Observing Report for November 2

Posted by Kelly Whitt Nov 2, 2007

Comet Holmes is still a great target after it gets dark. Its magnitude is hanging out in the same range as its neighbor, Delta Persei, magnitude 3.0. Astrophotographers have reported seeing a bit of a ray or jet protruding from the coma. But for those of us observing with something simpler, such as binoculars, the most noticeable feature of Comet Holmes is just how large it appears. The outgassing has made it easy to distinguish it from stars by its large hazy form. It still forms a sort of J shape with the brighter stars in Perseus, although it is continuing to head upward, toward Cassiopeia.

If you go out late enough in the evening, you'll see a bright orangey-red "star" rising below Comet Holmes on the eastern horizon. This is Mars, a bright magnitude -0.67 in Gemini.