Now I have three successive nights to compare. Eventually we should see the debris stretch roughly along the orbit as the stuff ejected forwards moves away along a higher/slower path and the stuff ejected backwards does the opposite. Shuttle water dumps do it, tidally disrupted globular clusters do it, unsuspecting dwarf galaxies do it - now here it is before our eyes. But not this week... (If it weren't getting late and me having to be up in six hours, I'd put some numbers to that. Later. Celestial mechanics are free to chime in.)

Attached Images

CometHolmesOct262728.jpg.jpg (18.7 KB, 124 views)

Nice progression. I've been curious if it will develop a tail but I guess it's too far from the sun???

I was also wondering about this. Possible explanation:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/obser.../10775326.html

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nice series - ngc3314...

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Very nice photos NGC1314, What were your equipment used and dates?. Welldone and Clear Skies

The weather is staying good, so I'm still at it. (0.4m Ritchey-Chretien reflector at the University of Alabama observatory, SBIG STL-6303E camera, R filter, exposures 10-300 seconds lengthening as the main dust puff expands). Here's a series from Oct 26-30 local time. I suspect that the symmetry of the main circular outburst is breaking with the outline fuzzing out on one side. Each image section is about 15 arcminutes N-S (out of the 20x30-arcminute field of the chip). These are quick-and-dirty logarithmic displays, with only dark subtraction done beforehand (mostly because my schedule has been hectic this week, but at least the bits are on disk for more complete exploitation later).

Attached Images

CometHolmesOct2630.jpg (33.9 KB, 46 views)

The weather is staying good, so I'm still at it. (0.4m Ritchey-Chretien reflector at the University of Alabama observatory, SBIG STL-6303E camera, R filter, exposures 10-300 seconds lengthening as the main dust puff expands). Here's a series from Oct 26-30 local time (between 0200-0400 UT each date, which will be one later than local). I suspect that the symmetry of the main circular outburst is breaking with the outline fuzzing out on one side. Each image section is about 15 arcminutes N-S (out of the 20x30-arcminute field of the chip). These are quick-and-dirty logarithmic displays, with only dark subtraction done beforehand (mostly because my schedule has been hectic this week, but at least the bits are on disk).

(Edit: oops, I tried to add the timing information and ended up with a new post. Apologies.)

All I can say is ... WOW!

Great Images! NGC3314, And thanks for the info. Clear Skies

I am amazed at the continued brightness. As the original cone of ejecta, (which we are seeing from 'behind'),expands and becomes more diffuse one might expect a brief bright burst then gradual dimming but the shell like structure of the ejecta cloud seems to indicate further disturbances at the core. Thanks for the wonderful series.

Kind regards
Matt

I got a look at it through my old C-8 tonight, despite all the porch lights for Halloween, it was clearly naked eye visible, and very impressive through the scope. Some of the later trick or treaters got a bonus through the eyepiece.

Wouldn't an outburst/superoutburst/impact/de-lamination etc. have altered Holmes' trajectory ?

Can't help myself. Must keep imaging...

(Oct 27 - Nov 1, UT).

Attached Images

CometHolmesOct2631.jpg (18.7 KB, 26 views)

Bravo

keep 'em coming....

many thanks for sharing

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clear skies

Good, don't stop. These are simply marvelous! [Added: We'll make sure someone gets food to you. ]

Here is the JPL orbital plot and data which shows much. Using their 3d view, it appears the Earth is in a position that would minimize the apparent positions of both the inward and outward "puffs". [Earth's orbital direction is reducing our view of it, but we are in a position to see it, of course.]

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Yeah keep them comming. Its been cloudy here for the past three days and your photos are keeping me abreast of the situation

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Very nice CCD unit! It seems to favor yellow objects, too.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Can't fit them on one row any more, now spanning the nights of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1. Who'd have expected a full week of clear weather around here?

Tonight's imaging will be interesting - the athletic department asserts ownership of all nearby parking starting at 1700 the night before any home football game. Early in the night, though, we have a public event scheduled about 20 miles distant at a darkish site, which should acquaint many people with this eerie sight. The Birmingham newspaper ran the first four images on their front page today, which should be good for an extra crowd.

Sorry about the default orientation (south up, east left). That will get fixed along with flat fielding and stacking One of These Days. Or nights.

Attached Images

CometHolmesOct26Nov1.jpg (89.1 KB, 30 views)

More wonderful shots, thank you.

The article is great, too! Very nice. Was the comet a good or bad omen for your son's football game?

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.