[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[RightWhale]

We don’t get much from Hubble anymore. This one is interesting that the coma is not spherical at all but seems to be shooting out mainly in two directions.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Comet Temple 1 brightened significantly on 10/2/2006.

I wonder if the Holmes brightening could have a similar cause?

[Verginius Rufus]

Well, there's always the old standby...Bush's fault.

I've seen the comet several times with binoculars over the past several weeks--I think it's a naked-eye object if you're somewhere where the sky is dark enough. Last night it was very close to Alpha Persei (the brightest star in Perseus)...it has been getting a little bigger in diameter (it's roughly circular, at least I haven't seen any sign of a tail).

[mewzilla]

Is this the one that looks like a big fuzzball?

[buffyt]

We are on the Texas Gulf coast south of Houston. We tried to see it two nights ago. Last night was too cloudy. I think I may buy a good telescope just for events like this. Last time at Griffith Observatory Los Angeles we saw Saturn through telescope. It was AWESOME!

[The Electrician]

At the time, no one was sure why this extreme brightening happened.

Uh oh... Anybody else remember the story "Inconstant Moon" by Larry Niven?

Sudden, extreme brightening of a celestial object could be reason for panic (or, for end-of-the-world partying, perhaps)...

[Right Wing Assault]

Brightening caused by ‘global warming’ caused by too many SUVs on the comet.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Hubblesite.org

[Wuli]

“Space” is not actually “empty”.

Mt guess is that on its long voyage the comet has entered a sector that for some reason has a greater density of highly charged particles for some reason. I would not be aiming Hubble, I would be aiming the telescopes that are not looking for photons (light) but for other energy wavelengths; and in that regard looking at what the data presents in regard to their density.

[Kevmo]

bmflr

[happinesswithoutpeace]

bkmarking.. Thanks for posting.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks E.

· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic ·

[Hunble]

Comet 17P/Holmes is now the largest thing in our solar system.

The diameter of this comet is now larger than the Sun.

I have some outstanding images, but I do not have a method of posting them on FR. Oh well, websites like www.spaceweather.com have all the images that you could dream of.

This is perhaps the most amazing comet in my lifetime, and I have been around for over a half century.

[tubebender]

What time of night is it visible in Northern Cal?