Phenomenon in the Sky—Comet Holmes Amazes and Baffles Astronomers
"On October 24th, periodic Comet Holmes brightened dramatically—by nearly a million times—virtually overnight."
(Night Sky)—One of the most stunning new objects in the night sky is also one of the brightest, and can reportedly be seen with the naked eye. (Photo and diagram courtesy of Sky and Telescope)
Over a century ago, English amateur astronomer, Edwin Holmes, was the first to discover a new comet in the heavens, which was then named after him. The comet underwent "eruptions," causing an increase in its brightness. However, the glowing phenomenon has apparently never been as strong, and sphere-like, than in its recent metamorphosis.
In a diary of the stages Comet Holmes has recently undergone, Sky and Telescope astronomer Alan MacRobert, writes…
On October 24th, periodic Comet Holmes (17P) brightened dramatically—by nearly a million times—virtually overnight. For no apparent reason, the comet erupted from a very dim magnitude 17, to about magnitude 2½. Within a day its star like nucleus had expanded into a perfectly round, bright little disk visible in binoculars and telescopes. It looked like no comet ever seen.
The article by MacRobert includes a link describing how to spot the comet in the night sky. To read it in full, follow the link provided.
