Comet Holmes is in the night sky. Has this been advertised?

Question

for images, check www.spaceweather.com

Answer 1

Excellent article at link below.

Answer 2

I have been watching since October 26. I calculated the expansion rate of about 1300 miles per hour (radial expansion.)

I am just guessing, but I think it probably was an impact on the comet from a rocky body. Its expansion is too slow for an explosion yet way too fast for just sublimation of sunbaked ice. If it took a hit from a small asteroid all the exposed ices would turn to gas and dust all at once and make just such an expansion.

Answer 3

I've only seen it in the general media for the last couple days. The astronomy blogs and websites have been talking about it since the week Holmes' brightness skyrocketed (Oct.23). I've been looking at it for a couple weeks now, but it looks like it's on its way out, gradually becoming dimmer, though it may be visible to the naked eye in dark skies for a couple more weeks. It doesn't have the intense starlike look that it had during the first couple days before the dust cloud around it expanded to its current extent.

Answer 4

I've seen it for the last couple of weeks. Very impressive, given where it is at. Very rare to have a comet that is both naked eye visibility AND visible all night.

Answer 5

^ Big 'ed ^

I will check this out tonight, right now in fact! Cheers.

Damn cloud! will try later.

BAN STREET LIGHTS! What a waste of completely brilliant ganga growing light bulbs, pointing upwards and glaring,................... BE GONE!

Answer 6

yes (and no)

If you mean advertised on CBS and sponsored by Pepsi, then no.

However, all astronomy discussion sites are buzzing with it.

And, there are already hoaxes about it heading for Earth to destroy humanity...
;-)