Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2008 Apr. 12: South)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on April 12, 2008
Last week North Next week

Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* 17P/Holmes

Great outburst occured on Oct. 24, and it bacame a naked eye comet of 2 mag. It still keeps so bright as 5.3 mag on Apr. 5 (Carlos Labordena). It is still visible with naked eyes in the dark sky, however, now it is extremely faint and difficult to see. 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. Now it is getting lower and lower rapidly in the evening sky. The altitude will be lower than 30 degrees in late April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   4 53.38   36 26.4   3.622   3.157    55    5.3  19:03 (140,  3)  
Apr. 19   5  4.63   36 13.4   3.728   3.187    50    5.4  18:55 (138,  2)  

* C/2007 W1 ( Boattini )

It is brightening much faster than expected. It is already so bright as 8.6 mag (Apr. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will pass 0.85 A.U. from the sun in late June, and it may reach up to 4.5 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 6 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 5.5 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)  
Apr. 12  11 51.00  -18 54.6   0.572   1.542   155    9.5  22:25 (180, 74)  
Apr. 19  11 31.86  -19 53.2   0.504   1.450   146    9.0  21:38 (180, 75)  

* 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 9.2 mag (Apr. 11, Marco Goiato). However, it will fade out rapidly after this, and will be fainter than 13 mag in late April. 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)  
Apr. 12   5 29.48  -62  0.1   1.223   1.513    85    9.6  19:03 ( 32, 51)  
Apr. 19   5 59.60  -62 49.1   1.256   1.583    88   10.0  18:55 ( 30, 52)  

* C/2008 C1 ( Chen-Gao )

New bright comet discovered by two Chinese amateurs. Now it is very bright as 9.6 mag (Apr. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Diffuse object with a weak condensation. It keeps 10 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)  
Apr. 12   5 26.37   26 14.3   1.417   1.265    60   10.1  19:03 (139, 16)  
Apr. 19   5 46.75   21  6.6   1.471   1.263    57   10.2  18:55 (136, 20)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 10.7 mag (Apr. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will keep 11 mag for a long time until August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it had been locating extremely low for a long time, however, it will be getting higher gradually after March. But the altitude will never be higher than 30 degrees in the evening sky, and the comet will be unobservable in July. 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)  
Apr. 12   9 30.56  -33 48.6   2.242   2.893   121   11.2  20:07 (180, 89)  
Apr. 19   9 34.72  -30 53.3   2.255   2.872   118   11.1  19:43 (180, 86)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

It brightened up to 8.3 mag on Feb. 6 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but still bright as 10.8 mag (Apr. 5, Marco Goiato). However, it became very diffuse recently. It will fade out rapidly after this, and will be fainter than 13 mag in late April. 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)  
Apr. 12   6 44.21   35  5.8   1.213   1.391    77   11.5  19:03 (159, 16)  
Apr. 19   7 15.92   34 33.7   1.292   1.447    77   12.1  18:55 (161, 17)  

* C/2008 A1 ( McNaught )

It is already very bright as 12.2 mag (Apr. 11, Marco Goiato). It is expected to be 7 mag in September. But it keeps moving in the southern sky, and it is unobservable for a while 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)  
Apr. 12   5 14.20  -36 16.5   2.874   2.709    70   12.6  19:03 ( 74, 51)  
Apr. 19   5 17.22  -35 32.1   2.837   2.628    67   12.5  18:55 ( 74, 48)  

* 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. It had been unobservable for a while, but it will appear in the morning sky soon. 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)  
Apr. 12  23 54.82   16 51.5   3.863   2.966    22   12.7   4:57 (253, -5)  
Apr. 19   0  5.49   18 37.5   3.794   2.924    25   12.6   5:02 (248, -2)  

* 19P/Borrelly

It will reach to 11 mag in summer. It must have already brightened up to 14 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)  
Apr. 12   1 11.78  -12 42.8   2.660   1.767    21   13.2   4:57 (288, -3)  
Apr. 19   1 29.07  -10 20.7   2.610   1.721    22   13.0   5:02 (284, -2)  

