Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2008 Feb. 23: South)

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Updated on February 28, 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 4.2 mag on Feb. 22 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it became hard to see and reported so faint as 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 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. 23   3 41.25   38 23.3   2.801   2.945    88    4.6  20:14 (149,  7)  
Mar.  1   3 50.44   37 60.0   2.922   2.976    83    4.7  20:04 (147,  7)  

* 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. Now it is fading. But the fading is slower than originally predicted, and it is still bright as 7.4 mag (Feb. 26, Marco Goiato). It has already moved away towards the southern sky, and it is no longer observable in the Northern Hemisphere. 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. 23   3 24.17  -52 10.8   0.860   1.106    73    7.2  20:14 ( 47, 54)  
Mar.  1   3 35.70  -54  8.9   0.934   1.149    73    7.5  20:04 ( 44, 53)  

* 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. 23   2 37.29   20 16.9   0.921   1.093    69    8.5  20:14 (127, 13)  
Mar.  1   3  9.97   24 23.4   0.932   1.120    71    8.7  20:04 (132, 12)  

* C/2007 T1 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 8.5 mag on Jan. 6 (Alexandre Amorim). Now it is fading gradually, but still bright as 10.2 mag (Feb. 26, Marco Goiato). It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the evening sky soon, then it keeps observable while fading gradually until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   5 55.72  -52 37.4   1.095   1.545    95   10.4  20:14 ( 15, 72)  
Mar.  1   5 56.30  -41 11.0   1.171   1.629    97   10.8  20:04 ( 56, 79)  

* 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. 23  23 32.76   -6 43.7   1.284   0.456    17   11.4  20:14 ( 78, -6)  
Mar.  1   0 24.46   -3 20.5   1.164   0.483    24   11.6  20:04 ( 85, -1)  

* 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. 23   9 34.14  -49 32.6   2.468   3.076   119   11.6  23:22 (  0, 76)  
Mar.  1   9 30.64  -48  9.5   2.407   3.046   121   11.5  22:51 (  0, 77)  

* 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. 23   1 27.17   58 36.8   1.348   1.501    78   12.4  20:14 (147,-22)  
Mar.  1   2 14.02   55 41.1   1.320   1.448    76   12.2  20:04 (147,-17)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightened up to 13.5 mag and became visible visually in 2007 autumn (Nov. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will reach to 10.5 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2008 autumn. Now it is not observable. But 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. 23  22 46.74    6  4.6   4.212   3.281    17   13.3  20:14 ( 81,-24)  
Mar.  1  22 55.77    7 26.2   4.180   3.234    15   13.2  20:04 ( 81,-26)  

* 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 13, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Now it is brightening rapidly. However, it is fainter than this ephemeris by 1.5 mag so far. It is expected to reach to 13 mag in March and April, and to be visible visually. But actually, it may be fainter than expected. 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. 23  15 45.28  -40 12.5   0.637   1.180    90   13.9   4:11 (294, 72)  
Mar.  1  16 28.45  -37 45.1   0.604   1.154    89   13.4   4:19 (286, 71)  

* C/2008 A1 ( McNaught )

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. 23   5 29.37  -42 48.0   3.021   3.261    95   13.5  20:14 ( 51, 77)  
Mar.  1   5 22.83  -41 55.9   3.004   3.183    91   13.4  20:04 ( 60, 73)  

* 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. 23   5 47.42   29 31.5   5.535   5.998   113   13.6  20:14 (171, 25)  
Mar.  1   5 47.67   29 20.7   5.642   6.000   106   13.6  20:04 (167, 24)  

* 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. 23  12 47.53  -12  5.0   1.348   2.183   137   14.0   2:39 (180, 67)  
Mar.  1  12 46.21  -13  1.7   1.206   2.092   144   13.6   2:11 (180, 68)  

* 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. 23  12 47.46    6 45.2   2.611   3.460   143   14.2   2:39 (180, 48)  
Mar.  1  12 44.55    6 25.0   2.524   3.426   151   14.1   2:09 (180, 49)  

