[NatureNS] Comet Holmes

References: <C3736EDB.10B1F%jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
From: Sherman Williams <shermw@xcountry.tv>
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:15:28 -0400
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I too was able to take advantage of the clear, dark sky, before the  
moon rose last evening, and got in a good observation of Comet  
Holmes.  At dark it is quite a bit higher than at the same time last  
month, even though the comet is still in Perseus, not far from Mirfak  
(instead of being a bit below Mirfak, it is just a bit above the star).

 From my location I could easily pick it out naked-eye. Its  
brightness is spread out over a bigger area so it is not star-like as  
it was a month ago. It is still quite close to magnitude 3 (perhaps  
3.1 or 3.2). Its diameter has increased since I measured it over a  
week ago. Using the field stars in my 10 inch reflector and a star  
map I judged its diameter to be 41  or 42 minutes of arc (compared to  
the Moon diameter of 30 min of arc). In actuat distance the diameter  
would be something like 1.8 million km.  In the telescope its shape  
reminds me of a Horseshoe Crab. There were several background stars  
that could be seen shining through the comet dust - quite  
decorative.  I could barely see the nucleus. The comet tail extends  
about 1 degree to the south from the nucleus.

Overall it is still an interesting sight in binoculars and the  
telescope.

Sherman


Sherman Williams
shermw@xcountry.tv



On 28-Nov-07, at 7:15 PM, Jim Wolford wrote:

>
> Tonight the sky was clear and dark and full of stars, and COMET  
> HOLMES is
> still visible to the naked eye (even to mine!) downward from  
> Cassiopeia
> constellation.
>
> Cheers :-) from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204
>

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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
I too was able to take advantage of the clear, dark sky, before the moon =
rose last evening, and got in a good observation of Comet Holmes. =A0At =
dark it is quite a bit higher than at the same time last month, even =
though the comet is still in Perseus, not far from Mirfak (instead of =
being a bit below Mirfak, it is just a bit above the star).<div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>=46rom my location I could =
easily pick it out naked-eye. Its brightness is spread out over a bigger =
area so it is not star-like as it was a month ago. It is still quite =
close to magnitude 3 (perhaps 3.1 or 3.2). Its diameter has increased =
since I measured it over a week ago. Using the field stars in my 10 inch =
reflector and a star map I judged its diameter to be 41 =A0or 42 minutes =
of arc (compared to the Moon diameter of 30 min of arc). In actuat =
distance the diameter would be something like 1.8 million km. =A0In the =
telescope its shape reminds me of a Horseshoe Crab. There were several =
background stars that could be seen shining through the comet dust - =
quite decorative. =A0I could barely see the nucleus. The comet tail =
extends about 1 degree to the south from the nucleus.=A0</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Overall it is still an =
interesting sight in binoculars and the telescope.=A0</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Sherman</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><br><div> <span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; =
border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; =
font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: =
normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; =
-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; =
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; =
white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div>Sherman =
Williams</div><div><a =
href=3D"mailto:shermw@xcountry.tv">shermw@xcountry.tv</a></div><div><br =
class=3D"khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></span> </div><br><div><div>On =
28-Nov-07, at 7:15 PM, Jim Wolford wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Tonight the =
sky was clear and dark and full of stars, and COMET HOLMES is</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">still visible to the naked eye (even to mine!) =
downward from Cassiopeia</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">constellation.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Cheers :-) from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><br></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>=

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