17P Holmes & More

My wife and I headed over to the park in Fairy Valley along Hwy 411 in Murray County to catch a glimpse of the "new" comet. After setup and letting the scope cool for a bit (and the lights on the ball field finally being shut down), the stars were out nice and steady.

The scope reported a nippy 48 degF. and off we went to find the comet. At 136X with a Plossl eyepiece, the tail of the comet filled the entire FOV. The nucleus could be seen off center within the plume and was irregular but very bright. The color was a yellowish green through my scope with no filters.

We gazed at several other objects through the unusually steady air. The Ring Nebula, a favorite, was quite impressive at 258X - at 395X which sometimes brings out the central star with my 14" scope (with averted vision), the view was not so good. M13 was impressive even though it was a bit low in the sky. Another favorite is Albireo and it was equally impressive splitting into vivid blue and gold stars.

Almost an hour had past since looking at the comet so we pointed the scope back that way. It was a bit higher in the sky, but the color had not changed. I did not have my wide field eyepiece to get a look at just how big of a plume of debris was trailing, but a view that was good enough for me just the same - a view that I have never seen quite like it!

Hank Blackwood