Monthly Information about Comets in November, 1997

Japanese version Home page	Updated on October 30, 1997
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Comets Ranking Bright Comets Faint Comets Ephemeris Table

Comets Ranking

Here is the ranking of comets in November, 1997. C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) was observed as 5-6 mag from September to October. But the comet becomes impossible to observe this month. We in Japan or in high latitude of the Northern Hemisphere can never see it again. C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) discovered by a Japanese amateur S. Utsunomiya is about 10 mag. 103P/Hartley 2, C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ), C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) are also bright as 11 mag enough to observe visually. Although 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has been too close to the Sun for a while, it should have brightened to 17 mag. It comes to appear at dawn this month, and brightens rapidly after this. P/1983 J3 ( Kowal-Vavrova ) appears at dawn. It should brighten rapidly and is a good target to recover. 133P/Elst-Pizarro was also registered as a minor planet (7968) at the same time to be numbered 133P as a periodic comet. No. 1 C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) 5.5 -> 6 mag No. 2 103P/Hartley 2 11 -> 9.5 mag No. 3 C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) 10 -> 10.5 mag No. 4 C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) 11.5 -> 11 mag No. 5 C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) 11.5 mag No. 6 43P/Wolf-Harrington 12.5 mag No. 7 78P/Gehrels 2 12.5 -> 13 mag No. 8 104P/Kowal 2 14 -> 13.5 mag No. 9 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 14 mag No. 10 C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) 14.5 mag Other faint comets are as follows. 55P/Tempel-Tuttle 17.5 -> 15 mag 65P/Gunn 15.5 mag C/1997 O1 ( Tilbrook ) 15 -> 16.5 mag 48P/Johnson 16 mag C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) 16.5 -> 17 mag 116P/Wild 4 16.5 -> 17 mag 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1 16.5 mag 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 16.5 -> 17 mag 62P/Tsuchinshan 1 18 -> 17 mag 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 17.5 -> 17 mag 85P/Boethin 17.5 -> 18 mag C/1997 A1 ( NEAT ) 17.5 mag 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 17.5 -> 18 mag D/1978 R1 ( Haneda-Campos ) 17.5 -> 19.5 mag 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup 17.5 -> 19 mag 88P/Howell 18.5 -> 17.5 mag 1997 CU26 18 mag 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh 18 mag C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch ) 18 mag 49P/Arend-Rigaux 18 mag 1997 MD10 18 mag 131P/Mueller 2 18 -> 18.5 mag P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) 18 mag 69P/Taylor 19.5 -> 18.5 mag P/1997 T3 19 mag P/1983 J3 ( Kowal-Vavrova ) 19.5 -> 19 mag 59P/Kearns-Kwee 19 mag C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) 19 -> 19.5 mag C/1997 P2 ( Spacewatch ) 19 -> 19.5 mag 133P/Elst-Pizarro 19.5 mag P/1997 G1 ( Montani ) 19.5 mag P/1997 C1 ( Gehrels ) 20.5 mag P/1992 G2 ( Shoemaker-Levy 8 ) 21 -> 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

Bright Comets

C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) [Finding Chart] Although Comet Hale-Bopp has been under horizon since mid May for northern observers, it has been observed in the Southern Hemisphere. The comet was only 21 deg from the Sun in June, however, it has been observed even at the conjunction, though there are not so many reports in June. The light curve is well along the equation: m1 = -1.0 + 5 log d + 7.9 log r after the perihelion passage. Even in the Northern Hemisphere, it appeared very low in the southeast at dawn from September through October. Then the comet was observed as 5-6 mag, a bit fainter than the data in the Southern Hemisphere. That is probably because of the very poor condition. The comet is moving southwards. In mid November, the comet becomes under the horizon even at the beginning of the morning glow. Last September and October were the final chance to observe it in the Northern Hemisphere. It will never be seen again in the Northern Hemisphere, except for some low latitude countries. The comet will get faint slowly and keep the brightness as 10 mag even at the end of 1998. However only southern observers can trace it.

103P/Hartley 2 [Finding Chart] 103P/Hartley 2, which passes the perihelion on Dec. 21, is expected to be as bright as 8 mag in December and January. It has been brightening as 19 mag in May, 17-19 mag in June, 16.5-18.5 mag in July, 13-15.5 mag in August and 12-15 mag in September. Visual observers reported as about 13 mag after summer, however, CCD observers reported 15 mag recently. They are discrepant, but the comet seems to have been brightening approximately along the equation: m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r It implies the comet brightens from 11 mag to 9.5 mag in this month and becomes a good target for visual observations. It moves from Aquila to Aquarius. It locates in the southwest at dusk. Maybe it is a bit hard to find the comet because there are no bright stars around. It closes to the Saturn Nebula (NGC7009) on Nov. 30. This comet keeps brighter than 12 mag until next February and observable visually. It will be in the southwest at dusk at the same altitude all through the period. We can observe it until next June when it becomes 18 mag. By the way, at the last return in 1991, some reported that he observed the meteor shower of this comet from Nov. 10 to 12. The detected R.P. is (296, +13), near Altair in Aquila. It locates in the southwest at dusk in November.

C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) [Finding Chart] This is a new comet discovered by Syogo Utsunomiya in Kumamoto, Japan, as 10.5 mag on Oct. 3. The comet was discovered just when it had brightened rapidly as it approached to the Earth. It passes the perihelion on Dec. 10, however it is now going away from the Earth and being fainter gradually. But it keeps about 10 mag in this November and December. The discovery position is very high in the north, Decl. as +72 deg. It was just when the comet was closest to the North Pole. After that, the comet is moving southwards. It moves from Lyra to the west of Aquila this month. Maybe it is a bit hard to see it visually because it is in the mid of the summer Milky Way. The comet was seen at dusk but the altitude goes lower rapidly. It will become at the conjunction with the Sun and impossible to see in next month. Then it appears again at dawn as 11.5 mag in late January. S. Utsunomiya has ever recovered a periodic comet 122P/de Vico in 1995 September. This comet is the first one with his own name.

C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) [Finding Chart] C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) is a new comet discovered by Jean Mueller on a plate of the second Palomar Sky Survey taken on May 3. Though it was reported as 14 mag at the discovery, it was actually a bit brighter, observed as about 12-14 mag after that. It was at the conjunction with the Sun in summer. Then it appeared again at dawn after September and has been observed as 12-14 mag. Though it has already passed the perihelion on Oct. 11, the comet will be closer to the Earth after this, so the peak of the brightness is this autumn and winter. It should be 11 mag. This month it moves from Canis Minor, through Monoceros, and into Orion, locates in the south after midnight. The comet will get fainter rapidly in January and reaches 14 mag in late February when it becomes low in the west at dusk. However the perihelion distance is large as 2.2AU and we can observe it again as 16 mag in next summer, although it locates low in the southern sky. The comet closes to the Rosette Nebula on Nov. 20, M78 on Nov. 30 and the Orion Nebula on Dec. 3.

