Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2007 June 2: North)

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 Updated on June 3, 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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* C/2007 E2 ( Lovejoy )

It passed near by the earth in mid April, and reached to 7.6 mag (Apr. 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It locates high in the evening sky, and it is observable in good condition. But it already faded won to 11.3 mag (May 26, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere until the comet has gone. It will be visible visually until July. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  14 11.35   64 32.5   1.154   1.521    88   10.8  21:26 (180, 61)  
June  9  13 46.00   63 53.0   1.325   1.596    84   11.3  20:58 (175, 61)

* 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). In the Southern Hemisphere, it appeared in the morning sky at 7.8 mag in early May (May 9, Alexandre Amorim). Now it is 8.6 mag (May 11, Con Stoitsis). Then it is fading rapidly. Now it is 9.6 mag (May 23, David Seargent). It is getting observable also in the Northern Hemisphere again. 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)  
June  2   0 16.75  -19 38.3   0.516   1.022    76   11.0   3:03 (298,  5)  
June  9  23 52.13  -23  6.6   0.521   1.134    89   11.7   3:00 (308, 11)

* 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 10.9 mag (May 16, Walter Ruben Robledo). 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)  
June  2   9  7.81  -82 37.7   2.308   2.808   109   11.5  20:52 (  8,-32)  
June  9  10  8.00  -80 33.4   2.395   2.906   110   11.8  20:58 (  9,-30)

* 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 is fading gradually, and now it is 11.8 mag (May 26, Seiichi Yoshida). It is already low, and will be unobservable soon. It will appear in the morning sky again at 15 mag in August. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   7 23.52   23  4.9   1.929   1.293    38   11.6  20:52 (111, 11)  
June  9   7 20.23   23 30.6   2.075   1.308    30   11.8  20:58 (116,  4)

* C/2006 VZ13 ( LINEAR )

It locates high in the morning sky, and it is already visible visually at 13.5 mag (May 14, Alan Hale). 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)  
June  2  23 15.49   42  3.6   1.572   1.529    68   13.0   3:03 (244, 48)  
June  9  23  8.31   45 46.6   1.362   1.450    73   12.5   3:00 (239, 54)

* C/2007 K5 ( Lovejoy )

New comet discovered in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the evening sky until early August while the comet is fading gradually down to 16 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until when the comet becomes fainter than 18 mag. It was not discovered in last autumn when the comet located in the good condition, so it may fade out rapidly after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   6 24.03  -14 52.7   1.751   1.262    45   13.2  20:52 ( 87,-22)  
June  9   6 58.31  -14 24.4   1.795   1.316    46   13.5  20:58 ( 87,-22)

* C/2006 XA1 ( LINEAR )

It became brighter than expected, and now it is visible visually at 13.2 mag (May 12, Carlos Labordena). However, it is already low in the evening sky, and it will be unobservable soon. 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)  
June  2   7  4.59   29 52.0   2.671   1.912    33   13.4  20:52 (119, 11)  
June  9   7 22.81   27 58.5   2.680   1.885    31   13.3  20:58 (119,  8)

* 96P/Machholz 1

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 12.8 mag still now (May 26, Seiichi Yoshida). Now the location is very good, so it will be bright for some more time. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  19 39.45   11 49.1   0.609   1.446   124   13.5   3:02 (  0, 67)  
June  9  18 55.10    7 24.7   0.640   1.560   139   14.0   1:50 (  0, 63)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It had been bright as 12-13 mag and visible visually almost always from 2006 July to 2007 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)  
June  2   5  0.10   29 20.1   6.915   5.915     8   14.0  20:52 (136, -9)  
June  9   5  6.47   29 25.5   6.925   5.917     6   14.0   3:00 (219,-13)

* C/2006 WD4 ( Lemmon )

Originally considered as a peculiar asteroid, but revealed to be a comet. In the Southern Hemisphere, it became observable in late April. It approached to Sun down to 0.6 A.U. in late April, then it passed very near by Earth in May. It moved eastwards extremely fast, and it became observable in the evening sky on May 23 also in the Northeren Hemisphere. It was 12.8 mag on May 24 (Alan Hale). 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. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   9 29.46   21 39.0   0.537   0.944    66   14.5  20:52 ( 93, 36)  
June  9  10 11.48   21 12.7   0.797   1.052    69   15.7  20:58 ( 91, 37)

* 17P/Holmes

It appeared in the morning sky. It is bright as 14.7 mag (May 13, Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero). It will be getting higher gradually after this, and it will keep bright as 15 mag and observable in good condition for a long time until autumn. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   1 11.02   16 59.9   2.588   2.065    48   14.6   3:03 (260, 16)  
June  9   1 24.20   19  8.3   2.541   2.072    51   14.6   3:00 (260, 19)

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 14.1 mag (May 26, Seiichi Yoshida). It will be observable at 14.5 mag at high location from spring to summer both in 2007 and 2008. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  18 16.66   -5 20.3   4.926   5.832   150   14.7   1:38 (  0, 50)  
June  9  18  8.87   -4 43.2   4.873   5.818   156   14.7   1:03 (  0, 50)

