Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2007 May 12: North)

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Updated on May 13, 2007
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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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* 2P/Encke

It had been observed while brightening rapidly until the perihelion passage on Apr. 19, although it located extremely low in the evening sky. It reached to 6.7 mag on Apr. 17 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Although it had been unobservable for a while, it appeared in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it is 7.8 mag (May 9, Alexandre Amorim). It will be bright and observable for a while after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears in the morning sky at 12 mag in June. But it locates only 20 degree high at most, and it will be fading rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   1 35.14   -6 10.5   0.510   0.655    34    7.9   3:22 (267,-15)  
May  19   1  6.06  -11 34.8   0.507   0.782    49    9.1   3:14 (278, -8)  

* C/2007 E2 ( Lovejoy )

New comet discovered in March in the Southern Hemisphere, but it is moving northwards very fast. It appeared in the morning sky also in the Northern Hemisphere in early April, and it is already observable in the excellent condition now. It passed near by the earth in mid April, and reached to 7.6 mag (Apr. 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). But then it faded a bit, and now it is 8.8 mag (May 6, Mike Linnolt). After this, it keeps observable until it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be visible visually until July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  16 44.59   57 22.5   0.657   1.317   102    9.0   1:31 (180, 68)  
May  19  15 41.69   62 40.5   0.814   1.381    97    9.7  23:49 (180, 62)  

* C/2006 P1 ( McNaught )

Excellent great comet, few times in a lifetime, for southern people. It reached to -5.5 mag on Jan. 14 and 15, brighter than Venus, and visible even in daytime. Then it appeared in the evening sky in the Southern Hemisphere and many people enjoyed a fantastic view of a beautiful great comet, a enormous curving tail with so many striae over 50 degrees. Now it is observable both in the evening and morning. It has already faded down to 9.6 mag (Apr. 19, Stuart Rae). In the Southern Hemisphere, It keeps observable almost all night until the comet has gone. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   3 29.35  -83 32.8   2.100   2.505   101   10.6  20:30 (  7,-38)  
May  19   5 25.56  -84 33.4   2.161   2.608   104   10.9  20:38 (  7,-36)  

* C/2007 E1 ( Garradd )

Although it was so faint as 13.8 mag in March (Mar. 17, Alan Hale), it brightened very rapidly in early April, and it reached to 8.7 mag on Apr. 10 (Werner hasubick). Then it faded a bit, and now it is 10.2 mag (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). The comet is very large, extremely diffuse. It still locates high in the evening now. However, it will be fading, and getting lower rapidly after this. It will be unobservable in late May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   7 42.99   20 57.1   1.391   1.298    63   10.8  20:30 ( 93, 34)  
May  19   7 34.19   21 52.6   1.585   1.288    54   11.1  20:38 (100, 26)  

* C/2006 WD4 ( Lemmon )

Originally considered as a peculiar asteroid, but revealed to be a comet. It approached to Sun down to 0.6 A.U. in late April, then it will pass very near by Earth in May. Now it is bright as 14.1 mag (May 2, Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at 12.5 mag in the evening sky on May 23, then it moves eastwards very fast. It keeps observable in the evening sky, but it will fade out rapidly. It will be 15 mag in early June, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is also observable in the morning low sky from late April to mid May. Because it is an extremely tiny comet, it may fade out much faster than expected.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   1 40.38   -7 56.5   0.498   0.663    34   13.2   3:22 (268,-17)  
May  19   3 42.84    3  2.0   0.285   0.743    16   12.4  20:38 (117,-27)  

* 96P/Machholz 1

The condition was too bad to observe on the earth before the perihelion passage, but it was visible in the SWAN images in mid March, and in the LASCO images in early April. After the perihelion passage on Apr. 4, it appeared in the morning sky and it was so bright as 5.5 mag (Apr. 10, Michael Jager and Gerald Rhemann). Then it is fading rapidly. But it is bright as 10.9 mag still now (May 9, Juan Jose Gonzalez). The comet is predicted to fade out rapidly after this, and to be fainter than 14 mag in mid May, too faint to see visually. However, it may keep brighter than this ephemeris and visible visually for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  21 47.80   20 12.4   0.660   1.066    76   12.9   3:22 (277, 46)  
May  19  21  8.79   18 21.9   0.626   1.200    91   13.5   3:14 (291, 57)  

