Comet Holmes in Perseus

[canfossi]

Can anyone tell me what time I can see comet Holmes, it's in Perseus (the north-east sky), but can't find out what time to view it at? Does anyone know? It's at magnitude 2.5 or thereabouts right now? Thanks Chris

[Scrounger]

After dark?

The best info I can find is about 1 AM Eastern or so. HTH.
You might just hafta go out about midnight and see if it is visible then go from there. If Persus is up it will be visible.

[no1cowboy]

It reaches is highest point in the northern sky at around 1AM.

[paulaswolfpack]

http://www.space.com/nightsky/
try here lots of info on comets etc.,paula

[suburbanite]

www.spaceweather.com

[DocM]

I could see it in the NE sky at 5 AM my timezone/latitude. It's the brightest object in the sky at that time, because the moon has just about set.

[suburbanite]

Imho space.com is more aimed at kids and people without much background in science or astronomy. spaceweather.com is more aimed at 'amateur astronomers'.

Basic science question-->space.com
Hubble shots-->space.com
Details about making your own stellar observations-->spaceweather.com
explanations that may occasionally include math-->spaceweather.com

[comfortablynumb]

www.stellarium.org
use that program t search for stuff like that.

you will need to load more data files for comets and the like.

its cooooooooooooooooooool.

[canfossi]

I checked into the comet more and found out that it's visible after dark, so check it out if you get a chance. Chris p.s. Thanks for the info.

[Ken Scharabok]

Interesting to note how seldom a comet appears today, yet 2-3000 years ago they were so common and regular holidays were set around them. Why the drastic decrease in activity?

[tweety]

I wonder if the apparent decrease in activity is due to the vast increase of light pollution anywhere near even the smallest town or shopping center? Most comets are pretty dim and can get washed out by ambient light. Plus the fact that most people spend their nights glued to the TV instead of outside walking around looking up. Ask some dedicated amateur astronomers, I'd be interested in their take on it.

[rwzzz]

My understanding is that naked eye comets are rare. On the order of maybe one or two per decade visible from one specific location. In the past they were viewed as bad omens. There are usually several comets in the inner solar system at any given time. They are just not bright enough to see without a telescope. Very bright, noteworthy, comets are very rare. I think in the last 20 years: 2 in the 90's, one a few years ago.

Here is a site for finding comets with a telescope. I do not usually try to find any comet that is not at least magnitude 10.
http://www.cometchasing.skyhound.com/index.html

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

Interesting to note how seldom a comet appears today, yet 2-3000 years ago they were so common and regular holidays were set around them. Why the drastic decrease in activity?