C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) [Finding Chart] A new comet discovered as 14 mag on May 7. It was discovered while tracing another new comet C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) discovered four days before. C/1997 J2 was found in the field of C/1997 J1 by chance. The both had quite same brightness at that time. Following observations say this comet is about 1 mag brighter than the prediction. It passes the perihelion on next Mar. 10 but only reaches to 3AU from the Sun. Because of the large distance, the light curve is very gentle. It has brightened from 13 to 12 mag steadily for half a year since the discovery. After this, it will be observable as 11 mag for about one year. The ephemeris shows it keeps observable as 16 mag even in 2000. It moves southeastwards between the head of Draco and Hercules. It locates in the northwest at dusk. The quadrangle of the Draco's head is a good mark to find the comet. It will become very low in January and turns to be a morning comet after mid January.

43P/Wolf-Harrington [Finding Chart] 43P/Wolf-Harrington had been too close to the Sun in the former half of this year, but it had brightened rapidly during that. When it appeared at dawn in July, it was bright as 14 mag. Then it was observed as 13 mag in summer and reached 12 mag in autumn. This is a bit brighter than the prediction. The perihelion passage was on Sept. 29. The peak was already past and the comet will be fainter gradually. But it keeps 12 mag in this month. It moves from Hydra to Sextans and locates in the south at dawn. The positional condition of this comet keeps good for a while. We can observe it until next early summer when it reaches 19 mag.

78P/Gehrels 2 [Finding Chart] 78P/Gehrels 2 was observed already in 1996 June as 20-21 mag. But it had been too close to the Sun in the former half of this year. The comet had been expected to brighten during that and appear at dawn in July as 16 mag. However, it appeared surprisingly as 12 mag in early August, about 4 mag brighter than the prediction. It has been very bright as 12 mag for three months until October. The magnitude equation calculated with the observations in 1996 June and recent reports is: m1 = 2.0 + 5 log d + 30.0 log r Though it has passed the perihelion on Aug. 7, the comet has been closer to the Earth after that, so it keeps the same brightness from summer to winter. It should be still bright as 12 mag this month. It locates around the foot of Gemini, easy to find, and comes overhead after midnight. The comet will be at opposition next month. After that it will go fainter rapidly as it goes far away from both the Sun and the Earth. The positional condition of this comet also keeps good for a while. We can observe it until next early summer when it reaches 19 mag.

104P/Kowal 2 [Finding Chart] 104P/Kowal 2, which passes the perihelion on Mar. 2, 1998, has been brightening as 19 mag in May, 18 mag in June, 17.5 mag in July, 16.5 -> 15.5 mag in August, and reached 15 mag in September and October. The magnitude equation of this period is: m1 = 9.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r This is about 1 mag brighter than prediction and implies the comet will reach to 12 mag in winter and spring. It is in Pegasus and high in the evening. This comet will keep in the evening sky until next May.

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 [Finding Chart] 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is now around the aphelion, but the orbit is almost a circle and looks as a same magnitude for years. It is still active and sometimes happens a small outburst. This year it bursted out and reached 11 mag in early February and late May. However the outburst continues for only a few days. Though the total magnitude keeps always 13 mag, the image is so diffused and as hard to observe as 16-17 mag comets. The comet has been at conjunction with the Sun and impossible to observe. It appears at dawn in next month. In this November it is between Virgo and Corvus, but probably too low to observe yet.

C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) [Finding Chart] C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) is a new comet discovered by Jean Mueller on a plate of the second Palomar Sky Survey taken on May 3. Though it was reported as 14 mag at the discovery, it was actually a bit brighter, observed as about 12-14 mag after that. J. Mueller has discovered another new comet C/1997 D1 in this February and this is the second one in this year. The comet has passed the perihelion on the discovery day and is getting fainter now. But because the perihelion distance is large as 2.3 AU, it was observed bright as 14 mag still in October. Although it was at conjunction with the Sun in summer, now it is in Lynx and locates overhead at dawn. The brightness is still 14 mag. However, there are no bright stars around and it is a bit hard to find the comet. We can observe this comet until next spring when it reaches 17 mag. After that, it will appear again at dawn in next autumn as 19 mag.

Faint Comets

55P/Tempel-Tuttle [Finding Chart], the mother of Leonids, becomes observable now. Though it has been already recovered in March as faint as 22.4 mag, it has been too close to the Sun since September when it really began to brighten. In this month, it moves northwards between Leo and Virgo and appears at dawn. It should have reached to 17 mag now and brightens as 15 mag within this November. It will be 11 mag in late December, then it reaches 8 mag at the peak in mid January when it approaches the Earth up to 0.36 AU. The comet passes the perihelion on Feb. 28. But the condition after perihelion is bad and we in the Northern Hemisphere can hardly observe the comet. So the best season is from now to early March. The condition of Leonids meteor storm is best in 1998 in Japan. But many meteors have appeared for several years around the return of this comet in the past. Though there is a large moon shining in this year, it is important to observe the shower in this month.

65P/Gunn [Finding Chart] has already passed the perihelion on July 24, 1996. Because the eccentricity is small and the orbit is like a circle, it still keeps 15 mag. Though no observations had been reported since September 1996 for a while, it was observed as 13-16 mag from July to October this year. Visual observers reported the comet is much brighter than expected. It is in the tail of Cetus in the evening sky. This comet is as bright as 18 mag even at the aphelion and observable every time.

A new comet C/1997 O1 ( Tilbrook ) [Finding Chart] was discovered by Tilbrook in Australia on July 22 when he was observing a variable star TV Crv. For instance of a comet discovery during a variable star observation, S. Kaho has discovered C/1936 O1 ( Kaho-Kozik-Lis ) when he was observing R LMi in Japan. Though the comet Tilbrook was bright as 10 mag at the discovery, only a few observations were reported in the Northern Hemisphere because it was very low at dusk. It has passed the perihelion on July 13 so it should have got fainter gradually. In fact the comet got fainter rapidly as 10 -> 12.5 mag in August, 13 -> 14.5 mag in September. The magnitude equation is: m1 = 6.7 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r It was at conjunction and impossible to observe recently, the comet appears again at dawn after late November. But it should already be very faint now as 16.5 mag. It moves northwards from Bootes to Corona Borealis.