* C/2006 XA1 ( LINEAR )

It became brighter than expected, and now it is visible visually at 13.5 mag (Apr. 28, Seiichi Yoshida). However, it is getting lower gradually in the evening sky, and it will be too low to observe in early June. It is not observable around the perihelion passage in July in conjunction with the sun. Then it moves to the southern sky, and it will be unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   6  9.37   34 44.6   2.641   2.014    42   13.7  20:30 (117, 23)  
May  19   6 27.80   33 14.9   2.652   1.977    39   13.6  20:38 (118, 19)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It had been bright as 12-13 mag and visible visually almost always from July to April. However, now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again in late July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   4 41.30   29  2.3   6.826   5.909    22   14.0  20:30 (123,  4)  
May  19   4 47.49   29  8.3   6.866   5.911    17   14.0  20:38 (127, -1)  

* C/2006 VZ13 ( LINEAR )

Getting higher in the morning sky. It is already bright as 14.8 mag by CCD (Apr. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota), and already visible visually at 13.3 mag (Apr. 28, Seiichi Yoshida). It will brighten rapidly after this, and reach to 9 mag in July. However, it moves southwards very fast in August. It is only observable until mid August in the Northern Hemisphere. On the other hand, it keeps low and hard to observe until mid July in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  23 19.79   34 50.7   2.165   1.775    54   14.4   3:22 (248, 34)  
May  19  23 20.11   36 47.3   1.976   1.692    58   14.0   3:14 (248, 38)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

It kept 12 mag for over half a year since last June. It was still bright as 12.6 mag on Mar. 9 (Edwin van Dijk). But it has already started fading, and will be already too faint to see visually. However, the fading is slow. The comet will be fainter than 18 mag in 2008. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until that time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable all night for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   3  7.04   69 21.2   3.364   2.846    51   14.7   3:22 (198, 21)  
May  19   3 30.63   68 37.6   3.462   2.902    49   14.8   3:14 (198, 21)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Feb. 24, Ken-ichi Kadota). Although it had been unobservable since last autumn, now it is appearing again in the morning sky. It will be observable at 14.5 mag from spring to summer both in 2007 and 2008. The condition is good, and it may be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  18 37.07   -7 19.3   5.183   5.876   129   14.9   3:21 (  0, 48)  
May  19  18 30.86   -6 38.8   5.082   5.861   136   14.8   2:47 (  0, 48)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag for a long time since 2005 autumn until 2006 spring. Now it is fainter than last year by 1 mag, however, it is still visible visually at 14.2 mag (Dec. 22, Seiichi Yoshida). Fine tail is visible on CCD images. It keeps observable in excellent condition until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  12 39.98   22 22.6   5.338   5.974   124   14.9  21:20 (  0, 77)  
May  19  12 38.47   21 48.5   5.442   5.999   119   15.0  20:51 (  0, 77)  

* C/2005 YW ( LINEAR )

It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, although it is already not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been 13-14 mag for a long time since last autumn. It is 12.5 mag visually, much brighter than this ephemeris (Apr. 17, Michael Mattiazzo). However, it will be fading gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  16  2.14  -73 45.0   2.006   2.702   123   15.1   0:47 (  0,-19)  
May  19  15 49.85  -72 51.1   2.028   2.755   126   15.3   0:07 (  0,-18)  

