17P/Holmes
Date (UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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080327.85 I 5.0 B 7 70 0 T Karhula
Comments: Appeared extremely diffuse, like a "miniature-Gegenschein" and
possibly slightly elongated E-W. Not seen naked eye with certainty anymore.
Making an accurate magnitude estimate was in practice impossible. Coma
diameter of 70' means a true diameter of 10 million km! 17P/Holmes was
closest to comet C/2008C1 (Chen-Gao) this night. Separation only 1º.2,
centre to centre, and visible in the same 25x100 field of view! This became
my final view of 17P/Holmes. Site: Virsbo, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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080306.82 - B - TK 5.0 B 7 &65 1 T Karhula
Comments: Comet 17P/Holmes was easier to view with 7x50 binoculars than
naked eye. Did not try to estimate the magnitude due to my ongoing
Messier marathon. I saw three comets with binoculars within 5
minutes (including 46P/Wirtanen and C/2008C1 Chen-Gao). Site: Virsbo, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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080111.74 - B 3.8: TK E 1 &75 1/ T Karhula
Comments: Comet 17P/Holmes was difficult to view naked eye due to light
pollution. Being located near zenith made the observation possible.
Site: Vasteras, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071230.93 - B 3.7 TK E 1 80 1 T Karhula
Comments: Comet 17P/Holmes was a huge, 1°.3x1°.0, ghostly stain of light
in Perseus. Appeared slightly fainter than the Double starcluster. Comet
seen naked eye together with 8P/Tuttle _exactly_ at the same time. Their
separation was only 22° so when I stared at a point between them and to
the right of the connecting line, I could hold them both with averted
vision. This is unprecedented in history, two short-period comets seen
simultaneously without optical aid! Comet Holmes was situated close to
the open starcluster M34 and Tuttle next to the Triangulum galaxy, M33.
Site: Virsbo, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071230.87 - G 4.3 TK E 1 A Nyholm
071230.87 - 5.0 B - 10 60 A Nyholm
Comments: Visible to the unaided eye, but easy to miss at a quick glance.
Appears nebulous and elongated (rather elliptical), with a slight
blue-grey hue, in binoculars. Almost no structure visible in the coma in
binouculars. The comet and M34 made a pretty pair in binoculars. No
clouds, good transparency. No moon. Magnitude reference objects: Kappa
Persei and 32 Persei. Site: Everöd, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071215.88 - 5.0 B - 7 45 A Nyholm
Comments: Visible with 7x50 binoculars through thin clouds, but not to the
unaided eye. Appears extended, nebulous, shows a slightly elliptical shape
and a slight blue-grey hue in binoculars. Thin clouds, moderate
transparency. No moon. Site: Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071215.00 B 3.4 TK E 1 70 2 T Karhula
Comments: The coma's angular size estimated to 70'x55' with naked eyes.
Similar to the Double Starcluster in brightness. The central jet along
the major axis had become more diffuse and fainter since last week as seen
with 7x50 binoculars. Lots of Geminid meteors seen this night. ZLM about
7.0. Site: Virsbo, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071212.84 - G 3.9 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071212.84 - 5.0 B - 7 45 A Nyholm
Comments: Visible to the naked eye, but hard to see without indirect
viewing. Appears extended and nebulous in binoculars. Shows a slightly
elliptical shape and a slight blue-grey hue, with a brighter area towards
the center (about 1/4 of the apparent diameter, but indistinct) in
binoculars. The star HD 18768 was visible through the coma in binoculars.
No clouds, good transparency. No moon. Magnitude reference objects: Kappa
Persei and Iota Persei. Site: Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071208.88 B 3.4 TK E 1 60 T Karhula
Comments: Comet 17P/Holmes is still impressive. The coma was 60'x50' in
size and elongated N-S. 7x50 showed a central "spine" within the parabolic
shaped coma. The spine was probably the former central condensation
which was not evident anymore. Comet Holmes reminded me of a jellyfish!
Even naked eyes showed the N border of the comet sharper than the S.
