17P/Holmes

17P/Holmes is a periodic comet.

2007 outburst

Location of comet in 2007

Motion viewed from Earth The comet's retrograde path in Perseus during July 2007 – March 2008. (Dates given every 14 days)	Location of comet from Earth (45N, 8PM, Oct 30, 2007) The comet looks like a bright star in early evening, in the constellation Perseus and above the bright star Capella. In binoculars or a small telescope, it resembles a round fuzzy ball.
Motion viewed from space 17P/Holmes is a periodic comet in an inclined and elliptical orbit between Mars and Jupiter. The comet was closest to the sun on May 4, 2007, and has been moving slowly away from the sun in an elliptical orbit.

Composite gallery

Motion with expanding dust cloud A simulation showing the angular diameter of the expanding dust cloud for 120 days past the initial event on October 24. The surface brightness will continue to decrease over time.

Photo composite A composite of Comet Holmes photos showing the comet's size and motion in the constellation Perseus from October 25, 2007 through March 9, 2008.

Wide angle photo gallery

October 31: (140mm) - Comet is in center
November 20: With Canon XTI 55 mm f5.6, ISO 1600 for 17" from San Francisco	January 12, 2008: 17P/Holmes

Telescopic photo gallery

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  Oct 25:
  Cloudbait Observatory, Guffey, Colorado
  (5.1" square)

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  Oct 26:
  4.5" (114mm) telescope
  Flintstone, Georgia

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  Oct 27:
  14.5" (370mm) Dobson

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  Oct 30:
  19" reflector
  Torquay, UK

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  Oct 31:
  8" telescope + EOS400D
  Barcelona, Spain

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  8" telescope + EOS400D
  Barcelona, Spain. Shows the comet movement over the stars background for 50 minutes. Changes on brightness are due to different exposure times on each image.

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  Nov 2:
  300mm telelens, Auvergne, France

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  Starmaster 14.5"
  Divide, Colorado

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  Nov 4:
  Hungary

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  Nov 7:
  10" Schmidt-Newtonian
  Brevard County, Florida

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  Nov 10:
  Nikon 400 mm f/2.8
  on CG-5, BW film
  Albuquerque, New Mexico

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  Nov 13:
  Marshall Twp, Pennsylvania

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  Nov 14:
  With Alpha Persei association, Canon 20d with 400mm f/2.8 telephoto on Meade LXD-55

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  Nov 15:
  Torquay, UK

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  Nov 18:
  Nikon 400 mm f/2.8 on CG-5
  Elite Chrome 100 slide film
  West of Rio Rancho
  New Mexico

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  Nov 29:
  Marshall Twp, Pennsylvania

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  Dec 14:
  Unprocessed single frame from Canon 5D / Canon 400 mm f/2.8 telephoto on Meade LXD-55

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  Dec 30:
  Unprocessed single frame from Canon 5D / Canon 400 mm f/2.8 telephoto on Meade LXD-55