Holmes Size?

[CanisMajorTom]

Apparently Comet Holmes is now bigger than the sun. The coma I beleive is what they are talking about though.

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/faculty/jewitt/holmes.html

Tom

[AstroBob]

wow, thanks for posting. :thumbsupmate:

[hpcoolahan]

Thats amazing news.

Good thing it broke up on its way out then.
I wonder if we will get a meteor shower from it next time we pass through this part of space??:pipethinker:

Clear Skies
Pat :hmm:

[wakaleo]

Apparently Comet Holmes is now bigger than the sun. The coma I beleive is what they are talking about though.
Tom

You're right Tom, it'd have to be the coma. And they must mean its apparent size as viewed from Earth. Anything else and life as we know it probably wouldn't exist anymore!

[Radar]

What an awesome comet this is turning out to be. It's heading South which means I will be getting a better view of it soon. We've been spoiled with Comets this year (not that I'm complaining :itsme!:).

Ray

[wakaleo]

Check out this site for a size comparison between Comet Holmes and the Moon.

http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=389728

Jim

[Radar]

Nice comparison Jim :smile:

[Tenacious Del]

cool Jim :smile:

[timthelder]

In response as to a theory on the coma,I tend to agree with the comet impacting an asteroid/meteor theory.The reason why is in most cases a comet might 'explode' as it nears or is near the sun due to the expanding gases within it's core.

This comet had already made it's pass around the sun and was on it's way back out of our solar system when it suddenly 'exploded' into view,the core temp,should have cooled/contracted somewhat after it's swing around the sun,therefore eliminating the 'heating up/gas pocket expansion theory'.

As far as it's size...I think that has more do do with our view of it from behind as it is exiting our system.The coma nicely being illuminated by the sun that is...

Anyway,that's my two uneducated bits.
I would love to see what it looks like from a side view.I'd bet it's magnificent!

[LJF]

Wow they seem to be having a hard time figuring out the size of this commet.