Comet 17/P Holmes still making appearance

Comet 17/P Holmes is still making an appreciable showing in the northeast in the early evening hours. It does not look like what is normally expected of a comet, that is with a long, flowing tail. The tail is not visible because the comet is moving away from us here on the Earth and any tail is extending in the direction of travel, away from the Earth.

Observers received a bit of a surprise last week when the comet's existing tail was "blown off" by a blast of solar wind. A powerful gust of charged particles blasted out from the Sun and struck the comet dislodging what tail there was. This "disconnection event" was visible in time-exposure photographs taken from several locations.

A gallery of Comet Holmes photographs can be seen at www.spaceweather.com.

That is also a good place to monitor the electromagnetic weather on the sun. Those wishing to view the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights are strongly advised to keep a close eye on space weather. The aurora is visible in this area more often than most people think; the key is knowing when to look for it.

As for Comet Holmes, it is still located within the Constellation Perseus, rising just after sunset in the northeast. Perseus is in the form of the letter "A" laying on its side.

To locate Perseus find the Great Square of Pegasus nearly overhead, follow the two long "arms" of the attached constellation Andromeda to the left and down, or look below the "W" shape of Casseopia.

Look near the center of Perseus for Mirfak, the brightest star of the group. In binoculars you can see a star cluster behind it. Comet Holmes is located just to the left and below Mirfak.

It will look like a small, round, fuzzy spot with just the eyes alone; binoculars, or a telescope will show a larger fuzzy spot with a brighter center.

Further east, the planet Mars is rapidly gaining attention in the early evening sky. The bright red planetary glow can be seen in the feet of the constellation Gemini rising just after 8:30 p.m. local time in the east.

Gemini, with its two brightest stars Castor and Pollux can be found to the left of Orion (as you are looking at it) and below Taurus, the Bull and Auriga, the Charioteer. Mars will be rising earlier each night until late December when it will be at what astronomers call opposition or opposite the sun in the sky. When a planet is opposite the sun it will be up and visible all night long. That is when it will be at its brightest and biggest and closest all year as seen from the Earth. Opposition will occur on Monday, Dec. 24.

Remember, it you get any e-mail saying Mars will be as big as the full Moon and closer to the Earth than anytime in the last 80,000 years, delete it, it is a hoax.

The Web site www.snopes.com is a good site for debunking such "urban legends" as this.

SKY WATCH: The Moon will be full on Saturday, Nov. 24, and will be near the Pleiades star cluster that evening. Speaking of Mars, there will be a marvelous conjunction of the moon and Mars on the evening of Monday, Nov. 26.

Look in the east just after 9 p.m. local time when the pair will be about one degree apart. That is about the distance of the width of two full moons or twice the distance of your pinkie finger held out at arms length. It will be a wonderful sight in binoculars or a small telescope.

Next time: More astronomical blathering.