Last night Jane and I went out to view the comet. It's easily seen with binoculars. The easiest way to find it is to find Cassiopeia and orient yourself so that it is a "W". Follow the double Vs downward until you see a triangle of bright stars which are part of Perseus. The one on the bottom left is the comet. We got it in the scope but it was just a larger fuzz ball. I suspect that as it moves closer to the sun that the tail will become more apparent, hopefully.

BTW, the interactive sky chart is awesome!
 
Tyler Bell

California, Maryland

----- Original Message ----
From: Rob Hilton <>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:56:11 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] OT: Beautiful Comet Holmes

Hi, and thank you in advance, Norm.  

I just learned about Comet Holmes from another
listserv I read on birdingonthe.net.  Last week the
comet suddenly went from magnitude 17 to about 2.8
during the course of one day.  

Info here: 

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10775326.html

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/10896916.html.


Lisa and I just viewed it.  Its total magnitude is
about 2.5 but since it's a comet, not a star, it was a
little hard for us to see here in Silver Spring. 
Through binoculars and telescope, it's a beautiful
diffuse ball with a brighter-looking center.  It's in
the constellation Perseus, not too far from Mirfak,
its brightest star, and at 1045 pm was directly above
the 1st or 0 magnitude star Capella in the
constellation Auriga.  

It should be visible in nights to come, and might
possibly brighten some more.  

Enjoy, and good birding!

Rob Hilton
Silver Spring

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