Monthly Information about Comets in February, 1998

Japanese version Home page	Updated on February 7, 1998
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Comets Ranking Bright Comets Faint Comets Ephemeris Table

Comets Ranking

Here is the ranking of comets in February, 1998. 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has brightened drastically from late December and early January. Now it is about 8.0 mag. It will pass the perihelion on this Feb. 28. 69P/Taylor is in outburst and 12 mag now. It locates around zenith before midnight, so the condition is best. 103P/Hartley 2 in the evening, C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) and C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) in the morning, are also observable visually around 10-11 mag. C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) in the southern sky began to fade out a bit more rapidly in October, which reached to 8.2 mag at the end of January. 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 bursted out in late January. It is observable at 12 mag now. No. 1 55P/Tempel-Tuttle 7.5 -> 8 mag No. 2 C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) 8 -> 8.5 mag No. 3 103P/Hartley 2 9.5 -> 11.5 mag No. 4 C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) 11.5 mag No. 5 C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) 11.5 -> 12.5 mag No. 6 69P/Taylor 12.5 -> 13 mag No. 7 104P/Kowal 2 12.5 mag No. 8 78P/Gehrels 2 13 -> 14 mag No. 9 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 14 mag No. 10 43P/Wolf-Harrington 14 -> 14.5 mag No. 11 C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) 14 -> 14.5 mag Other faint comets are as follows. C/1997 G2 ( Montani ) 15.5 -> 15 mag 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1 15.5 -> 16 mag C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) 15.5 -> 16 mag 95P/Chiron 16 mag D/1952 B1 ( Harrington-Wilson ) 16 mag 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 16 -> 16.5 mag 65P/Gunn 16.5 -> 17 mag C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) 17 -> 17.5 mag P/1997 V1 ( Larsen ) 17 -> 17.5 mag C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch ) 17.5 -> 17 mag 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 17.5 -> 18 mag 1997 CU26 17.5 mag 62P/Tsuchinshan 1 18 -> 17.5 mag 88P/Howell 19 -> 18 mag (5145) Pholus 18 mag 22P/Kopff 18 -> 18.5 mag 80P/Peters-Hartley 19 -> 18.5 mag C/1997 O1 ( Tilbrook ) 18.5 -> 19.5 mag 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh 18.5 mag C/1997 L1 ( Zhu-Balam ) 18.5 mag C/1997 A1 ( NEAT ) 19 mag 1997 MD10 19 -> 19.5 mag P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) 19 -> 19.5 mag 10P/Tempel 2 19.5 -> 19 mag 1995 GO 19 mag 131P/Mueller 2 19 -> 19.5 mag P/1997 G1 ( Montani ) 19 mag C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) 19 -> 19.5 mag 85P/Boethin 19.5 -> 20 mag 37P/Forbes 20 -> 19.5 mag 98P/Takamizawa 20.5 -> 19.5 mag P/1997 T3 ( Lagerkvist-Carsenty ) 19.5 mag 21P/Giacobini-Zinner 20.5 -> 19.5 mag P/1992 G2 ( Shoemaker-Levy 8 ) 20 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

55P/Tempel-Tuttle [Finding Chart 1] [Finding Chart 2] 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has drastically brightened from late December to early January, and reached to 8 mag. Appearing again at dawn in early November, the comet was observed as 18.4-19.5, about 2 mag fainter than expected. In December, about 17.6 mag on Dec. 4 and 16.6 mag on Dec. 11, which were about 3 mag fainter. So some worried that it reaches only to 11 mag or fainter at best in January. It was observed visually on Dec. 25 morning, as faint as 13.8 mag. But the comet suddenly brightened in three days after that. It was observed as 11-12 mag with 3-4 arcmin diameter on Dec. 28 morning. After that, it became 10 mag just when January came, 9 mag on Jan. 6 with 5 arcmin diameter or larger, and reached to 8.0 mag at the closest approach to the earth in mid January with so large diameter as 15-20 arcmin. However, because the comet was very diffused (DC=1-2), it was very poor to see in a city. Due to lack of the dust, CCD could catch only around the nucleus, so it looks much fainter than visual image. Then it is going away from the earth and the diameter reduced to 8 arcmin in late January. But it is still getting close to the sun, so it keeps the brightness as about 8.0 mag, becoming more dense. The comet had hardly brightened since recovered in 1997 March until early November. The light curve of this period is: m1 = 15.0 + 5 log d + 7.0 log r The small coefficient of log r shows the slow brightening. However, the light curve after that until January when it reached to 8 mag is: m1 = 7.5 + 5 log d + 35.0 log r The coefficient of log r is so large as 35, which shows the drastic brightening. The comet passes the perihelion on this Feb. 28. Because now it is getting close to the sun and going away from the earth, it keeps about 8 mag all through this month. It moves southwards rapidly from Andromeda to Pisces. It shines in the evening western sky, getting lower. The altitude at the end of the evening glow is high, 66 deg, at the beginning of February, but becomes so low, 22 deg, in late February. It sets in the west in early March. On the other hand, the comet is just over northwestern horizon at dusk in the Southern Hemisphere, so they cannot see it. In this return, the condition after perihelion is bad and we in the Northern Hemisphere can hardly observe the comet. The comet appears again at dawn in July, however, it locates very low in the southeast. And it will be so faint, probably fainter than 18 mag. In addition, the comet moves southwards and soon it disappears again. Therefore the best season is until early March for the Northern observers.