48P/Johnson [Finding Chart] has been at conjunction with the Sun and impossible to observe after when it was observed as 21 mag in spring 1996. However, after it appeared at dawn in last spring, it has brightened rapidly as 18.5 -> 17 mag in May, 15.5 mag in late June and reached to 13.5 mag visually and 15 mag with CCD in summer, much brighter than expected. Though the comet has passed the perihelion on Oct. 31, the peak of the brightness was summer and it should be going fainter. It is about 16 mag now, in Capricornus and becomes very low at dusk. After conjunction with the Sun, we can observe it again in next autumn as 19 mag.

C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) [Finding Chart], discovered on May 10, 1996 as 16 mag, had been observed until July 1996 with magnitude 13. After that, it has been too close to the Sun and not observable for a while. But surprisingly, J. Kobayashi observed it when it began to appear again at dawn in early May and found that the comet was split into two nuclei, 10 mag (nucleus A) and 13 mag (B) separating with 81" distance. Z. Sekanina says the split happened in late July, 1996, just after the comet became too close to the Sun. After that the nucleus A has got faint extremely rapidly and faded as 18 mag in August. On the other hand, the nucleus B has been getting faint gradually and 15 mag still in late September. The ephemeris here is based on the nucleus B. It moves from Perseus to Triangulum. It is at opposition and locates overhead at midnight. But the brightness is 16.5 -> 17 mag.

116P/Wild 4 [Finding Chart] has been observed as 12-13 mag from January to July in 1996. Though it has already passed the perihelion on Aug. 31, 1996, it was observed as 14-16 mag from May to August in this year. Before perihelion it brightened rapidly, but after perihelion it faded slowly. However it reaches to 17 mag now. It moves from Sagittarius to Capricornus and becomes very low in the evening sky. It will be too close to the Sun after next month. Then it appears at dawn again as 18 mag in next summer. We can probably observe this comet every time.

128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1 [Finding Chart] has been already recovered in September 1996. Though it was so faint as 20.7 mag at that time, the nucleus was split into two pieces. In this year, it has been brightening as 18 mag in August, 17 mag in September and 16 mag in October, which is much brighter than expected. The magnitude equation of these observations becomes: m1 = -4.4 + 5 log d + 40.0 log r The coefficient of log r is 40 and extremely large, however the actual brightness is even 1 mag brighter than the equation. So the comet may reach to 15 mag at most. Maybe this is the result of the nucleus splitting. It passes the perihelion on 20th in this November. In addition it is at opposition now and the positional condition is best. It is near Hyades and locates overhead at midnight.

132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 [Finding Chart] was recovered on July 13 as 19.5 mag. Though it was about 2 mag fainter than expected, the comet brightened rapidly after that: 17.5 mag in early September, 16.5 mag in late September, and 15.5 mag in early October. It passes the perihelion on 10th in this November and at the peak now. The ephemeris shows it is about 16.5 mag. Probably the comet is about 1 mag brighter. It is in Pisces in the evening sky.

62P/Tsuchinshan 1 [Finding Chart] will pass the perihelion on Apr. 19, 1998, but it has not been detected yet in this return. It will brighten 18 -> 17 mag in this month. However, it may be fainter than the prediction because no observations has been reported yet, although the positional condition has been good since this summer and the comet should have been brightening as 20 -> 18 mag. It is in Cetus and high in the evening sky.

129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 [Finding Chart], which passes the perihelion on Mar. 4, 1998, has been already recovered in October 1996. Though it was faint as 19 mag at that time, it brightened as 17 mag in this October. It comes to be at the peak in this winter but the brightness reaches only to 17 mag at most. However, the eccentricity is 0.25, almost a circle, and it will keep 18.5 mag even at the opposition in 1999 spring. So the comet will be observed for a long time. It is in Gemini now and seen high at dawn.

85P/Boethin [Finding Chart] should have passed the perihelion on Apr. 17. The condition of this return is worst and we cannot see it at all because the comet has been too close to the Sun, although it should have reached 9.5 mag at the perihelion passage. Before the perihelion, it was not observed in summer 1996 when it has been 18-19 mag at opposition. This month the comet will appear at dawn but the brightness is so faint as 18 mag. It will get fainter after this. If no observations succeed in this winter, it will be missed in this return.

C/1997 A1 ( NEAT ) [Finding Chart] discovered on Jan. 10 as 18.6 mag locates high in the north as 17 mag. It moves from Camelopardalis to Cassiopeia in this month. It has been observed as the same magnitude since the discovery. However it will get faint rapidly after next month because it has already passed the perihelion on June 19.

117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 [Finding Chart] passed the perihelion on Mar. 26. Though it was too close to the Sun at that time, the eccentricity is 0.18, almost a circle, and it has been observed as 17 mag stably since 1996 spring. It is in Capricornus and low in the evening now. It will soon be at conjunction. Then it will be observed again in next summer and autumn as 17-18 mag.

D/1978 R1 ( Haneda-Campos ) [Finding Chart] was missed at two returns after it was discovered in 1978. The prediction shows it has passed the perihelion on Aug. 15. The comet is famous for the steep light curve. Though it was about 15.5 mag at dawn then, not yet recovered. It is in Gemini now and the positional condition will be good for a while after this. However the comet will get faint rapidly, 17.5 -> 19.5 mag in November.

26P/Grigg-Skjellerup [Finding Chart] has already passed the perihelion on Aug. 30. In this return it has been already observed as 20.8 mag in this January. However the condition of this return is worst and we could not observe it at all around the perihelion passage. Only in this November there are a little chance to see the comet. But the comet locates very low in the west at dusk, the altitude reaches to only 14 deg at the end of the evening glow (at latitude +35 deg). In addition, the comet tends to get bright rapidly only around the perihelion passage. Two months and more have passed already and the comet is so faint as 18 mag now. Therefore nobody can really observe it.

88P/Howell [Finding Chart] will pass the perihelion on Sept. 27, 1998. It has not been detected in this return yet. It was not detected even in the beginning of 1997 when the comet was 20 mag at opposition. It has been at conjunction recently but appears at dawn after this month. It should have brightened as 18 mag and will be detected soon. It is in Virgo now. After this the comet will get brighter rapidly as the altitude at dawn gets higher. It is expected to be 11 mag in next summer and autumn.

A new asteroid 1997 CU26 [Finding Chart], discovered as 18 mag on Feb. 15, is moving on an orbit with 13AU perihelion distance, farther than Saturn, and 60-year period. It means this object is a new member of Centaur asteroids like 95P/Chiron, etc. The perihelion date is 2004 and we will be able to observe it for more than 20 years. Maybe someone detects the coma of this object and it turns to be a comet. It locates in Cancer now, high in the morning sky as 18 mag.

