This is really cool: Almost overnight, the comet 17P/Holmes has just brightened from 17th magnitude (invisible to all but large telescopes) to 3rd magnitude (brighter than most stars) - so it's now easily visible to your naked eye!

Here's where to find it:

Click the image to see the story.

According to Astronomy Magazine's online story, "For observers at mid-northern latitudes... the comet lies about 30° high — one-third of the way from the horizon to straight overhead — at 9 p.m. local daylight time... the comet climbs directly overhead between 2 and 3 a.m. You'll have to contend with a nearly Full Moon all night, but you still should see the comet plainly."

Check it out! Let's hope it stays this bright after the Moon wanes a bit to make it more easily visible.

Chris
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From: [identity profile] mckitterick.livejournal.com


Isn't it though? Too cloudy to see anything now, but maybe over the next coupla days....

From: [identity profile] sf-reader.livejournal.com


Thanks, Chris.

Joe Haldeman mentioned the comet, but I hadn;t gotten around to looking up the details. I pass it along to the Kansas City SF discusion list.

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