Monthly Information about Comets in October 1996

Japanese version Home page	Updated on October 10, 1996
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Comets Ranking Explanations Faint Comets Positions Table Finding Charts (PostScript)

Comets Ranking

Here is the ranking of comets in October, 1996. 96P/Machholz 1, a famous periodic comet, passes its perihelion this month. But nobody have seen this comet yet. The condition in the Northern Hemisphere is worst, and probably it will go without being observed at this return. A new comet C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ) has been brightening rapidly in the morning sky. It reaches 4.5 mag and best comet to see this month. It moves fast and the condition to see it changes quickly. It is also remarkable on the separation from C/1988 A1 ( Liller ) and the related meteor shower. Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), the probable greatest comet in this century, has been stable around 5.5-6.0 mag on the brightness for a recent few months. Let's watch and confirm if the comet begins to brighten again. There are many fainter comets around 12 mag this month. They are good targets for CCD and photos. No. 1 96P/Machholz 1 9.5 -> 2 -> 11 mag No. 2 C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ) 5 -> 4.5 -> 5 mag No. 3 C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) 5.5 -> 5 mag No. 4 C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater )11.5 -> 10.5 mag No. 5 C/1996 N1 ( Brewington ) 10.5 -> 12.5 mag No. 6 126P/IRAS 10.5 -> 11 mag No. 7 22P/Kopff 11 -> 12.5 mag No. 8 116P/Wild 4 12 mag No. 9 C/1996 R1 ( Hergenrother-Spahr ) 12 -> 13.5 mag No. 10 C/1996 E1 ( NEAT )13 -> 15 mag No. 11 C/1996 B2 ( Hyakutake ) 13 -> 14.5 mag No. 12 C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) 13 -> 14 mag No. 13 65P/Gunn 14 mag No. 14 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 14 mag No. 15 32P/Comas Sola 15.5 -> 16 mag No. 16 124P/Mrkos 15.5 mag No. 17 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte 15.5 -> 16 mag No. 18 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4 16 -> 15.5 mag Other faint comets are as follows. 81P/Wild 2 17 -> 16 mag D/1978 C2 ( Tritton ) 17 -> 16.5 mag 85P/Boethin 17 -> 16.5 mag 46P/Wirtanen 17 -> 16.5 mag 119P/Parker-Hartley 16.5 mag 125P/Spacewatch 16.5 -> 17.5 mag P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) 17 -> 17.5 mag Minor Planet 1996 PW 17.5 -> 18 mag 107P/Wilson-Harrington 18 -> 17.5 mag 121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2 18 mag 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 17.5 -> 18 mag 2P/Encke 18 mag 94P/Russell 4 18.5 -> 18 mag P/1996 N2 ( Elst-Pizarro ) 18 -> 18.5 mag 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh 18.5 mag 91P/Russell 3 18.5 mag P/1991 C1 ( Shoemaker-Levy 3 ) 19 mag P/1990 R1 ( Mueller 2 ) 19 mag C/1995 Y1 ( Hyakutake ) 19.5 -> 20 mag 7P/Pons-Winnecke 19.5 -> 20.5 mag 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett 20.5 mag Observable now Not observable in the Northern Hemisphere Periodic comets not yet observed at this return Periodic comets not yet observed at this return but not observable in the Northern Hemisphere

Explanations

96P/Machholz 1 A famous periodic comet for its quite small q (0.12 AU), 96P/Machholz 1, will passes the perihelion on 15th in this month. But nobody could observe this comet yet till early October. The condition of this return is worst to see the comet in the Northern Hemishpere and can never observe it. It has been slightly observable in August and September in the Southern Hemisphere. The following table show the altitude and magnitude of the comet at one hour before sunrise in Sydney. Date Altitude Mag 8/25 19 deg 14.4 mag 9/4 15 deg 13.6 mag 9/14 11 deg 12.6 mag 9/24 8 deg 11.1 mag 10/4 4 deg 8.6 mag But there are only two reports of not seen on Aug. 24 (fainter than 12.5 mag) and Sept. 21 (fainter than 11 mag). Now the comet is about to pass the perihelion and too close to the sun to see. It will keep close to the sun after this and be too low in the evening sky and cannot be observable really. In Japan it comes to be observable late in next March but the magnitude will be fainter than 20 mag then. If any observation in the Southern Hemisphere has failed, this comet will go without observed.

C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ) Comet C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ), discovered on Aug. 19 by Mr. Tabur in Australia as 10 mag, is a naked-eye object now. This comet has been brightening more rapidly than expected, about 9 mag in early September, 7 -> 6 mag in mid-September and reached 5 mag in late September. This magnitude process is along the equation: m1 = 6.6 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r The equation says that the comet will be 4.5 mag in mid October. The comet closes to the Earth, about 0.42 AU from us, and moves fast on the celestial sphere. It was in Eridanus at discovery, moved through Orion and Gemini in September and now is near Pollux and Castor in early October. It will moves Lynx -> Ursa Major -> Bootes this month and enters in Corona Borealis in next month. It has been seen at dawn with good altitude but the condition will change quickly from this month to next month. The following table shows the details. Date Constellation Condition 9/29 Gemini Rise from the east at midnight. Overhead at dawn. Moon light. 10/4 Lynx Rise from the northeast at midnight. High in the east at dawn. Half moon. 10/9 Ursa Major Rise from north of the northeast at midnight. High in the northeast at dawn. 10/14 Big Dipper Rise from north of the northeast after 2:00. In the northeast at dawn. Slightly seen in the northwest after sunset. 10/19 Big Dipper Observable for one hour both after sunset and before sunrise. 10/24 between Big Dipper and Bootes One hour at dusk. Bad condition at dawn. 11/3 Bootes One hour at dusk. Bad condition at dawn. The altitude at dusk is same as that of Hale-Bopp. 11/13 Corona Borealis 15 deg high in the northwest at dusk, 10 deg in the northeast at dawn. Low. 11/23 Corona Borealis 15 deg high in the east at dawn, 10 deg in the west at dusk. Low. 12/3 between Corona Borealis and Serpens The condition at dawn begins to be good. Cannot observable at dusk. The following table shows the altitude one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset. Date Mag Dawn Dusk 10/4 4.8 65 deg - 10/14 4.4 37 deg 13 deg 10/24 4.6 19 deg 23 deg 11/3 5.1 12 deg 23 deg 11/13 5.7 12 deg 18 deg 11/23 6.5 16 deg 12 deg 12/3 7.4 21 deg 4 deg 12/13 8.2 27 deg - As mentioned above, it is observable both at dusk and at dawn for some days and which is better depends on the date. So be careful and remember the condition. The comet Tabur will close to some nebulae as follows. First it closes 2 deg or more to the galaxy M109 (9.8 mag, 8') at dawn on Oct. 15. Then it passes between M101 (7.6 mag, 27') and M51 (8.3 mag, 11'). By the way the comet moves in the Big Dipper from Oct. 10 to 25 and easy to find it. It is brightest in this period, about 4.5 mag, and the altitude is high enough so best to see the comet. This comet moves on a quite same orbit as that of C/1988 A1 ( Liller ) which appeared in 1988 and reached 5-6 mag. Therefore these two comets separated from each other at the previous perihelion (about 3,000 years ago) and came back again with 8 year interval. Mr. Shioi predicts a radiant point of a meteor shower from the comet. The R.P. is in Columba and maybe active from Oct. 24 to Nov. 10. Because the comet Tabur has probably broken up and is now returning, some meteors may happen to appear. Let's watch out meteors around Columba in late October.