Clear skies before clouds rolled in for the fifth observing session in a
row. Site: Virsbo, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071202.76 B 3.2 TK E 1 45 3 T Karhula
Comments: Handheld 7x50 binoculars showed the huge coma elongated N-S
which became gradually slightly brighter towards the centre. A little
bit hazy sky between fog clouds that eventually covered the whole sky.
Site: Virsbo, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071123.85 - 5.0 B - 7 30 1 A Nyholm
Comments: Not visible to the naked eye. Appears very indistinct in
binoculars, best seen with indirect viewing. No colour discernable.
Visible through openings in the clouds. Cloudy, bad transparency, bright
sky. Full moon above the horizon. Site: Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071112.76 - G 3.5 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071112.76 - 5.0 B - 7 25 A Nyholm
Comments: Easily visible to the naked eye, appears slightly extended
(especially apparent with indirect viewing). Appears round in binoculars,
with no tail visible. Shows a slight blue-green hue, with a brighter area
towards the center (about 1/2 of the apparent diameter, rather
indistinct). A star visible through the outer coma with indirect viewing
in binoculars. No clouds, good transparency. No moon. Magnitude reference
objects: Delta Persei and Psi Persei. Site: Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071110.99 - G 3.0 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071110.99 - 5.0 B - 7 21 A Nyholm
Comments: Easily visible to the naked eye, appears slightly extended.
Appears round in binoculars, with no tail visible. Shows a slight
blue-green hue, with a brighter area towards the center (about 1/2 of the
apparent diameter). No clouds, good transparency. No moon. Magnitude
reference objects: Delta Persei and Psi Persei. Site: Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071110.91 B 2.7 TK E 1 30 6 T Karhula
Comments: The coma is now as large as the moon in angular size. Site: Virsbo, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071107.85 - G 2.9 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071107.85 - 5.0 B - 7 20 A Nyholm
Comments: Easily visible to the naked eye, appears slightly extended.
Appears round in binoculars, with no tail visible. Shows no colour, just
grey with a white area towards the center (about 1/2 of the apparent
diameter). Some clouds, but no clouds at the comet. Good transparency. No
moon. Magnitude reference objects: Delta Persei and Psi Persei. Site:
Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071106.83 B 2.6 TK E 1 7 T Karhula
071106.83 5.0 B 7 22 D5 T Karhula
Comments: The comet is growing in size, becoming more diffuse and slowly
dimming. Inner coma or envelope some 22' in diameter. Site: Västerås, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071106.82 - G 2.9 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071106.82 - 5.0 B - 7 20 A Nyholm
Comments: Easily visible to the naked eye, rather starlike. Appears round
in binoculars, with no tail visible. Shows no colour, just grey with a
white area towards the center (about 1/2 of the apparent diameter).
Visible through openings in the clouds. No moon. Magnitude reference
objects: Delta Persei and Psi Persei. Site: Oxie, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071104.77 - G 2.9 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071104.77 - 5.0 B - 7 20 A Nyholm
Comments: Easily visible to the naked eye, rather starlike. Appears round
in binoculars, with no tail visible. Shows no colour, just grey with a
white area towards the center (about 1/3 of the apparent diameter). No
clouds, good transparency. No moon. Magnitude reference objects: Delta
Persei and Psi Persei. Site: Oxie, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071103.74 B 2.5 TK E 1 7 T Karhula
071103.74 10.0 B 25 40 D6 T Karhula
Comments: The comet had a circular, high surface brightness inner coma of
diameter 16' which contained a fuzzy, 4'x3' central condensation,
elongated towards PA 205 deg. A faint, non-stellar pseudo-nucleus of
about 11th magnitude was situated on the N side of the cc. The inner
coma's S-SW edge fas fuzzy compared to the opposite edge on the N-NE which
was sharply defined. The N part of the inner coma's interior contained a
darker, triangular cavity whose N-NE edge followed inside the inner coma's
rim. The bright inner coma was surrounded by a very faint outer coma
whose shell appeared slightly thinner than the inner coma but had no sharp
boundaries. Its overall diameter was about 40'. Site: Virsbo, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071101.76 B 2.2 TK E 1 8 T Karhula
071101.76 8.0 B 20 14 D7 T Karhula
Comments: Similar in brightness as Algol (not in minimum). With 20x80
binoculars the comet was a circular disk with uniform brightness except for
the central condensation (cc) which was elongated NNE-SSW. A pseudonucleus
was offset towards NNE in the cc. A dark, about 150 degree long arc
followed just inside the rim on the NE side of the disk, giving impression
of "half-annularity". The 7.55mv star HD23104 was situated just at the rim
on the west side of the disk. Site: Västerås, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071030.91 B 2.2 TK 8.0 B 11 20 4 J Warell
Comments: The inner very bright coma formed a round almost circular disk
10 arcmin in diameter, whose W border was considerably more diffuse than
the E, S and N. A pseudo nucleus was almost exactly centered in the coma,
and surrouunded by a bright patch of material offset to the W. This patch
was elongated N-S, about 3 arcmin wide. The coma outside of this patch was
very homogeneous in brightness throughout the whole disk. Outside of the
bright inner coma was a very faint outer coma which gradually became
fainter, and appeared circular in shape; the outer edge faded gradually
into the sky about 10 arcmin from the pseudonucleus. The color of the
inner coma was brownish yellowish gray, very strange and unusual. Overall,
the comet looked very much like a planetary nebula. No tail could be seen.