74P/Smirnova-Chernykh [Finding Chart] is now around the aphelion and in its faintest period as 18 mag. It will brighten slowly for the next perihelion in 2001. It is between Pisces and Cetus now and locates high in the evening sky.

An new asteroid 1997 BA6, discovered on Jan. 31 as 19.4 mag, was remarkable because it was found to move on a parabolic orbit like a comet by the orbital elements calculated with following observations. After a while a faint coma was detected and registered as a new comet C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch ) [Finding Chart]. It will pass the perihelion in November 1999 and is expected to be bright as 14 mag. However it locates near the South Pole around the perihelion and cannot be observed in the Northern Hemisphere. Now it is so far as 7 AU from the Sun and keeps faint for a while. Though it has been at conjunction with the Sun in summer, it appeared again at dawn after last month. The brightness is about 18 mag. It locates between Hydra and Sextans and closes to 43P/Wolf-Harrington in late November. We can observe this comet until next May when it reaches 17 mag. But it has gone into the southern sky after that and we in the Northern Hemisphere cannot observe it until 2000 autumn.

49P/Arend-Rigaux [Finding Chart] will pass the perihelion on July 12, 1998. It has been already observed as 19.5 mag in August. The condition of this return is worst and we cannot see it around the perihelion date at all. Before perihelion we can observe it until next month but it reaches only 18 mag. After perihelion it begins to appear again in 1999, when it already fades as 17 mag.

A new asteroid 1997 MD10 [Finding Chart], discovered as 18.8 mag on June 29, is moving on an orbit like a comet with 1.5 AU perihelion distance and 128-year period. However the image of this object is completely stellar. It passes the perihelion on 10th in this November. Maybe someone detect the coma and this object turns to be a comet. Though it is very interesting, it is so faint as 18 mag and hard to see. It moves northwards, Hercules -> Lyra -> Cygnus in the evening sky this month. It closes to C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) in mid November.

131P/Mueller 2 [Finding Chart] was recovered in late June and early July by A. Sugie and A. Nakamura as 18.9 and 19.9 mag, although it took some time to be recovered since 1996 summer. The brightness is about 2.5 mag fainter than expected. It passes the perihelion on 22th in this November, but reaches only to 18 mag. It is in Pisces and high in the evening sky.

A new periodic comet P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) [Finding Chart] discovered in 1996 September has passed the perihelion on Jan. 19, 1997. After the observation on Dec. 30, 1996, it has been too close to the Sun and no observations has been reported. The comet should have appeared again at dawn since summer but not yet observed. Maybe it has got fainter than the prediction. It is in Gemini and locates overhead after midnight, so the positional condition is best. The ephemeris shows it is still 18 mag.

69P/Taylor [Finding Chart], which passes the perihelion on Dec. 12, was finally observed in October. The position differed about 1 arcmin from the prediction. The brightness was 18.9 mag, a bit brighter. This comet tends to brighten rapidly just around the perihelion passage but it reaches only to 18 mag in this return. It is in Cancer at dawn now.

A new periodic comet P/1997 T3 [Finding Chart] was discovered on Oct. 5 as 18.9 mag in the course of the Uppsala-DLR Trojan Survey program. This comet has not be named yet. They say the comet may moves on a Trojan orbit just after the discovery, but the following observations deny it and show it has a 18-year period orbit and passes the perihelion on Mar. 18, 1998. This comet is asteroidal. Even a large telescope can detect only the very faint tail and cannot detect the coma. It has no name still now maybe because there are some possibility to be an asteroid.

A new periodic comet P/1983 J3 ( Kowal-Vavrova ) [Finding Chart] discovered in 1983 May is in its first return. Though the perihelion passage is in 1998 November, about one year ahead, it should be 19 mag already enough to be recovered. It is around the foot of Leo and has just appeared at dawn. So it is a good chance to recover now. After this it will brighten as 18 mag in early January and 17.5 mag in late February. However, it is at conjunction with the Sun and impossible to observe around the perihelion passage.

59P/Kearns-Kwee [Finding Chart], which passes the perihelion on September 16, 1999, has not yet observed in this return. It should be 19 mag now, not too faint, however it was not observed in summer at opposition. It implies the comet may be fainter actually. It becomes low at dusk this month. After conjunction with the Sun, it appears again at dawn as 17 mag in next early summer. It is expected to brighten as 12 mag in late 1999.

C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) [Finding Chart], discovered on Aug. 10, 1996 as 13 mag, has been too close to the Sun for a while since February when observed as 16.7 mag. It appeared again at dawn in August and was observed as 18.6 mag then, same as the prediction. The comet has already passed the perihelion on Mar. 1, 1996, but the perihelion distance is large and it is going faint slowly. It is at opposition in Eridanus this month and still keeps 19 mag.

A new comet C/1997 P2 ( Spacewatch ) [Finding Chart] discovered on Aug. 12 was just at the peak at discovery, but it was observed as faint as 19 mag. It has already passed the perihelion on Sept. 18 and is going fainter after this. It is in Aquarius and still high at dusk this month but the magnitude is fainter than 19 mag. But because the perihelion distance is large as 4.2AU, it will be observable again in next summer and autumn as 20 mag after conjunction with the Sun in March.

A new periodic comet 133P/(7968) Elst-Pizarro [Finding Chart] discovered in July 1996 as 18 mag was reported as a comet because it had a tail, though no coma was detected. But the orbit is quite a typical one of a main-belt asteroid. This object has been observed as 1979 OW7 and there is also its image on a plate taken in September 1985. Therefore the three returns of this object are confirmed. These past images are completely asteroidal. In addition, it was observed as 20 mag in October 1997 but no cometary activity was detected. Therefore this object has registered both a periodic comet 133P and an asteroid (7968). This is the third case after Chiron (95P=2060) and Wilson-Harrington (107P=4015). This object can be observed every time.

A new periodic comet discovered on Apr. 9 as 19 mag, P/1997 G1 ( Montani ) [Finding Chart] had become too close to the Sun and impossible to observe soon. It appears again at dawn after this month. Though it has passed the perihelion on Apr. 26, the perihelion distance is large as 4 AU and it will not get faint soon. We can observe it as 19 mag until next spring.

A new periodic comet discovered on Feb. 1 as 18 mag, P/1997 C1 ( Gehrels ) [Finding Chart] has passed the perihelion in 1996 January and it is almost two year since that. Though the comet was at conjunction with the Sun in summer, it appears again at dawn after this month. However, the comet got fainter very rapidly in spring. So it should be much faint as 21 mag now.