* 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. 23  18  9.74   -2 35.0   4.144   3.800    63   14.4   4:11 (252, 28)  
Mar.  1  18 13.23   -3  5.1   3.998   3.752    68   14.3   4:19 (247, 34)  

* 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. 23   7 37.42   15  9.6   1.916   2.745   139   14.3  21:26 (180, 40)  
Mar.  1   7 38.54   14 51.6   1.995   2.766   132   14.4  21:00 (180, 40)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

It was 15 mag on Jan. 14 (Michael Mattiazzo), brightening as expected. 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. 23   1 17.48  -45  9.4   3.244   2.736    51   14.4  20:14 ( 55, 33)  
Mar.  1   1 29.73  -44 55.7   3.217   2.707    51   14.4  20:04 ( 55, 32)  

* 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. 23  23 17.71  -27 13.8   3.001   2.112    21   14.7  20:14 ( 59,  3)  
Mar.  1  23 33.32  -25 24.4   2.958   2.062    20   14.5  20:04 ( 60,  2)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It was visible visually at 14 mag from spring to autumn in 2007. Now it is 13.8 mag (Feb. 13, Alan Hale). It keeps observable visually at 14 mag at high location for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  17 14.47    6 48.1   5.714   5.600    78   14.9   4:11 (234, 31)  
Mar.  1  17 13.34    7 50.9   5.602   5.603    84   14.8   4:19 (224, 36)  

* 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. 23  18 49.32  -23 43.2   2.626   2.168    52   15.0   4:11 (279, 31)  
Mar.  1  19  6.61  -22 37.5   2.545   2.143    55   14.8   4:19 (275, 34)  

* 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 tends to 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. 23   1 27.90    8 41.8   2.138   1.681    49   14.9  20:14 (107,  8)  
Mar.  1   1 45.01   11 40.2   2.224   1.724    47   15.1  20:04 (109,  6)  

* 2005 WY3

Peculiar asteroid moving on a cometary orbit. Now it is brightest at 15.2 mag (Feb. 11, Alan Hale). 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. 23  10 16.29  -25 24.4   0.916   1.814   144   15.1   0:09 (180, 81)  
Mar.  1  10 17.27  -22 18.4   0.907   1.830   149   15.0  23:38 (180, 77)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

It reached to 12.7 mag on Dec. 4 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps locating in good position for a while after this. But it is already fading slowly. But it is still bright and visible visually at 13.3 mag (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   3 29.78   32  7.9   1.647   1.839    84   15.1  20:14 (144, 11)  
Mar.  1   3 49.16   32 21.3   1.731   1.866    81   15.3  20:04 (144, 11)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

It was observed at 16 mag in 2007 spring and summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps 15-16 mag and observable in good condition until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. No observations have been reported recently, and the current brightness is uncertain.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  18 42.21  -49 57.5   3.189   2.829    60   15.2   4:11 (309, 41)  
Mar.  1  18 58.99  -50  5.5   3.151   2.853    63   15.2   4:19 (309, 44)  

* 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. 23   3 13.04   58 48.1   5.434   5.523    89   15.3  20:14 (157,-12)  
Mar.  1   3 10.73   58  9.3   5.489   5.475    83   15.3  20:04 (154,-13)  

* 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. 23   5 10.42   24 34.8   2.043   2.491   105   15.6  20:14 (161, 28)  
Mar.  1   5 16.90   24  9.5   2.130   2.494    99   15.7  20:04 (158, 28)  

* 124P/Mrkos

Now it is 16.4 mag (Feb. 7, J. R. Vidal), brightened as expected. 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. 23  10 21.32   58 37.8   0.774   1.611   131   16.3   0:15 (180, -4)  
Mar.  1  10  0.93   55 52.0   0.747   1.583   130   16.2  23:20 (180, -1)  

* 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. 23  12 45.97    4 35.2   1.424   2.299   143   16.4   2:38 (180, 50)  
Mar.  1  12 43.39    5 21.3   1.406   2.325   151   16.4   2:08 (180, 50)  

* 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. 23  12 29.05   12 22.9   3.513   4.389   148   16.7   2:21 (180, 43)  
Mar.  1  12 21.44   12  8.8   3.426   4.353   156   16.6   1:46 (180, 43)  

