The Geminid Meteor Shower

With what may turn out to be the year's best meteor shower, the Geminids arrive on the nights of December 13 and 14. The shower emanates from the constellation Gemini which is nearly overhead at midnight this time of year. You don't need to face Gemini, though. In fact, the meteors that are away from that constellation give longer streakes. The ones seen in Gemini are falling more or less directly at you, and, therefore, appear relatively short.

Go outside after 9 pm on December 13 or 14. The best time to view them is after 1 am on the 14th. Even though there may be up to 120 per hour, an observer is much more likely to see 1/3 that number. That higher figure includes the ones you don't see behind you and the fainter meteors which are difficult to spot.

Dress warmly and good luck!

Such is our view from Earth...

Comet Holmes, a great binocular object

Bring out the binoculars for a great view of Comet Holmes. It is easily seen as a round fuzzy smudge just to the west of Alpha Persei (Mirfak). Over the next six weeks, although it remains in the general area, it slowly moves towards Algol. Try finding it on the next clear night using November's diagram.

Such is the view from Earth...

Comet Holmes continues to grow

Showing lasting power, Comet Holmes is slowly increasing its apparent diameter. Although it is slightly dimmer than it was a couple of weeks ago, its size is almost 1 degree across! This is best viewed through 10 x 50 binoculars as it passes Mirfak and the Alpha Persei Association of stars. Over the next few weeks, it heads towards Algol finally reaching that location on January 21. Keep watching to see if its continues expanding.

Such is our view from Earth...

Comet Holmes Endures

Surprising Comet Holmes continues to amaze skywatchers. Since becoming an easy naked eye object 2 weeks ago, it has double in diameter. This is particularly strange since Holmes is slowly moving away from both the Earth and the sun. Tonight, the comet lies about 151 million miles from us and 232 million from the sun. This places it past the orbit of the Earth and beyond the orbit of Mars into the region of the solar system called "the asteroid belt." Comets this far from the sun aren't normally seen as a naked eye object here on Earth. By the end of November, it increases its distance to 157 million miles from us and 241 million from the sun.

During the next week, go outside after 7 pm and look in the northeast. Between the bright star Capella, which is close to the horizon, and the "w" of Cassiopeia, which is 2/3 overhead, is Perseus. Look for 3 moderately bright "stars" forming a small triangle. The "star" on the left is not a star at all, but Comet Holmes.

Through household binoculars, the comet is easily seen to be a large round fuzzy patch. Watch nightly to see Holmes creep in front of the distant background stars!

Such is our view from Earth...

See Comet Holmes

The new member of the fall sky, Comet Holmes, appears as a slightly fuzzy star in Perseus. It is easily visible to the unaided eye and as a round yellowish fuzzball through binoculars. Have a look!

Such is our view from Earth...

Visitor from beyond Mars - Comet Holmes

Quite unexpectedly, an icy ball slowly falling towards the inner solar system brightened significantly last week. Comet Holmes is about 150 million miles away — beyond the orbit of Mars — and approaching.

Comet Holmes presents itself in the northeast soon after dark falls. Look for a fuzzy, moderately bright star about 1/2 way between the bright twinkling Capella (which is just above the horizon) and the familiar "w" of the constellation Cassiopeia. The "w" is high in the northeast, about 1/2 way between the horizon and directly overhead.

It is best to view the comet from a relatively dark area and before the moon rises. At 8 pm each night this week, the moon will not be above the horizon, so this is a good time to have a look.

Over the next few weeks the comet drifts past the Alpha Persei Association (a group of stars spread around Alpha Persei, the moderately bright star in the area). Even though, Holmes is visible to the unaided eye, use binoculars for a much better view, especially as it passes the glittering stars of the Association.

Such is our view from Earth...

Orionid Meteor Shower

Patient skywatchers on Sunday morning are in for a treat with the Orionid Meteor Shower. Around 5 a.m. the meteors appear to emanate from the constellation Orion which sits high in the south. Up to 25 sand grain sized pieces from the debris field from Comet Halley's tail may enter our planet's upper atmosphere every hour. The shock waves created as they collide with our upper atmosphere's rarefied gases cause their glowing streaks as they enter at nearly 40 miles per second.

Try not to observe before 2 a.m. because the bright gibbous moon hasn't set yet. Its light washes out the sky, blocking the fainter meteor streaks.

Dress warmly!

Such is our view from Earth...