Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Aug. 21: South)

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Updated on August 26, 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)  
Aug. 21  13 21.12   13 54.7   1.793   1.356    48    6.3     38.2 208.4  18:57 (123, 19)  
Aug. 28  13 13.24   10  7.9   1.867   1.285    40    6.2     34.7 205.8  19:02 (113, 15)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It locates visible all night in the northern sky. It keeps observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been fading slower than expected since June, and it was bright as 9 mag still in mid August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  12  1.88   62  1.3   2.240   1.845    54    9.1     18.3  64.6  18:57 (151,-24)  
Aug. 28  12 19.15   62 56.8   2.288   1.932    56    9.2     19.4  65.1  19:02 (151,-25)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


Not observable. 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)  
Aug. 21  11  1.58   -8 43.7   3.092   2.223    25   11.4     10.9 109.6  18:57 ( 83,  6)  
Aug. 28  11  6.33   -9 10.3   3.232   2.319    21   11.7     10.6 111.9  19:02 ( 79,  1)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   9 14.78   50 53.0   2.819   2.145    39   11.6     30.3 113.4   5:08 (225,-28)  
Aug. 28   9 34.18   49 27.9   2.866   2.210    41   11.7     28.3 115.1   5:00 (227,-27)  

* C/2004 H6 ( SWAN )


It turns to be in the evening sky after September, then it keeps good condition in the evening sky. It is extremely diffused visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  19 50.35   -2 41.0   0.975   1.901   146   12.5     56.7 279.7  21:47 (180, 58)  
Aug. 28  19 28.86   -1 46.3   1.149   1.995   134   13.3     37.8 279.6  20:59 (180, 57)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


Already bright as 12.5 mag visually. It is observable in good condition as bright as 11-12 mag until January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   2 44.87   18  4.7   1.593   2.082   103   13.2     19.8  79.6   4:46 (180, 37)  
Aug. 28   2 54.05   18 25.8   1.513   2.068   108   13.0     18.0  82.1   4:28 (180, 37)  

* 88P/Howell


It is diffused visually. It was 14 mag in mid August, fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   2 42.14   11  7.0   1.368   1.919   106   13.1      7.3  71.6   4:44 (180, 44)  
Aug. 28   2 44.56   11 19.4   1.340   1.965   112   13.3      3.4  68.9   4:19 (180, 44)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It was in outburst on Aug. 12, as bright as 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   0 27.96   12 19.9   4.950   5.724   136   13.2      4.0 270.1   2:30 (180, 43)  
Aug. 28   0 25.83   12 18.1   4.883   5.724   143   13.1      4.9 264.0   2:01 (180, 43)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


Not observed in this return yet. It will appear at dawn at 15 mag in October, then it will be fading gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   8 52.67    8 41.3   2.561   1.623    17   13.2     38.7 108.9   5:08 (261, -2)  
Aug. 28   9  9.44    7 13.1   2.605   1.686    19   13.6     36.8 110.0   5:00 (262, -1)  

* C/2004 Q1 ( Tucker )


New comet. It is observable at 12.5 mag in good condition from October to November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   2 42.35    1 27.1   1.879   2.406   109   14.2     16.7   1.7   4:44 (180, 54)  
Aug. 28   2 41.82    3 30.2   1.748   2.362   115   13.9     18.7 351.2   4:16 (180, 52)  

* 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. It keeps observable both in the evening and morning until December, however, it keeps locating low at 20-25 deg high.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   9 41.98   69  2.8   3.873   3.430    57   14.7     19.1  91.6   5:08 (206,-35)  
Aug. 28  10  7.48   68 56.2   3.750   3.350    59   14.5     20.1  93.1   5:00 (206,-36)  