* 180P/2006 U3 ( NEAT )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 7, J. R. Vidal), brightened as expected. 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. 23  10 50.83   34 38.7   1.613   2.543   154   16.6   0:43 (180, 20)  
Mar.  1  10 45.80   35 23.3   1.613   2.532   152   16.6   0:11 (180, 20)  

* 79P/du Toit-Hartley

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 26, J. Manteca, A. Sanchez). It is brighter than originally expected by 1 mag. It will be observable at 15.5-16 mag from April to July. It will be fainter than 18 mag in late 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. 23   6 52.89   22 38.1   0.830   1.641   128   16.7  20:42 (180, 32)  
Mar.  1   6 51.37   22 19.1   0.836   1.593   121   16.6  20:13 (180, 33)  

* 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. 23   4 47.80   23 45.1   3.655   3.947    99   16.7  20:14 (155, 27)  
Mar.  1   4 50.54   23 53.9   3.752   3.938    93   16.8  20:04 (152, 25)  

* 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. 23   4 28.51    8 29.7   3.486   3.674    93   16.9  20:14 (142, 38)  
Mar.  1   4 22.57    9 12.8   3.600   3.647    84   16.9  20:04 (136, 35)  

* 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. 23   3 45.86   41 56.0   1.930   2.171    90   16.9  20:14 (152,  5)  
Mar.  1   4  1.89   41 40.2   2.026   2.199    86   17.0  20:04 (151,  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. 23   8 19.46   31  6.6   3.357   4.204   144   16.9  22:08 (180, 24)  
Mar.  1   8 15.57   31 10.6   3.407   4.189   137   16.9  21:37 (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. 23   8  1.53   37 52.6   3.328   4.117   138   17.3  21:50 (180, 17)  
Mar.  1   7 59.09   38 36.0   3.390   4.107   130   17.3  21:20 (180, 16)  

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

It was observed at 16.5-17 mag in 2006 and 2007. Because it is a very distant comet, it is observable at 17 mag still in 2008 in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  19 43.08   23 10.4   6.623   6.053    51   17.4   4:11 (246, -6)  
Mar.  1  19 44.87   24 15.0   6.581   6.066    54   17.4   4:19 (240, -1)  

* 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. 23  14 36.17   15 47.9   7.777   8.289   118   17.5   4:11 (185, 39)  
Mar.  1  14 34.54   15 55.7   7.716   8.314   124   17.5   3:59 (180, 39)  

* 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. 23   8 33.69    7 12.9   2.437   3.349   153   17.5  22:21 (180, 48)  
Mar.  1   8 23.42   10 12.1   2.492   3.345   144   17.5  21:44 (180, 45)  

* C/2007 D1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Dec. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). Because it is a very distant comet, it keeps observable at 17.5-18 mag until 2009.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  11  6.80    0 20.0   7.951   8.911   165   17.5   0:59 (180, 55)  
Mar.  1  11  5.16    0 47.1   7.935   8.918   172   17.5   0:30 (180, 54)  

* 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. 23   8 57.47   37 10.9   1.793   2.677   146   17.5  22:46 (180, 18)  
Mar.  1   8 54.20   37 36.4   1.868   2.706   140   17.7  22:15 (180, 17)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It was observed visually as bright as 13 mag from late 2005 to early 2006. It has already faded down to 17.6 mag (Jan. 9, M. Reszelski). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  14 28.09   -0 51.1   6.689   7.204   117   17.9   4:11 (184, 56)  
Mar.  1  14 27.34   -0 49.8   6.626   7.238   124   17.9   3:51 (180, 56)  

* 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. It faded out before the perihelion passage again in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   7 27.81   28 25.5   3.469   4.230   135   19.0  21:17 (180, 27)  
Mar.  1   7 26.36   28 37.1   3.545   4.228   128   19.1  20:48 (180, 26)  

* 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. 23   6 48.93   17 30.8   2.664   3.363   127   19.3  20:38 (180, 37)  
Mar.  1   6 49.25   17 39.4   2.760   3.378   120   19.5  20:11 (180, 37)  

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