A new periodic comet discovered in 1992 April, P/1992 G2 ( Shoemaker-Levy 8 ) [Finding Chart] is in its first return. Though the perihelion passage is in 1999 December, about two years ahead, the eccentricity is 0.29 and the orbit is rather circular, so it will be recovered soon. It is still extremely faint as 21 mag now but the positional condition is very good in this winter.

Ephemeris Table

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

C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) m1 = -1.0 + 5 log d + 7.9 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 8 7.11 -49 2.0 3.229 3.233 80 5.6 4:52 (353, 5) 1997-11- 8 8 0.70 -52 51.6 3.343 3.290 84 5.7 4:47 ( 0, 2) 1997-11-18 7 50.03 -56 20.1 3.456 3.356 87 5.9 3:57 ( 0, -1) 1997-11-28 7 34.65 -59 19.4 3.568 3.433 89 6.0 3:02 ( 0, -4) 1997-12- 8 7 14.60 -61 40.9 3.678 3.521 91 6.2 2:03 ( 0, -7)

103P/Hartley 2 m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 19 30.59 -7 35.8 1.272 1.030 77 11.2 18:34 ( 32, 42) 1997-11- 8 19 55.54 -8 29.4 1.199 1.003 73 10.6 18:26 ( 34, 40) 1997-11-18 20 25.06 -9 7.6 1.136 0.970 70 10.0 18:20 ( 35, 39) 1997-11-28 20 59.24 -9 27.3 1.086 0.932 68 9.6 18:18 ( 35, 39) 1997-12- 8 21 38.18 -9 24.9 1.051 0.893 67 9.2 18:18 ( 35, 39)

C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) m1 = 8.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 19 9.84 40 19.6 1.489 1.163 86 10.1 18:34 (112, 67) 1997-11- 8 18 55.44 29 19.1 1.433 1.338 74 10.2 18:26 ( 92, 56) 1997-11-18 18 49.20 21 18.5 1.391 1.532 62 10.4 18:20 ( 87, 44) 1997-11-28 18 46.72 15 26.2 1.363 1.723 52 10.5 18:18 ( 86, 33) 1997-12- 8 18 46.15 11 0.6 1.350 1.897 42 10.7 18:18 ( 88, 22)

C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) m1 = 6.8 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 7 43.04 12 8.3 2.257 1.861 100 11.7 4:52 (347, 67) 1997-11- 8 7 17.72 8 31.4 2.270 1.664 115 11.5 4:04 ( 0, 63) 1997-11-18 6 43.45 4 9.1 2.288 1.512 131 11.3 2:50 ( 0, 59) 1997-11-28 6 0.69 -0 45.8 2.312 1.426 146 11.2 1:28 ( 0, 54) 1997-12- 8 5 13.39 -5 30.9 2.342 1.428 151 11.3 0:02 ( 0, 49)

C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) m1 = 3.7 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 16 26.63 55 29.6 3.314 3.440 74 11.6 18:34 (137, 39) 1997-11- 8 16 57.33 53 16.5 3.277 3.395 74 11.5 18:26 (134, 39) 1997-11-18 17 27.11 50 56.4 3.243 3.365 74 11.4 18:20 (131, 38) 1997-11-28 17 55.70 48 32.6 3.211 3.352 73 11.4 18:18 (128, 36) 1997-12- 8 18 22.93 46 9.6 3.182 3.356 71 11.4 18:18 (126, 33)

43P/Wolf-Harrington m1 = 7.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 9 5.70 7 42.4 1.610 1.466 79 12.5 4:52 (313, 54) 1997-11- 8 9 24.32 3 44.5 1.631 1.413 83 12.5 5:01 (327, 54) 1997-11-18 9 40.45 -0 15.8 1.658 1.362 88 12.6 5:09 (342, 53) 1997-11-28 9 53.90 -4 13.7 1.691 1.314 93 12.7 5:17 (356, 51) 1997-12- 8 10 4.34 -8 4.1 1.727 1.268 99 12.8 4:52 ( 0, 47)

78P/Gehrels 2 m1 = 2.0 + 5 log d + 30.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 6 52.49 16 33.2 2.113 1.518 112 12.7 4:18 ( 0, 72) 1997-11- 8 6 57.44 15 38.6 2.140 1.449 121 12.7 3:44 ( 0, 71) 1997-11-18 6 58.93 14 48.8 2.169 1.390 130 12.8 3:06 ( 0, 70) 1997-11-28 6 56.99 14 6.6 2.201 1.345 141 12.9 2:24 ( 0, 69) 1997-12- 8 6 51.97 13 34.8 2.235 1.318 151 13.1 1:40 ( 0, 69)

104P/Kowal 2 m1 = 9.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 22 4.52 11 33.1 1.913 1.218 119 14.2 19:33 ( 0, 67) 1997-11- 8 22 10.01 9 51.2 1.848 1.243 111 14.0 18:59 ( 0, 65) 1997-11-18 22 19.39 8 28.8 1.786 1.273 103 13.8 18:29 ( 0, 63) 1997-11-28 22 32.35 7 28.7 1.725 1.307 96 13.6 18:18 ( 8, 62) 1997-12- 8 22 48.58 6 52.0 1.667 1.341 90 13.5 18:18 ( 20, 60)

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 m1 = 4.0 + 5 log d + 7.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 12 55.96 -13 52.4 6.244 7.176 18 14.2 4:52 (285, -3) 1997-11- 8 13 2.74 -14 40.5 6.243 7.114 26 14.2 5:01 (292, 5) 1997-11-18 13 9.25 -15 28.0 6.242 7.031 34 14.2 5:09 (299, 12) 1997-11-28 13 15.41 -16 14.4 6.241 6.929 42 14.2 5:17 (306, 18) 1997-12- 8 13 21.12 -16 59.2 6.241 6.809 51 14.1 5:25 (315, 24)

C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) m1 = 7.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 9 14.71 36 14.1 3.028 2.931 85 14.6 4:52 (259, 67) 1997-11- 8 9 3.72 36 13.6 3.097 2.808 97 14.7 5:01 (260, 79) 1997-11-18 8 48.79 36 16.9 3.168 2.691 110 14.7 4:55 ( 0, 88) 1997-11-28 8 29.62 36 17.0 3.240 2.591 123 14.7 3:57 ( 0, 88) 1997-12- 8 8 6.41 36 4.6 3.313 2.520 137 14.7 2:54 ( 0, 88)

55P/Tempel-Tuttle m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 12 12.15 12 37.9 2.064 2.728 39 17.5 4:52 (269, 21) 1997-11- 8 12 18.01 12 49.7 1.950 2.465 48 16.8 5:01 (275, 30) 1997-11-18 12 23.68 13 22.1 1.836 2.177 56 16.0 5:09 (282, 39) 1997-11-28 12 28.99 14 26.3 1.722 1.867 66 15.1 5:17 (289, 48) 1997-12- 8 12 33.63 16 23.2 1.609 1.537 75 14.1 5:25 (297, 57)

