rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Oct 27, 2007 0:48:51 GMT -5
Hi folks, I know some people here are interested in astronomy, so here's a heads-up on a very weird new comet. Not many bright comets sneak up on us in this age of high-tech everything, but this one sure did. Well, it didn't really sneak up, but for unknown reasons it unexpectedly brightened by a factor of a million, out between Mars and Jupiter where comets should not have outbursts like this. I attach a news bulletin from Sky and Telescope below -- it has a finder chart. With no optical aid it just looks like a star (easy to find even with the almost full moon not far from it), but get out binoculars and it takes on a whole different appearance. I used my 16X80 binoculars, but smaller ones should still give a great view. I just took a look a short time ago, and this thing is really weird. It's doesn't have a tail or anything like that, but I've seen a couple dozen comets before and this one is like no other. It looks kind of like a fried egg, or maybe a fuzzy bright yellow lightbulb inside a transparent balloon. Enjoy! -Don www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/10775326.html |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2007 1:15:48 GMT -5
Don thanks for posting this as I am a fan of the nite sky. I am always checking the lastest N.A.S.A sites and missions. I have been watching the work of the rovers ever since they touched down on mars 3 + years ago. The comet is really interesting. With no tail one has to wonder, maybe it is artificial. One never knows. I for sure will be looking at the latest info from this comet, very cool.
|
|
karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
|
Post by karenfh on Oct 27, 2007 2:16:03 GMT -5
I'll be checking on this! Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Oct 27, 2007 2:56:34 GMT -5
Don, thanks a lot for this great info. I pulled out my binoculars, and sure enough there it was. I then had to take out the 8" dobsonian. Man, it looks great. Thanks again.
Condor
|
|
KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
|
Post by KG1960 on Oct 27, 2007 10:39:35 GMT -5
It's been cloudy the last few nights, but tonight holds promise.
|
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Oct 27, 2007 15:07:42 GMT -5
Here are a couple of pictures I took of the comet (Comet Holmes) last night.   And this one was of the moon just for the heck of it.  Condor |
|
|
|
Post by LCARS on Oct 27, 2007 15:17:27 GMT -5
I tried to find this thing with my scope but all the bright new city lights springing up every week all over the neighboring commercial district, the high mosture levels in the atmosphere and the fact that it was a nearly full moon made it impossible for me to see from my location.  This joins the list of many many more astronomical events of interest that I have missed on account of the lousy observing conditions we have here for an average of 335 days a year.  |
|
|
|
Post by docone31 on Oct 27, 2007 17:03:06 GMT -5
I have been telling people for years about the upcoming invasion. I am glad people are watching. I had thought everyone forgot.
Are we ready?
Ever since I ground my first lense from Edmund Scientific, I have been fascinated by looking up. Especially after I got my parallex fixed. Things really looked different then.
They are coming and they are warning us.
Those daggoned Electricals.
|
|
|
|
Post by LCARS on Oct 27, 2007 17:21:16 GMT -5
That comet is on it's way back to the Jupiter end of it's orbit so the aliens may already be here Doc.  |
|
KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
|
Post by KG1960 on Oct 27, 2007 19:36:27 GMT -5
Nice pictures, Condor! I was just now looking at the comet (19:30 CDT). It looks just like a star with the naked eye, but is rather bright. With 7x50 binoculars, you can see a fuzzy ball. Focus on a regular star and get it to a sharp point, then move to the comet. I'll get my telescope out tomorrow. I'll try again later tonight when it's more overhead and the sky might be darker.
The very last paragraph in Rollingstone's link says that since the comet is almost directly on the opposite side of the earth from the sun, we are looking down the length of the tail rather than from the side, which is why it appears as it does.
|
|
rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Oct 28, 2007 1:37:38 GMT -5
Nice pics, Condor!
If you are using a Dob then you aren't guiding those photos, so those comet pics are really impressive if they are through-the-eyepiece shots or even short-exposure prime focus shots. Well done.
