Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2008 Feb. 9: South)

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Updated on February 11, 2008
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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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* 17P/Holmes

Great outburst occured on Oct. 24, and it bacame a naked eye comet of 2 mag. It still keeps so bright as 3.8 mag on Feb. 6 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it became hard to see and reported so faint as 4-5 mag without an excellent sky condition. It was completely stellar just after the outburst. Then the coma had spread out and now it looks like a huge nebula. The coma diameter has increased up to about 90 arcmin in December and January. But now it is going away from the earth, and the diameter reduced to about 60 arcmin. This comet was also in great outburst at the discovery in 1892 and became so bright as 4 mag. At that time, the comet faded after the first outburst, but soon brightened again in the second outburst. The comet will be observable in excellent condition for a while after this. It will be easily visible with naked eyes for a while in the dark sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   3 24.67   39 22.4   2.563   2.885    98    5.0  20:34 (153,  9)  
Feb. 16   3 32.62   38 50.5   2.681   2.915    93    5.4  20:24 (151,  8)  

* 8P/Tuttle

It passed near by Earth in early January, and it became a bright large object at 5.4 mag (Jan. 3, Seiichi Yoshida). It was visible with naked eyes. However, it has already faded down to 6.9 mag (Feb. 9, Marco Goiato). Now the comet is moving southwards very rapidly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until early February only. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   3  2.91  -46 41.6   0.688   1.046    74    7.6  20:34 ( 56, 57)  
Feb. 16   3 13.43  -49 46.2   0.778   1.072    73    8.1  20:24 ( 51, 55)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

Now it reached to the maximum brightness at 8.3 mag (Feb. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable at 8.5 mag in good condition until March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   1 38.43   11 12.9   0.924   1.061    67    8.5  20:34 (116, 15)  
Feb. 16   2  6.78   15 49.9   0.918   1.073    68    8.5  20:24 (121, 14)  

* C/2007 T1 ( McNaught )

Now it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, but observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It brightened up to 8.5 mag on Jan. 6 (Alexandre Amorim). Now it is fading gradually, but still bright as 9.3 mag (Feb. 6, Alexandre Amorim). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the evening sky at 11 mag in March, then it keeps observable while fading gradually until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   6 18.49  -77 10.5   1.078   1.382    83   10.1  20:59 (  0, 49)  
Feb. 16   5 59.57  -64 58.5   1.064   1.462    90   10.3  20:24 (  2, 61)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 12.1 mag (Feb. 7, Stuart Rae). It will reach to 11 mag in spring. It will keep bright for a long time, however, it keeps moving in the southern sky for a while after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps extremely low and hard to observe for a while. However, it will be getting higher after March, and will be visible visually at 11 mag in the evening sky until June. Then it becomes unobservable again. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 13 mag at the end of 2008, then it keeps bright and observable for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   9 42.03  -51 16.0   2.612   3.141   113   11.9   0:30 (  0, 74)  
Feb. 16   9 38.05  -50 34.7   2.537   3.108   116   11.7  23:54 (  0, 74)  

* C/2003 T12 ( SOHO )

The return of a comet discovered in 2003 by SOHO spacecraft. It can be a short periodic comet with a period of about 4 years. If so, it is expected to return in 2008 spring. If it passes the perihelion in spring, it will be visible at 12-15 mag in the evening sky. But the period is quite uncertain with an error of several months. So we have to wait until it is re-discovered by chance.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  21 56.66  -11 51.7   1.519   0.558     7   13.1  20:34 ( 64,-15)  
Feb. 16  22 42.92   -9 35.2   1.404   0.485    12   12.0  20:24 ( 70,-11)  

* C/2008 C1 ( Chen-Gao )

New bright comet discovered by two Chinese amateurs. It is very bright visually at 12.2 mag (Feb. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 12 mag until May. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition in the evening sky until mid May. But then it moves southwards, and it will never be observable again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in late March, then it keeps observable until it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  23 50.43   61 44.4   1.433   1.619    81   12.9  20:34 (147,-30)  
Feb. 16   0 38.44   60 36.2   1.386   1.558    80   12.6  20:24 (147,-26)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It is already bright and visible visually at 13.5 mag (Nov. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will reach to 10.5 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2008 autumn. It will be unobservable soon. It will appear in the morning sky at 12.5 mag in May, then it keeps observable, visible visually, brighter than 14 mag for one year until 2009 May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  22 29.42    3 32.8   4.255   3.378    24   13.4  20:34 ( 81,-18)  
Feb. 16  22 37.95    4 46.8   4.237   3.329    20   13.4  20:24 ( 81,-21)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