65P/Gunn m1 = 7.7 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 0 15.97 -11 10.3 3.494 2.658 141 15.3 21:44 ( 0, 44) 1997-11- 8 0 12.18 -10 54.2 3.524 2.786 131 15.4 21:01 ( 0, 44) 1997-11-18 0 10.20 -10 25.0 3.553 2.931 121 15.5 20:20 ( 0, 45) 1997-11-28 0 10.04 -9 44.6 3.582 3.090 112 15.7 19:40 ( 0, 45) 1997-12- 8 0 11.63 -8 54.7 3.610 3.260 102 15.8 19:02 ( 0, 46)

C/1997 O1 ( Tilbrook ) m1 = 6.7 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 14 31.23 14 13.1 2.046 2.870 27 15.2 18:34 (107, 1) 1997-11- 8 14 42.56 16 20.1 2.145 2.907 32 15.6 5:01 (252, 3) 1997-11-18 14 53.84 18 39.8 2.245 2.924 39 16.1 5:09 (255, 11) 1997-11-28 15 5.02 21 16.0 2.347 2.924 45 16.4 5:17 (257, 20) 1997-12- 8 15 16.00 24 12.2 2.450 2.910 53 16.8 5:25 (259, 29)

48P/Johnson m1 = 7.0 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 20 7.53 -26 47.6 2.308 2.213 82 16.0 18:34 ( 14, 27) 1997-11- 8 20 24.38 -26 17.9 2.309 2.328 76 16.1 18:26 ( 18, 26) 1997-11-18 20 42.24 -25 35.7 2.311 2.442 70 16.2 18:20 ( 22, 26) 1997-11-28 21 0.83 -24 41.3 2.316 2.554 64 16.3 18:18 ( 27, 25) 1997-12- 8 21 19.94 -23 35.6 2.322 2.663 59 16.4 18:18 ( 32, 24)

C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) m1 = 7.1 + 5 log d + 11.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 2 37.64 40 13.0 4.055 3.146 152 16.3 0:04 ( 0, 85) 1997-11- 8 2 28.53 39 14.8 4.154 3.226 156 16.4 23:17 ( 0, 86) 1997-11-18 2 20.46 38 5.9 4.253 3.334 155 16.6 22:29 ( 0, 87) 1997-11-28 2 13.93 36 51.6 4.351 3.473 149 16.8 21:44 ( 0, 88) 1997-12- 8 2 9.24 35 37.1 4.448 3.638 141 17.0 21:00 ( 0, 89)

116P/Wild 4 m1 = 5.2 + 5 log d + 16.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 19 35.20 -25 9.3 3.388 3.491 75 16.4 18:34 ( 23, 26) 1997-11- 8 19 45.35 -24 36.1 3.425 3.667 68 16.6 18:26 ( 28, 25) 1997-11-18 19 56.26 -23 59.6 3.463 3.837 60 16.8 18:20 ( 33, 23) 1997-11-28 20 7.75 -23 19.6 3.499 3.998 53 16.9 18:18 ( 39, 20) 1997-12- 8 20 19.68 -22 36.0 3.536 4.147 46 17.1 18:18 ( 45, 17)

128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1 m1 = -4.4 + 5 log d + 40.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 4 38.17 19 27.8 3.050 2.183 144 16.7 2:04 ( 0, 74) 1997-11- 8 4 33.86 19 1.4 3.048 2.117 155 16.6 1:20 ( 0, 74) 1997-11-18 4 27.99 18 32.5 3.047 2.076 167 16.5 0:35 ( 0, 73) 1997-11-28 4 21.22 18 3.0 3.047 2.062 176 16.5 23:51 ( 0, 73) 1997-12- 8 4 14.42 17 35.4 3.049 2.077 168 16.6 23:04 ( 0, 73)

132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 m1 = 12.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 2 7.53 5 32.4 1.913 0.925 172 16.6 23:35 ( 0, 61) 1997-11- 8 2 4.25 4 34.6 1.910 0.940 163 16.6 22:53 ( 0, 60) 1997-11-18 2 2.41 3 59.1 1.911 0.977 153 16.7 22:11 ( 0, 59) 1997-11-28 2 2.83 3 49.8 1.917 1.033 143 16.8 21:33 ( 0, 59) 1997-12- 8 2 5.98 4 6.8 1.927 1.106 134 17.0 20:56 ( 0, 59)

62P/Tsuchinshan 1 m1 = 12.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 2 26.20 -2 57.9 2.260 1.291 163 17.9 23:54 ( 0, 52) 1997-11- 8 2 15.95 -3 29.1 2.196 1.246 158 17.6 23:04 ( 0, 52) 1997-11-18 2 5.94 -3 35.3 2.132 1.225 148 17.4 22:15 ( 0, 51) 1997-11-28 1 57.55 -3 12.3 2.069 1.226 138 17.2 21:27 ( 0, 52) 1997-12- 8 1 51.93 -2 19.1 2.007 1.244 128 17.0 20:42 ( 0, 53)

129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 7 53.93 23 32.5 2.890 2.552 99 17.6 4:52 (326, 77) 1997-11- 8 8 0.22 23 11.3 2.879 2.411 108 17.5 4:46 ( 0, 78) 1997-11-18 8 4.29 22 54.6 2.869 2.278 117 17.4 4:11 ( 0, 78) 1997-11-28 8 5.93 22 43.1 2.860 2.156 126 17.2 3:33 ( 0, 78) 1997-12- 8 8 4.96 22 37.3 2.852 2.049 137 17.1 2:53 ( 0, 78)

85P/Boethin m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 10 55.38 10 23.9 2.626 3.074 54 17.3 4:52 (283, 36) 1997-11- 8 11 5.92 9 22.3 2.715 3.039 61 17.6 5:01 (292, 42) 1997-11-18 11 14.90 8 30.1 2.802 2.992 69 17.8 5:09 (302, 49) 1997-11-28 11 22.23 7 48.4 2.889 2.936 77 18.1 5:17 (315, 55) 1997-12- 8 11 27.74 7 18.4 2.975 2.872 86 18.3 5:25 (332, 59)

C/1997 A1 ( NEAT ) m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 5 13.49 64 30.7 3.399 2.788 120 17.5 2:39 ( 0, 60) 1997-11- 8 4 18.83 65 51.7 3.436 2.729 128 17.5 1:05 ( 0, 59) 1997-11-18 3 18.60 65 24.9 3.474 2.717 133 17.6 23:27 ( 0, 60) 1997-11-28 2 25.02 63 10.0 3.515 2.756 134 17.7 21:55 ( 0, 62) 1997-12- 8 1 45.01 59 43.8 3.557 2.844 129 17.8 20:35 ( 0, 65)