* C/2007 T1 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 8.5 mag on Jan. 6 (Alexandre Amorim). It kept bright until March, however, now it is getting diffuse and fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 12.0 mag (Mar. 30, Marco Goiato). It keeps observable until May, however, it will be hard to see visually soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   6 23.46   -3 23.3   2.157   2.146    75   13.1  19:03 (131, 47)  
Apr. 19   6 29.42   -0 31.2   2.353   2.232    70   13.5  18:55 (130, 43)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.2 mag, already visible visually (Mar. 17, Alan Hale). 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)  
Apr. 12  18 19.70   -6 55.1   3.054   3.474   106   13.3   4:57 (181, 62)  
Apr. 19  18 17.32   -7 51.6   2.900   3.430   113   13.2   4:28 (180, 63)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

Now it is very bright as 12.8 mag (Apr. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will keep visible visually at 13 mag until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  12 15.33    3 40.6   2.287   3.244   159   13.6  22:50 (180, 51)  
Apr. 19  12 10.52    3  0.0   2.297   3.217   151   13.6  22:18 (180, 52)  

* 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup

Now it is 12.5 mag (Apr. 5, Michael Jager). Although it had been much fainter than this ephemeris until March, it finally became bright. It is visible visually, but difficult to see because extremely diffuse. This comet tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. In the Northern Hemisphere, it had been low until March. But it will be getting higher after April. It will be also visible visually at 12-13 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  19 33.90   -5 21.4   0.587   1.144    88   13.8   4:57 (215, 56)  
Apr. 19  19 51.26    0 10.1   0.606   1.167    89   13.9   5:02 (205, 52)  

* 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 was still bright as 12.7 mag on Mar. 5 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 13.7 mag (Apr. 4, Carlos Labordena), and extremely diffuse.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   6  1.41   28 23.6   6.316   6.013    68   13.8  19:03 (147, 18)  
Apr. 19   6  5.39   28 14.9   6.420   6.016    62   13.9  18:55 (144, 16)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12   3  5.92  -43 48.3   2.963   2.567    57   14.0  19:03 ( 55, 30)  
Apr. 19   3 25.86  -43 36.2   2.917   2.551    59   13.9  18:55 ( 55, 30)  

* C/2007 K3 ( Siding Spring )

Appearing in the morning sky. It shoudl be already bright as 14.5 mag. But no observations were reported recently. 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)  
Apr. 12  20 41.98  -12 58.4   2.111   2.054    72   14.2   4:57 (245, 51)  
Apr. 19  20 55.83  -10 57.9   2.048   2.051    76   14.2   5:02 (237, 53)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 13.9 mag (Mar. 5, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Apr. 12  16 51.13   15  7.4   5.018   5.629   123   14.6   3:30 (180, 40)  
Apr. 19  16 44.68   16 21.7   4.955   5.635   128   14.6   2:56 (180, 39)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It is already bright as 14.7 mag and visible visually (Mar. 5, 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. But it becomes low from April to June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   3 16.17   56  1.3   5.743   5.191    52   15.1  19:03 (144,-22)  
Apr. 19   3 19.21   55 58.5   5.760   5.144    48   15.1  18:55 (143,-24)  

* C/2006 S5 ( Hill )

It brightned up to 13.4 mag on Jan. 4 (Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading, but still visible visually at 14.4 mag (Mar. 5, Seiichi Yoshida). It will be too low to observe in the evening sky at 16 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   8  5.57   12 55.3   2.609   2.928    98   15.2  19:03 (173, 42)  
Apr. 19   8 12.67   12 30.7   2.727   2.960    93   15.4  18:55 (169, 42)  

* C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Apr. 4, G. W. Christie, T. Natusch), brightening as expected. It is getting higher gradually in the morning sky. It is expected to reach to 6 mag in 2009 February. After this, it keeps observable until October when it becomes 11 mag. It will be brighter than 14 mag and visible visually in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  21 50.59  -12 23.6   4.249   3.793    56   15.4   4:57 (258, 37)  
Apr. 19  21 52.13  -12 13.4   4.064   3.720    63   15.3   5:02 (252, 43)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12  20 18.46  -50 13.9   2.895   3.029    87   15.3   4:57 (314, 63)  
Apr. 19  20 27.42  -50 16.9   2.850   3.063    92   15.3   5:02 (319, 67)  

