Tonk
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 3579
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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I've just received this notification
Quote:
Dear comet observers,
We have added the following new chart to our homepage http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro :
* 17P/Holmes :
a 10x15 degrees chart for the period 24 October - 13 December 2007
This comet is undergoing a tremendous outburst, as it did during its discovery apparition in 1892, and is now a naked eye object in Perseus, well placed for northern hemisphere observers. Updated charts will be issued for this very important event depending on the brightness evolution of 17P over the coming days/weeks.
Reinder Bouma/Edwin van Dijk.
The BAA have also sent me a similar e-mail
In the last 24 hours the comet has jumped from mag 17 to mag 3. Thats around 1 million times brighter
For me this is a bad time as no clear skies until Sunday night possibly
Happy hunting guys - this is very exciting for comet watchers
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Televue 85, GM-8/Gemini, Canon 10D
Coronado SM60/BF10, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14687
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Tonk and everyone,
I am having a hard time clearly reading the finder charts I have. What constellation is the comet in now and what time of the evening/night/morning is it visible?
Regards,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1033
Loc: NE Ohio
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Mike,
It's in Eastern Perseus. If you slew eastward from Alpha Perseii with binoculars, you'll come across it.
The latest observation from Japan's Seiichi Yoshida, one of the planet's top comet gurus, puts it around mag 3.0 with the naked-eye. It's very, very small; almost star-like.
Outbursts like this tend to be short-lived, so try to see it tonight if possible. The recent satellite image trends for cloud cover in northern Ohio look pretty bad 
Clear Skies,
Phil
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"Why suffer from insanity when you can revel in it?"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
16" f/4.5 Truss Dobsonian (FOR SALE!!)
Orion 120mm ST Refractor
23mm Axiom LX
13mm Nagler Type 6
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1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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Tonk
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 3579
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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Quote:
and is now a naked eye object in Perseus, well placed for northern hemisphere observers.
I.e for my latitude its overhead at local midnight - so read that as visible all night. We are really lucky to have this event so easy to see
The chart clearly indicates Mirfak (alpha Perseus) so that is a good handle to work from
More info here http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0017P/2007.html
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Televue 85, GM-8/Gemini, Canon 10D
Coronado SM60/BF10, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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gimmeabeer
super member
Reged: 03/10/07
Posts: 170
Loc: Rockford, Illinois
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Exciting! Clear skies are forcasted here, I'll be out!
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Brian
Rockford Illinois
Zhumell 10" DOB
William Optics Megrez 90 FD
Vixen Porta Mount
Full line of Baader Hyperion's
10X50 Binoculars
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Bill Weir
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 893
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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LONEOS two nights ago, hope for this one tonight, life is good.
I'm doing a school function tonight, now hopefully I can show the kids two comets.
Bill
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
12.5'' f/5 Custom Truss Dob
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar II ED Doublet
f/5 25" newtonian on a giant GEM, any time I want
Observing sessions grand total for 2007, 171.
So far in 2008, 115
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Ron B[ee]
Tyro
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 4719
Loc: CA
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Thanks for a great tip  
Ron B[ee]
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5-inch Tele Vue NP127 APO 
4-inch Tele Vue TV-102 APO 
8-inch f/6 Discovery PDHQ Dob 
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Tom Polakis
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/20/04
Posts: 551
Loc: Tempe, Arizona
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Quote:
Outbursts like this tend to be short-lived, so try to see it tonight if possible.
Actually, it might not be that urgent, Phil. On a recent IAU Circular, it reads, "...Comet 17P also underwent a large outburst in brightness when it was first discovered in Nov. 1892 near total visual mag 4 (which was also about 12 mag over the "normal" brightness); at that time, it faded by about 3 mag over the following week (e.g., Kronk 2003,Cometography 2, 694)."
So if that pattern holds this time, it might be available for naked-eye viewing for nearly a week.
Tom
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Tom Polakis
Tempe, AZ
Visual observing, DSLR photography, lunar & planetary imaging
http://www.pbase.com/polakis/
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jocce
journeyman
Reged: 01/21/06
Posts: 20
Loc: Sweden
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Talk about outburst! For once the skies are cooperating here in rainy swedish autumn. The comet is as bright as delta Persei. Looks like Perseus got a new member all of a sudden. A faint golden tint to it.
Really nice!
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Mint AI - Astronomical Impressions
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Trevor Durity
super member
Reged: 12/01/05
Posts: 146
Loc: Galway, Ireland
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Looks like it's brighter than mag 3 - somewhere in between the brightness of alpha and delta persei. Took this shot with a Maxxum 7D a few minutes ago. The comet's at the bottom with Alpha at the top and Delta towards the middle right.
Trev
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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1083
Loc: West Virginia
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Arrghhhh and me with rain and clouds for the next few days! Dang
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Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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Tonk
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 3579
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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Now reported to have reached mag 2.8 by Yoshida
http://cometography.com/pcomets/017p.html
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Televue 85, GM-8/Gemini, Canon 10D
Coronado SM60/BF10, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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ph2
super member
Reged: 11/28/05
Posts: 103
Loc: Aalborg, Denmark
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The comet is visible to the naked eye as a stellar point in Perseus. It looks exactly like a nova.
My brightness estimate is magnitude 2.8-2.7 (slightly brighter than Delta Per).
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Keith g
sage
Reged: 02/13/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Waterford/Cavan Ireland
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Greetings from Ireland again...here is my latest shot, and in my 8" SCT, it's very yellow at about magnitude 2.5
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2381/1732909835_9d7c4772a4_o.jpg
Keith..
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Ron B[ee]
Tyro
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 4719
Loc: CA
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Thanks to Trev for sharing his photo with us.
