Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Aug. 28: North)

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 Updated on August 29, 2004
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern 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. After that, it will appear at dawn at 5 mag in November and keep observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Norhtern Hemisphere, it will become visible in the morning low sky in latter Novemberk, but become unobservable soon, then keep unobservable until January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 28  13 13.24   10  7.9   1.867   1.285    40    6.2     34.7 205.8  20:00 ( 92, 15)  
Sept. 4  13  6.65    6 36.5   1.931   1.221    33    6.1     32.0 203.9  19:49 ( 92,  8)

* 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. 28  12 19.15   62 56.8   2.288   1.932    56    9.2     19.4  65.1  20:00 (148, 30)  
Sept. 4  12 38.13   63 54.2   2.328   2.019    59    9.4     20.5  65.8  19:49 (149, 30)

* C/2004 Q2 ( Machholz )
New comet. The orbit is still uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 28   4 16.91  -22 24.6   2.174   2.492    96   10.7     18.7 106.3   4:00 (331, 27)  
Sept. 4   4 25.81  -23  3.9   2.045   2.417    98   10.4     18.2 109.3   4:07 (338, 29)

* 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. 28  11  6.33   -9 10.3   3.232   2.319    21   11.7     10.6 111.9  20:00 ( 94,-22)  
Sept. 4  11 10.86   -9 38.9   3.358   2.415    17   12.0     10.2 114.3  19:49 ( 96,-25)

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )
It will be getting higher after this, but getting fainter, too. However the fading is slow and it keeps 13 mag still in December. It passes across a barred spiral galaxy NGC 3198 on Sept. 17. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 28   9 34.18   49 27.9   2.866   2.210    41   11.7     28.3 115.1   4:00 (220, 16)  
Sept. 4   9 51.59   48  3.9   2.909   2.276    42   11.9     26.4 116.4   4:07 (223, 18)

* 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. 28   2 54.05   18 25.8   1.513   2.068   108   13.0     18.0  82.1   4:00 (338, 72)  
Sept. 4   3  2.37   18 39.2   1.436   2.055   113   12.8     16.0  85.1   4:07 (359, 74)

* 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. 28   0 25.83   12 18.1   4.883   5.724   143   13.1      4.9 264.0   2:01 (  0, 67)  
Sept. 4   0 23.31   12 12.7   4.827   5.724   150   13.1      5.7 259.8   1:31 (  0, 67)

* 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. 28  19 28.86   -1 46.3   1.149   1.995   134   13.3     37.8 279.6  20:59 (  0, 53)  
Sept. 4  19 14.69   -1 10.4   1.337   2.089   125   14.0     24.6 279.6  20:18 (  0, 54)

* 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. 28   9  9.44    7 13.1   2.605   1.686    19   13.6     36.8 110.0   4:00 (258, -5)  
Sept. 4   9 25.24    5 44.9   2.646   1.750    21   14.0     35.1 111.0   4:07 (262, -2)

* 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. 28   2 41.82    3 30.2   1.748   2.362   115   13.9     18.7 351.2   4:00 (352, 58)  
Sept. 4   2 39.58    5 47.3   1.623   2.320   121   13.7     21.8 341.7   3:46 (  0, 61)

* 88P/Howell
Diffused. It keeps observable in good condition 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. 28   2 44.56   11 19.4   1.340   1.965   112   14.0      3.4  68.9   4:00 (349, 66)  
Sept. 4   2 45.16   11 24.4   1.315   2.011   119   14.3      0.7 284.5   3:52 (  0, 66)

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )
The brightening evolution is slower than usual. 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. 28  10  7.48   68 56.2   3.750   3.350    59   14.5     20.1  93.1   4:00 (201, 24)  
Sept. 4  10 34.17   68 44.8   3.625   3.269    61   14.4     21.3  95.0   4:07 (202, 25)

* 48P/Johnson
It was observed at 15-15.5 mag, a bit fainter than this ephemeris in August. 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. 28  19 43.68  -26 11.0   1.480   2.330   137   14.8      5.7 184.6  21:15 (  0, 29)  
Sept. 4  19 44.18  -26 47.0   1.533   2.325   131   14.8      5.1 152.5  20:48 (  0, 28)