C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) Comet Hale-Bopp, the probable greatest comet in this century, had kept brightening well along the equation: m1 = -2.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r from the discovery as 11 mag last summer to this summer. But the magnitude has been stable for a few months and makes us impatient. It was stable around 5-6 mag in August. Reversely it seemed to become fainter, 5.5-6.5 mag, in September. Therefore I modified the light curve equation as: m1 = -1.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r It shows that the comet will brighten around 5.5 -> 5.0 mag this month. But the photo images after this summer shows the deep dust tail in the Milky Way. And the observations near the nucleus shows some jet blowing in all directions. Actually some nuclear observers say the magnitude has been brightening even these days. Anyway we cannot clearly say how the brightness will change after this. Let's see the comet and confirm it. The comet is also in Ophiuchus and seen in the southwest after sunset this month. It is going lower and the altitude at one hour after sunset will be lower than 20 deg in late November. The comet will be too low to see after mid December. Then the magnitude will be around 3.5. This comet closes to a globular cluster M14 (7.5 mag, 12') from mid to late October. The highlight is Oct. 27 and the distance is about 20'. The altitude at the end of daylight is 30 deg and still high enough to see the fine view. After conjunction with the sun, it appears again in Aquila in the morning east sky in mid January. While the conjunction, it comes to be as bright as 2 mag. Then it starts to be a super comet. In February it moves through Aquila and Cygnus and brightens from 2 to 0 mag. The altitude at one hour before sunrise keeps 25 deg. In March it enters in Pegasus and begins to be lower. But the magnitude keeps brightening and reaches the highlight as -1.5 mag in late March when it is seen low in the northeast. March 9 is the day of a solar eclipse in Mongolia and Siberia and the comet is seen overhead just in the eclipse. It is expected to be brighter than 0 mag then. The "eclipse comet" is after an interval of 115 years. Let's look forward to a fine view. The comet begins to be seen also at dusk after mid March. The condition at dusk becomes better again after late March. The comet passes the perihelion on April 1 and then it is seen 25 deg high in the northwest about one hour after sunset in mid April. The magnitude is still around -1 mag. In May the altitude begins to be low in the evening sky. It becomes to be too low and too close to the sun in mid May, when the magnitude is about 0-1 mag. In autumn it appears just over the horizon in the southeast with magnitude 5 from September to October. But it leaves to the south in November and then will never seen again in the Northern Hemisphere.

C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) C/1996 J1 (Evans-Drinkwater) is a new comet discovered on May 16 with magnitude about 16. It had been observed until July with magnitude 13. Then it closes to the sun and is not observable now. The condition of this comet is worst. The perihelion is on Dec. 30 and will be 9-10 mag then but we cannot see the comet at all around the perihelion because of conjunction with the Sun. The next chance to see this is June 1997 when it appears at dawn in Triangulum but the magnitude is 13. After this it goes away from the Sun and comes fainter on and on.

C/1996 N1 ( Brewington ) On July 4 Mr. Howard Brewington in New Mexico discovered a new comet C/1996 N1 (Brewington) in the evening sky with magnitude 10. This comet passed the perihelion on this August 3. Now the magnitude is about 1 mag brighter than before perihelion. The decline is so high in August and September and we could observe it with good conditions in the evening sky. According to the reports, it was bright as 7.5-8.5 mag in August and 8.5 -> 10 mag in September. The comet will go far from both the Earth and Sun after this and go fainter and fainter. The magnitude in this month is 10.5 -> 12.5 and becomes unable to see with eyes. It moves from Draco to Cygnus in this month. It is still seen overhead in the evening sky and observable until midnight. The situation will continue until late January but the magnitude will be 17 mag then. It is near comet NEAT in early October. It passes through the region around Deneb (1.3 mag), North America Nebula, a open cluster M39 (4.5 mag, 32') in early November but the magnitude is already faint as 13 then.

126P/IRAS 126P/IRAS is a periodic comet discovered in 1983 by a satellite and this is the first return. It had not been recovered for a while because it was not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, but finally recovered on Aug. 8. The magnitude is 13, same as expected. It passes perihelion on 29 in this month. Now we in Japan begins to be able to see the comet. Some have already seen the comet in late September. The reported magnitudes in September are wholy 12 mag and a bit fainter than expected, but maybe the comet is brighter than them. It moves northwards, Grus -> Piscis Austrinus -> Capricornus. It moves northwards more in November and passes through Aquarius. The altitude in the south sky at dusk comes higher and higher. The magnitude is about 10.5-11. It is observable for a while after sunset. It closes to a globular cluster M30 (7.5, 11') on Oct. 22 and the distance is about 1 deg. It comes to be near 22P/Kopff (12.5 mag) in late October. The comet begins to go far from both the Earth and Sun and go fainter in November. It keeps moving northwards and observable until April when it becomes low in the west with magnitude 16.

22P/Kopff 22P/Kopff has already passed the perihelion on July 2. The condition of this return is best, almost opposition around the perihelion day, and reached 8 mag. Then it is going fainter gradually and 9.5-11.5 mag in September. The total light curve is along the equation: m1 = 5.3 + 5 log d + 21.0 log r and it shows the comet will go faint from 11 to 12.5 mag in this month. But the comet is so diffused these days and probably hard to see with eyes. It is in Capricornus and seen in the south at dusk now. It is observable until early in next March when it becomes low in the west as 17 mag.

116P/Wild 4 116P/Wild 4, which has been bright as 12 mag in this spring, is still at conjunction with the sun and not observable. It has already passed the perihelion on Aug. 31. This comet will appear again late in next March at dawn in Sagittarius as 14 mag. Then it is observable until it reaches 17 mag in summer. The total light curve from the recovery in February 1995 (20.5 mag) to the observations in spring and summer as around 12 mag is alogn the equation: m1 = 1.4 + 5 log d + 27.0 log r We can see how rapidly it came bright.

C/1996 R1 ( Hergenrother-Spahr ) A new comet discovered on Sept. 7 as 14 mag. The perihelion date is Aug. 28, so it was discovered under the best condition, around opposition just on perihelion day. It was seen overhead at midnight in September in the Northern Hemisphere and the magnitude was around 11.5-12.5. The comet is near M15 in Pegasus in early October and observable for a long time from dusk to dawn. But the condition gets worse quickly. It moves southwards rapidly, Pegasus -> Equuleus -> Aquarius, and becomes an evening object soon. It is already in the southwest at the end of daylight in late October. It moves to Capricornus in November. The comet has already passed the perihelion and is going far from both the Earth and Sun. Therefore it goes faint rapidly, 12 -> 13.5 mag in October, 13.5 -> 14.5 in November. In late December when it becomes too low in the west, the magnitude will be 15 mag.