* 2005 WY3

Peculiar asteroid moving on a cometary orbit. It reached up to 15.0 mag on Mar. 11 (Katsumi Yoshimoto). It has passed the perihelion in late January, but still completely asteroidal. It is already going away from the sun and fading. 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   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  10 38.28   -1 19.9   1.116   1.981   138   15.7  21:14 (180, 56)  
Apr. 19  10 44.97    1 11.2   1.193   2.015   132   16.0  20:54 (180, 54)  

* 197P/2008 E2 ( LINEAR )

It was recovered at 18.7 mag on Mar. 3, as bright as expected (R. E. Hill). Then it is brightening rapidly as expected, and already brightened up to 17.1 mag (Mar. 23, Catalina Sky Survey). It will reach to 15 mag in May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until it fades out. In the Northern Hemisphere, the condition is bad. It will be too low to observe in mid May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  18 16.68   16  9.5   0.409   1.166   103   16.2   4:54 (180, 39)  
Apr. 19  18 51.74   11 19.0   0.359   1.131   101   15.8   5:02 (180, 44)  

* 124P/Mrkos

Now it is 16.1 mag (Mar. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightened as expected. Although it had been observable in good condition for a while, it will be getting lower rapidly after this. It becomes unobservable in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   9 19.38   25  3.5   0.774   1.477   111   16.1  19:56 (180, 30)  
Apr. 19   9 23.64   19 32.2   0.809   1.471   107   16.2  19:32 (180, 36)  

* 79P/du Toit-Hartley

Now it is 17.4 mag (Mar. 10, Mitsunori Tsumura). It will be observable at 16-17 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)  
Apr. 12   7 38.22   19  3.7   0.886   1.347    90   16.3  19:03 (166, 35)  
Apr. 19   7 53.95   18  7.3   0.890   1.316    87   16.2  18:55 (165, 36)  

* C/2007 M2 ( Catalina )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 29, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Apr. 12  11 28.04    9 28.7   3.281   4.151   146   16.3  22:03 (180, 46)  
Apr. 19  11 20.08    8 46.5   3.318   4.120   138   16.3  21:28 (180, 46)  

* 110P/Hartley 3

It brightened up to 14.5 mag on Jan. 4 and became visible visually (Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Mar. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be too low at 17 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   6 12.54   22  0.7   2.673   2.523    70   16.4  19:03 (146, 25)  
Apr. 19   6 23.68   21 36.7   2.761   2.530    66   16.5  18:55 (144, 24)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

It reached to 12.7 mag on Dec. 4 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading slowly. But it is still bright and visible visually at 13.5 mag (Mar. 5, Seiichi Yoshida). However, it will be fading and getting lower very rapidly after April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   5 43.11   31 32.0   2.292   2.066    64   16.5  19:03 (145, 13)  
Apr. 19   6  1.03   31  2.9   2.392   2.104    61   16.7  18:55 (145, 14)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12   5 37.85   16 51.0   1.075   1.080    62   16.7  19:03 (136, 25)  
Apr. 19   6 19.03   17 54.6   1.169   1.183    65   17.4  18:55 (141, 27)  

* 180P/2006 U3 ( NEAT )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 16, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightened as expected. After this, it will be getting fainter slowly and getting lower slowly in the evening sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  10 27.79   34 32.6   1.826   2.486   120   16.7  21:04 (180, 21)  
Apr. 19  10 28.98   33 38.8   1.887   2.481   114   16.8  20:37 (180, 21)  

* C/2007 W3 ( LINEAR )

It will reach to 16 mag from May to July, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  23 25.49   71 56.0   2.074   1.897    65   16.9   4:57 (200,-29)  
Apr. 19  23 19.93   73 55.6   2.030   1.867    66   16.7   5:02 (197,-28)  