After an outburst on Dec. 29, some outbursts occured repeatedly until mid January. It became very bright as 10.4 mag on Jan. 15 (P. Clay Sherrod). Then it is fading gradually. But it is still bright as 11.5 mag on Feb. 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   5 48.83   29 53.4   5.338   5.993   127   13.5  20:34 (180, 25)  
Feb. 16   5 47.80   29 42.4   5.433   5.996   120   13.5  20:24 (175, 25)  

* C/2008 A1 ( McNaught )

New bright comet. It is already visible visually at 14.0 mag (Jan. 12, Alan Hale). It is expected to be 7 mag in September. But it keeps moving in the southern sky, so it is difficult to see in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be locating in the very low sky at about 10 degree high until mid March, then it becomes unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere. It will appear in the evening sky at 7 mag in late September, but it keeps locating in the evening low sky until the end of 2008 when it fades out down to 10 mag. Then it turns to appear in the morning sky, and it keeps observable in the northern sky after that while fading gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until late October after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   5 46.83  -44  6.6   3.062   3.414   102   13.8  20:34 (  4, 81)  
Feb. 16   5 37.40  -43 32.5   3.039   3.337    98   13.6  20:24 ( 33, 80)  

* C/2006 S5 ( Hill )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag and visible visually (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It will keep visible visually at 14 mag until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   7 38.37   15 48.4   1.787   2.707   153   14.1  22:22 (180, 39)  
Feb. 16   7 37.38   15 28.4   1.846   2.725   146   14.2  21:54 (180, 40)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

Now it is 14.1 mag, already visible visually (Feb. 8, Alan Hale). It will reach to 13.5 mag from March to July. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  12 50.54    7 26.5   2.816   3.530   129   14.4   3:37 (180, 48)  
Feb. 16  12 49.47    7  5.5   2.708   3.494   136   14.3   3:09 (180, 48)  

* C/2007 W1 ( Boattini )

Now it is bright as 14.3 mag, already visible visually (Feb. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will pass 0.85 A.U. from the sun in late June, and it is expected to reach to 6 mag. In the Northern Hemipshere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time after this, while the comet is brightening gradually. It is observable until around May 25, when the comet will be 7.5 mag. It will be unobservable for one and a half month around the perihelion passage. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 7 mag in early July, then it keeps observable after that while the comet is fading gradually. In the Southern Hemipsphere, it keeps observable all the period until the comet fades out, although it will be low in mid June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  12 45.97  -10 13.3   1.656   2.362   124   14.8   3:33 (180, 65)  
Feb. 16  12 47.37  -11  8.9   1.498   2.273   131   14.4   3:07 (180, 66)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

It will reach to 13.5 mag in the southern sky in spring and summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it is already unobservable. It will be observable again at the end of 2008, when the comet will already fade down to 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   0 56.07  -45 39.6   3.278   2.800    53   14.5  20:34 ( 55, 35)  
Feb. 16   1  6.26  -45 24.1   3.265   2.767    51   14.5  20:24 ( 55, 34)  

* 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 1, G. W. Christie, T. Natusch), much fainter than expected. However, it must be brightening rapidly. It is expected to reach to 13 mag in March and April, and to be visible visually. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphre, it keeps locating low until March. But it will be getting higher after April and observable while the comet is fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  14 21.18  -41 14.0   0.728   1.248    92   15.2   3:53 (299, 74)  
Feb. 16  15  2.17  -41 19.5   0.679   1.212    91   14.5   4:02 (298, 73)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Jan. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be bright at 12 mag for a long time from 2008 spring to 2009 spring. However, it is only observable until August in the Northern Hemisphere because the comet moves southwards. It keeps observable for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  18  1.51   -1 34.6   4.418   3.897    52   14.6   3:53 (262, 14)  
Feb. 16  18  5.82   -2  5.0   4.284   3.849    57   14.5   4:02 (257, 21)  