* 48P/Johnson


It brightened rapidly in July, and reached to 14.5-15.0 mag. 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)  
Aug. 21  19 44.64  -25 27.0   1.435   2.337   145   14.7      7.6 205.1  21:44 (180, 80)  
Aug. 28  19 43.68  -26 11.0   1.480   2.330   137   14.8      5.7 184.6  21:15 (180, 81)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   0  0.72   15 40.2   4.023   4.837   139   15.1     19.6 256.6   2:03 (180, 39)  
Aug. 28  23 51.29   15  4.8   4.004   4.888   147   15.1     20.6 254.5   1:26 (180, 40)  

* (944) Hidalgo


It is observable at 13.5 mag in good condition in October and November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   2 41.48   11 48.6   1.965   2.453   106   15.3     16.5  18.0   4:43 (180, 43)  
Aug. 28   2 43.33   13 42.5   1.843   2.414   112   15.1     17.1   8.6   4:18 (180, 41)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   1 44.20   -0 59.4   2.844   3.508   123   15.6      2.9 215.2   3:46 (180, 56)  
Aug. 28   1 42.95   -1 18.0   2.787   3.529   130   15.6      4.7 231.5   3:17 (180, 56)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21  23 58.97    0 29.7   1.856   2.768   148   16.5      5.3 285.5   2:01 (180, 54)  
Aug. 28  23 56.14    0 37.3   1.796   2.747   155   16.4      7.1 276.3   1:31 (180, 54)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   3  2.96    7 36.7   2.295   2.701   102   16.8     11.9  74.9   5:05 (180, 47)  
Aug. 28   3  8.00    7 56.9   2.171   2.661   107   16.5     10.3  74.7   4:42 (180, 47)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   1  5.22    1 45.6   2.662   3.426   132   16.8      4.7 219.8   3:07 (180, 53)  
Aug. 28   1  3.38    1 17.9   2.628   3.460   139   16.8      6.4 228.4   2:38 (180, 54)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   1 28.78   14 49.4   2.713   3.361   122   17.1      1.5  42.3   3:31 (180, 40)  
Aug. 28   1 28.82   14 54.3   2.621   3.347   128   17.0      0.9 288.2   3:03 (180, 40)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   3  0.83    9  9.0   1.127   1.672   102   17.0     21.7  95.2   5:02 (180, 46)  
Aug. 28   3 10.20    8 50.3   1.097   1.697   107   17.0     18.3 100.6   4:44 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21  18 39.82   -3 35.4   3.749   4.461   129   17.4     19.9 263.3  20:38 (180, 59)  
Aug. 28  18 31.07   -3 52.1   3.814   4.421   121   17.4     17.8 262.1  20:02 (180, 59)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21  18 24.20   43 14.4   6.159   6.507   105   17.4      4.4 218.0  20:23 (180, 12)  
Aug. 28  18 22.78   42 48.3   6.228   6.540   103   17.4      4.3 203.5  19:54 (180, 12)  

* P/2004 HC18 ( LINEAR )


Although it was predicted to fade out quickly after the perihelion passage in June, it unexpectedly keeps 16.5-17.0 mag still in late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  16 31.03    6  1.9   1.401   1.810    95   17.5     27.9 104.9  18:57 (170, 49)  
Aug. 28  16 43.96    5 10.7   1.472   1.832    93   17.7     29.1 104.7  19:02 (163, 48)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21  16 28.75   41 39.8   6.904   6.924    86   17.6      9.7 217.6  18:57 (174, 13)  
Aug. 28  16 25.45   40 45.8   6.975   6.931    83   17.6      9.1 211.5  19:02 (167, 13)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )


It keeps observable in good condition at 17 mag until 2005 spring. It will reach to 16 mag in 2006.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   5 42.26   39 26.8   7.207   6.808    62   17.7      8.3  62.8   5:08 (209,  7)  
Aug. 28   5 46.58   39 54.0   7.078   6.776    68   17.6      7.9  59.9   5:00 (207,  8)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   3  9.00   25  1.0   3.679   3.924    96   17.8      7.8 118.5   5:08 (181, 30)  
Aug. 28   3 12.16   24 32.1   3.589   3.935   102   17.7      7.0 129.9   4:46 (180, 30)  

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