Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Dec. 11: South)

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Updated on December 13, 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/2004 Q2 ( Machholz )


Already visible easily with a naked eye at 4.5 mag. It will reach to 4 mag locating high in the evening sky from mid December to the end of January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time while the comet is bright enough visible visually until 2005 October when it becomes faint as 14 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   4 38.05  -21  8.0   0.508   1.391   135    5.1     54.5 330.9  23:14 (180, 76)  
Dec. 18   4 23.81  -14 13.1   0.439   1.341   137    4.7     78.4 336.3  22:32 (180, 69)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until April when it reaches to 13 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dusk in mid January at 9 mag, then it will keep observable until the end of March in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  10 31.20  -51 47.5   1.220   1.404    78    7.4     86.8 229.1   2:53 (314, 60)  
Dec. 18   9 28.42  -57 38.3   1.167   1.480    86    7.5     96.8 243.8   2:54 (343, 66)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


It will be fading gradually after this, but it keeps 11 mag until the end of January. It will be visible visually until May when it becomes too low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   3  5.17   11 19.0   1.142   2.042   147   10.6      2.6 198.6  21:43 (180, 44)  
Dec. 18   3  5.48   11  7.4   1.197   2.053   140   10.7      2.3 112.7  21:16 (180, 44)  

* C/2004 Q1 ( Tucker )


It will be fading gradually after this, but it keeps 11 mag until mid January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  23 31.92   41 26.5   1.511   2.047   108   10.7     12.5 321.2  20:53 (151,  5)  
Dec. 18  23 28.41   42 34.6   1.594   2.051   102   10.9     10.4 340.7  20:58 (146,  0)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1


Very diffused and widely spreading visually. It keeps bright at 11 mag untill January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  11  5.76   12 52.2   1.010   1.490    96   11.2     39.3  94.7   2:53 (229, 27)  
Dec. 18  11 24.03   12 32.8   0.973   1.493    99   11.2     37.2  93.3   2:54 (227, 29)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until 2005 spring when it reaches to 8 mag. Now it locates at the same altitude both in the evening and morning, but the altitude at dusk will be lower and lower, and becomes lower than 10 deg in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  17  9.43   47 38.5   2.170   2.064    70   11.9     40.5 126.6   2:53 (235,-54)  
Dec. 18  17 31.22   44 46.0   2.114   1.973    68   11.7     40.8 127.5   2:54 (240,-53)  

* 32P/Comas Sola


It is a bit brighter visually than this ephemeris, around 12.5 mag. It keeps observable at 12-13 mag in the evening sky until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   2 28.05   12 52.3   1.260   2.109   139   13.1     10.0 313.7  21:05 (180, 42)  
Dec. 18   2 25.42   13 44.0   1.286   2.079   132   13.0      8.6 335.1  20:58 (173, 41)  

* 10P/Tempel 2


The condition of this return is bad. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in 2005 July at 14.5 mag, then it will be fading after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  17 42.00  -19 50.4   2.554   1.582     7   13.4     44.4  97.4  20:53 ( 51,-16)  
Dec. 18  18  4.22  -20 24.6   2.530   1.553     5   13.1     45.5  95.3  20:58 ( 48,-17)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It had been bright at 12-13 mag since September till November. But it is completely diffused at 13 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  23 56.75    9  2.5   5.418   5.728   103   13.4      2.3  95.2  20:53 (137, 35)  
Dec. 18  23 58.11    9  2.8   5.529   5.729    96   13.4      3.4  85.2  20:58 (129, 30)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


Completely diffused visually. It keeps observable for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also visible at midnight or dawn, but low.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  20 19.40   64 54.0   2.951   3.189    94   13.4     28.2 113.7  20:53 (150,-31)  
Dec. 18  20 46.34   63 32.6   3.050   3.269    93   13.6     27.1 115.1  20:58 (149,-31)  

* C/2004 U1 ( LINEAR )


It bursted out in late November and reached to 13.8 mag. Now it is visible visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   7 45.19   44 58.7   1.813   2.660   142   13.7     54.5 313.2   2:27 (180, 10)  
Dec. 18   7 15.24   49  7.4   1.771   2.661   148   13.7     57.7 305.7   1:30 (180,  6)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It will be getting fainter gradually until 2005 June when it becomes 17 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  11 33.53  -16 48.1   3.697   3.640    78   14.0      6.6 246.1   2:53 (261, 42)  
Dec. 18  11 30.08  -17  4.5   3.651   3.721    86   14.0      8.3 256.2   2:54 (256, 48)  

