Entry for November 03, 2007

Comet Holmes has grown large enough that even to the naked eye, it is fuzzier than a star.

Through binoculars, it looks like a luminous jellyfish swimming straight at us in the depths of the night.

Where to look in the sky

To spot Comet Holmes, face northeast in midevening. Look very high for the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia, a landmark of the autumn sky. The W is standing on end, as shown here, and is about as big as your fist held at arm's length.

Look about two fist-widths to the lower right of Cassiopeia. The brightest star there is Mirfak, in the constellation Perseus. Mirfak is the top star of a smallish triangle about the size of your thumb at arm's length. The triangle's lower-left corner is Comet Holmes.

If it is cloudy tonight, don't worry. Holmes is not leaving just yet. It will probably fade gradually in the next week or two.

Watch each clear night, and you will notice that the comet is creeping toward Mirfak. It will pass close by Mirfak on the night of Nov. 19.