Comet in the Sky

(Photo from Wiktopia)

As a child I used to sit out on my grandmother's front porch swing. My uncle Freddy would stand out on the sidewalk nearby, "Hey. Come and take a look at this", he would say. I would walk over and he would point out to me the constellations in the sky. He knew all of them and was greatly knowledgeable about the "Heaven's". It was from those moments that I became intrigued with the sky, be it day or night time. My Uncle Freddy passed on many years ago, but I still have the interest that he passed along to me (and hopefully my children). I always love to watch the passing clouds, sunsets, the constellations, the moon's phases...

That being said, have you taken a look up at night lately? Have you noticed what is called the 17P/Holmes Comet in the northern sky? The comet is in the constellation Perseus, it is a fuzzy spot of light, about as bright as the stars in the big dipper. This comet is lacking of it's tail. Why this is so exciting is that this comet has unexpectedly brightened in the past couple of weeks. What only a week ago was visible only by telescope is now visible to the naked eye. It is attracting professional and amateur interest alike. Experts aren't sure how long the comet's show will last, but estimate it could be weeks — if not months. Using a telescope or binoculars help bring the comet's details into view. Tonight, why not take a seat out in your front yard and enjoy the beauty that is in the sky and share it with those that are close to you.