronomers have already noticed.

Check out also SpaceWeather.com's 20-page gallery of photos and their Interactive World Map of Comet Photos.
Category: Astrology & Astronomy




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