Hello all,

Received the below report from BAA. Comet 17/P Holmes has undergone a superoutburst, it was predicted to be mag +17 but is now naked eye at +3.8. Report is below, also see links inc finder chart.

www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html
www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0017P/2007.html

BAA electronic bulletin No. 00313 www.britastro.org/======================...====================
In the past 24 hours, a spectacular event has taken place involving the periodic comet P/Holmes (17P). Its predicted brightness is about magnitude 17 however last night it was discovered by the Spanish amateur, Juan Antonio Henríquez Santana to have undergone a tremendous outburst having attained magnitude 10 at that time (Oct 24 0h UT). It was a similar outburst in 1892 that led to its discovery. Latest reports (Seiichi Yoshida, Oct 24 13h UT) indicate that it is stellar in appearance and 3RD MAGNITUDE in brightness: so bright in fact that it is readily visible to the unaided eye. That's almost one million times brighter than normal ! Fortunately for UK-based observers the comet is well placed for observation and is visible throughout the entire night. Its position at 0h UT tonight (Oct 24/25) will be: R.A. 03h 53.0m, Dec. +50 08' Its appearance will probably be that of a fairly bright naked-eye star moving at an apparent rate of close to 10 arcmin per day at PA 298 deg. It is currently 1.63 AU (245 million km) from the Earth. Observations are strongly encouraged and should be reported to Jonathan Shanklin, Director of the Comet Section.

Clear Skies

Richard Miles

Neill

That is amazing, from mag 17 to 3.8! From the charts given, it looks like we should be able to spot it in Perseus. With the Moon getting brighter at the opposite side of the sky, it might prove to be slightly difficult if it is quite diffuse. Weather prospects look good outside right now...

Seanie.

That is amazing, from mag 17 to 3.8!

It just went past the interplanetary 'Please Turn your Headlights on' sign.

Yes!!! This is why I love this hobby, it's full of surprises! Hopefully tonight will be clear. It very near the brightest star in Perseus......more to come....

Keith..

That is amazing, from mag 17 to 3.8!

It just went past the interplanetary 'Please Turn your Headlights on' sign.

Does "Links Fahren/Drive on Left" work to keep it visible around our latitude?

Cool! Would love to get a look at that. It's been clear for for a couple of hours, so I hope it holds up.

Thanks for the heads up Neill!

Many thanks for the info Neill

Gary Kronk's "Cometography" page has some historic information about the comet -- cometography.com/pcomets/017p.html

Sweet.
Must take a look at that tonight.
Its sort of clear here tonight.
Anyone got a visual x marks the spot for tonight?

It very near the brightest star in Perseus....

Mirphak?

I was finding it hard to figure out where exactly it would be as well. Looks like it should be less than a degree away from Delta Persei at the 10 o'clock position.

There's a closeup map on this site

www.shopplaza.nl/astro/ -just click "comets-charts"

Cheers,

Trev

Gotcha!

Dead centre here...



P.

Nice one Paul! Geez you're on the ball :wink:

Just spotted it! Looks like an extra "star" in Perseus. Very easy to see with the naked eye, even with the moonlight. Looked like a dense globular cluster with the 16".

Just spotted it! Looks like an extra "star" in Perseus. Very easy to see with the naked eye, even with the moonlight. Looked like a dense globular cluster with the 16".

See thats why I'm back in looking at maps! I cant see a comet just a star that shouldn't be there. Good to hear I'm actually looking at the right thing!

It very near the brightest star in Perseus....

Mirphak?

Bout quarter of the way from Mirphak to Capella. Its the star that shouldn't be there.

Damned fog and high cloud...

Wow!!!!! This is the single most strangest comet I have ever seen in my Life, earlier today, an alert went out that this comet had suddenly brighened from a predicted magnitude 17 to magnitude 3 - incredible, I wonder how this has happened? I quickly set up my 15x70mm binoculars and I easily found it in the constellation Perseus, just about 5 degrees from Alpha Persei at magnitude 1.8, also the star Delta Persei is at magnitude 3.0, from these two stars, I can see the comet at about magnitude 2.5 !!!!! I could immediately see that it is very much yellow in colour, just like the planet Saturn, and it is definitely non star like, with a slighty elongated shape east-west, with no sign of a tail, especially since the near full moon is shining brightly.

This can easily be mistaken for a nova, and is easily visible with the naked eye ! Here is a quick shot that I took.....this will grab many headlines over the next few days...

Keith....

Nice shot Keith - I agree - it's brighter than Delta Persei so 2.5 seems about right!

Very nice shots Keith and Paul, your images helped me locate it in between cloud breaks with the 10 X 50's.

It has gotten to the stage here tonight that I am surrounded by 4 outside 'nightlights' from the neighbours, and ESB light to one side, and a new one at the front of my house they put up today. Plus the Moon. Added to that, one of my neighbours smells like they're having fire trouble - my fog here has turned to smog. Light rays everywhere, and not-too-dense high altitude cloud...



...think I'll give up now, as this fog is only going to get worse here!



Seanie.

Nice shot Keith - I agree - it's brighter than Delta Persei so 2.5 seems about right!

I thought it was about the same to be honest, though the colour difference could by swaying my opinion.

I know outgassing can cause a brightening, but by this amount?

The comet is roughly twice as far out as Mars at the moment which gives an indication of of how bright it must be. It would be interesting to compare the size and brightness with Mars later on tonight.

If it's that bright, at that distance, I wonder if we could have another Hale-Bopp event on our hands? It sure would be great...

Incredible, easily mag +1 -2 now!!

Hi
Amazing sight! made it mag 3.0 at 18.55 UT 24th Oct 2007 (however thin cloud present). Visible to naked-eye.

In 25cm refl using 9mm eyepiece showed extremely bright central disc with bright outer disc and fainter extended area.

I would be grateful to receive any observations (recorded for posterity in Orbit)

Director of Observations
IAS

John

Comet definetly shows a very bright nucleus (slightly-elongated perhaps?) with a bright diffuse region surrounding it. Nucleus appears off-centre relative to surrouding material.

Here's another one. Minolta 7D + Sigma 170-500mm @ 170mm. 10 seconds stopped down to f5.6. Comet is at the bottom.



Trev