OK, I know very little about comets . But I thought it has to be closed to the Sun (i.e. near earth) to get really bright. But reports here and elsewhere showed it is stellar which seems to imply it's still very far away.
So the question is: how can a far away comet gets so bright? Impacted by some unknown space objects?
Thanks,
Ron B[ee]
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5-inch Tele Vue NP127 APO
4-inch Tele Vue TV-102 APO
8-inch f/6 Discovery PDHQ Dob
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Tom Dugan
super member
Reged: 07/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Tidewater Maryland
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Another link :The Sky and Telescope article.
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Antares 10" Dob
Orion 150mm Mak
Orion 100mm EQ refractor
Homebuilt w/ Stellarvue 102D lens
Homebuilt w/ Antares 120 mm lens
Coulter 1st generation 13.1" mirror (waiting patiently)
Unknown number of binocs
Parts, parts, parts
More parts
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Denmark
member
Reged: 01/31/07
Posts: 46
Loc: Denmark, Odense City
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The comet don't have any tail ??? hope not it come in ower direction ;-)
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Bedst regards
Rigo Jørgensen
www.rigorigo.dk
EQ6PRO mont. but stay in obs.
SkyWatcher 10" Newton modded 1:10 etc.
SkyWatcher ED80PRO one for guide and one for pic. + WO III flatner.
Canon 400D unmodded. + Canon timer.
Guidemaster for guide Software.
Homemake webcam guide.
Photoshop CS2
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Hambone
sage
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 442
Loc: Martin, TN
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I just had a email from Space Weather and reported 2.5 Mag. My skies are not looking good untill this weekend, maybe it will hold and a tail will form by then!
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8" Sky View Pro
60MM Meade (used very little now)
Golden Pond Kentucky
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Denmark
member
Reged: 01/31/07
Posts: 46
Loc: Denmark, Odense City
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In Denmark we have just see it, a mag, about 2,5 yes!
Links pic. http://www.lyra.dk/forum.asp?mode=4&parentid=12983
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Bedst regards
Rigo Jørgensen
www.rigorigo.dk
EQ6PRO mont. but stay in obs.
SkyWatcher 10" Newton modded 1:10 etc.
SkyWatcher ED80PRO one for guide and one for pic. + WO III flatner.
Canon 400D unmodded. + Canon timer.
Guidemaster for guide Software.
Homemake webcam guide.
Photoshop CS2
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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1083
Loc: West Virginia
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Is there a tail viewable with this comet?
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Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 3169
Loc: Ireland
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I had a hard time finding it -- I was also expecting something with a tail. Through 18x70's it looks more like a small planetary nebula than a comet. ("You mean the fuzzy thing?" asks my wife.)
Once you know where it is it's an easy naked eye object, even through high clouds with a full moon (see Keith's shot above, which is pretty similar to my sky right now).
I wonder if it's worth trundling out to the 16" in the observatory?
-- Jeff.
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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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Keith g
sage
Reged: 02/13/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Waterford/Cavan Ireland
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No tail! Last shot, unless it brightens further !
Keith..
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/1734770836_c5d1ad68fc_o.jpg
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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1083
Loc: West Virginia
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Go for it,and tell us what you see with your 16" 
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Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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plutarko
journeyman
Reged: 03/12/07
Posts: 9
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The last picture. Taken with SPC900 webcam and SC8 at F10
David Cardeñosa
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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1083
Loc: West Virginia
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Sweet closeup!
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Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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mikey cee
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 2328
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Great Caesar's Ghost I'll have to put the big Erfle on the 6" Jaegers to it tonight!!  Mike
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Mike 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957).
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ph2
super member
Reged: 11/28/05
Posts: 103
Loc: Aalborg, Denmark
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With a 10” refractor at 100x and 235x the comet is a round circular shaped object. The color is yellow.
It is fainter towards the edge and have a smaller and brighter innermost region. At the very edge of this brighter central area (fan shaped??) is a stellar knot or point.
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Olivier Biot
Amused
Reged: 04/25/05
Posts: 14334
Loc: 51°N (Belgium)
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I hope to get to see it on Friday - the only moment this week we're expected to have another astronomy window of opportunity. It was of course clear till this morning 
Cheers!
Olivier
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Tal-200K (#199) with JMI NGF-Mini2M focuser on GEM3 • Astro-Tech AT80ED on Orion Sirius EQ-G with EQDIR & home made wireless EQDIRECT • Celestron Regal LX 8x42 & 10x42 • Helios 15x70
ATM 14" f/5 (designing mirror cell and filter wheel/focuser) • ATM 10" f/6 Portable Truss (polishing) • ATM 10" f/25 Dall-Kirkham (primary: polishing, secondary: #120 grit)
AstroForecast
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rodney
domed in NJ
Reged: 03/08/05
Posts: 463
Loc: Asbury, NJ
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With this comet heading away from the sun I could not imagine it would produce a tail.
Then again who knows.
CS,
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My Explora Dome construction is here:
http://www.freewebs.com/rodbo1967/observatoryconstruction.htm
Rodney
13 Truss
C8-NGT
Orion 80mm/F11
Extremely happy owner of an Explora Dome home observatory
and a list of goodies to big for this sig
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melonman
sage
Reged: 01/15/07
Posts: 265
Loc: NW. Minnesota
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According to the Sky and Telescope article, Comet expert Gary Kronk, "expects it to grow to several arcminutes across," in the next few days. Does this mean a tail? I don't know but maybe the gas and dust will get strung out into a tail given more time. Sounds like this could last a while and be quite interesting.
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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1083
Loc: West Virginia
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Melonman I hope so dude!
--------------------
Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
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