* 192P/2007 T3 ( Shoemaker-Levy 1 )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag and visible visually (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It has already passed the perihelion. But it will be brightest after the perihelion passage. It will be visible at 14 mag until February. But the altitude will be around 30 deg. Then it is observable until April when it becomes too low at 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   0 53.14    2  9.2   1.979   1.604    53   14.6  20:34 (101, 12)  
Feb. 16   1 10.62    5 31.4   2.056   1.641    51   14.7  20:24 (104, 10)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.3 mag (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps locating in good position for a while after this. But it will be fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   2 51.58   31 24.8   1.489   1.791    90   14.7  20:34 (143, 12)  
Feb. 16   3 10.54   31 48.9   1.566   1.814    87   14.9  20:24 (143, 11)  

* 19P/Borrelly

It will reach to 11 mag in summer. It must have already brightened up to 15 mag, but the comet was not observed recently. The condition in this apparition is bad. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps extremely low, or under the horizon, so it will not be observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until August when it appears in the morning sky at 11 mag. After August, it keeps observable and fading in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  22 47.11  -30 37.2   3.078   2.213    24   15.0  20:34 ( 57,  6)  
Feb. 16  23  2.31  -28 58.0   3.041   2.163    22   14.8  20:24 ( 58,  4)  

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

It keeps 15 mag until June. It moves in the southen sky, so it keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  19  4.23  -76 46.3   3.563   3.262    64   14.9   3:53 (344, 34)  
Feb. 16  19 27.74  -79  3.7   3.504   3.277    68   14.9   4:02 (347, 35)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It was visible visually at 14 mag from spring to autumn in 2007. Now it is 14.3 mag (Jan. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 14 mag at high location again in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  17 15.00    4 55.1   5.930   5.596    65   14.9   3:53 (249, 19)  
Feb. 16  17 15.01    5 49.5   5.824   5.598    72   14.9   4:02 (242, 26)  

* C/2007 K3 ( Siding Spring )

Appearing in the morning sky. It shoudl be already bright as 15 mag. It will be getting higher gradually after this, and will be observable at 14 mag in good condition from spring to summer. It will also be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  18 14.24  -25 25.6   2.791   2.227    46   15.2   3:53 (285, 24)  
Feb. 16  18 31.84  -24 39.3   2.708   2.196    49   15.1   4:02 (282, 28)  

* C/2007 F1 ( LONEOS )

It approached down to 0.4 A.U. to the sun on Oct. 28, and it reached to 5.3 mag (Oct. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It had already faded down to 10.1 mag on Dec. 1 (Marco Goiato). The brightening became very slow just before the perihelion passage, but it started fading rapidly after the perihelion passage. No observations have been reported recently, and the current brightness is uncertain. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere, 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)  
Feb.  9  19 16.54  -73 44.1   2.373   2.093    61   15.1   3:53 (340, 33)  
Feb. 16  19 27.97  -76  4.5   2.398   2.198    66   15.3   4:02 (343, 35)  

* 2005 WY3

Peculiar asteroid moving on a cometary orbit. It had brightened up to 16.9 mag on Nov. 20 (Siding Spring Survey). It has passed the perihelion in late January, but still completely asteroidal. It keeps 15 mag until March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. Although already going away from the sun, it may show a cometary activity after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  10 14.20  -29 56.2   0.963   1.792   133   15.3   1:01 (180, 85)  
Feb. 16  10 15.38  -27 58.3   0.935   1.802   139   15.2   0:35 (180, 83)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

It was observed at 16 mag in 2007 spring and summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps 16 mag and observable in good condition until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  18  6.50  -49 27.4   3.260   2.785    53   15.2   3:53 (310, 35)  
Feb. 16  18 24.67  -49 45.1   3.225   2.806    56   15.2   4:02 (309, 38)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It is already bright as 14.3 mag and visible visually (Dec. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). It is expected to reach to 11 mag in 2009 summer. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps observable until it becomes brightest in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   3 21.72   60 15.9   5.326   5.618   102   15.3  20:34 (162,-10)  
Feb. 16   3 16.64   59 30.6   5.378   5.570    96   15.3  20:24 (159,-11)  

