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janehoustonjones
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 631
Loc: 34 N 118 W, 652.0 feet
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Name: Comet Holmes Sidewalk Star Party
City/State: Corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets, Monrovia, Ca 91016
Date: Saturday November 3 7:30 - 9:30
OTASTRO website
Normally on the third quarter moon weekend, you don't find the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers setting up. There will be no moon in the early evening.
But the sky gave us a big surprise late in October.
Normally extremely faint, comet 17P/Holmes had an outburst that made it a million times brighter -- bright enough that we can see it from downtown Monrovia without a telescope!
Over the past couple of weeks, amateurs and professionals alike have been watching the comet's coma, the glowing cloud of dust that surrounds it, grow in apparent size.
It's a fun object to see in a telescope or binoculars, and we invite you to join us this Saturday evening in Old Town Monrovia to do exactly that. We'll be in our usual spot, at the corner of Myrtle & Lime, from 7:30 'til 9:30 p.m.
Because the comet is fairly far to the north in the sky, whereas the moon and planets are usually found to the south, we'll have to move a little up the walk towards the Mark Twain statue to get a clear view without a tree in the way.
Right now the weather forecast looks good for Saturday night. Check the OTAstro website on the day of the event, in case anything changes. You can join our OTevents list if you want our local public star party announcements.
More about the comet and a public-friendly downloadable star chart we made at JPL can be found on JPL's web site here: NASA JPL Webpage
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Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Blog: "Twas the Night Before Solstice
NASA's What's Up December 2012 podcast Winter skies, Geminids
Yosemite Nature Notes "Night Skies video"
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 15091
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Try to have some extra binoculars on hand... I tend to think 17P/Holmes looks better through binoculars. Something to do with context of the surrounding star field I suppose. 
Some of us do a little extra outreach every Halloween (clouds cooperating) and this year some got to include the comet. For me, it didn't clear the tree line until after all the trick-or-treaters had gone home for the night. But they all got a kick out of Jupiter and then ET Cluster once Jupiter hit the other tree line.
I've got a couple of eyepieces that need a little cleaning now, but that's a small price to pay for the looks on all those little faces (and most of their parents as well). 
Hope y'all have a good clear night this weekend. 
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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janehoustonjones
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 631
Loc: 34 N 118 W, 652.0 feet
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I sketched the comet through some 10x50 Carton Adlerblick binos, and through a couple smaller (6 and 8-inch) dobs from about 50x to 150x on Monday night - first night that the smoke from So Cal fires cleared enough for me to actually see the comet. The bino view was ok, the higher the power the more interesting the view. I prefer showing objects at higher power to the public, but each of our gang has different eyepieces and different telescopes so there is always a nice array of low to high power views, including bino views.
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Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Blog: "Twas the Night Before Solstice
NASA's What's Up December 2012 podcast Winter skies, Geminids
Yosemite Nature Notes "Night Skies video"
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jupiterzkool
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/06
Posts: 1618
Loc: Pasadena, CA
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I saw the comet the other night in my dinky binoculars several nights ago. Saw fuzzy patch with some asymmetry (brighter to one side). Can't wait to see it at higher power. Barring any changes of plans, I should be able be in Monrovia tonight.
-S
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Scott G. Edgington, Planetary Scientist
Cassini-Huygens: Mission to Saturn & Titan
Yes, Asia, John Wetton Fan
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janehoustonjones
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 631
Loc: 34 N 118 W, 652.0 feet
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We had quite a challenge (at least I did) aiming my 'scopes past very bright streetlights at Comet 17/P Holmes. But quite a few people stopped by for a look through 6 different telescopes and one pair of 7 x 50 Carton Adlerblicks. The binocular view was very nice - actually all the views were great - low power views were definitely the best for the very bright urban setting. Here's a great comet viewing accessory that came in handy last night. The photo album also has the comet's orbit and star chart, some sketches and photos.
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Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Blog: "Twas the Night Before Solstice
NASA's What's Up December 2012 podcast Winter skies, Geminids
Yosemite Nature Notes "Night Skies video"
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jupiterzkool
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/06
Posts: 1618
Loc: Pasadena, CA
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Quote:
a great comet viewing accessory
Do you think we can market it? 
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janehoustonjones
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 631
Loc: 34 N 118 W, 652.0 feet
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They could be sold at those big box stores, maybe.
Seriously, even tho' the view was poor with the light pollution, a lot of people came out for a look, and they were wowed through the 6 scopes and binos. We'll try another comet viewing night here at JPL on Wednesday night - up in the off-lab parking lot called Cardiac. There are some lights up there, but I think the north view from the end of the lot is fairly dark. I hope a lot of employees bring their families - they usually do for our viewing nights.
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Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Blog: "Twas the Night Before Solstice
NASA's What's Up December 2012 podcast Winter skies, Geminids
Yosemite Nature Notes "Night Skies video"
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 15091
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Necessity is the mother of invention.
If it blocks offending light, then it blocks offending light. 
I spent slightly more time to make a tube of some 11x17 sheets of stiff black felt from Hobby Lobby. Couple of strong magnets hold it in place, and it lets me pick up targets a little closer to the glare of those confounded street lights.
I have a sister-in-law coming down from Ohio to visit this weekend, and I'm hoping for clear skies while she is here. Not just to catch the comet, but she's never looked through a telescope at all... good chance to spread the virus. 
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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