22 Oct
2013
22 Oct
'13
7:45 p.m.
From Space Weather News Oct. 22, 2013 http://spaceweather.com A COMET EXPLODES: Amateur astronomers are reporting a 100-fold outburst of brightness from Comet C/2012 X1 (LINEAR). Images reveal a spherical shell of gas that reminds observers of Comet 17P/Holmes, which exploded in 2007. So far the comet is too dim for naked-eye viewing, but at magnitude +8.5 it is bright enough for imaging by backyard telescopes. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and more information.