From this trajectory gif it appears that Holmes may come close to occulting Alpha Persei (Mirfak/Alcheb) in mid-November. Close but no cigar?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:C...ctory_TLR1.gif

Could be interesting seen thru the tail.

Last night the comet made a nice isosceles triangle with Alpha and Delta Persei.

Tim,

According to Starry Night Pro, 17P/Holmes should pass within approximately 19 arc minutes of Mirfak at 1:00 UT on November 19 (8:00 p.m. EST on November 18). Given the constantly increasing size of the comet's coma, it certainly seems possible that it will occult Mirfak.

Dave Mitsky

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Thanks for the info Dave!

I estimate that the comet is less than 2 degrees from Mirfak this evening.

isnt that the cancer society sign that people put on their cars bumer?

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Huh?

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I was baffled too Kaptain. But the trajectory gif looks just like the symbols that folks put on their cars. Very observant france113!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:C...ctory_TLR1.gif

It's just a standard retrograde loop caused by our passing it in our respective orbits and its inclined orbital path. This guy has a orbit more like an asteroid than a comet. Obviously a victim of Jupiter's gravity well.

Rick

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Well, tonight's the night. Last night the comet looked like it was almost dead center on Alpha Persei, with the naked eye. In fact, if I didn't know it was Comet Holmes I would have dismissed it as part of the background star clusters, so prevalent in Perseus.