* (944) Hidalgo


It will be fading slowly until 2005 August when it becomes low in the evening sky at 16.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   0 19.53   43 58.6   1.339   1.995   117   14.1     10.0 310.2  20:53 (159,  7)  
Dec. 18   0 16.08   44 43.8   1.394   1.981   111   14.2      7.2 335.3  20:58 (154,  3)  

* 121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2


It tends to become brightest after the perihelion passage. It was 16.5 mag in mid November, fainter than expected by about 1-1.5 mag. If it brightens as expected, it will reach to 14 mag in February at the opposition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  10 29.97   21 36.5   2.252   2.718   107   14.6     11.3  63.9   2:53 (215, 25)  
Dec. 18  10 34.56   22 15.7   2.178   2.728   113   14.6     10.1  52.3   2:54 (210, 27)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Diffused, but still bright as 14 mag. It keeps observable until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  11 42.17   39 35.7   2.940   3.246    99   14.8      2.7 357.2   2:53 (218,  1)  
Dec. 18  11 41.40   39 57.6   2.918   3.315   105   14.9      4.3 325.8   2:54 (213,  4)  

* P/2004 T1 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It was visible visually around 13.5 mag in October, but became faint rapidly in November. It keeps observable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   0 58.99    4 22.5   1.063   1.738   116   15.0     24.2  41.4  20:53 (152, 47)  
Dec. 18   1  7.12    6 28.8   1.130   1.750   111   15.2     25.8  46.1  20:58 (145, 42)  

* 162P/2004 TU12 ( Siding Spring )


Almost stellar. It keeps observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  23 33.48   21 38.6   0.631   1.281   102   15.1     55.8  28.7  20:53 (140, 21)  
Dec. 18  23 47.76   26 56.4   0.691   1.307   101   15.3     51.0  34.2  20:58 (140, 15)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )


It has been brightening more rapidly than expected, and already reached to 15.5 mag. It may be reach to 13 mag in 2006.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   5 48.67   47 39.7   5.419   6.320   154   15.2      6.6 296.5   0:30 (180,  7)  
Dec. 18   5 44.50   47 58.0   5.384   6.292   155   15.1      6.5 290.9  23:54 (180,  7)  

* (3200) Phaethon


It keeps observable at 15.5 mag until mid February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   3  6.35   34  2.8   0.636   1.569   150   15.2     73.6 245.1  21:41 (180, 21)  
Dec. 18   2 30.42   29 52.0   0.616   1.492   136   15.3     74.2 238.2  20:58 (175, 25)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux


It keeps 15-16 mag in the evening sky until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   0 48.90  -24  8.3   1.108   1.610   100   15.4     20.8  31.6  20:53 (115, 68)  
Dec. 18   0 55.39  -21 56.5   1.120   1.571    96   15.3     24.8  36.5  20:58 (111, 62)  

* 69P/Taylor


It will be observable in good conditon at 15.5 mag in winter. In its last return in 1997, it burst out after the perihelion passage and became extremely bright, reached to 11 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   9  2.05   16 57.8   1.192   1.944   126   15.5     16.4  39.2   2:53 (195, 37)  
Dec. 18   9  6.35   18 35.1   1.140   1.947   132   15.5     16.7  25.4   2:54 (187, 36)  

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )


It will reach to 9 mag in 2006 spring. It has been brightening well as expected. In this season, it keeps observable until March when it becomes 15.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   5 12.75  -16 53.5   4.295   5.089   140   15.7     17.0 248.9  23:49 (180, 72)  
Dec. 18   5  4.92  -17 32.2   4.252   5.027   137   15.7     16.8 252.9  23:14 (180, 73)  

* 56P/Slaughter-Burnham


It will be getting fainter and lower until March, when it becomes 17.5 mag and too low.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  23 41.05    3 35.3   2.221   2.549    97   16.3     14.6  63.8  20:53 (129, 37)  
Dec. 18  23 47.63    4 23.0   2.303   2.544    92   16.4     16.6  64.5  20:58 (124, 32)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


It was observed as 16.5 mag on Oct. 6, fainter than this ephemeris by 1.5 mag. After this, it keeps observable while it will be fading gradually until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  11 44.84  -11 20.4   2.611   2.599    78   16.3     11.5 127.1   2:53 (257, 36)  
Dec. 18  11 48.70  -12  6.0   2.567   2.655    84   16.5      9.3 131.2   2:54 (254, 42)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be as faint as 17.5 mag in March when it becomes low in the evening western sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   0 52.20   -3 20.9   3.355   3.824   111   16.4      3.9  11.3  20:53 (144, 53)  
Dec. 18   0 52.97   -2 52.0   3.475   3.842   104   16.5      5.1  29.3  20:58 (134, 48)  

