Huge comet outburst reported, 17P/Holmes |
Huge comet outburst reported, 17P/Holmes |
Oct 24 2007, 02:11 PM
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#1
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 30 Joined: 30-May 05 Member No.: 396 |
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! |
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Oct 24 2007, 11:41 PM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Pics, please, gentlemen, if you can...not only am I in LA, but the whole area's covered with smoke from these damned wildfires (cough, cough...)
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Oct 25 2007, 08:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
Pics, please, gentlemen, if you can.. Via SpaceWeather.com comes this one: http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/holmes/...Eric-Allen1.jpg It really looks like an instantaneous, symmetrical release of volatiles which are now slowly expanding to form a visible coma. The comet's brightness might stay the same (or even increase a bit) until this coma dissipates and changes the comet's appearance from a star-like object to a fuzzy, dim blob. I can't imagine what could have triggered such an event. An impact comes to mind, but are we really expected to see such a rare event, statistically speaking? Was it a simple case of falling apart under thermal stress? Who needs Deep Impact when you've got this. -------------------- |
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Oct 25 2007, 01:40 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 295 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Central California Member No.: 45 |
Via SpaceWeather.com comes this one: http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/holmes/...Eric-Allen1.jpg That picture is very good, but with the naked eye it appears orangeish yellow. When I first went out to look at it I was holding the binocular in my hands (20x80 binocs are pretty heavy and you get tired of holding them up quick). I first looked at the Pleiades to make sure the focus was good. At the time I had only a rough idea where the comet was (near Mirfak according to Phil Plait - the bad astronomer). When I found the comet I thought the focus had gone out and I tried refocusing...with no luck of course. Even though he had mentioned it was mag. 3 or so, I was surprised at how bright and round it was. I might even get my little telescope out of storage for this one... -------------------- Eric P / MizarKey
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