[Rockhounds] Amazing comet up right now

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

Alan Goldstein wrote:
> 
> 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

It is quite a sight. I saw it just after it flared up (I saw the BBC
story), and again tonight. I can hardly wait until it clearly starts
showing a tail. This dirty snowball has promise. Keep an eye on it while
it is too dark to collect rocks off the ground.

Kreigh