* 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3


It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition until February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   5 54.22   28  3.7   1.970   2.943   169   16.5     11.0 264.6   0:36 (180, 27)  
Dec. 18   5 48.27   27 54.8   1.952   2.933   175   16.5     11.5 262.6   0:02 (180, 27)  

* 9P/Tempel 1


It was 17.8 mag on Oct. 21, brighening well as expected. We can observe it in good condition while it is brightening, then the comet will reach to 9 mag in next spring and summer. It may become a naked-eye object due to the Deep Impact mission on July 4.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  12  6.17   11  8.3   2.320   2.398    82   16.8     21.8 103.8   2:53 (242, 18)  
Dec. 18  12 16.14   10 33.7   2.194   2.357    86   16.5     21.3 102.6   2:54 (239, 22)  

* 88P/Howell


It will be fainter than 18 mag in January. But the total magnitude seems to be brighter than this ephemeris because it is very diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   1 36.07    8 27.4   1.943   2.646   126   16.6      2.2  12.8  20:53 (166, 46)  
Dec. 18   1 36.91    8 45.2   2.067   2.689   119   16.9      4.2  45.6  20:58 (156, 43)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be too low in the evening sky at 17.5 mag in early February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  22 22.82    4 20.0   5.732   5.648    80   16.7      2.4 199.1  20:53 (113, 23)  
Dec. 18  22 22.72    4  6.5   5.906   5.699    73   16.8      1.7 168.0  20:58 (108, 17)  

* C/2004 RG113 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be observable in good condition at 16 mag from January to March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   7 51.39   57 28.8   1.376   2.189   135   17.1     11.3  24.8   2:32 (180, -2)  
Dec. 18   7 54.58   58 36.3   1.318   2.151   137   16.9      9.3  15.6   2:08 (180, -4)  

* 163P/2004 V4 ( NEAT )


New comet. Although the condition is good, it is 17 mag at best in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   3 57.91    6 19.1   1.031   1.969   155   17.0     13.4 312.2  22:35 (180, 49)  
Dec. 18   3 53.80    7 27.5   1.046   1.957   149   17.0     12.9 324.7  22:03 (180, 47)  

* 119P/Parker-Hartley


It is observable at 17 mag in good condition until January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   0 52.45    9 16.6   2.601   3.165   116   17.1      3.6 101.8  20:53 (152, 42)  
Dec. 18   0 54.62    9 14.7   2.683   3.155   109   17.1      5.6  88.1  20:58 (143, 38)  

* P/2004 WR9 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although the condition is good, it is 17.3 mag at best in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   5 26.15   31 37.9   0.965   1.944   170   17.3      6.5 299.4   0:07 (180, 23)  
Dec. 18   5 23.01   31 56.7   0.956   1.933   170   17.3      6.0 291.3  23:32 (180, 23)  

* P/2004 V5 ( LINEAR-Hill )


New comet. It is observable in good condition at 17.5 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   9 45.60   36 45.2   3.850   4.432   120   17.7      4.9  21.5   2:53 (199, 15)  
Dec. 18   9 46.20   37 18.3   3.768   4.429   126   17.6      4.9   3.0   2:54 (193, 16)  

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )


It keeps observable at 18 mag in good condition until January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   6 38.33   10 22.8   3.342   4.261   156   17.7     19.2 239.8   1:20 (180, 45)  
Dec. 18   6 30.37    9 16.7   3.361   4.307   162   17.7     19.2 241.6   0:44 (180, 46)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 18 mag until 2005 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11  14 14.46   42  4.8   6.704   6.554    77   17.8      4.4  18.7   2:53 (234,-23)  
Dec. 18  14 15.13   42 37.1   6.648   6.578    81   17.8      5.1   7.7   2:54 (231,-19)  

* C/2004 D1 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 16.7 mag at best in early 2006. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps observable for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   5 25.10   46 37.9   5.023   5.937   156   17.8      8.6 299.1   0:07 (180,  8)  
Dec. 18   5 19.92   47  4.7   4.998   5.909   155   17.8      8.4 294.7  23:29 (180,  8)  

* 2004 VR8


Asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will become fainter than 18 mag soon. It will be 17.5 mag again in 2006 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 11   3 35.00   14 36.0   2.190   3.113   155   17.8     12.2 286.9  22:12 (180, 40)  
Dec. 18   3 29.75   15  2.4   2.207   3.082   147   17.9     10.8 291.7  21:39 (180, 40)  

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