Altitude 70 degrees, very transparent sky, about 2/8 Cirrus but clear at
comet. Site: Uppsala, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071030.80 - G 2.3 SC E 1 A Nyholm
071030.80 - 5.0 B - 7 9 A Nyholm
Comments: First observation after the brightening possible from Lund due
to cloudy weather. An obvious “new†star Perseus. Easily visible to the
naked eye, even through thin clouds. Appears round but slightly diffuse at
the periphery in binoculars, with no tail visible. Reminds slightly of a
globular cluster in apparence. Shows no colour, just light grey with a
white area towards the center (about 1/4 of the apparent diameter).
Slightly cloudy sky with bad transparency, with a 75 % moon just above the
horizon. No clouds at comet when estimating magnitude. Magnitude reference
objects: Mirfak and Delta Persei. Site: Lund, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071030.76 B 2.4 TK E 1 8 T Karhula
071030.77 2.5 B 10 12 D7 T Karhula
Comments: While walking I already found an extra "star" in Perseus.
Probably the strangest comet I have seen. I made the magnitude estimate
without glasses since I'm -2.5 diopters nearsighted. With 10x25
binoculars I saw a circular disc of the coma (or cc). It possessed a very
high surface brightness, was only slightly diffuse at the periphery and a
little bit brighter in the centre. Comet Holmes reminded me as a brighter
variant of 47 Tucanae as seen with naked eye. It was like an out of focus
star. The gibbous moon was rising. Site: Västerås, Sweden
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071026.16 B 2.5 TK E 1 J Warell
Comments: Magnitude estimate with naked eye. Yellow color, stellar. Hazy
sky, humid, bright sky due to nearly full Moon. Site: Uppsala, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071025.81 B 2.6 TK 8.0 B 11 4 9 J Warell
Comments: Bright new "star" in Perseus about 4.5 degrees E of alpha Per.
Stellar to the naked eye, clearly yellowish. In 11x80 binoculars a very
small circular coma, but not diffuse. In 28 cm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain at
x280 and x400, a nearly round disklike coma of homogeneous brightness of
size 0.6x0.5 arcmin. The disk had a well defined, sharp edge. A small
boomerang-shaped central condensation was slightly offcenter in the coma,
and had a slightly brighter offset pseudo nucleus. With Lumicon Deep Sky
filter, an extremely faint outer coma was seen with diameter about 4
arcmin. Hazy sky, humid, bright sky due to nearly full Moon. No tail seen.
Site: Uppsala, Sweden.
Date(UT) n MM Mag Ref Aper Type f x dia DC taildg tailpa Observer
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071024.95 N S 2.9 SC 8.0 B - 20 1 9 - - J Danielsson
Comments: Strong moon interference. Starlike, yellow point, a "new" star in
central Perseus. Only a central condensation could be observed, no extended
coma. Slightly hazy skies. Comet p/17 Holmes was observerd from central
Farjestaden in southeast of Sweden. Site: Färjestaden, Sweden