Comet Unexpectedly Brightens a Millionfold

swordgeek writes "Comet 17P/Holmes, a relatively obscure and (until a few days ago) dim object, has suddenly flared to be literally a million times brighter, going from magnitude 18 to 2.8. It is just outside of the constellation Perseus, which puts it high in the sky and ideal for viewing at this time of year. The comet still appears starlike even in binoculars but should grow to several arcminutes across over the next few nights. The comet is now readily visible to the naked eye. This is a completely unexpected once-in-a-lifetime event, so get out your finest optics (even if it's just your eyes) and go comet watching!"

we need a comet, a big one

[circletimessquare]

i don't think we've seen a really big bright comet in how long? hasn't it been decades, or centuries even? anywhere in the world?

i mean a really big bright one that eats the whole sky

we need a big bright comet because history teaches us that warring factions oftentimes stop their fighting and lay down their arms when shocked at the sight

so we need a big bright comet pronto

Re:UK?

[Anonymous Coward]

When the clouds clear up, and the rain stops.

Oh, right, UK.

Never.

WARNING

[LiquidCoooled]

The comet is now readily visible to the naked eye.

WARNING
Do not look into the comet with your remaining eye.

Re:Start the Search for the New Messiah!

[jollyreaper]

If that dumbas folk singer is to be believed, he'll be found on a bus. Just like one of us.

Depends on the singer you're listening to. Mine says he was born in a cheap hotel at the end of Route 66, he lived a dark and twisted life and came right back just to do it again.

Re:Earth to comet: Y R U so late?

[jollyreaper]

I remember a group of people waiting for you. Some 32 people in some large farm house or something in California. All wearing some kind of black clothing and Nike shoes. They took your promise to come in 1999 or so and committed suicide but you are coming so late. OK atleast the rest of the believers can now die and meet you.

I can't take credit for the lyrics but they're still funny!

Song Lyrics:
Magic Comet Ride

(Parody of Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf)

I like to dream
Yes, yes
About flying around in a space machine
When a big blue ball appears in the night
Our leader says that the time is right
Hale Bopp draws near
Clean the house and pack that gear

Well, UFO is right behind
Why don't you come with me, boys and girls
On a magic comet ride
Well, UFO's got a extra seat
Why don't you take a trek with me?
Beam us up, we'll visit ET

Grab a ride, girl
Say good bye, world
Let Hale Bopp take you away

Last night I packed a travel sack
And said goodbye on video tape
Before the ship could come for me
Some witch doctor had to take my nuts away
I donned a gown
Brand new shoes from Niketown

Well, you won't know if you stay behind
Why don't you come with me, cyber geek
On a magic comet ride
We'll follow Doe and you will see
Why don't you go to sleep with me?
This plastic bag will set you free

Say goodbye, world
Log your last URL
Let the ship take you away

Well, UFO is right behind
Why don't you come with me, boys and girls
On a magic comet ride
Well, UFO's got an extra seat
Why don't you take a trek with me?
Beam us up, we'll visit ET (Marcus Tee)

Re:UK?

[famebait]

Well, umm, the UK and the US are not that different in latitude, and as for the east-west thing, last I checked the earth makes a complete revoluion every day.

It's The COMET EMPIRE!!!

[saudadelinux]

Where's the Argo/Yamato? Tell 'em to power up the Wave Motion Gun to deal with this intergalatic menace!

Re:Why?

[ObiWanStevobi]

Obviously, It's coming right for us!

Re:we need a comet, a big one

[GodfatherofSoul]

Not with our president. Bush would just point to the heavens and say, "See? God hates terrorism, too!"

Re:WARNING

[R2.0]

A coworker bought a balisong (butterfly knife) as a youth, and being a methodical chap, bought "The Balisong Book", or somesuch.

The instructions started out with "First, take off the blade of the knife prior to practicing, or you will cut yourself". Being young and cocky, he ignored it and started playing with it. After cutting his hand rather badly, he decided to consult the book again.

The next line read "Now that you have bandaged your hand, tape off the knife edge like the previous instructions said".

Re:we need a comet, a big one

[laejoh]

Well yeah, we're talking about a comet that brightens, not a president!

Re:Start the Search for the New Messiah!

[Anonymous Coward]

"It was a dark and twisted night..."

Unexpected Sudden Brightening?

[clickety6]

You think that's unexpected?

Wait until it suddenly changes direction!

Now thatwill be unexpected!

Re:UK?

[mrjb]

What about in the UK? Where would I need to look to see this thing?
Regardless of country - You would need to look up.

Wow! A once in a lifetime event!

[east coast]

So that's why it's going to be cloudy over my area for the foreseeable future?

Never fails.

Great scale

[sacrilicious]

literally a million times brighter, going from magnitude 18 to 2.8.

Dr Evil: ... and so we will demand... one million dollars! (*laughs evilly*)
Henchman: Um, well, it turns out that a million dollars isn't so much money any more.
Dr Evil: Hmm. In that case... we will demand... fifty cents!!!

Re:UK?

[razorh]

?? I don't see ANY of those lines when I look into the sky at night, is there some filter/layer I need to turn on somewhere?

Re:UK?

[kurzweilfreak]

Try hitting Ctrl-;

Re:Why?

[wximagery95]

Does anyone have any idea why this comet has suddenly got so much brighter?

Global warming.

It's Obvious

[trongey]

The comet hasn't brightened. What you're seeing is the afterglow from the nuclear explosion that Bruce Willis set off yesterday.

Re:Blindsight, anyone?

[trongey]

You realize, of course, that being able to make a connection to a Sci-Fi book that was just published last year means your chances of ever getting a date are pretty much non-existent.

Re:we need a comet, a big one

[operagost]

Too late. The liberals would already be blaming the comet on global warming.

Our new Overlords

[kmahan]

Obviously a ship starting its deceleration burn.

A "Millionfold" is not the same as a Million times

[N0GNU]

The /. title "Comet Unexpectedly Brightens a Millionfold" demonstrates a common mistake.

  Each "fold" means a doubling, or 2 to the n'th power. For example, three-fold is 8-times. Take a piece of paper and fold it three times- unfold it and count the number of rectangles outlined by the creases. This is where the expression actually came from...

  People incorrectly use the "fold" term because they think it sounds more intelligent, but they demonstrate their ignorance by misusing it.

  A brighting of 2 to the millionth power would be so massive that we and our entire solar system would be almost instantly vaporized and blown away by the photons striking us.

ron

Comet, comet, go away, don't come back other day

[SleptThroughClass]

If the comet reaches Earth it is a WMD.

Re:Doesn't matter

[bcattwoo]

Yes, but the sky will be in a different place above you depending on latitude.

I am at 35.778889 N and the sky is up. Can you post your latitude and sky direction for comparison?

oblig starship troopers

[Joe the Lesser]

Johnny Rico: I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill 'em all!

Re:Unexpected Sudden Brightening?

[Alsee]

You think that's unexpected?
Wait until it suddenly changes direction!

Oh yeah? You think that's unexpected?

Wait until it starts an Inquisition!

Now that will be unexpected!

-

What the night sky *really* looks like

[patio11]

Nothing. Only when you get outside of civilization are you afflicted with the light pollution from stars hundreds of light years away. Don't worry, this pollution, while unsettling if you weren't expecting it, has no permanent ill effects and clears up again after you return to civilization.