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

It brightened up to 17.5 mag in 2006 autumn, then it became unobservable. But now it is appearing in the morning sky again. Now it is 15.8 mag (May 3, Tony Farkas), brightening as expected. It will reach to 14.5 mag in 2007 summer. However, it moves in the southen sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it rises up to 20 degree at best in May, then it becomes unobservable in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  20 56.05  -27 13.0   3.376   3.717   101   15.3   3:22 (328, 20)  
May  19  20 54.58  -29  6.0   3.225   3.685   109   15.2   3:14 (333, 20)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Feb. 24, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 11 mag in 2008 spring. It keeps moving in the southern sky until that, so it keeps locating very low in the Northern Hemisphere. Now it is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but already not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable again in a short time in the very low sky at dawn in November at 13 mag. After 2008 March, it will be visible visually at 11 mag in the morning low sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   5 37.07  -27 24.4   5.382   4.908    57   15.4  20:30 ( 69,-18)  
May  19   5 44.25  -26 59.2   5.361   4.857    55   15.3  20:38 ( 72,-23)  

* C/2006 M4 ( SWAN )

It reached up to 4 mag in 2006 autumn. But it had faded down to 10.5 mag on Jan. 11 (Carlos Labordena). It had been unobservable for a long time since that, but now it is appearing at dawn again. Now it is 15.8 mag (Apr. 28, Ken-ichi Kadota), fading as predicted. After this, it keeps observable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  23  2.89  -11 31.3   3.700   3.459    68   15.5   3:22 (294, 12)  
May  19  23  4.30  -12 14.9   3.660   3.540    75   15.6   3:14 (297, 15)  

* P/2007 H1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 16.0 mag (Apr. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in very good condition at 14 mag from summer to autumn. It may be visible visually. However, it was not discovered at the previous apparition in 1999. So it may be bright temporarily in outburst.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  22 40.00   -6 28.9   2.518   2.401    71   15.8   3:22 (294, 20)  
May  19  22 51.07   -5 46.2   2.429   2.388    75   15.7   3:14 (294, 22)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

Now it brightened up to 15.8 mag (Mar. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps 15.5-16 mag for one year and a half after this until 2008 summer. However, because the comet moves southwards, it is only observable until 2007 June in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  10 12.64   -1  3.4   2.963   3.359   104   15.8  20:30 ( 37, 47)  
May  19  10 14.10   -1 39.6   3.017   3.318    98   15.8  20:38 ( 47, 42)  

* 17P/Holmes

Not observed in this return yet. But now it is appearing at dawn. It keeps 16 mag for a long time after this until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   0 31.16   10 26.0   2.723   2.054    39   16.2   3:22 (263,  8)  
May  19   0 44.50   12 38.4   2.679   2.056    42   16.1   3:14 (262, 10)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It will reach to 10.5 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2008 autumn. Now it is 16.7 mag (Apr. 18, Tony Farkas), brightening as expected. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time while the comet is getting brighter slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  22  2.99  -12 19.8   5.506   5.464    82   16.4   3:22 (305, 22)  
May  19  22  5.17  -11 51.6   5.342   5.410    88   16.3   3:14 (308, 26)  

* P/2006 HR30 ( Siding Spring )

Finally it has passed the perihelion, keeping almost asteroidal. It did not brighten at all since early September, and finally it reached to 14 mag at best. It kept locating in good condition, and being observed at 14 mag for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it has already started fading rapidly since March. It will be getting lower after this, and will be too low in the evening sky at 17 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   8  6.34    8 49.2   2.202   2.110    71   16.4  20:30 ( 77, 33)  
May  19   8 18.80    7 23.5   2.340   2.177    68   16.6  20:38 ( 79, 27)  

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Mar. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 17 mag for a long time until 2007 summer. It keeps locating high and observable in good condition for a long time after this because it moves in the northern sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  13 59.98   39 22.2   6.852   7.411   120   16.7  22:40 (180, 86)  
May  19  13 55.64   38 46.6   6.921   7.429   116   16.8  22:08 (180, 86)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

It will reach to 12 mag in 2008 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable almost all time until that while the comet is brightening gradually. However, it goes to the southern sky and will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  17 50.18   35 47.1   5.420   5.914   114   16.9   2:34 (180, 89)  
May  19  17 44.96   35 58.6   5.330   5.862   117   16.8   2:01 (180, 89)  