* C/2007 M3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is brightest at 17 mag. But it will be fading gradually, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  16  1.49  -16  6.7   3.173   3.999   140   17.0   2:41 (180, 71)  
Apr. 19  15 48.10  -15 46.8   3.124   4.030   150   17.0   2:00 (180, 71)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 17.2 mag (Mar. 8, Ken-ichi Kadota). Around the aphelion, but it is observable at 17 mag in good condition. It will reach to 13 mag in 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   8 10.94   30 12.1   3.870   4.097    95   17.1  19:03 (176, 25)  
Apr. 19   8 13.31   29 52.5   3.960   4.080    89   17.1  18:55 (172, 25)  

* 70P/Kojima

It was 16.4 mag on Mar. 7 (Ken-ichi Kadota), brightened as expected. Although it had been observable at 16.5 mag in good condition for a while, it will fade out rapidly after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  12 16.05    9 10.6   1.546   2.493   155   17.1  22:51 (180, 46)  
Apr. 19  12 12.72    9 20.3   1.611   2.523   148   17.3  22:20 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12  14 17.59   16 21.9   7.570   8.464   151   17.3   0:57 (180, 39)  
Apr. 19  14 14.07   16 18.4   7.591   8.490   151   17.3   0:26 (180, 39)  

* 194P/2007 W2 ( LINEAR )

It keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage, similar to the behaviour at the discovery. It will be fainter than 18 mag and low in the evening sky in June. But maybe it will be brighter than this ephemeris in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   7 44.56   27  0.1   1.441   1.768    90   17.3  19:03 (170, 27)  
Apr. 19   8  0.87   25 18.7   1.514   1.787    87   17.4  18:55 (168, 29)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12  19 46.31   31 53.3   6.237   6.151    80   17.4   4:57 (200, 20)  
Apr. 19  19 44.48   33 16.8   6.176   6.166    84   17.4   5:02 (192, 21)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12   8  4.58   40 49.4   3.901   4.064    92   17.5  19:03 (176, 14)  
Apr. 19   8  8.86   40 55.5   3.996   4.060    86   17.6  18:55 (173, 14)  

* 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)  
Apr. 12  10 56.47    3 30.8   8.154   8.961   141   17.6  21:32 (180, 52)  
Apr. 19  10 55.68    3 54.4   8.237   8.969   134   17.6  21:04 (180, 51)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke

Brightening rapidly. It will reach to 14 mag in autumn. However, it locates extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps higher than 30 degree even in the Northern Hemisphere until August, when it brightens up to 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  10 33.66   42 32.3   1.591   2.221   115   17.9  21:09 (180, 13)  
Apr. 19  10 30.21   41 54.7   1.606   2.168   110   17.8  20:38 (180, 13)  

* 6P/d'Arrest

Not observed in this apparition yet. It will reach up to 9 mag and keep bright for a long time from summer to autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes low in the south at brightest, but it keeps observable until it fades out. It must be already 18 mag, and will be brightening rapidly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12  18  6.51    4 14.4   1.355   1.920   108   18.1   4:45 (180, 51)  
Apr. 19  18 16.70    5 30.7   1.256   1.871   111   17.9   4:27 (180, 50)  

* 22P/Kopff

It will be bright at 9-10 mag for a long time from spring to autumn in 2009. Now it is predicted to be so faint as 19 mag. But actually, it is 16-17 mag recently, much brighter than this ephemeris. Maybe it is in a temporary outburst.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 12   9 49.31   16 48.9   2.954   3.581   121   19.3  20:25 (180, 38)  
Apr. 19   9 48.10   16 52.9   3.013   3.547   114   19.2  19:56 (180, 38)  

* 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 19.4 mag (Mar. 10, Mitsunori Tsumura). 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)  
Apr. 12   7 35.63   28 48.8   4.120   4.217    88   19.7  19:03 (168, 25)  
Apr. 19   7 39.89   28 42.7   4.223   4.216    82   19.8  18:55 (164, 24)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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