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

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)  
June  2  20 47.45  -33 33.1   2.950   3.621   124   14.9   3:03 (346, 20)  
June  9  20 41.33  -36  6.4   2.831   3.591   132   14.8   3:00 (353, 19)

* 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)  
June  2   4 10.00   67 16.3   3.639   3.015    45   15.1   3:03 (199, 20)  
June  9   4 26.59   66 40.6   3.716   3.072    44   15.2   3:00 (200, 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)  
June  2   5 59.60  -26 22.0   5.307   4.756    52   15.2  20:52 ( 79,-33)  
June  9   6  7.70  -26 10.3   5.274   4.706    51   15.1  20:58 ( 82,-38)

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag for a long time since 2005 autumn until 2006 spring. It was still bright and visible visually as 14.2 mag in winter (Dec. 22, Seiichi Yoshida). However, it has already faded down to 16.2 mag (May 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). Fine tail is visible on CCD images. It will be getting lower gradually after June, and will be too low to observe in September. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  12 36.95   20 30.1   5.669   6.051   107   15.1  20:52 ( 45, 71)  
June  9  12 36.94   19 46.8   5.790   6.077   101   15.2  20:58 ( 59, 65)

* P/2007 H1 ( McNaught )

New periodic comet. Now it is bright as 15.5 mag (May 19, 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)  
June  2  23 12.16   -4 30.3   2.230   2.348    83   15.4   3:03 (298, 27)  
June  9  23 22.10   -3 58.5   2.141   2.337    87   15.3   3:00 (300, 30)

* 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)  
June  2  15 30.51  -70  8.4   2.095   2.864   130   15.5  22:48 (  0,-15)  
June  9  15 24.53  -68 26.3   2.142   2.919   131   15.7  22:14 (  0,-13)

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

Now it brightened up to 15.7 mag (Apr. 28, 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)  
June  2  10 19.69   -3  3.7   3.129   3.238    86   15.8  20:52 ( 61, 31)  
June  9  10 23.71   -3 51.7   3.184   3.199    81   15.8  20:58 ( 65, 25)

* 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)  
June  2  23  4.81  -14  1.1   3.572   3.698    89   15.8   3:03 (306, 21)  
June  9  23  3.80  -15  4.2   3.526   3.777    96   15.9   3:00 (312, 25)

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It will reach to 10.5 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2008 autumn. Now it is 16.1 mag (May 11, Ken-ichi Kadota), 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)  
June  2  22  8.08  -10 59.7   5.015   5.301   100   16.0   3:03 (316, 33)  
June  9  22  8.75  -10 36.3   4.854   5.246   107   15.9   3:00 (322, 36)

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.6 mag (May 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
June  2  17 32.84   35 59.0   5.174   5.755   120   16.7   0:54 (180, 89)  
June  9  17 26.30   35 45.2   5.111   5.703   121   16.6   0:20 (180, 89)

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.3 mag (May 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 16.5-17 mag in good condition in summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  20 54.45   11 16.5   5.453   5.860   108   16.9   3:03 (321, 61)  
June  9  20 50.08   12 15.1   5.355   5.857   114   16.8   3:00 (334, 65)

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Apr. 28, 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)  
June  2  13 48.27   37 20.2   7.082   7.465   108   16.8  21:06 (180, 88)  
June  9  13 45.32   36 30.6   7.173   7.483   103   16.9  20:58 (109, 85)

* C/2007 F1 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 18.2 mag (May 4, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will approach down to 0.4 A.U. to the sun on Oct. 28, 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 mag in early 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)  
June  2  10  4.53   28 56.5   2.870   2.743    72   17.2  20:52 ( 97, 45)  
June  9  10  3.52   29  0.8   2.893   2.647    65   17.0  20:58 (101, 39)

* 99P/Kowal 1

Now it is 17.0 mag (May 13, 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)  
June  2  13 40.29  -11  7.7   3.962   4.747   136   17.2  20:58 (  0, 44)  
June  9  13 39.08  -11  4.2   4.042   4.749   129   17.3  20:58 ( 10, 43)

* P/2006 F1 ( Kowalski )

It was observed as 18 mag in 2006 spring and summer. Now it locates at opposition again, and should be 17.5 mag. However, no observations have been reported since last summer. It may be much fainter than expected actually. The brightness in 2006 suggests it is brighter than 20 mag even around the aphelion. However, maybe it was temporarily bright in 2006. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  19 17.87  -10 52.6   3.361   4.190   140   17.5   2:39 (  0, 44)  
June  9  19 15.24  -11  6.8   3.297   4.186   147   17.4   2:08 (  0, 44)

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )

Fading is slower than expected. It was 17.7 mag still on Apr. 29 (Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
June  2  14 57.45   60 36.4   5.397   5.575    94   17.9  22:14 (180, 64)  
June  9  14 47.08   60 16.8   5.506   5.636    92   18.0  21:36 (180, 65)

* C/2004 D1 ( NEAT )

It reached to 16 mag in early 2006. Now it is 17.8 mag (Apr. 28, 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)  
June  2  13 39.82   30 46.3   5.688   6.141   112   17.9  20:57 (  0, 86)  
June  9  13 38.20   29 54.6   5.793   6.171   107   18.0  20:58 ( 52, 82)

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