[Rockhounds] Amazing comet up right now

[Alan Goldstein]

A friend of mine dropped this note today:

        "[Did you] get a chance to see Comet Holmes?!  I hope you've
heard the story.  Within a few hours, it rose from 17th magnitude to
about 2.8!!

       " I was at a seminar in Garrard County overnight last night, and
when the clouds broke I saw it easily with the naked eye--in Perseus
under the light of the near-full moon.  In my 10 x 50 binocs, it was an
amazing, round, planetary nebula-looking sight!!  No tail visible, but it
has not only burst in brightness, but it's actually huge in size for a
comet which was so dim a few days ago."

>From 17th to 3rd magnitude is an increase in brightness that is almost 
unprecedented! All I need now is clear skies!


Alan