C/1996 E1 ( NEAT ) Comet NEAT has been very strange since the discovery. The brightness of this comet has been indistinct for 4 months. The discoverer reported as 16 mag. All reports in March said 16-17 mag. But after that, some said it became brighter as 13.5 mag and some said it kept faint as 16-17 mag in April and May. The comet is located overhead at dusk, so the magnitude difference seems strange under the good condition. Then the comet came to be seen very low at dusk and few observatinos were reported. To be suprised, a rumor suddenly spread out that comet NEAT had made a great outburst and was 10 mag in late July. But some Japanese observers tried to take pictures of it but no images there, maybe it was because of the low altitude. Some said it was at least fainter than 13 mag and we could not make it clear if the burst really happened. But after late July when the burst report spread out, many observations come to be reported. The comet moves to good position again in September. And the reported magnitudes come to be stable because the comet is seen high enough to see at dusk. They say it is still not stable from 10.5 to 14 in July and August, but most observers say it is about 12 mag in September. The average of those scattered magnitudes changes along the equation: m1 = 7.4 + 5 log d + 23.0 log r The comet is still overhead at dusk and observable until midnight. But it moves southwards from Cygnus into Vulpecula and Aquila, and the condition goes worse. It has already passes the perihelion on July 27 and it goes far from both the Earth and Sun and goes faint rapidly after this. It is 13 -> 15 mag this month. It becomes low in the west in late December and the magnitude reaches about 19 mag then. It closes about 2 deg to Chi-Cyg, a Mira type variable star, on Oct. 15. It also passes about 30' from M27 (8.1 mag, 15') on 24th.

C/1996 B2 ( Hyakutake ) C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake), which became one of the greatest comets as 0 mag with 100 deg long tail in March and April, has been observed in the Southern Hemisphere after the perihelion day on May 1. After the reappearance as 3 mag in mid May, it was 4 mag on May 20, 5 mag on June 5, 6 mag on June 20, 7 mag on July 10, 8 mag in late July, 9.5 -> 11 mag in August and reached 12 mag in early September. The magnitude change in this period is not so simple. It can be expressed with these three equation depending on the three periods. m1 = 4.6 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r (1996/04/11 - 1996/06/05) m1 = 4.6 + 5 log d + 8.2 log r (1996/06/05 - 1996/07/30) m1 = 2.0 + 5 log d + 18.0 log r (1996/07/30 - ) They show that the farrer from the sun it goes, the more rapidly the magnitude goes faint. The comet is moves from Centaurus, Circinus into Triangulum Australe in October. It goes faint from 13 to 14 mag this month, so it is impossible to see it with eyes. And it becomes low both at dusk and at dawn even in the Southern Hemisphere in October and November, so it is hard to observe it. The condition at dawn becomes better in December but the comet will be fainter than 16 mag.

C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) A new comet C/1996 P2 (Russell-Watson) was discovered on August 10 as 13 mag in the southern constellation Sculptor. It has already passed the perihelion on Mar. 1 and will be fainter on and on after this. It was observed as 12-13 mag in August. Probably because it was in the southern sky and observable only for a moment in the Northern Hemisphere, only few observations are reported despite the brightness. It is at opposition still in Sculptor in October and November and seen in the southern sky at midnight, but the magnitude will be fainter as 13 -> 14. The comet is observable until it becomes low in the west late in next February. The it is about 16.5 mag.

65P/Gunn 65P/Gunn has already passed the perihelion on July 24. The condition of this return is good and it had been observed as 12 mag from May to July. It is going gradually faint after this and observed as 13.5 mag in September. It is in Sagittarius in October and November. It is already low in the west and only 15 deg high at the end of daylight. The magnitude is 13.5 -> 14 in this month. It becomes too low in next month. This season will finish soon. But the eccentricity is like a circle and it becomes observable again in Cetus at dawn in June 1997 with magnitude 15.

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 22P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 bursted out in February and reached about 11 mag. But after that it extremely diffused and had beed quite hard to observe. The diameter was about 4-5' in March and April. But it went small and faint then, 12 -> 13 mag in May and 13.5-14 mag in June. Then it set in the west and became at conjunction. It is still now at conjunction with the sun, but it will appear at dawn in November, just in the right of Venus.

32P/Comas Sola 32P/Comas Sola has already passed the perihelion on June 10 and is at conjunction and not observable now. Even the condition of this return is bad, it was observed brighter than expected, about 14.5 mag in spring. The comet will be appear again at dawn in November, just in the left of Venus. The magnitude is still bright as about 16 mag.

124P/Mrkos 124P/Mrkos is returning for the first time. It has been already recovered in October 1995 as 19.5 mag, but no observations are reported since it. The perihelion date is Nov. 9 but the condition of this return is so bad and it is now not observable because it is too close to the sun. The comet begins to go away from the sun next month, but it moves southwards and only seen just on the horizon at dawn in the Northern Hemisphere. This means we cannot see the comet. After this, it keeps moving southwards and will be never observable.

57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte A Periodic comet 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte had been already observed as 21 mag in May 1995. The condition of this return is bad and was not observable around the perihelion date on Mar. 5. But when it reaappeard at dawn in late July, it happened to be observed so bright as 13 mag. The expected magnitude from the pre-perihelion observation is about 18-19, so the comet bursted and brightened about 5-6 mag. The comet had been observed as 12-13 mag in July and August. Then CCDs could get the image as an impressive object with 4-8' dust tail. After this the activity became weak and now it is about 15 mag. The magnitude curve is expressed as follows: m1 = 12.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r ( - 1996/07/03) m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r (1996/07/03 - 1996/09/11) m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r (1996/09/11 - ) I assumed the date of outburst because it is uncertain. It is at opposition in Aries in October and November. Though the condition on its position is good, the activity is coming to and end and hard to see it. It goes faint as 15.5 -> 16 mag this month.

118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4 118PShoemaker-Levy 4, which is in its first return now, is coming bright for the perihelion on Jan. 12. It was observed as 22 -> 20 mag from last summer to autumn and brightened as 17 -> 16 mag in July and August. It is brighter than expected and it has been already a target for CCD users. The comet is in Orion as 16 -> 15.5 mag this month. The perihelion is in next January and it is just at opposition. So the condition of this return is best and brightens as 14.5 mag in this autumn and winter. Then it will be observable until setting in the west in June as 17-18 mag.

Faint Comets

81P/Wild 2, which will pass the perihelion on May 6, 1997, appeared again at dawn. It was about 20.5 mag in last January and brightened as 16.5 mag in September. It is still in Gemini and brightens 17 -> 16 mag this month. The comet will reach 12-13 mag in the evening sky from January to July in 1997, and be observable until August when it sets in the west as 15 mag.

A lost periodic comet D/1978 C2 (Tritton), which had not recovered in 1984 and 1990, is expected to begin to brighten now. It expected to pass the perihelion on Nov. 4 and reaches 16 mag in this autumn and winter. It moves from Gemini to Cancer this month. The positional condition will be good for a while. Will the comet happen to be recovered.