* 110P/Hartley 3

Now it is 14.5 mag and visible visually (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It will be observable at 14.5-15 mag in an excellent condition until February. It starts fading after March, and will be too low at 17 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   5  0.89   25 35.5   1.878   2.489   117   15.4  20:34 (168, 28)  
Feb. 16   5  5.04   25  3.3   1.959   2.490   110   15.5  20:24 (164, 28)  

* P/2007 H1 ( McNaught )

It reached up to 12.6 mag and was bright visually in autumn (Oct. 5, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading. It was still visible visually at 14.0 mag on Dec. 9 (Seiichi Yoshida). But it has already faded down to 16.4 mag (Jan. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable until March when it becomes too low at 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   1 32.23   -1 25.2   2.888   2.574    61   16.2  20:34 (104, 22)  
Feb. 16   1 42.54   -0 12.2   2.985   2.595    57   16.4  20:24 (104, 19)  

* 70P/Kojima

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightening as expected. It keeps observable at 16.5 mag in good condition for a long time until April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  12 47.03    3 20.3   1.489   2.250   129   16.3   3:34 (180, 52)  
Feb. 16  12 47.22    3 54.2   1.452   2.274   136   16.4   3:07 (180, 51)  

* 124P/Mrkos

Now it is 18.0 mag (Jan. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 16 mag from February to April, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  11  2.38   61 12.3   0.852   1.672   130   16.6   1:50 (180, -6)  
Feb. 16  10 42.68   60 22.5   0.810   1.640   131   16.4   1:04 (180, -5)  

* 50P/Arend

It was visible visually at 14.6 mag on Jan. 4 (Seiichi Yoshida). But it is already fading. It keeps observable in good condition for a while, but it will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   3 15.10   42 24.8   1.746   2.118    97   16.6  20:34 (153,  5)  
Feb. 16   3 30.22   42 10.6   1.837   2.144    93   16.8  20:24 (152,  5)  

* C/2006 K1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Jan. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in the evening sky until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   2 52.62  -11 22.6   4.817   4.725    78   16.7  20:34 (110, 43)  
Feb. 16   2 55.12   -9 53.6   4.933   4.745    73   16.7  20:24 (108, 40)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

It will reach to 15 mag in 2009 and 2010. Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 18, J. R. Vidal). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   4 44.92   23 30.8   3.469   3.964   113   16.7  20:34 (163, 29)  
Feb. 16   4 45.91   23 37.4   3.560   3.956   106   16.7  20:24 (159, 28)  

* 180P/2006 U3 ( NEAT )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 1, Siding Spring Survey). It will be observable in good condition for a hile until spring. It will reach to 16.5 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  10 59.26   32 35.4   1.649   2.566   152   16.8   1:47 (180, 23)  
Feb. 16  10 55.44   33 41.7   1.625   2.554   154   16.7   1:15 (180, 21)  

* C/2007 M2 ( Catalina )

It keeps 16 mag for one year from 2008 spring to 2009 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while the comet is brightening until 2008 spring. But the comet moves southwards after that, and it will never observable after 2008 July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  12 41.55   12 47.5   3.730   4.461   132   16.9   3:29 (180, 42)  
Feb. 16  12 35.78   12 35.5   3.615   4.425   140   16.7   2:55 (180, 42)  

* C/2007 U1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 15.5 mag in autumn and will be observable in good condition. In this winter, it is observable at 17 mag in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   4 44.53    7  1.4   3.271   3.730   110   16.8  20:34 (157, 45)  
Feb. 16   4 35.80    7 45.8   3.375   3.701   101   16.8  20:24 (148, 42)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It was observed visually as bright as 13 mag from late 2005 to early 2006. Now it is fading. It will be observable in good condition at 17 mag for a long time until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  14 28.25   -0 49.3   6.832   7.137   104   16.8   3:53 (214, 51)  
Feb. 16  14 28.40   -0 51.0   6.758   7.171   110   16.8   4:02 (200, 54)  