117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 m1 = 6.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 20 38.04 -28 2.5 3.800 3.684 89 17.5 18:34 ( 7, 27) 1997-11- 8 20 45.10 -27 21.0 3.808 3.838 80 17.6 18:26 ( 13, 26) 1997-11-18 20 53.34 -26 35.0 3.816 3.988 72 17.7 18:20 ( 19, 26) 1997-11-28 21 2.59 -25 45.0 3.824 4.133 65 17.8 18:18 ( 26, 24) 1997-12- 8 21 12.67 -24 51.1 3.833 4.270 57 17.9 18:18 ( 33, 22)

D/1978 R1 ( Haneda-Campos ) m1 = 13.0 + 5 log d + 25.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 7 22.53 22 41.6 1.540 0.926 106 17.5 4:48 ( 0, 78) 1997-11- 8 7 29.56 23 22.0 1.605 0.910 115 17.9 4:16 ( 0, 78) 1997-11-18 7 31.15 24 14.0 1.674 0.899 124 18.4 3:38 ( 0, 79) 1997-11-28 7 27.28 25 16.1 1.746 0.895 136 18.8 2:55 ( 0, 80) 1997-12- 8 7 18.51 26 22.4 1.819 0.906 148 19.3 2:07 ( 0, 81)

26P/Grigg-Skjellerup m1 = 12.0 + 5 log d + 40.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 16 34.62 -9 46.7 1.283 1.967 34 17.5 18:34 ( 69, 12) 1997-11- 8 17 12.56 -9 58.0 1.364 2.059 34 17.9 18:26 ( 68, 13) 1997-11-18 17 48.15 -9 49.6 1.450 2.162 33 18.3 18:20 ( 67, 14) 1997-11-28 18 21.38 -9 23.7 1.537 2.276 32 18.7 18:18 ( 68, 13) 1997-12- 8 18 52.35 -8 42.8 1.626 2.395 30 19.0 18:18 ( 70, 12)

88P/Howell m1 = 8.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 12 2.87 3 18.8 3.161 3.905 36 18.5 4:52 (279, 18) 1997-11- 8 12 15.13 2 1.6 3.108 3.756 43 18.3 5:01 (286, 24) 1997-11-18 12 27.28 0 46.1 3.053 3.595 49 18.0 5:09 (293, 30) 1997-11-28 12 39.28 -0 27.1 2.997 3.424 56 17.8 5:17 (301, 36) 1997-12- 8 12 51.02 -1 37.0 2.941 3.242 63 17.6 5:25 (311, 41)

1997 CU26 m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 9 9.18 11 8.7 13.754 13.904 79 17.9 4:52 (308, 56) 1997-11- 8 9 9.99 10 56.2 13.749 13.729 89 17.9 5:01 (327, 62) 1997-11-18 9 10.33 10 45.6 13.743 13.555 98 17.9 5:09 (352, 66) 1997-11-28 9 10.18 10 37.1 13.737 13.384 108 17.8 4:37 ( 0, 66) 1997-12- 8 9 9.54 10 30.8 13.731 13.224 119 17.8 3:57 ( 0, 65)

74P/Smirnova-Chernykh m1 = 8.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 0 57.41 -1 39.6 4.647 3.723 155 18.0 22:25 ( 0, 53) 1997-11- 8 0 52.75 -1 55.4 4.640 3.793 145 18.1 21:41 ( 0, 53) 1997-11-18 0 49.12 -2 2.3 4.633 3.887 134 18.1 20:58 ( 0, 53) 1997-11-28 0 46.75 -1 59.7 4.625 4.002 123 18.2 20:17 ( 0, 53) 1997-12- 8 0 45.75 -1 47.8 4.618 4.133 113 18.2 19:36 ( 0, 53)

C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch ) m1 = 7.5 + 5 log d + 7.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 9 48.03 0 55.2 7.266 7.592 67 18.4 4:52 (307, 42) 1997-11- 8 9 49.41 0 2.4 7.200 7.368 76 18.3 5:01 (321, 48) 1997-11-18 9 49.99 -0 49.6 7.135 7.138 85 18.2 5:09 (338, 52) 1997-11-28 9 49.67 -1 40.2 7.069 6.907 95 18.1 5:17 ( 0, 53) 1997-12- 8 9 48.36 -2 28.6 7.004 6.680 105 18.0 4:36 ( 0, 53)

49P/Arend-Rigaux m1 = 11.3 + 5 log d + 11.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 21 44.90 -27 41.0 2.838 2.443 103 18.2 19:13 ( 0, 27) 1997-11- 8 21 47.86 -27 13.4 2.772 2.518 94 18.2 18:37 ( 0, 28) 1997-11-18 21 53.27 -26 33.4 2.705 2.592 85 18.1 18:20 ( 4, 28) 1997-11-28 22 0.89 -25 42.2 2.637 2.663 77 18.1 18:18 ( 12, 28) 1997-12- 8 22 10.50 -24 40.7 2.568 2.727 70 18.0 18:18 ( 20, 28)

1997 MD10 m1 = 16.0 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 18 3.31 20 21.7 1.544 1.657 65 18.0 18:34 ( 82, 48) 1997-11- 8 18 20.99 23 9.4 1.535 1.674 64 18.0 18:26 ( 88, 46) 1997-11-18 18 41.70 26 8.2 1.538 1.682 64 18.1 18:20 ( 94, 45) 1997-11-28 19 5.80 29 19.1 1.552 1.684 65 18.1 18:18 ( 99, 43) 1997-12- 8 19 33.77 32 40.7 1.578 1.686 66 18.1 18:18 (105, 42)

131P/Mueller 2 m1 = 13.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 1 12.92 9 30.5 2.417 1.445 164 18.1 22:41 ( 0, 65) 1997-11- 8 1 8.76 8 21.3 2.414 1.487 153 18.2 21:57 ( 0, 63) 1997-11-18 1 6.67 7 26.5 2.412 1.552 142 18.3 21:16 ( 0, 62) 1997-11-28 1 7.01 6 50.1 2.412 1.636 132 18.4 20:37 ( 0, 62) 1997-12- 8 1 9.88 6 33.5 2.414 1.736 122 18.5 20:00 ( 0, 62)

