Huge comet outburst reported, 17P/Holmes Options

[Elias]

I didnt know in which category of the forum this should be reported:

http://www.fototime.com/%7BE39A64F6-CE74-4...%7D/picture.JPG
http://perso.orange.fr/fkometes/images/com...422-9x5sz05.JPG

Comet 17p/Holmes from 15 mag to 3!!

Already visible to naked eye!

[Stu]

This is the latest from the British Astronomical Association...

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In the past 24 hours, a spectacular event has taken place involving the periodic comet P/Holmes (17P). Its predicted brightness is about magnitude 17 however last night it was discovered by the Spanish amateur, Juan Antonio Henríquez Santana to have undergone a tremendous outburst having attained magnitude 10 at that time (Oct 24 0h UT). It was a similar outburst in 1892 that led to its discovery.

Latest reports (Seiichi Yoshida, Oct 24 13h UT) indicate that it is stellar in appearance and 3RD MAGNITUDE in brightness: so bright in fact that it is readily visible to the unaided eye. That's almost one million times brighter than normal !

Fortunately for UK-based observers the comet is well placed for observation and is visible throughout the entire night. Its position at 0h UT tonight (Oct 24/25) will be:

R.A. 03h 53.0m, Dec. +50 08'

Its appearance will probably be that of a fairly bright naked-eye star moving at an apparent rate of close to 10 arcmin per day at PA 298 deg. It is currently 1.63 AU (245 million km) from the Earth.


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Of course, after 3 gorgeously clear nights here in Kendal it's totally (chink) overcast tonight...