Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 July 31: South)

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Updated on August 1, 2004
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

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* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


It is observable at 6 mag until early September. But it will be getting lower rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  13 59.23   27  6.8   1.561   1.587    72    6.5     54.1 220.0  18:44 (159, 25)  
Aug.  7  13 43.25   22 23.9   1.636   1.507    64    6.4     48.0 215.4  18:49 (146, 25)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It locates visible all night, though it is low in the morning still now. It keeps observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been fading as expected since mid May, and keeps brighter than 12 mag until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  11 18.24   59 23.9   2.039   1.587    49    9.3     15.9  61.9  18:44 (152,-17)  
Aug.  7  11 31.60   60 15.6   2.117   1.672    50    9.6     16.5  63.2  18:49 (152,-19)  

* C/2004 H6 ( SWAN )


It suddenly became diffused in July, but it was condensed still in mid July by CCD. It turns to be in the evening sky after September, then it keeps good condition in the evening sky. However, it will be observable visually only until the end of August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  22  8.85   -8 22.3   0.630   1.613   156   10.1    142.7 278.2   1:37 (180, 63)  
Aug.  7  21  8.18   -6  0.4   0.702   1.709   169   10.9    115.8 279.4   0:09 (180, 61)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It is observable only in the Southern Hemisphere, and only until mid August. Then it will appear at dawn in late October at 13.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  10 46.05   -7 39.8   2.587   1.925    40   10.4     12.0 101.2  18:44 ( 96, 22)  
Aug.  7  10 51.45   -7 57.9   2.769   2.026    35   10.8     11.6 104.2  18:49 ( 92, 16)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


It keeps locating low in the morning sky until the end of August while being fading gradually. It will start to be higher after September, but when it will be fainter than 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   8  2.30   54 45.7   2.668   1.960    37   11.1     36.7 104.7   5:28 (221,-28)  
Aug.  7   8 28.85   53 36.9   2.718   2.018    38   11.2     34.3 108.1   5:22 (222,-28)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


The condition is worst in this return. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in autumn, when it will already fade to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   7 55.83   12 58.1   2.413   1.438    12   12.0     44.9 105.0   5:28 (258, -6)  
Aug.  7   8 15.95   11 34.8   2.464   1.498    13   12.5     42.7 106.4   5:22 (259, -5)  

* 88P/Howell


Fading now. It will be fainter than 13 mag in September. (944) Hidalgo will through the coma of this comet on Aug. 17.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   2 24.76    9 43.3   1.452   1.786    90   12.1     18.0  71.6   5:28 (187, 45)  
Aug.  7   2 32.12   10 19.1   1.425   1.830    95   12.3     14.7  71.9   5:22 (182, 45)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


No outburst was reported in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   0 31.54   12  3.3   5.209   5.724   115   13.3      1.8 329.7   3:56 (180, 43)  
Aug.  7   0 30.85   12 12.4   5.115   5.724   122   13.2      2.2 298.0   3:28 (180, 43)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


It will be visible visually soon. It is observable in good condition as bright as 12 mag in autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   2 13.47   16 19.6   1.851   2.133    91   13.9     23.8  74.5   5:28 (183, 39)  
Aug.  7   2 24.45   17  1.1   1.763   2.115    95   13.6     22.7  75.9   5:21 (180, 38)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


The brightening evolution is slower than usual. It will be October when it becomes visible visually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until 2005 spring when it reaches to 8 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   8 32.56   69  4.5   4.222   3.666    50   15.1     16.4  88.5   5:28 (206,-35)  
Aug.  7   8 54.53   69  6.1   4.110   3.588    52   15.0     17.2  89.3   5:22 (206,-35)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will fade out gradually, and keeps observable brighter than 17 mag until the end of 2004.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   0 25.54   16 44.0   4.169   4.687   114   15.0     14.7 263.9   3:51 (180, 38)  
Aug.  7   0 17.99   16 29.7   4.108   4.737   122   15.0     16.5 261.3   3:16 (180, 38)  

* 48P/Johnson


It keeps 16 mag until October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps to be locating only around 30 deg high.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  19 54.56  -22 32.9   1.360   2.363   168   15.7     12.9 223.3  23:16 (180, 78)  
Aug.  7  19 50.35  -23 36.8   1.374   2.353   160   15.6     11.6 220.8  22:44 (180, 79)  

* 65P/Gunn


It keeps around 16 mag until November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   1 42.41   -0 29.6   3.052   3.446   104   15.7      4.2  95.5   5:07 (180, 55)  
Aug.  7   1 43.91   -0 34.8   2.978   3.467   110   15.6      2.5 115.6   4:41 (180, 56)  