Comet 85P/Boethin, which will pass the perihelion on Apr. 17, 1997, has not been observed in this return yet. Though it has been 18-19 mag at opposition this summer, but it was not observed. So it may be much fainter. It is still in Sagittarius and low in the southwest in the evening. The expected magnitude is 17 -> 16.5. The condition of this return is quite worst. It should be 9.5 mag around the perihelion but too close to the sun to see it. After setting in November, it will appear again at dawn about one year later, October 1997. Then it is as faint as 17 mag.

46P/Wirtanen, which will pass the perihelion on Mar. 14, has been observed as 19 mag in July and August. This is a bit fainter than expected. So the comet may brighten as only 12 mag even around the perihelion day. It is in Microscopium and a bit low in the southwest at dusk. The magnitude will be 17 -> 16.5. It will keep same altitude, 25 deg high, at dusk from now through early next July.

119P/Parker-Hartley is in its first return now. It had been already observed in last autumn and winter as 16-17 mag. It passed the perihelion on June 24 and was too close to observe it then. Now the comet appears at dawn again. It is in Gemini as 16.5 mag. It will go away from the sun but the distance changes so slightly that it will be observable as 16-17 mag until the opposition in January. Then it faints to 18.5 mag at set in the west in May.

125P/Spacewatch is also in its first return. It was recovered in March with magnitude 17 and kept 16 mag in May and June. But it was observed about 1.5 mag brighter after the perihelion on July 14, 14.5 mag in July, 15 mag in August and 16 mag in September. It is in Ophiuchus in the southwest sky at dusk and faints 16.5 -> 17.5 mag this month. It sets in November as 18 mag.

A new periodic comet P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ), which was discovered on Sept. 10 as 17 mag, is the first comet by the Swedish. It is at opposition then but moves into the evening sky gradually. The perihelion date is Jan. 18 so the magnitude will change slightly for a while. It is in Aquarius as 17 mag. It will be observable until next February when it sets in the west as 18-19 mag.

A new Minor Planet 1996 PW was discovered on Aug. 9 as 18 mag. But the true character is a quite rare object. The orbital elements show that it moves on an orbit with 2.5AU perihelion distance and 3000 year period. That is a typical one of a long periodic comet. But the following observations say that it is quite stella as 17 mag and no sign as a comet has been detected. It has already passed the perihelion on Aug. 8 and it faints 17.5 -> 18 mag in Piscis Austrinus this month. It will be observable until early in next February when it becomes low as 19.5 mag. It was remarkable in comparison with the asteroid-like comet P/Elst-Pizarro which was also discovered in this summer.

Comet 107P/Wilson-Harrington, which is also registered as an asteroid (4015), will pass the perihelion on Dec. 6. It was observed as 19 mag in May but no following observations reported. It is in Ophiuchus in October and brightens as 18 -> 17.5 mag. The condition of this return is bad and reaches 17 mag at most. It is hard to observe it until November because the altitude is lower than 20 deg just after daylight. Then it moves higher and keeps high enough until next March. The magnitude of this period is about 17. Then the comet becomes low and faint rapidly and sets in the west in late May as 20 mag.

121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2 is now in its first return. It was recovered in November 1995 as 18 mag, which was 5 mag fainter than expected. It is at conjunction with the sun around the perihelion on Aug. 20 but it begins to appear again at dawn. It moves from Cancer to Leo this month. It keeps 17-18 mag until it becomes at opposition in next spring.

117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1, which is also in its first return, has been observed as 17 mag since recovered in May 1995. But it is at conjunction with the sun and not observable this month. The perihelion is Mar. 26, 1997 and the eccentricity is 0.18, almost a circle, so it can be observable as same magnitude for a long period. It becomes observable at dawn with 17 mag in next May.

A famous periodic comet 2P/Encke will begin to brighten gradually for the perihelion on May 23. It has been already observed as 19-20 mag from July to September. It is in Pisces as 18 mag now. The condition of this return is worst for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be observable until mid February before perihelion , when it is 16 mag, and after perihelion, it reappears in August in Scorpius in the evening southern sky, when the comet is already 12.5 mag. Then it is observable until late November as 19 mag. On the other hand, the condition in the Southern Hemisphere is good. It appears as 7 mag in late June and goes faint 7 -> 10 mag in the high altitude at dusk in July.

94P/Russell 4 will passes the perihelion on Feb. 3. It has been already observed as 19.5-21 mag from autumn to winter in 1995. Now it is in Leo at dawn but the magnitude is about 18. The condition is good and reaches 16 mag almost at opposition in next March. Then it is observable until the end of summer when it becomes low in the west as 19 mag.

A new periodic comet P/1996 N2 ( Elst-Pizarro ), discovered on July 14 as 18 mag, is a remarkable object. The orbital elements show that it moves on a typical asteroid orbit. But because an evident tail was observed, it is clearly a comet. It has already passed the perihelion on Apr. 18. But the eccentricity is 0.17 and the magnitude will change slightly. It was 17-19 mag from July to September. It is still 18 mag in Capricornus this month. It can be observed until late in next January when it becomes low in the west as 19-20 mag. It was remarkable in comparison with the comet-like asteroid 1996 PW which was also discovered in this summer.

74P/Smirnova-Chernykh is now arond the ahelion. It was about 18 mag this summer and still it is, in Aquarius.

91P/Russell 3 will passes the perihelion on Nov. 19, 1997. It has not been observed yet at this return. It is now about 18 mag and about to be seen low at dawn, so it will take more time to be observed. It will be observable as 16 mag from this winter through next summer.

P/1991 C1 ( Shoemaker-Levy 3 ) will passes the perihelion in March 1998. But the orbit is like a circle, the eccentricity is 0.25, and it already has a possibility to be recovered. Now it is at opposition between Aries and Pisces. The magnitude is expected as 18.5 mag, but maybe much fainter because it has not been observed yet.

P/1990 R1 (Mueller 2), which will pass the perihelion on Nov. 22, 1997, is also waiting for being recovered. It is now between Scutum and Sagittarius and seen in the evening southern sky as 18 mag. But it has not been recovered at opposition in this early summer so maybe it is actually much fainter. It becomes too low in December. Then it will appears again at dawn as 17.5-18 mag in next May.

C/1995 Y1 (Hyakutake) was discovered at dawn on December 26 and brightened as 8 mag in February and March. Then it suddenly darken as 11 -> 15 mag in April. But the positional condition has been good and some people have observed it after that. But it was already 18-19 mag in September and is now after opposition. So it goes faint rapidly as 19 -> 20.5 mag in Pegasus this month.

7P/Pons-Winnecke is now in its 21th return. But it has been close to the sun and unable to see at all. It finally came away from the sun but was observed as faint as 19 mag in July. It moves from Eridanus into Cetus in this month. It is at opposition but so faint as 19 -> 20 mag.

111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett will passes the perihelion on 31th in this month. But the eccentricity is 0.14, like a circle, so the magnitude will change slightly. It has been observed as 21 mag in autumn in 1995 and September 1996. This is a so faint one. It is in Gemini now and as faint as 21 mag.

