[BAA Comets] Comet 17P/Holmes: A marked outburst on January 26

[Richard Miles]

It appears that Comet 17P/Holmes has undergone a significant outburst on 
2015 January 26 possibly reaching 14th magnitude. If confirmed, this 
outburst will be the most energetic event of its kind since this comet's 
mega-outburst of 2007 October 23. Denis Buczynski noted a small outburst of 
the comet last November when the coma was confirmed to have brightened by 
0.7 magnitudes on 2015 Nov 07+/-2. This event appears to have taken place 
some 81+/-3 days later.

Two 120-sec exposures through an SDSS-r' filter taken by the 2.0-m Faulkes 
Telescope North (LCOGT Network) on January 28.25 show an extended coma some 
10-12 arcsec in diameter with possible outflows at p.a. 20 deg and 270 deg. 
Seeing in the images is estimated to be in the range 1.0-1.4 arcsec. The 
FITS images are not yet available (these require 24 hours to come online) 
and so accurate photometry cannot yet be performed.

Two previous 120-sec exposures through an SDSS-r' filter taken with the same 
2.0-m Faulkes Telescope North on January 26.29 show 17P to be entirely 
quiescent at around 17-18th magnitude.

Grateful if on eor more observers can confirm this apparent outburst. 
Thanks.

Richard Miles