* (944) Hidalgo


It is observable at 13.5 mag in good condition in October and November. No observation has been reported since 2003 December. It will through the coma of 88P/Howell on Aug. 17.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   2 30.00    6 46.8   2.350   2.572    90   15.8     17.0  38.6   5:28 (190, 48)  
Aug.  7   2 34.65    8 21.9   2.220   2.531    95   15.7     16.6  33.1   5:22 (183, 47)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )


It locates low in the evening sky until mid September, then it becomes unobservable for a while. But it will be observable again at 15 mag after next February for a long time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  13 33.70    0 33.4   3.109   2.986    73   15.7     17.1 128.7  18:44 (139, 47)  
Aug.  7  13 40.21   -0 42.0   3.185   2.976    68   15.8     18.1 126.6  18:49 (130, 44)  

* 42P/Neujmin 3


It is unexpectedly bright, 16.5 mag. It keeps 16.5 mag until mid August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  20  6.09  -16 40.3   1.011   2.020   171   16.4      6.4 223.8  23:27 (180, 72)  
Aug.  7  20  4.23  -17 12.4   1.030   2.025   164   16.5      5.5 214.4  22:58 (180, 72)  

* C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield )


It is extremely diffused after June. It was reported as bright as 12 mag visually, however, it was reported so faint as 16-18 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   0 50.18   66 20.0   2.163   2.288    83   16.6     16.9 302.3   4:15 (180,-11)  
Aug.  7   0 31.72   67 12.2   2.195   2.395    88   17.0     17.7 289.6   3:30 (180,-12)  

* 56P/Slaughter-Burnham


It is expected to be observable at 16 mag in good condition in autumn. But it was faint as 18.5 mag in late July. So it is probably 1.5 mag fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   0  1.52   -0 21.9   2.094   2.832   127   16.9      3.8  23.0   3:26 (180, 55)  
Aug.  7   0  1.70    0  0.2   2.006   2.810   134   16.7      2.9 345.9   2:59 (180, 55)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


It is observable until November when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   1  5.35    2 37.8   2.810   3.325   111   16.8      3.1 113.9   4:30 (180, 52)  
Aug.  7   1  6.23    2 26.0   2.755   3.359   118   16.8      2.3 157.0   4:03 (180, 53)  

* P/2004 K2 ( McNaught )


It keeps 17 mag until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   2 23.75    9  3.3   1.222   1.608    91   17.0     30.3  85.1   5:28 (187, 46)  
Aug.  7   2 37.44    9 15.8   1.190   1.627    94   17.0     27.7  87.8   5:22 (184, 46)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It will be fading slowly until November when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  18 32.10   44  6.1   5.975   6.408   110   17.2      5.4 256.8  21:54 (180, 11)  
Aug.  7  18 28.91   43 54.3   6.031   6.441   109   17.3      5.0 245.0  21:23 (180, 11)  

* 119P/Parker-Hartley


It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition in autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   1 23.49   14  2.2   3.022   3.405   103   17.4      7.0  61.9   4:48 (180, 41)  
Aug.  7   1 26.07   14 22.9   2.914   3.390   109   17.3      5.3  60.0   4:23 (180, 41)  

* 32P/Comas Sola


It will be 12-13 mag in winter, locating high in the evening sky. It keeps observable until that time in good condition while the comet is getting brighter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   2 44.13    6 19.3   2.678   2.822    87   17.6     15.5  74.0   5:28 (195, 48)  
Aug.  7   2 50.93    6 47.9   2.549   2.782    92   17.3     14.5  74.4   5:22 (189, 48)  

* C/2004 K1 ( Catalina )


It will be brightening gradually after this, and reach to 15 mag in 2005 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  19 10.98   -2 55.9   3.653   4.580   152   17.4     24.1 266.8  22:32 (180, 58)  
Aug.  7  18 59.95   -3  6.8   3.667   4.540   145   17.4     23.1 265.7  21:53 (180, 58)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps brighter than 18 mag until 2005 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  13 54.23   49  3.4   6.453   6.155    68   17.4      9.0 203.8  18:44 (166,  4)  
Aug.  7  13 52.07   48  6.5   6.532   6.173    65   17.5      8.4 197.4  18:49 (160,  3)  

* C/2003 O1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps around 18 mag for a long time until 2005 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  16 43.48   44 11.7   6.703   6.905    97   17.5     11.5 235.4  20:05 (180, 11)  
Aug.  7  16 37.75   43 23.9   6.767   6.911    93   17.5     10.9 229.5  19:32 (180, 12)  

* C/2003 S4 ( LINEAR )


It reaches to 17.5 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   2 55.13   25 57.0   3.955   3.896    79   17.9     10.9  98.7   5:28 (193, 28)  
Aug.  7   3  0.43   25 43.2   3.864   3.905    84   17.9      9.9 103.5   5:22 (189, 29)  

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