[AZ-Observing] Re: P/Holmes tonight (Oct 26.1 UT)
- From: "Spencer, Darrell" <DSpencer@xxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:56:39 -0700
Not really much to add to all the reports here. Folks seem to have
honed their descriptive skills to a razor's edge. In my 10" newt, the
object last night appeared just as described below by Jeremy. To my
eye, the most pleasing magnification was at 190X (on my scope). I
observed it until 10:30PM and then up again at 4:00AM for another
extended gaze. I was transfixed. I'm not sure if it's because of all
the excitement here, its temporary nature, or its appearance. Probably
all three.
The comments that struck home were (paraphrased) regarding this being an
object you'll not likely get a chance to see this way again in your
lifetime. This outburst will be referred to another 115 years from now
(long after we're gone) by future observers.
I was happy to share the view with my oldest son last night. He's
pretty jaded by my calls to look at night-time delights, but this one
struck his fancy. Speaks well of the cometary allure.
Darrell Spencer (who's wishing for darker skies . . . and some sleep)
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeremy Perez
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 3:32 AM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: P/Holmes tonight (Oct 26.1 UT)
Over the course of the last 24 hours, this comet sure has expanded. I =20
put my astrometric eyepiece to use on it again and I measured the =20
central condensation at about 35 arc seconds, the bright coma at 2.5 =20
arc minutes, and the faint outer halo in the ballpark of 6 arc =20
minutes. The color was more subtle than yesterday and had an ivory =20
appearance. I'm inclined to agree with the description of the comet =20
looking like a softly lit pearl. Very beautiful. The central =20
condensation flows off center at a PA of about 220 degrees and has a =20
much softer transition than it appeared to have yesterday. The =20
northeastern tip of this condensation surrounds a stellar pseudo-=20
nucleus. The bright coma appears to have developed a subtle annular =20
structure. The southwest half is brighter and the ring-like edge is =20
more apparent along the northeast side. While looking for any =20
consistent irregularity in the faint outer halo, I thought I still =20
detected a subtly brighter area along the southwest portion that =20
corresponded to the position of the central condensation. The full =20
moon really makes it tough to analyze this faint detail though.
With the aid of just my stargazing glasses, I think that it appears =20
just the tiniest bit softer than a proper star of similar magnitude. =20
Sketches and the full report can be found here:
http://www.perezmedia.net/beltofvenus/archives/000741.html
I'd like to say I'm going to give it another extended look tomorrow =20
night, but I think I may succumb to an involuntary sleep-deprivation =20
coma by then. We'll see...
Jeremy
http://beltofvenus.perezmedia.net
On Oct 25, 2007, at 8:38 PM, Jimmy Ray wrote:
> Hi Fran,
>
> Good to hear from you. Sounds like the ETX90 has been tamed. As for =20
> the
> comet, I'm finding it quite the Photogenic little object.... =20
> (Having lotsa
> fun here)
>
> Jimmy Ray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fran" <mcqz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 20:14
> Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: P/Holmes tonight (Oct 26.1 UT)
>
>
> Kewl!! I was able to show a couple of friends after our weekly =20
> double-date
> tonight. We walked home and I was able to point it out with a =20
> strategically
> planned green laser pointer. After we got home I set up my ETX90 =20
> in the
> front yard and got a great view of the lovable fuzz-ball which I =20
> shared with
> a my bride and a few passers-by. I'm jazzed.
> Fran
> Winslow, AZ
>
> --
> See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and =20
> please
> send personal replies to the author, not the list.
>
>
>
> --=20
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> 10/25/2007
> 5:38 PM
>
>
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> send personal replies to the author, not the list.
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