Comet Holmes by John Catlyn

Comet Holmes (17P/Holmes) is a periodic comet which was discovered in 1892 by the British amateur astronomer Edwin Holmes. Although normally a very faint object, during its 2007 return when it unexepcedly brightened by a factor of approximately half a million and became visible to the naked eye. This was the largest known outburst by a comet. It also briefly became the largest object in the solar system, as its coma expanded to a diameter greater than that of the Sun.

The images below were taken over three days from October 30 2007 to Nov 4 2007.   All images are with a 10 second exposure.

Comet Holmes imaged on October 30 2007

Comet Holmes imaged on November 1 2007

Comet Holmes imaged on November 4 2007