* (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. 28   2 43.33   13 42.5   1.843   2.414   112   15.1     17.1   8.6   4:00 (349, 68)  
Sept. 4   2 43.86   15 45.3   1.726   2.377   118   14.9     18.2 358.7   3:51 (  0, 71)

* 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. 28  23 51.29   15  4.8   4.004   4.888   147   15.1     20.6 254.5   1:26 (  0, 70)  
Sept. 4  23 41.57   14 22.9   4.004   4.938   155   15.2     21.3 252.5   0:49 (  0, 69)

* 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. 28   1 42.95   -1 18.0   2.787   3.529   130   15.6      4.7 231.5   3:17 (  0, 54)  
Sept. 4   1 40.80   -1 39.9   2.737   3.549   137   15.6      6.5 239.0   2:48 (  0, 53)

* 56P/Slaughter-Burnham
It keeps observable at 16 mag in good condition until the end of 2004. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 28  23 56.14    0 37.3   1.796   2.747   155   16.4      7.1 276.3   1:31 (  0, 56)  
Sept. 4  23 52.48    0 40.7   1.747   2.728   163   16.2      8.6 271.4   1:00 (  0, 56)

* 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. 28   3  8.00    7 56.9   2.171   2.661   107   16.5     10.3  74.7   4:00 (338, 61)  
Sept. 4   3 12.25    8 14.6   2.051   2.621   113   16.3      8.4  73.8   4:07 (354, 63)

* 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. 28   1  3.38    1 17.9   2.628   3.460   139   16.8      6.4 228.4   2:38 (  0, 56)  
Sept. 4   1  0.75    0 46.1   2.604   3.494   147   16.9      8.0 233.3   2:08 (  0, 56)

* 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. 28   1 28.82   14 54.3   2.621   3.347   128   17.0      0.9 288.2   3:03 (  0, 70)  
Sept. 4   1 27.97   14 53.2   2.536   3.333   135   16.9      2.8 257.5   2:35 (  0, 70)

* 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. 28   3 10.20    8 50.3   1.097   1.697   107   17.0     18.3 100.6   4:00 (336, 62)  
Sept. 4   3 17.80    8 22.0   1.069   1.724   112   17.0     14.9 108.3   4:07 (351, 63)

* 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 August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 28  16 43.96    5 10.7   1.472   1.832    93   17.1     29.1 104.7  20:00 ( 45, 52)  
Sept. 4  16 57.37    4 18.8   1.546   1.855    90   17.3     30.0 104.2  19:49 ( 45, 51)

* 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. 28  18 31.07   -3 52.1   3.814   4.421   121   17.4     17.8 262.1  20:02 (  0, 51)  
Sept. 4  18 23.33   -4  9.5   3.890   4.383   112   17.4     15.6 260.7  19:49 (  9, 50)

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. It will reach to 9 mag in 2006 spring. In this season, it keeps observable until 2005 March when it becomes 15.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 28   5 57.84   -2 27.2   6.303   6.001    68   17.5      7.0 151.0   4:00 (295, 28)  
Sept. 4   5 59.23   -3 12.0   6.141   5.942    73   17.4      7.1 159.2   4:07 (303, 33)

* 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. 28  18 22.78   42 48.3   6.228   6.540   103   17.4      4.3 203.5  20:00 (172, 82)  
Sept. 4  18 22.01   42 19.3   6.302   6.573   101   17.5      4.4 189.2  19:49 (150, 81)

* 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. 28   5 46.58   39 54.0   7.078   6.776    68   17.6      7.9  59.9   4:00 (248, 50)  
Sept. 4   5 50.56   40 22.2   6.946   6.744    74   17.6      7.4  56.4   4:07 (248, 56)

* 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. 28  16 25.45   40 45.8   6.975   6.931    83   17.6      9.1 211.5  20:00 (112, 65)  
Sept. 4  16 22.90   39 51.7   7.047   6.939    79   17.7      8.5 205.3  19:49 (110, 62)

* 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. 28   3 12.16   24 32.1   3.589   3.935   102   17.7      7.0 129.9   4:00 (313, 76)  
Sept. 4   3 14.53   23 57.6   3.502   3.947   109   17.7      6.6 144.2   4:07 (344, 79)

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