Comet Holmes has faded...I SPOKE TOO SOON....

[Dan Chieppa]

Greetings,
I spoke too soon. I should have waited another 30 minutes. When I checked the sky again around 6:00PM I COULD see the comet. I'll post my results (photos) in another email. Sorry for the warning about the comet having faded away. It's still visible in binos!
Clear skies,
Dan


Comet Holmes has faded to the point where I cannot see it tonight from New Bedford with 12x50 binos. I was outside at 5:25 PM and could not find it anywhere within a five degree field of Mirfak. I even did a sweep beyond the 5-degree field of my binos. No comet. The moon was not a factor as it isn’t high enough in the sky yet.
On Friday night I could see it in my binos and did get one image (25-second, ISO 800) later (11:23 PM) that night. It was a difficult view in Bob M’s 15-inch DOB that night from UMASS Dartmouth.
If you have not had a chance to view this comet I’m afraid you’ve missed it. It may be in reach of mid to large telescopes if you know where to look. I’ll try again later tonight but I think it’s over for Comet Holmes. It was a good run.
Clear skies,
Dan

[james and james mceachern]

dan could see fuzzy spot naked eye but thats all even in scope, tried to find 8p tuttle but no luck

[Dan Chieppa]

James,
I saw the comet tonight with binos while in Middleboro. It was not naked eye from the parking lot where I was parked. It still looks nice and has retained most of it's shape and a little core is visible inside the coma. By the time I got home tonight, set up my mount and telescope, got it level and balanced and fixed a slipping RA gear the freakin' clouds rolled in and ruined the sky. I've left the scope outside, covered up, and will check it again in an hour or so. I've gone through too much setup to quit now. I will not be denied!
Clear skies,
Dan

[james and james mceachern]

pushed the mag up a few times in the 10" but didnt show no detail and finally couldnt see fuzz cloud either with my 5.5 mm ep

[james and james mceachern]

has any one bagged 8p tuttle yet?

[Mark G]

has any one bagged 8p tuttle yet?

Sadly, I've been busy and haven't observed.

[Joe B]

I have looked James but nothing definite as of yet...

[Rotorhead]

Tuttle remains elusive. The last two times I've observed, the star patterns have been distinct and easily followed, and I have been right on the patterns without seeing the comet. I had a possible nucleus hit last night, but the clouds rolled in after only 1/2 hour, and I saw no detectable movement. I think we need about two or three more nights of moon-waning before we can make a serious shot at it. Skyhound describes this comet as large, but diffuse. So moonlight is not going to help with that situation.

[james and james mceachern]

when i observed it was very bright and dark and i thought i had a good chance there was a bit of twinkling but seeing was ok still no tuttle, so i thought i would try holmes to say i saw something but all i could see is a cloud. saw naked eye figured see detail with the dob but still just saw big fuzzy cloud. i wish james was here cause he knows the sky so good and with his babies eyes he would bag tuttle im sure. i know i was in the right place but nothing saw 2 bright yellow jewel stars that i never seen before in the same area that night and a giant arrow of stars like one of those hiway lit up signs pointing at the pleides last night thought that was neat, comets are made for young eyes i guess, james and i plan on being at umd next month as he'll be home should we bring scope? jim

[Mark G]

Yes bring the 10" Dob to the next UMD event. As well as James. We'd be glad to see him. He'll need to make a presentation at an ASSNE meeting sometime. Now that he's a famous astronomer.

[james and james mceachern]

your gonna make his head grow another size with that talk mark, bob might need to still box his ears so we can fit them in his hat!

[james and james mceachern]

clearvue optics, make the average astonomer famous i guess!

[Paul D]

Comet Holmes may have faded but if it follows its trend like in 1862 we can expect another outburst in about 75 days. The show may not be over yet for this comet.