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

It was observed as 17 mag in 2006 summer. Now it is 17 mag, too. It will be observable at 16.5-17 mag in good condition in 2007 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  21  3.53    8 11.8   5.785   5.870    89   17.0   3:22 (300, 47)  
May  19  21  1.17    9 14.3   5.670   5.866    96   17.0   3:14 (305, 52)  

* 99P/Kowal 1

Now it is 17.7 mag (Mar. 12, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps 17 mag until July when it starts getting lower in the evening sky. It will be observable again at 18 mag in 2008.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  13 47.21  -11 35.2   3.786   4.739   158   17.1  22:27 (  0, 43)  
May  19  13 44.41  -11 23.5   3.833   4.741   150   17.1  21:57 (  0, 44)  

* C/2006 S2 ( LINEAR )

It will reach to 16.5-17 mag in June and July. It locates rather low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  20 53.51   -3 25.5   2.897   3.163    95   17.3   3:22 (313, 40)  
May  19  20 51.94   -4 57.0   2.776   3.165   103   17.2   3:14 (320, 42)  

* 87P/Bus

Now it is 17.3 mag (Mar. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps 17 mag until May, then it will be lower in the evening sky while fading in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  10 50.04    7 41.7   1.649   2.210   110   17.3  20:30 ( 30, 59)  
May  19  10 55.82    7 14.8   1.713   2.202   104   17.3  20:38 ( 42, 55)  

* C/2007 F1 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 18 mag. It will approach down to 0.4 A.U. to the sun in late October, and it is expected to reach to 6 mag. However, the condition in the Northern Hemisphere is very hard. It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this. The altitude becomes lower than 20 degree in early July, and lower than 10 degree in late July. The comet is still faint as 15.5 mag at that time. After conjunction with the sun, the comet will be brighter than 11 mag in late September, and will be 8 mag in mid October. But it locates extremely low, slightly over the horizon in the morning sky. It goes to the southern sky in late October, then it will never be observable again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it becomes unobservable in July. But it will appear in the evening sky at 7.5 mag in mid November. Then it keeps observable while fading gradually, although it will not locate very high.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  10 14.66   28 12.6   2.772   3.021    94   17.5  20:30 ( 78, 69)  
May  19  10 10.04   28 33.5   2.807   2.929    86   17.4  20:38 ( 87, 61)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

It will be observable at 14 mag in good condition in 2008 spring. Now it is still faint as 18 mag, and getting lower in the evening sky after this. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 16.5 mag in October. Then it keeps observable in good condition until 2008 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12   9 18.30   39 10.4   5.356   5.269    79   17.6  20:30 (109, 60)  
May  19   9 21.03   38 21.6   5.405   5.220    74   17.5  20:38 (109, 53)  

* 125P/Spacewatch

Now it is 18.2 mag (Mar. 14, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in the evening sky at 17.5 mag until autumn when it becomes fainter than 18 mag, although the altitude will be getting lower after May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  10 31.38   17 50.5   1.248   1.761   101   17.7  20:30 ( 50, 66)  
May  19  10 39.71   17 22.9   1.279   1.729    97   17.6  20:38 ( 60, 61)  

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )

Fading is slower than expected. It is 17 mag still in April. It will be observable at 17-18 mag for some more time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  15 33.76   60 23.3   5.097   5.391   101   17.7   0:18 (180, 65)  
May  19  15 21.10   60 41.1   5.192   5.453    99   17.8  23:32 (180, 64)  

* C/2004 D1 ( NEAT )

It reached to 16 mag in early 2006. Now it is 17.7 mag (Feb. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fading very slowly from 17 mag to 18 mag until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating high.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  12  13 47.69   32 55.2   5.414   6.053   125   17.7  22:27 (  0, 88)  
May  19  13 44.59   32 17.3   5.498   6.082   121   17.8  21:57 (  0, 87)  

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