* 188P/2007 J7 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

It was visible visually at 14.4 mag in autumn (Oct. 6, Seiichi Yoshida). But it is fading now. It has already faded down to 16.5 mag on Jan. 30 (Siding Spring Survey).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   1  7.83   13 59.5   2.898   2.580    61   16.9  20:34 (113,  7)  
Feb. 16   1 18.58   15  8.2   2.981   2.588    57   17.0  20:24 (113,  5)  

* 65P/Gunn

It will reach to 13 mag in 2010. Now it is around the aphelion, but it is observable at 17 mag in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   8 29.11   30 43.7   3.295   4.233   159   16.9  23:12 (180, 24)  
Feb. 16   8 24.03   30 57.7   3.320   4.218   152   16.9  22:40 (180, 24)  

* C/2007 T5 ( Gibbs )

It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   8  8.50   36  4.4   3.239   4.139   152   17.2  22:52 (180, 19)  
Feb. 16   8  4.72   37  2.1   3.277   4.128   145   17.2  22:21 (180, 18)  

* P/2007 T6 ( Catalina )

Although it has been observable at 17 mag in good condition for a long time, it will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   9  6.82   35 37.0   1.677   2.621   158   17.3  23:50 (180, 19)  
Feb. 16   9  1.77   36 31.3   1.729   2.649   153   17.4  23:18 (180, 18)  

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

It had been observed at 16.5 mag for a long time from 2005 to 2007. Now it is fading. But it keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition for a long time until July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  14 38.16   15 34.1   7.920   8.240   105   17.5   3:53 (207, 35)  
Feb. 16  14 37.38   15 40.5   7.846   8.264   111   17.5   4:02 (197, 38)  

* C/2007 D1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Dec. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was observed at 17.5 mag in early 2007. It will be observable at 17.5 mag again in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  11  9.77   -0 30.1   8.027   8.898   150   17.5   1:57 (180, 56)  
Feb. 16  11  8.36   -0  5.9   7.982   8.905   157   17.5   1:28 (180, 55)  

* 191P/2007 N1 ( McNaught )

It kept brightening even after the perihelion passage, and reached to the maximum brightness at 15.5 mag in mid November. It was also visible visually at 14.5 mag (Nov. 14, Alan Hale). But it is fading now. It has already faded down to 17.9 mag (Jan. 27, F. Garcia).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   3 17.31   12 57.9   2.104   2.337    90   17.5  20:34 (136, 30)  
Feb. 16   3 26.42   14  3.6   2.211   2.362    86   17.7  20:24 (135, 28)  

* C/2007 Y1 ( LINEAR )

It will be observable at 17.5-18 mag until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   8 56.39    1  2.1   2.402   3.361   164   17.7  23:39 (180, 54)  
Feb. 16   8 44.79    4  7.6   2.407   3.355   160   17.7  23:00 (180, 51)  

* 79P/du Toit-Hartley

It will be observable at 16.5-17 mag from April to July. It will be fainter than 18 mag in August. It keeps locating in the evening sky all time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   7  3.74   23  5.1   0.836   1.739   145   18.0  21:47 (180, 32)  
Feb. 16   6 57.11   22 53.7   0.830   1.690   136   17.9  21:13 (180, 32)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

It was observed bright at 16.5-17 mag from late 2006 to early 2007. However, it is fading after that, although it is getting closer to the sun. Now it is observable in good condition, but very faint at 18.3 mag (Jan. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota). This comet was observed so faint around the perihelion passage in the previous apparition at the discovery. So probably, it faded out before the perihelion passage again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   7 33.04   27 52.3   3.349   4.236   150   18.8  22:17 (180, 27)  
Feb. 16   7 30.06   28 10.6   3.404   4.233   142   18.9  21:46 (180, 27)  

* 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). In the previous apparition in 1997, it brightened after the perihelion passage, and observed visually at 13 mag. However, such a brightening did not happen and the comet kept faint in the current apparition. However, now it may be slightly brighter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   6 51.40   17 11.6   2.497   3.334   142   19.1  21:35 (180, 38)  
Feb. 16   6 49.65   17 21.5   2.576   3.349   135   19.2  21:06 (180, 38)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.