P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 6 38.81 25 17.0 3.058 2.478 116 18.3 4:04 ( 0, 80) 1997-11- 8 6 38.71 25 28.2 3.085 2.387 126 18.2 3:25 ( 0, 80) 1997-11-18 6 36.06 25 41.4 3.112 2.310 137 18.2 2:43 ( 0, 81) 1997-11-28 6 31.01 25 55.4 3.139 2.254 148 18.2 1:59 ( 0, 81) 1997-12- 8 6 23.98 26 8.4 3.167 2.222 160 18.2 1:12 ( 0, 81)

69P/Taylor m1 = 9.5 + 5 log d + 30.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 7 45.50 10 42.6 1.983 1.565 99 19.4 4:52 (346, 65) 1997-11- 8 7 59.18 11 15.6 1.969 1.452 105 19.1 4:45 ( 0, 66) 1997-11-18 8 10.93 12 7.5 1.958 1.345 113 18.9 4:17 ( 0, 67) 1997-11-28 8 20.33 13 24.6 1.952 1.246 121 18.7 3:48 ( 0, 68) 1997-12- 8 8 26.96 15 12.5 1.948 1.159 130 18.5 3:15 ( 0, 70)

P/1997 T3 m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 1 3.62 2 11.0 4.226 3.282 159 18.8 22:31 ( 0, 57) 1997-11- 8 0 59.60 1 57.9 4.217 3.340 148 18.9 21:48 ( 0, 57) 1997-11-18 0 56.65 1 52.9 4.209 3.423 137 18.9 21:06 ( 0, 57) 1997-11-28 0 55.01 1 57.0 4.202 3.527 127 19.0 20:25 ( 0, 57) 1997-12- 8 0 54.82 2 10.5 4.195 3.649 117 19.0 19:45 ( 0, 57)

P/1983 J3 ( Kowal-Vavrova ) m1 = 10.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 10 3.48 7 60.0 3.879 4.182 65 19.5 4:52 (296, 44) 1997-11- 8 10 11.72 7 8.6 3.829 3.993 73 19.3 5:01 (308, 50) 1997-11-18 10 19.14 6 20.1 3.780 3.799 81 19.2 5:09 (322, 56) 1997-11-28 10 25.59 5 35.8 3.730 3.602 89 19.0 5:17 (340, 59) 1997-12- 8 10 30.88 4 57.2 3.681 3.406 98 18.8 5:18 ( 0, 60)

59P/Kearns-Kwee m1 = 5.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 20 19.52 -19 18.5 4.791 4.739 87 19.1 18:34 ( 13, 35) 1997-11- 8 20 23.46 -18 58.0 4.755 4.861 77 19.1 18:26 ( 21, 33) 1997-11-18 20 28.57 -18 33.3 4.719 4.978 69 19.1 18:20 ( 29, 31) 1997-11-28 20 34.70 -18 4.5 4.682 5.086 60 19.1 18:18 ( 36, 28) 1997-12- 8 20 41.75 -17 31.5 4.645 5.182 52 19.1 18:18 ( 44, 24)

C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) m1 = 5.6 + 5 log d + 12.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 3 33.95 -10 27.1 6.468 5.597 148 19.1 1:00 ( 0, 45) 1997-11- 8 3 28.91 -10 40.4 6.547 5.661 151 19.2 0:16 ( 0, 44) 1997-11-18 3 23.82 -10 44.9 6.626 5.752 149 19.3 23:33 ( 0, 44) 1997-11-28 3 18.97 -10 40.2 6.705 5.872 145 19.4 22:48 ( 0, 44) 1997-12- 8 3 14.59 -10 26.4 6.784 6.018 138 19.5 22:05 ( 0, 45)

C/1997 P2 ( Spacewatch ) m1 = 5.6 + 5 log d + 12.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 21 29.85 -5 27.1 4.209 3.807 107 19.1 18:58 ( 0, 50) 1997-11- 8 21 34.16 -5 3.6 4.216 3.956 98 19.2 18:26 ( 1, 50) 1997-11-18 21 39.71 -4 34.2 4.226 4.109 89 19.3 18:20 ( 12, 50) 1997-11-28 21 46.37 -3 58.9 4.237 4.264 81 19.4 18:18 ( 23, 48) 1997-12- 8 21 53.99 -3 17.5 4.249 4.418 73 19.5 18:18 ( 35, 46)

133P/Elst-Pizarro m1 = 13.5 + 5 log d + 7.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 3 35.84 17 26.9 3.314 2.364 159 19.3 1:02 ( 0, 72) 1997-11- 8 3 28.06 16 56.8 3.328 2.345 171 19.3 0:15 ( 0, 72) 1997-11-18 3 19.86 16 25.4 3.343 2.356 175 19.3 23:29 ( 0, 71) 1997-11-28 3 12.05 15 55.6 3.357 2.398 164 19.3 22:42 ( 0, 71) 1997-12- 8 3 5.35 15 30.4 3.371 2.468 152 19.4 21:56 ( 0, 71)

P/1997 G1 ( Montani ) m1 = 9.7 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 10 39.39 5 6.8 4.356 4.829 56 19.5 4:52 (292, 36) 1997-11- 8 10 47.04 4 12.0 4.370 4.711 64 19.5 5:01 (301, 42) 1997-11-18 10 53.84 3 21.0 4.384 4.583 72 19.4 5:09 (313, 48) 1997-11-28 10 59.66 2 34.9 4.399 4.449 80 19.4 5:17 (328, 53) 1997-12- 8 11 4.38 1 54.7 4.415 4.312 89 19.3 5:25 (345, 56)

P/1997 C1 ( Gehrels ) m1 = 2.7 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 11 26.70 1 9.7 5.106 5.777 43 20.7 4:52 (286, 24) 1997-11- 8 11 33.46 0 24.2 5.141 5.692 51 20.7 5:01 (295, 31) 1997-11-18 11 39.54 -0 17.5 5.176 5.594 60 20.7 5:09 (304, 38) 1997-11-28 11 44.84 -0 54.6 5.212 5.484 68 20.7 5:17 (316, 44) 1997-12- 8 11 49.27 -1 26.5 5.247 5.365 77 20.7 5:25 (329, 49)

P/1992 G2 ( Shoemaker-Levy 8 ) m1 = 8.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1997-10-29 7 57.22 14 30.2 4.323 4.086 97 21.1 4:52 (336, 68) 1997-11- 8 7 59.26 14 7.5 4.303 3.915 106 21.0 4:45 ( 0, 69) 1997-11-18 7 59.74 13 48.9 4.282 3.751 116 20.8 4:06 ( 0, 69) 1997-11-28 7 58.57 13 35.1 4.261 3.599 126 20.7 3:26 ( 0, 69) 1997-12- 8 7 55.74 13 27.0 4.240 3.465 137 20.6 2:44 ( 0, 68)