Great shots and an amazing object, the second bright comet in a year.
I estimate it was magnitude 3 and diameter 50' last night.
Thanks guys!
Yes Glen i agree!, if you look at M31 its quite similar in brightness, 17P is holding its magnitude though, the light curve is on a downward trend so it'll be interesting photographically over the next month or two.
Heja iceman!
Up to october, 27th, 17P was visible with naked eyes . The best time
was around midnight when the comet was near to zenite.
Since dec 1st binoculars became very helpful if not necessary.
Clear skies Pascha
I've finally seen it too, took a few minutes to locate it and I'm sure I got it in the binoculars, it was a very large light area that didn't move as cloud rolled in front of it, so Thats all I'm basing my observation on, big round light patch that didn't move,
I'll have to try for a photo next
I saw and photographed Comet Holmes from Death Valley,California last weekend. There was no moon in the sky. My wife originally spotted it,I unknowingly was looking at M31 and telling her "where to look". From northern latitudes,M31 is quite bright and being unfamiliar with the night sky here,I got confused. Holmes has a globby type appearance at the moment and is near to the Milky Way. When I saw it, I realized it was the comet; kinda looked like Omega Centauri but far brighter. I rattled off about 12 30sec exposures but haven't got around to editing them yet.
Last edited by pixelsaurus; 08-12-2007 at 11:58 PM.
it was a very large light area that didn't move as cloud rolled in front of it, so Thats all I'm basing my observation on, big round light patch that didn't move,
Yep, that's a great description!
To me it's just a bit dimmer than LMC and SMC.
The evolution of this comet has been extraordinary. From nothing to a bright fuzzy ball to a hazy elongated "patch of light".
I wanna be observing or imaging it if it has a flare up. Wouldn't that be a buzz?
Great shot nettie! Good to see you had clear skies too! I managed to get about a dozen shots, couple widefield and the rest prime @ f/6.3, i'll post the pics later......
Might get another chance tonight looking at that infrared weather map!
I've finally seen it too, took a few minutes to locate it and I'm sure I got it in the binoculars, it was a very large light area that didn't move as cloud rolled in front of it, so Thats all I'm basing my observation on, big round light patch that didn't move,
I'll have to try for a photo next
Yep, agree with jjjnettie (great photo BTW!), that's an excellent description. I saw it Wednesday night low to the horizon in skyglow, and it showed in binoculars as a hazy light patch that looked like a cloud, but didn't move over time.
yeah, with the weather at the moment I glad to have seen it twice now, though still no chance of imaging it yet, I'll keep looking at it with the binoculars when I can though, don't want to miss any opportunities.
well I have only seen it through binoculars, it's position when I saw it was nice as it was in a fairly nice star field, not sure how far it has moved since I last saw it, but I might not get to see it till late this month judging by the weather, though I'll keep trying for glimpses.
Heres the pics as promised.
The wide angle was piggybacked on my Celestron Ultima 8", with the Canon @ 55mm f/5.6 for 7.5 mins, slightly adjusted midtones and contrast. ISO 400
The other pic is prime focus shot @ f/6.3 using same camera and scope.
Exposure was 5 mins (due to gaps in clouds), slightly adjusted again. ISO was 1600
I couldn't believe i'd ever see a comet that filled my 8" @ f/6.3, i think i may need a widefield scope! lol
I just went out to look for it but it's a little to cloudy with lots of lightning in the distance, looked on BOM and there seems to be a very nasty storm coming up from the south west, going to hit here in a little over an hour I would guestamate,
Saw it tonight properly for first time , after lot cloud/moonlight lately. Still very visible to naked eye, and was surprised at how large and bright it still looked. Very easy to spot, and looked bright than SMC/LMC.
Pic was a 30 sec shot with Minolta Dimage ISO 800.
It has been a great show with mostly favorable skies from November through December. It has dispersed so that I need a really clear night in the moderate light pollution here. Jan 1 was the last time it was seen by my eyes, Binoculars helped a lot: 7x50. Then the weather got cloudy, hazy, foggy and too cold!
Photo taken 11-23-2007 at 11:50PM EST Near Full Moon blocked by trees, still could easily see with naked eye. Consumer camera Kodak Z730, manual mode.