Positions Table

96P/Machholz 1 m1 = 13.0 + 5 log d + 12.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 12 25.66 -44 52.3 0.735 0.923 44 11.2 1996-10- 4 12 28.87 -31 15.2 0.454 0.888 27 8.6 1996-10-14 12 47.65 -7 25.1 0.135 0.950 7 2.5 1996-10-24 14 34.63 -2 5.1 0.387 1.272 13 8.6 1996-11- 3 15 36.24 -6 2.3 0.679 1.552 17 11.9 1996-11-13 16 17.30 -9 0.6 0.928 1.820 17 13.9 1996-11-23 16 48.19 -11 5.7 1.152 2.071 15 15.3 1996-12- 3 17 13.10 -12 33.6 1.358 2.303 12 16.4

C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ) m1 = 6.6 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 6 18.19 18 27.8 1.119 0.552 86 6.0 1996-10- 4 7 54.95 41 42.6 1.011 0.423 79 4.8 1996-10-14 11 38.31 55 49.5 0.923 0.459 67 4.4 1996-10-24 14 11.18 47 17.9 0.863 0.630 59 4.6 1996-11- 3 15 6.22 38 2.9 0.840 0.846 53 5.1 1996-11-13 15 31.30 31 10.6 0.859 1.062 49 5.7 1996-11-23 15 45.81 25 51.8 0.915 1.255 46 6.5 1996-12- 3 15 55.83 21 36.1 1.001 1.417 44 7.4

C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) m1 = -1.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 17 30.18 -5 13.5 2.977 2.958 81 5.6 1996-10- 4 17 30.05 -4 45.3 2.859 3.004 72 5.5 1996-10-14 17 31.95 -4 16.2 2.740 3.039 63 5.3 1996-10-24 17 35.70 -3 44.1 2.619 3.057 55 5.1 1996-11- 3 17 41.13 -3 6.8 2.497 3.056 47 4.9 1996-11-13 17 48.09 -2 21.9 2.374 3.032 40 4.7 1996-11-23 17 56.47 -1 26.8 2.250 2.985 35 4.4 1996-12- 3 18 6.22 -0 18.6 2.124 2.913 30 4.1

C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 13 33.56 -23 31.5 1.917 2.699 31 11.5 1996-10- 4 13 59.21 -24 33.6 1.819 2.645 27 11.2 1996-10-14 14 27.21 -25 30.6 1.725 2.588 23 10.9 1996-10-24 14 57.67 -26 17.1 1.635 2.528 20 10.6 1996-11- 3 15 30.58 -26 46.7 1.552 2.468 17 10.4 1996-11-13 16 5.84 -26 52.3 1.478 2.412 14 10.1 1996-11-23 16 43.09 -26 27.2 1.413 2.361 12 9.9 1996-12- 3 17 21.79 -25 25.6 1.361 2.319 10 9.7

C/1996 N1 ( Brewington ) m1 = 8.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 16 48.96 57 33.1 1.286 0.989 80 10.1 1996-10- 4 17 59.87 58 4.0 1.403 1.012 88 10.7 1996-10-14 19 11.52 56 16.3 1.524 1.054 95 11.4 1996-10-24 20 14.90 52 33.3 1.649 1.120 102 12.0 1996-11- 3 21 6.49 47 47.9 1.775 1.216 106 12.7 1996-11-13 21 47.57 42 51.9 1.901 1.344 108 13.3 1996-11-23 22 20.79 38 20.6 2.027 1.502 107 14.0 1996-12- 3 22 48.41 34 30.1 2.153 1.686 104 14.6

126P/IRAS m1 = 6.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 22 2.78 -46 2.0 1.748 0.956 126 10.8 1996-10- 4 21 46.50 -37 57.6 1.726 0.979 121 10.7 1996-10-14 21 38.59 -29 43.3 1.712 1.030 115 10.7 1996-10-24 21 36.97 -21 55.0 1.704 1.106 108 10.8 1996-11- 3 21 39.87 -14 50.2 1.703 1.202 101 11.0 1996-11-13 21 46.10 -8 31.6 1.710 1.312 94 11.2 1996-11-23 21 54.84 -2 54.5 1.723 1.432 88 11.5 1996-12- 3 22 5.50 2 8.2 1.743 1.559 83 11.8

22P/Kopff m1 = 5.3 + 5 log d + 21.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 20 22.77 -23 35.1 1.784 1.046 121 10.7 1996-10- 4 20 38.98 -22 50.4 1.830 1.166 115 11.1 1996-10-14 20 55.97 -21 51.5 1.879 1.297 109 11.6 1996-10-24 21 13.44 -20 40.2 1.930 1.437 103 12.1 1996-11- 3 21 31.13 -19 18.7 1.983 1.585 97 12.5 1996-11-13 21 48.88 -17 48.7 2.038 1.740 92 13.0 1996-11-23 22 6.59 -16 11.9 2.095 1.901 86 13.4 1996-12- 3 22 24.15 -14 29.7 2.153 2.067 81 13.9

116P/Wild 4 m1 = 1.4 + 5 log d + 27.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 12 57.32 -6 9.3 1.998 2.954 14 11.9 1996-10- 4 13 19.50 -8 36.5 2.006 2.982 10 11.9 1996-10-14 13 41.93 -10 58.6 2.018 3.005 6 12.0 1996-10-24 14 4.60 -13 13.8 2.032 3.025 2 12.1 1996-11- 3 14 27.48 -15 20.7 2.049 3.041 1 12.2 1996-11-13 14 50.56 -17 17.9 2.069 3.052 5 12.3 1996-11-23 15 13.77 -19 4.1 2.091 3.057 9 12.5 1996-12- 3 15 37.04 -20 38.3 2.116 3.056 14 12.6

C/1996 R1 ( Hergenrother-Spahr ) m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 22 9.68 19 36.8 1.929 1.014 145 11.9 1996-10- 4 21 26.02 6 50.5 1.953 1.141 131 12.2 1996-10-14 20 58.50 -2 50.4 1.985 1.352 114 12.6 1996-10-24 20 42.24 -9 31.2 2.024 1.608 99 13.1 1996-11- 3 20 33.37 -14 6.1 2.070 1.883 86 13.5 1996-11-13 20 29.42 -17 19.4 2.121 2.159 74 13.9 1996-11-23 20 28.80 -19 40.0 2.177 2.427 63 14.3 1996-12- 3 20 30.47 -21 25.9 2.238 2.678 53 14.6

C/1996 E1 ( NEAT ) m1 = 7.4 + 5 log d + 23.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 18 44.76 63 37.3 1.604 1.169 94 12.5 1996-10- 4 19 19.22 48 19.1 1.683 1.196 99 13.0 1996-10-14 19 40.60 34 13.5 1.768 1.307 99 13.7 1996-10-24 19 57.04 22 49.7 1.859 1.486 94 14.5 1996-11- 3 20 11.16 14 13.7 1.953 1.711 88 15.3 1996-11-13 20 24.06 7 53.7 2.050 1.962 80 16.0 1996-11-23 20 36.26 3 14.6 2.150 2.226 72 16.8 1996-12- 3 20 47.97 -0 11.8 2.251 2.492 64 17.5