-Don
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Oct 29, 2007 12:45:26 GMT -5
sweet gonna have to dig out the Newt!!
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Oct 31, 2007 9:22:54 GMT -5
Well I went out last night to take a peek- First I had NO PROBLEM finding comet Homes!!! It stood out like a sore thumb (what the heck is that fuzzy star thingy?) then I grabbed the Binocs- not expecting much (it was warm durning the day and the skies were cloudy- the temp dropped rapidly and the skies cleared so I was pretty sure the viewing would stink) BOY was I wrong!!!!! Amazing view through the binocs- So I grabbed my 6 inch newt (again I was expecting to have a very poor view as the scope was in the warm house and it was getting cold outside) WRONG again- I started out with the 25mm eye piece- AMAZING- then bumped up to the 16 MM- INCREDIBLE!! I even got my daughter to come out for about 20 mins- and My wife even came out and took a peek- I watched the comet for aother 20 mins or so then tried the 2x barlow - well I overpowered the scope and could not get any focus- OH well still a pretty amazing view- We are gonna be clear on Friday night (and I have NO PLANS) so I'm gonna try to set up the imager and the laptop and may get a few shots of it! Wish me luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by LCARS on Oct 31, 2007 11:49:01 GMT -5
Hey, I FINALLY got to see the comet on Monday night since the sky cleared and the moon was not in the way!  I am tempted to try imaging it if I ever get a decent chance but I keep getting the distinct feeling that it's just going to turn out like a big fuzzy out of focus looking blob unless I can capture a few background stars in the image as well to prove I didn't just take an out of focus star pic. ;D |
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Oct 31, 2007 13:48:13 GMT -5
We have incredibly dark skies- so I should (if all the equipment decides to get along and play nice) be able to get some background stars in too- Keep your fingers crossed that I don't have the dread "Motor Drive Failure" (this only happens when I hook up the camera- I'm gonna try to to let the scope do the tracking and just let the camera feed into the laptop- it worked when I imaged the radio towers- but then they were not moving!)
|
|
rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Nov 3, 2007 4:55:17 GMT -5
I took another look tonight, the first clear night in a while. The comet is looking much larger and a bit more like a "typical" comet, ie more bluish in color and similar in size to a globular cluster. It has no tail, and is remarkably bright for a tail-less comet. It is still holding all of its brightness after its big flare-up.
To the naked eye, it is an incredibly easy "star" from the suburbs. Websites report that it is now non-stellar to the eye, and I suppose that is true, but anything less than a careful examination of it will still make it seem stellar to most observers. But binocs show its comet nature very impressively, even small binocs.
-Don
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Nov 5, 2007 12:02:06 GMT -5
Got another GREAT view of it Friday- Had out my 5 inch Newt and got my mom 3.5 inch SC- the view was actually better in the Newt- but still pretty amazing in both- I tried to image it but my lap top and the cold weather were just not a good combo- They say this one will be around for a couple more weeks- here's hoping for CLEAR SKYS!
|
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Nov 5, 2007 20:53:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by midnightrocksi3 on Nov 6, 2007 7:58:26 GMT -5
Wow Nice pic of that crazy looking comet stones.. I too have been keep ing an eye on the sky.. just too awesome not too.. The idea of no tail.. yikes.. I heard it was because it was in a position that would be considered a optical illusion in a sense.. because we're looking head on with it..or something like that.. either way.. I was out in the desert on that last rock hunt with several rockers from here and a few of us enjoyed the spectacular show every night.. And then Snow dog dave let me look at it through his Gigantic Binocs it was amazing!! not to mention a little freaky.. but what itsn't a little spooky at night? *smiles*
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Nov 7, 2007 14:34:03 GMT -5
Clouds here the last few days- This comet is becoming like Hale Bopp- I really miss it when I can't look up and see it!!! I just wish I had my telescope when Hale Bopp was around
|
|
