
New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
- daveg
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Replied by daveg on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
Dave Gradwell
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- Seanie_Morris
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Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes

Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
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- JohnMurphy
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Replied by JohnMurphy on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
Sorry, all the above shots were at prime focus on my C102SLT, i.e. telescope is the lens. The scope is about F6.7.
Dave,
The comet was only visible to me naked eye wtih averted vision, this is probably partly due to its proximity to alpha Perseus at mag 1.76 and it obviously has become much more dispersed. I don't think it'll be naked eye visible for much longer.
Albert,
I've been wondering the same thing, but have not seen any data on this yet. It must have shed a lot of mass, and given that it's outward bound, I would reckon that it's orbit should have been greatly affected. It should get flung out a little further, and depending on how much mass it has shed, it may not return but may instead get trapped by Jupiter. Anyway its orbit should be quite different IMHO.
If we are lucky to get a few minutes clear skies tonight - watchout. The comet should shroud alpha Perseus in a misty veil. Now that would make a good photo.
John Murphy
Irish Astronomical Society
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- DeirdreKelleghan
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Replied by DeirdreKelleghan on topic post
November 16th 2007 23:10UT Reflector 1200mm/15mm eyepiece /80X
Pastel/Gel Pen/Seeing?/ Trans Poor/ Wicklow, Ireland Mag ?not sure as I could not see much else for long.
It was a very cloudy evening, I was aware that Holmes was the largest object in the solar system. Every now and then I had a look out for a gap and at 23:10 there it was still naked eye almost ready to engulf Mirfak.
What a huge huge expansion since my last view on November 8th.
Comet Holmes was so transparent, the nucleus was not apparent at all, the material spewing from the centre was much less defined but was so elongated and fine and nebulous. There was a star in the centre not the pin point nucleus of previous days. Those four stars were just cliping the leading edge.There is also a bit of a line through the image from my scanner, can not get rid of it.

Holmes was so much paler, a ghost of its former self, yet still shapely and beautiful. There were several stars within the thinning coma. I did not get to include them all in this sketch as cloud once again, swallowed, this giant ice expanding visitor whole.
This may be my last look at Holmes as the forecast for the next five days is not good.
It if continues to become more transparent, it will then bring the challenge of attempting to sketch almost nothing in the dark night sky.
Deirdre Kelleghan
Irish Astronomical Society
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- JohnMurphy
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Replied by JohnMurphy on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
It if continues to become more transparent, it will then bring the challenge of attempting to sketch almost nothing in the dark night sky.
My sentiments also Dee. I dont think it has more than a week left in it. Funny you should mention it as ghostly, as that term has been used quite a bit to describe it lately.
Nice sketch by the way, I think you caught it just as I saw it also.
John Murphy
Irish Astronomical Society
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- JohnMurphy
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Replied by JohnMurphy on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
Dublin Weather is not looking favourable for viewing until Wednesday when there's only going to 75% cloud cover.
Next Friday is the only clear night forecast for the week - and that's too long a forecast to be accurate. Holmes may not be discernable by that time.


John Murphy
Irish Astronomical Society
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- daveg
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Replied by daveg on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
Thats what I was seeing naked eye on Friday, a ghostly glow with averted vision. Remember though in 1892/93 when this happened previously the comet after brightening in November then dimming rebrightened again in January. So keep watching the show may not be over yet.
Dave Gradwell
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- phoenix
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Replied by phoenix on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
16" ODK (incoming), Mesu Mount 200, APM TMB 80mm, SXV H16, SXV H9
J16 An Carraig Observatory
ancarraigobservatory.co.uk/
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
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- philiplardner
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Replied by philiplardner on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
I wonder if anyone has the software to analyse the positions of the comet and generate a set of orbital elements from them? It would be fun to see how closely it matches the published elements!
Phil.
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- philiplardner
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Replied by philiplardner on topic Re: post
This may be my last look at Holmes as the forecast for the next five days is not good.
It if continues to become more transparent, it will then bring the challenge of attempting to sketch almost nothing in the dark night sky.
I got a brief look at it in the 8.75" a couple of nights ago and it had expanded and faded noticably alright, but still quite bright overall. Your sketch is very much what I saw at 33x - definite elongation of the inner coma. If you want to use the 20" before it fades from view (and gets too big to fit in the field of view!) then give me a bell the next clear evening you're free.
Philip.
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- Seanie_Morris
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Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
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- Frank Ryan
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Replied by Frank Ryan on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes

Wonderful job Kieran!
Really gives you a sense of how dramatic this event is.
Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
Meade ETX-125PE, Bresser 10 x 50 Binos & Me Peepers
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- dave_lillis
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Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.

+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
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- Keenan
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Replied by Keenan on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
A wee mosaic put together by aligning background stars. Individual images were at different exposures and image scales. Left to right: 26th Oct, 28th Oct, 29th Oct, 1st Nov and 3rd Nov
Truly fabulous - I love it. 8-)
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- JohnMurphy
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Replied by JohnMurphy on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
It is now just a very faint smudge around Mirfak. Even through 15x70s it was barely discernable, at first I thought it was just some cloud.
It was enjoyable while it lasted - Where its off to now depends on how much mass remains.
John Murphy
Irish Astronomical Society
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- Frank Ryan
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Replied by Frank Ryan on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
We had a brief look at it tonight at an impromptu club observing session.
Through a 12'' Dob I could clearly see Mirfak and Holmes was just a very diffuse 'cloud' just above it.
It had an elongated look to it.
I could not see any sign of a nucleus at all.
Through 10x50 binos the fuzz ball was much more discernible, naked eye I could
just make it out using averted vision.
I observed it the night before last and the difference is quite obvious.
A nice show while it lasted.
It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
Meade ETX-125PE, Bresser 10 x 50 Binos & Me Peepers
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- Cygnus
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Replied by Cygnus on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
my contibution this time a picture made on 19 nov. just 2 JPG's
minus the black's etc.
I thouht it would be nice to put it here but i can't get my picture in this box,
so i can only give the URL of it and my web-folder
There is also this compilation like phoenix did with my everlasting moon.
although if i look at it, it looks like i made a litle mistake in its direction but im not shure, for now i leave it that way.
have to look at that more carefully
picasaweb.google.nl/H.Nieborg/Astrofotos...#5134390782641263426
picasaweb.google.nl/H.Nieborg/Astrofotos...#5135300048692663138
clear skies
LXD75 6"Newton Nikon D70
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- JohnMurphy
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Replied by JohnMurphy on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
John Murphy
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- dmcdona
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Replied by dmcdona on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
As John says, I think either would be a strong contender in the competition!
Cheers
Dave
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- dave_lillis
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Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
The comet has deteriorated alot over the last week, we had a look at it through the 20" and it is now a faint arc near Mirfak in Perseus, seems like its one the way out.

Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.

+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
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- ei5fk
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Replied by ei5fk on topic Pollution
Best views Ive had of the comet were in my 8" Meade, ive not taken the 20" out this season, need help colliminating it big time, every time I try it gets worse, comet was pretty ok with the etx 90 and better with the 125, the 8" leaves is easily ahead of the 2 etx's
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- phoenix
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Replied by phoenix on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
16" ODK (incoming), Mesu Mount 200, APM TMB 80mm, SXV H16, SXV H9
J16 An Carraig Observatory
ancarraigobservatory.co.uk/
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- voyager
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Replied by voyager on topic Re: New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes
You get the real impression of the comet plowing through a medium.
Bart.
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Pollution
I feel your pain Charles!need help colliminating it big time, every time I try it gets worse,

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