C/1996 B2 ( Hyakutake ) m1 = 2.0 + 5 log d + 18.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 13 54.19 -65 18.2 2.833 3.057 67 12.6 1996-10- 4 14 19.45 -64 50.0 2.970 3.288 62 13.1 1996-10-14 14 42.65 -64 33.6 3.104 3.509 58 13.6 1996-10-24 15 4.36 -64 27.7 3.236 3.718 54 14.0 1996-11- 3 15 24.93 -64 30.8 3.365 3.913 50 14.4 1996-11-13 15 44.62 -64 42.0 3.492 4.091 46 14.8 1996-11-23 16 3.54 -65 0.5 3.617 4.252 44 15.2 1996-12- 3 16 21.75 -65 25.6 3.739 4.394 43 15.5

C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) m1 = 6.3 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 1 26.99 -35 42.8 3.122 2.295 139 13.1 1996-10- 4 1 19.56 -36 3.8 3.205 2.386 138 13.3 1996-10-14 1 12.16 -35 56.2 3.288 2.498 135 13.5 1996-10-24 1 5.58 -35 21.6 3.373 2.631 131 13.7 1996-11- 3 1 0.40 -34 23.7 3.457 2.783 125 14.0 1996-11-13 0 56.94 -33 7.2 3.542 2.951 119 14.2 1996-11-23 0 55.33 -31 36.7 3.627 3.134 112 14.4 1996-12- 3 0 55.51 -29 56.8 3.713 3.329 105 14.7

65P/Gunn m1 = 7.7 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 17 11.96 -28 53.0 2.491 2.494 78 13.6 1996-10- 4 17 28.59 -29 16.3 2.501 2.620 72 13.8 1996-10-14 17 46.33 -29 32.4 2.512 2.744 66 13.9 1996-10-24 18 4.97 -29 40.5 2.525 2.864 60 14.0 1996-11- 3 18 24.29 -29 39.7 2.539 2.980 54 14.1 1996-11-13 18 44.13 -29 29.4 2.554 3.092 49 14.2 1996-11-23 19 4.30 -29 9.5 2.571 3.196 43 14.3 1996-12- 3 19 24.62 -28 40.0 2.589 3.294 37 14.4

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 m1 = 4.0 + 5 log d + 7.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 11 23.97 -1 35.0 6.306 7.290 10 14.3 1996-10- 4 11 30.57 -2 23.7 6.306 7.252 17 14.3 1996-10-14 11 36.98 -3 12.5 6.307 7.192 25 14.3 1996-10-24 11 43.13 -4 0.7 6.307 7.112 33 14.3 1996-11- 3 11 48.93 -4 47.9 6.308 7.012 41 14.2 1996-11-13 11 54.29 -5 33.5 6.308 6.895 50 14.2 1996-11-23 11 59.12 -6 16.8 6.309 6.762 58 14.1 1996-12- 3 12 3.32 -6 57.1 6.309 6.616 67 14.1

32P/Comas Sola m1 = 5.5 + 5 log d + 22.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 11 11.96 14 52.0 2.093 3.006 20 15.1 1996-10- 4 11 32.96 12 47.2 2.137 3.011 24 15.3 1996-10-14 11 53.02 10 45.3 2.183 3.009 28 15.5 1996-10-24 12 12.13 8 48.0 2.231 3.000 32 15.7 1996-11- 3 12 30.32 6 56.7 2.281 2.983 37 15.9 1996-11-13 12 47.57 5 12.8 2.332 2.957 42 16.1 1996-11-23 13 3.83 3 37.4 2.385 2.922 48 16.3 1996-12- 3 13 19.06 2 11.5 2.438 2.877 54 16.5

124P/Mrkos m1 = 12.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 11 20.38 15 0.1 1.496 2.409 18 15.7 1996-10- 4 11 45.49 10 12.9 1.465 2.363 20 15.5 1996-10-14 12 10.30 5 15.1 1.440 2.321 21 15.4 1996-10-24 12 34.99 0 9.8 1.423 2.283 23 15.3 1996-11- 3 12 59.82 -4 59.4 1.414 2.247 25 15.3 1996-11-13 13 25.02 -10 9.0 1.414 2.215 27 15.2 1996-11-23 13 50.82 -15 14.8 1.421 2.186 30 15.2 1996-12- 3 14 17.45 -20 12.7 1.436 2.161 32 15.2

57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 2 47.60 14 41.4 2.445 1.611 137 15.3 1996-10- 4 2 41.79 13 59.8 2.498 1.589 148 15.5 1996-10-14 2 33.87 13 8.8 2.552 1.589 160 15.6 1996-10-24 2 24.84 12 13.3 2.605 1.616 172 15.9 1996-11- 3 2 15.81 11 19.0 2.659 1.670 174 16.1 1996-11-13 2 7.82 10 31.8 2.712 1.753 162 16.4 1996-11-23 2 1.66 9 56.3 2.765 1.862 150 16.7 1996-12- 3 1 57.77 9 34.7 2.818 1.995 139 17.0

118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4 m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 5 12.25 12 25.4 2.192 1.738 102 16.3 1996-10- 4 5 23.73 11 49.5 2.164 1.611 109 16.1 1996-10-14 5 33.12 11 6.6 2.139 1.492 117 15.8 1996-10-24 5 40.00 10 19.3 2.115 1.382 124 15.6 1996-11- 3 5 44.03 9 31.4 2.094 1.285 133 15.4 1996-11-13 5 44.96 8 47.7 2.075 1.202 142 15.2 1996-11-23 5 42.81 8 13.7 2.059 1.137 151 15.0 1996-12- 3 5 38.06 7 55.2 2.045 1.092 159 14.9

81P/Wild 2 m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 7 3.31 20 3.5 2.569 2.612 76 17.2 1996-10- 4 7 17.53 19 36.4 2.510 2.429 82 16.9 1996-10-14 7 31.03 19 6.0 2.450 2.247 89 16.6 1996-10-24 7 43.59 18 33.5 2.391 2.066 96 16.3 1996-11- 3 7 54.99 18 0.7 2.331 1.889 103 15.9 1996-11-13 8 4.93 17 29.7 2.272 1.718 111 15.5 1996-11-23 8 13.05 17 3.2 2.213 1.556 119 15.1 1996-12- 3 8 18.99 16 44.1 2.155 1.404 127 14.7

D/1978 C2 ( Tritton ) m1 = 13.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 6 51.26 30 3.6 1.504 1.305 80 17.1 1996-10- 4 7 26.43 28 54.6 1.476 1.229 82 16.8 1996-10-14 8 0.42 27 11.7 1.455 1.162 84 16.6 1996-10-24 8 32.49 24 59.5 1.442 1.102 86 16.4 1996-11- 3 9 2.08 22 24.3 1.436 1.049 89 16.3 1996-11-13 9 28.72 19 34.0 1.440 1.001 92 16.2 1996-11-23 9 52.02 16 36.6 1.451 0.957 96 16.1 1996-12- 3 10 11.69 13 39.6 1.471 0.917 101 16.2

85P/Boethin m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 17 44.64 -28 27.8 2.727 2.618 85 17.3 1996-10- 4 17 52.69 -28 13.4 2.639 2.671 77 17.1 1996-10-14 18 3.02 -27 58.3 2.549 2.716 69 16.8 1996-10-24 18 15.46 -27 40.9 2.459 2.752 62 16.5 1996-11- 3 18 29.84 -27 19.4 2.367 2.778 55 16.2 1996-11-13 18 46.04 -26 52.0 2.276 2.791 49 15.9 1996-11-23 19 3.94 -26 16.4 2.183 2.792 43 15.5 1996-12- 3 19 23.42 -25 30.6 2.090 2.781 37 15.1

