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 ToTheSummit
peregrinus
Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 7 days, 7 hours
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 Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! 
#7562211 - 10/26/07 09:03 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Saw this yesterday.
From spaceweather.com on October 25th:
Quote:
Astronomers around the world agree, Comet 17P/Holmes is one of the strangest things ever to explode in the night sky. It's a comet, yet it looks like a planet with a golden core and a green atmosphere.
Yesterday, Comet Holmes shocked sky watchers with a spectacular eruption, brightening almost a million-fold from 17th to 2.5th magnitude in a matter of hours. The comet is now visible to the naked eye--even from light polluted cities--high in the northern sky after sunset.
The golden hue of Holmes' core is probably the color of sunlight scattered by comet dust, while the green fringe likely signifies an atmosphere rich in diatomic carbon and cyanogen (substances found in many green comets). There are reports that the fuzzball is expanding and taking on a lopsided shape--the first signs of a tail? Amateur astronomers are encouraged to monitor developments.
I was skeptical, so I stepped out last night for a look. Remember, I am dealing with smokey skies from the San Diego fires, light pollution from living in a city, and a full moon. But I found a good spot (moon out of view behind a building from where I was looking) and let my eyes adjust and lo-and-behold, an easily naked-eye visible comet!
It has no tail yet. It merely looks like an extra star right now. But comets are unpredictable and who knows what will become of it. Comet McNaught thrilled the world early this year with a tail of magnificent proportions and no one expected it until it happened. So keep an eye on this guy, who knows what it may evolve into.
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You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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zepp420
Expat
Registered: 09/27/07
Posts: 300
Loc: Netherlands
Last seen: 14 years, 3 months
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 Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7562233 - 10/26/07 09:14 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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ALIENS!!!! ZOMG!
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Listen to Crosby Stills and Nash.
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus
Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 7 days, 7 hours
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: zepp420]
#7562256 - 10/26/07 09:22 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Bring it on E.T.! I've seen enough Sci-Fi movies I'm sure I would know what to do. 
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You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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BrandNoob
The REALAmerican Hero!
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 717
Loc: Potland, OR
Last seen: 14 years, 12 days
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7562277 - 10/26/07 09:28 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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So that's what that shit is. I could feel the disturbance, and I saw some weird stuff while trying to watch the sunrise this morning. Thought I was tripping out or something.
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All posts were channeled through the user by typing the thoughts of telepathic beings. All photos are of paranormal origin and do not represent the physical world, as we know it. BrandNoob shall not be held accountable for the actions of deceased or hyperdimensional individuals.
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 zorbman
blarrr
Registered: 06/04/04
Posts: 5,952
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7562545 - 10/26/07 10:41 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Space germs!! Oh nooo!!!
There was a good show about that recently on the History channel about how comets can and have spread alien viruses.
Well I'm not sure if anything can penetrate the cloud cover here and constant rain for a week straight but it is clearing and I'll look for it. Thanks for the tip!
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“The crisis takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you would have thought.” -- Rudiger Dornbusch
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schmutzen
King of the side-pins
Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 15,770
Loc: Miss Kitty's Lounge
Last seen: 8 hours, 40 minutes
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7562650 - 10/26/07 11:00 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
There are reports that the fuzzball is expanding and taking on a lopsided shape--the first signs of a tail?
I saw that while I was walking last night, didn't even think much of it. I probly would have forgotten all about it if I hadn't just read your post.  Very cool indeed, how does one go about locating it? SW of the Little Dipper?
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"Blow up your TV, throw away your paper. Go to the country, build you a home."
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demiu5
humans, lol
Registered: 08/18/05
Posts: 43,948
Loc: the popcorn stadium 
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7562841 - 10/26/07 11:37 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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any word on how long it will be visible for?
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channel your inner Larry David
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thoughts
imagining.
Registered: 10/06/07
Posts: 16,816
Loc: here.
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: demiu5]
#7562864 - 10/26/07 11:41 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Is it only vivible after sunset/sunrise?
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I need Jesus.
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Gumby
Fishnologist
Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: demiu5]
#7563386 - 10/26/07 01:28 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
demius said:
any word on how long it will be visible for?
I was wondering the same thing.
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DNKYD
Turtle!
Registered: 09/23/04
Posts: 12,326
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7563407 - 10/26/07 01:36 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'll have to bust out the telescope tonight. Thanks!
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ZippoZ
Knomadic
Registered: 06/17/03
Posts: 13,227
Loc: Pongyang, North Korea
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: DNKYD]
#7563496 - 10/26/07 02:05 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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i cant believe that someone beat me to this, i saw it on space weather this morning, i hope to see it in the skies toinght.
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PEACE
 zippoz
"in times of widespread chaos and confusion, it has been the duty of more advanced human beings - artists, scientists, clowns, and philosophers - to create order. In such times as ours however, when there is too much order, too much m management, too much programming and control, it becomes the duty of superior men and women and women to fling their favorite monkey wrenches into the machinery. To relieve the repression of the human spirit, they must sow doubt and disruption"
"People do it every day, they talk to themselves ... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it."
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus
Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 7 days, 7 hours
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ZippoZ]
#7563524 - 10/26/07 02:14 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Capatalistc nomad said:
i cant believe that someone beat me to this, i saw it on space weather this morning, i hope to see it in the skies toinght.
Feels good to trump you at least once. 
You almost always beat me to these things.
As for others questions, no one knows how long it wil remain visible or to what extent it will grow, if at all. Comets are unpredictable. And if you go to the site I linked above and start looking around you will find links with star charts to help you locate it.
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You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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ZippoZ
Knomadic
Registered: 06/17/03
Posts: 13,227
Loc: Pongyang, North Korea
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7563528 - 10/26/07 02:16 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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yeah, like it said, everyone was just completely shocked world wide to see this thing get as bright as it did as quick as it did, were in un charted waters 
one thing is for sure though, its damn amazing
keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds
_nomad
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PEACE
zippoz
"in times of widespread chaos and confusion, it has been the duty of more advanced human beings - artists, scientists, clowns, and philosophers - to create order. In such times as ours however, when there is too much order, too much m management, too much programming and control, it becomes the duty of superior men and women and women to fling their favorite monkey wrenches into the machinery. To relieve the repression of the human spirit, they must sow doubt and disruption"
"People do it every day, they talk to themselves ... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it."
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Gr8fulJ420
strange but nota stranger
Registered: 02/17/01
Posts: 2,778
Loc: 0 moco
Last seen: 1 year, 5 months
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ZippoZ]
#7563613 - 10/26/07 02:43 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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considering how fricking bright the moon has been the last few days, it's pretty amazing that we can see the comet with the naked eye. Imagine how bright that thing would appear if the moon wasn't full.
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ivi
Registered: 01/30/03
Posts: 9,089
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Re: Amatuer astronomers...a naked-eye comet right now! [Re: ToTheSummit]
#7563751 - 10/26/07 03:41 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I recieved an AstroAlert from Sky & Telescope newsletter yesterday, I wanted to have a look today but it's cloudy. Looking forward to the weekend.
Quote:
namaste said:
how does one go about locating it? SW of the Little Dipper?
"It makes its way slowly westward across Perseus. Its position on October 25th (0h UT) is right ascension 3h 53m, declination +50.1° (equinox 2000), and by October 30th it will have moved only to 3h 48m, +50.4°. For those living in the Northern Hemisphere, Perseus is visible all night at this time of year."
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Edited by ivi (10/26/07 03:53 PM)
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