Just got in from checking out Comet Holmes using a Zenithstar 66mm refractor with a 15mm Panoptic (~25x). I was star hopping when I realized one of the 'stars' I was using just wouldn't focus. Very condensed nucleus with a perfectly spherical coma. No hint of a tail as far as I could see. Compared it to Delta Persei nearby and thought the comet was noticeably brighter. I'd say 2.6 - 2.7 to Delta's 3.0. A new star in Perseus! The photo linked below shows perfectly the 60 degree right triangle the comet makes with Alpha & Delta Persei. (thanks Patrick) Dave Bennett On Oct 24, 2007, at 7:11 PM, Patrick Wiggins wrote:
On 24 Oct 2007, at 18:06, Mark Hanning-Lee wrote:
Apparently Comet Holmes has brightened to magnitude 2.8, altering the appearance of Perseus to the naked eye! See http:// www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10775326.html for more news.
Mark
Someone just posted this picture to the IOTA list. As you'll see he got the picture the thin clouds before it was even dark. He estimates magnitude 2.5.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/1731958125_87c03db8e8_o.jpg
pw