New Naked Eye Comet - 17/P Holmes

Very nice shots Keith and Paul, your images helped me locate it in between cloud breaks with the 10 X 50's.

It has gotten to the stage here tonight that I am surrounded by 4 outside 'nightlights' from the neighbours, and ESB light to one side, and a new one at the front of my house they put up today. Plus the Moon. Added to that, one of my neighbours smells like they're having fire trouble - my fog here has turned to smog. Light rays everywhere, and not-too-dense high altitude cloud...



...think I'll give up now, as this fog is only going to get worse here!



Seanie.

Nice shot Keith - I agree - it's brighter than Delta Persei so 2.5 seems about right!

I thought it was about the same to be honest, though the colour difference could by swaying my opinion.

I know outgassing can cause a brightening, but by this amount?

The comet is roughly twice as far out as Mars at the moment which gives an indication of of how bright it must be. It would be interesting to compare the size and brightness with Mars later on tonight.

If it's that bright, at that distance, I wonder if we could have another Hale-Bopp event on our hands? It sure would be great...

Incredible, easily mag +1 -2 now!!

Hi
Amazing sight! made it mag 3.0 at 18.55 UT 24th Oct 2007 (however thin cloud present). Visible to naked-eye.

In 25cm refl using 9mm eyepiece showed extremely bright central disc with bright outer disc and fainter extended area.

I would be grateful to receive any observations (recorded for posterity in Orbit)

Director of Observations
IAS

John

Comet definetly shows a very bright nucleus (slightly-elongated perhaps?) with a bright diffuse region surrounding it. Nucleus appears off-centre relative to surrouding material.