46P/Wirtanen m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 20 59.83 -33 53.6 2.240 1.511 124 17.2 1996-10- 4 20 55.00 -33 33.2 2.159 1.541 114 17.0 1996-10-14 20 54.24 -32 52.0 2.077 1.578 105 16.8 1996-10-24 20 57.52 -31 53.4 1.993 1.616 96 16.5 1996-11- 3 21 4.53 -30 39.7 1.909 1.653 88 16.3 1996-11-13 21 14.92 -29 11.6 1.824 1.685 81 16.0 1996-11-23 21 28.30 -27 28.6 1.739 1.710 74 15.8 1996-12- 3 21 44.30 -25 29.7 1.654 1.727 69 15.5

119P/Parker-Hartley m1 = 2.0 + 5 log d + 25.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 6 55.33 21 3.7 3.083 3.125 78 16.7 1996-10- 4 7 4.95 20 34.1 3.092 2.998 85 16.6 1996-10-14 7 12.95 20 3.8 3.101 2.870 93 16.6 1996-10-24 7 19.12 19 34.2 3.112 2.744 102 16.5 1996-11- 3 7 23.25 19 6.6 3.123 2.624 111 16.5 1996-11-13 7 25.16 18 42.1 3.135 2.511 120 16.4 1996-11-23 7 24.76 18 21.8 3.147 2.412 130 16.4 1996-12- 3 7 22.08 18 6.3 3.161 2.330 141 16.3

125P/Spacewatch m1 = 10.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 16 36.58 -14 41.8 1.689 1.774 68 16.3 1996-10- 4 17 4.71 -16 19.5 1.730 1.881 65 16.6 1996-10-14 17 32.70 -17 34.9 1.774 1.996 62 17.0 1996-10-24 18 0.37 -18 28.0 1.821 2.115 59 17.3 1996-11- 3 18 27.54 -18 59.6 1.871 2.240 55 17.7 1996-11-13 18 54.08 -19 11.1 1.922 2.367 51 18.0 1996-11-23 19 19.88 -19 4.2 1.975 2.496 47 18.4 1996-12- 3 19 44.85 -18 41.0 2.030 2.625 43 18.7

P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) m1 = 11.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 22 27.60 -13 13.1 2.706 1.777 152 17.1 1996-10- 4 22 23.67 -13 21.6 2.692 1.835 141 17.1 1996-10-14 22 21.94 -13 16.2 2.679 1.913 131 17.2 1996-10-24 22 22.64 -12 56.5 2.668 2.006 121 17.3 1996-11- 3 22 25.72 -12 23.4 2.657 2.112 112 17.4 1996-11-13 22 31.04 -11 37.9 2.648 2.226 104 17.5 1996-11-23 22 38.35 -10 41.1 2.640 2.346 96 17.6 1996-12- 3 22 47.39 -9 34.2 2.634 2.469 88 17.7

Minor Planet 1996 PW m1 = 14.0 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 22 18.50 -24 49.6 2.580 1.701 143 17.2 1996-10- 4 22 20.96 -26 21.6 2.603 1.804 134 17.4 1996-10-14 22 25.30 -27 21.2 2.630 1.925 125 17.5 1996-10-24 22 31.56 -27 51.0 2.661 2.061 116 17.7 1996-11- 3 22 39.56 -27 55.1 2.696 2.207 108 17.9 1996-11-13 22 49.09 -27 37.4 2.735 2.362 101 18.1 1996-11-23 22 59.93 -27 1.5 2.777 2.524 94 18.2 1996-12- 3 23 11.79 -26 11.0 2.822 2.689 87 18.4

107P/Wilson-Harrington m1 = 16.5 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 16 21.18 -20 40.6 1.375 1.439 65 18.0 1996-10- 4 16 46.27 -21 17.2 1.296 1.423 61 17.8 1996-10-14 17 14.76 -21 42.8 1.222 1.397 58 17.7 1996-10-24 17 46.74 -21 50.3 1.154 1.363 56 17.5 1996-11- 3 18 22.16 -21 32.0 1.095 1.322 54 17.3 1996-11-13 19 0.92 -20 39.6 1.049 1.276 53 17.1 1996-11-23 19 42.69 -19 5.8 1.016 1.230 53 17.0 1996-12- 3 20 26.92 -16 45.1 1.001 1.189 53 16.9

121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2 m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 8 58.74 21 7.5 2.673 3.200 50 17.9 1996-10- 4 9 15.40 20 45.9 2.678 3.101 56 17.9 1996-10-14 9 31.35 20 26.2 2.685 2.996 62 17.8 1996-10-24 9 46.45 20 10.6 2.694 2.885 68 17.8 1996-11- 3 10 0.57 20 1.3 2.703 2.770 75 17.7 1996-11-13 10 13.57 20 0.6 2.714 2.653 82 17.6 1996-11-23 10 25.23 20 11.1 2.726 2.535 90 17.6 1996-12- 3 10 35.37 20 35.0 2.739 2.418 98 17.5

117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 m1 = 6.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 16 20.87 -22 44.7 3.777 4.072 65 17.7 1996-10- 4 16 30.98 -23 18.1 3.771 4.195 58 17.8 1996-10-14 16 42.04 -23 50.2 3.764 4.307 51 17.8 1996-10-24 16 53.92 -24 20.5 3.759 4.409 44 17.8 1996-11- 3 17 6.52 -24 48.1 3.753 4.497 37 17.9 1996-11-13 17 19.73 -25 12.5 3.748 4.572 30 17.9 1996-11-23 17 33.45 -25 33.1 3.743 4.632 23 17.9 1996-12- 3 17 47.55 -25 49.5 3.739 4.675 16 17.9

2P/Encke m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 12.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 23 48.40 7 18.4 3.039 2.042 172 18.3 1996-10- 4 23 34.59 6 3.3 2.973 2.001 163 18.2 1996-10-14 23 21.43 4 43.8 2.905 1.992 150 18.1 1996-10-24 23 9.97 3 27.4 2.834 2.013 138 17.9 1996-11- 3 23 0.96 2 20.7 2.760 2.058 126 17.9 1996-11-13 22 54.80 1 28.2 2.684 2.119 114 17.8 1996-11-23 22 51.61 0 52.2 2.604 2.191 103 17.7 1996-12- 3 22 51.25 0 33.5 2.520 2.265 93 17.6

94P/Russell 4 m1 = 10.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 9 24.28 19 11.2 2.406 3.025 43 18.6 1996-10- 4 9 43.38 17 56.5 2.382 2.914 49 18.5 1996-10-14 10 2.11 16 38.4 2.359 2.798 54 18.3 1996-10-24 10 20.39 15 18.3 2.338 2.677 59 18.2 1996-11- 3 10 38.15 13 58.0 2.319 2.554 65 18.0 1996-11-13 10 55.29 12 39.1 2.301 2.428 70 17.9 1996-11-23 11 11.69 11 23.6 2.285 2.301 76 17.7 1996-12- 3 11 27.22 10 13.4 2.271 2.174 82 17.5

