Comet 17P/Holmes

[helen]

So has anyone seen Comet 17P/Holmes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17P/Holmes) yet? It's sort of making the news a few days ago when it brighten unexpectly.

[lavagal]

So has anyone seen Comet 17P/Holmes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17P/Holmes) yet? It's sort of making the news a few days ago when it brighten unexpectly.

Helen:
Every morning I scan the skies for interesting things. So could you tell me? Do I look North? East? Straight up? A few years ago there was a comet passing by and we inherited some kittens in our garage, and my big bruiser boy is named Comet for that time.

And when I was getting ready to have my first daughter in 1999, there was Hale Bopp I think? It looked like there was a hole in the sky and that we had a glimpse of the brightness beyond heaven.

I couldn't tell by the link, and I'm not one of those people who can tell by longitude and lattitude exactly where to look.

Mahalo.

[helen]

According to Starry Night Enthusiast 5, 17P/Holmes should be visible now in the East to North-East sky, close to the horizon. When the moon rises at 9pm (HST) tonight, the comet would be above the moon and to the left. It's a general area of reference.

[lavagal]

Thank you, "general instructions" are as specific as I needed you to get. It might be that Koko Crater obstructs my view, but I might get a chance to see it in the morning when I head to the bus stop. Have a great week, Helen! Pop open a Mountain Dew for me...with your 5 a Day!

[helen]

By that time (5am HST) you need to look in the North-West direction.

[helen]

Couldn't see it on Sunday but tonight I did see it with the help of a pair of binoculars. It is still in the Eastern to North-Eastern sky around 10pm.

[lavagal]

Helen! DUDE! I saw it tonight! Finally the clouds have parted. I have been trying to find it for the past three nights and mornings, but the lovely rain got in the way. Anyway, I just saw it. I tried to look at it through our binoculars but I am one of those people who can't seem to figure out how to use them. I'm disappointed that all I really see is a spot of fuzz in the sky, but I know THAT'S IT! I love space stuff.

Thanks, Helen. I'll look for it in the morning, too, although I'd prefer more rain...well, at least after I get on theBus.

[helen]

If you look at the faint stars through the binoculars they are just points of light, 17P/Holmes is just a fuzzy ball.