P/1996 N2 ( Elst-Pizarro ) m1 = 13.5 + 5 log d + 7.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 21 19.75 -15 18.4 2.714 1.898 136 18.1 1996-10- 4 21 19.66 -15 24.5 2.724 2.009 126 18.3 1996-10-14 21 21.96 -15 18.9 2.735 2.133 117 18.4 1996-10-24 21 26.52 -15 2.0 2.747 2.267 108 18.6 1996-11- 3 21 33.05 -14 34.6 2.759 2.408 99 18.7 1996-11-13 21 41.29 -13 57.4 2.771 2.554 92 18.9 1996-11-23 21 50.97 -13 11.0 2.784 2.701 84 19.0 1996-12- 3 22 1.82 -12 16.2 2.797 2.848 77 19.1

74P/Smirnova-Chernykh m1 = 8.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 22 45.84 -16 40.6 4.803 3.881 154 18.3 1996-10- 4 22 41.38 -16 56.8 4.804 3.963 143 18.3 1996-10-14 22 37.96 -17 4.0 4.805 4.067 133 18.4 1996-10-24 22 35.80 -17 1.9 4.806 4.192 122 18.4 1996-11- 3 22 35.00 -16 51.1 4.806 4.331 112 18.5 1996-11-13 22 35.58 -16 32.0 4.806 4.482 103 18.6 1996-11-23 22 37.48 -16 5.4 4.806 4.638 93 18.6 1996-12- 3 22 40.62 -15 32.4 4.806 4.796 84 18.7

91P/Russell 3 m1 = 7.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 10 9.88 -0 30.5 3.474 4.320 28 18.8 1996-10- 4 10 21.67 -1 54.4 3.442 4.215 34 18.7 1996-10-14 10 33.20 -3 21.4 3.409 4.097 41 18.6 1996-10-24 10 44.40 -4 50.9 3.377 3.967 47 18.4 1996-11- 3 10 55.18 -6 22.2 3.345 3.826 54 18.3 1996-11-13 11 5.44 -7 54.4 3.313 3.675 61 18.1 1996-11-23 11 15.05 -9 26.9 3.281 3.517 68 18.0 1996-12- 3 11 23.87 -10 58.5 3.249 3.353 75 17.8

P/1991 C1 ( Shoemaker-Levy 3 ) m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 1 52.63 18 32.2 3.681 2.792 147 18.9 1996-10- 4 1 46.97 18 13.4 3.658 2.708 158 18.8 1996-10-14 1 40.29 17 44.4 3.636 2.652 168 18.7 1996-10-24 1 33.17 17 7.3 3.613 2.625 172 18.7 1996-11- 3 1 26.30 16 25.5 3.590 2.628 163 18.6 1996-11-13 1 20.30 15 43.0 3.568 2.659 152 18.6 1996-11-23 1 15.70 15 4.1 3.545 2.717 141 18.7 1996-12- 3 1 12.87 14 32.4 3.522 2.797 130 18.7

P/1990 R1 ( Mueller 2 ) m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 18 31.74 -15 22.4 3.428 3.169 96 18.9 1996-10- 4 18 37.22 -15 36.4 3.396 3.281 87 18.9 1996-10-14 18 44.36 -15 46.7 3.363 3.392 79 18.9 1996-10-24 18 53.00 -15 52.6 3.330 3.500 72 18.9 1996-11- 3 19 2.95 -15 53.3 3.298 3.600 64 19.0 1996-11-13 19 14.06 -15 47.9 3.265 3.693 57 19.0 1996-11-23 19 26.16 -15 36.1 3.232 3.775 50 19.0 1996-12- 3 19 39.10 -15 17.4 3.199 3.846 43 19.0

C/1995 Y1 ( Hyakutake ) m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 14.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 23 18.39 25 37.1 3.196 2.272 152 19.1 1996-10- 4 23 10.84 22 29.2 3.307 2.392 151 19.4 1996-10-14 23 5.44 19 29.4 3.416 2.543 146 19.8 1996-10-24 23 2.23 16 46.0 3.525 2.724 137 20.1 1996-11- 3 23 1.11 14 23.8 3.633 2.930 128 20.5 1996-11-13 23 1.84 12 24.5 3.740 3.157 119 20.8 1996-11-23 23 4.19 10 48.0 3.847 3.400 109 21.1 1996-12- 3 23 7.89 9 32.6 3.952 3.654 100 21.5

7P/Pons-Winnecke m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 2 59.58 -13 32.8 2.924 2.133 134 19.6 1996-10- 4 2 51.64 -14 34.5 2.991 2.135 142 19.8 1996-10-14 2 42.04 -15 21.3 3.057 2.162 148 20.0 1996-10-24 2 31.63 -15 47.7 3.121 2.214 150 20.1 1996-11- 3 2 21.35 -15 50.9 3.185 2.294 148 20.4 1996-11-13 2 12.02 -15 30.9 3.248 2.401 143 20.6 1996-11-23 2 4.32 -14 50.0 3.309 2.532 135 20.8 1996-12- 3 1 58.61 -13 52.1 3.370 2.685 126 21.1

111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett m1 = 7.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 1996- 9-24 7 33.73 21 58.6 3.492 3.712 69 20.7 1996-10- 4 7 43.23 21 44.1 3.491 3.573 77 20.6 1996-10-14 7 51.49 21 31.4 3.490 3.429 85 20.5 1996-10-24 7 58.32 21 21.9 3.490 3.284 93 20.4 1996-11- 3 8 3.53 21 17.0 3.490 3.141 102 20.3 1996-11-13 8 6.94 21 17.7 3.490 3.002 111 20.2 1996-11-23 8 8.36 21 24.9 3.490 2.873 121 20.1 1996-12- 3 8 7.71 21 39.0 3.491 2.757 131 20.1

Finding Charts (PostScript)

96P/Machholz 1 C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) 116P/Wild 4 93KB C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ) (Sept. 24 - Oct. 9) 93KB C/1996 Q1 ( Tabur ) (Oct. 9 - Dec. 3) 69KB C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) 50KB C/1996 N1 ( Brewington ) C/1996 E1 ( NEAT ) 80KB 126P/IRAS 86KB 22P/Kopff 46P/Wirtanen P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) Minor Planet 1996 PW P/1996 N2 ( Elst-Pizarro ) 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh 70KB C/1996 R1 ( Hergenrother-Spahr ) 2P/Encke C/1995 Y1 ( Hyakutake ) 91KB C/1996 B2 ( Hyakutake ) 88KB C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) 7P/Pons-Winnecke 59KB 65P/Gunn 85P/Boethin 125P/Spacewatch 107P/Wilson-Harrington 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 P/1990 R1 ( Mueller 2 ) 100KB 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 32P/Comas Sola 124P/Mrkos 91P/Russell 3 70KB 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte P/1991 C1 ( Shoemaker-Levy 3 ) 43KB 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4 62KB 81P/Wild 2 119P/Parker-Hartley 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett 60KB D/1978 C2 ( Tritton ) 121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2 94P/Russell 4 80KB