C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) [Finding Chart] Comet Hale-Bopp was observed again in Japan from September to October as 5-6 mag in the southeastern low sky at dawn. But it has gone southwards after final observation in Japan in early November. It will never be seen again in the Northern Hemisphere, except for some low latitude countries. The comet has been fading out slowly along the equation: m1 = -1.0 + 5 log d + 7.9 log r and kept about 5.5 mag still in October. However, it began to fade out a bit more rapidly after that and reached to 8.2 mag at the end of last month. The current ephemeris depends on the magnitude equation: m1 = -1.4 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Anyway, because this comet is so big, it will take several years to fade out gradually. It will keep the brightness as 11-12 mag even at the end of 1998. It is still in Dorado, just north of the Large Magellanic Cloud this month. It is moving away from the Cloud. The comet locates very high in the Southern Hemisphere in the evening. It still keeps so bright as 8 mag. In late December and early January, the anti tail was observed. The long normal dust tail was also observed at that time.

103P/Hartley 2 [Finding Chart] 103P/Hartley 2 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 and October, 10 -> 9 mag in November, and reached to the peak in December as 9 -> 8 mag. After passing the perihelion on Dec. 21, it became a bit brighter and was observed as 8 mag in January with 5 arcmin diameter or larger. The comet goes away from the sun and fades out rapidly after this. Though it is still 9.5 mag in early February, it reached to 11.5 mag in late February. Visual observation will be difficult in March. It moves eastwards from Cetus to south of Taurus. It still locates in the southwest at dusk, at about same position. The situation keeps until April, while the comet becomes so faint as 15 mag. Then it becomes too low at dusk in mid May as 16 mag. On Feb. 3 and 4, it passes about 3 deg north of Mira, just after the peak in January. On Feb. 7 and 8, it passes about 1 deg north of a galaxy M77 (8.8 mag, 6.9').

C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy ) [Finding Chart] Comet Meunier-Dupouy, discovered on May 7, 1997, as 14 mag, will pass the perihelion on Mar. 10 but only reaches to 3 AU from the sun. Because of the large distance, the light curve is very gentle. It has brightened steadily, 13 mag in spring and 12 mag in summer and autumn. It was observed even visually as an 11-mag small object after November. Though it became at conjunction in January, observations of this comet continued all though the period because it is high in the northern sky. It brightened a bit more and now about 10 mag with about 2 arcmin diameter. It moves eastwards in the center of Cygnus this month. It closes to the Veil Nebula NGC6992 down to about 4 deg on Feb. 15. Although it is in the summer Milky Way, it is easy to find the comet in the view. It locates in the northeast at dawn. The altitude at the beginning of morning glow becomes higher, 18 -> 23 deg. The ephemeris says 11.5 mag but it will be a bit brighter actually. On the other hand, the Southern observers cannot see it at all. After this, it will be observable visually as 10-11 mag for a long time until autumn. The ephemeris shows it keeps observable as 16 mag even in 2000.

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 was observed as 9 mag from mid October to mid December. It had been in the northwest at dusk a while but moved southwards fast and became low in mid December. The final observation at dusk is 10.2 mag on Jan. 1. After conjunction with the sun, it appeared again at dawn in late January. Because it is now very low, not many observations succeeded so far, but they reported the comet as 10 mag, a bit brighter than expected. It moves southwards in Scutum, in the summer Milky Way. It may be hard to find the comet in your view because no good marks around it. The altitude at the beginning of morning glow becomes higher, 17 -> 31 deg. In the Southern Hemisphere, the comet appears after mid February. The comet has kept the same brightness in December, when it was going away from the earth, as at peak in November. It seems to be brighter than expected since that. The ephemeris shows the comet fades out 11.5 -> 12.5 mag this month, but it will be brighter actually and looks well visually. It closes to an open cluster M11 down to 2.2 deg on Feb. 23.

69P/Taylor [Finding Chart] 69P/Taylor is brightening much brighter than expected. Because it was finally observed in October as faint as 18.9 mag, It seemed to reach only to 17 mag at best in December. However, it brightened rapidly as 18 mag in November, 16 mag in early December. The pace did not fall down even after it passed the perihelion on Dec. 12. It brightened more, 15 mag in late December, 13.5-14 mag in early January, and reached to 12 mag in mid January. Now it is well observed visually as bright as 12 mag with a large diameter. It moves northeast just over Gemini this month, so finding it from Castor is easy. The positional condition is also best, locating around zenith just before midnight. It will keep 12 mag for a while. The outburst of this comet began 40 days before the perihelion passage date and reached to the peak 40 days after the perihelion date. It is uncertain if this is an unexpected outburst or the comet inclines to brighten drastically after perihelion passage. Anyway, why don't you have a look, the position is good to observe.

104P/Kowal 2 [Finding Chart] 104P/Kowal 2, which passes the perihelion on Mar. 2, has been well brightening as 19 mag in May, 18 mag in June, 17.5 mag in July, 16.5 -> 15.5 mag in August, 15 mag in September and October, 14.5 -> 13.5 mag in November and reached to 13 mag in December and January. The magnitude equation of this period is: m1 = 9.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r It will reach to the peak at 12-13 mag in this winter and spring. It moves eastwards from the center of Pisces to north of Cetus's head. It still locates in the southwest at dusk. Saturn is just south of this comet in early February. The comet passes only 30 arcmin south of 131P/Mueller 2 on Mar. 8 and 9. This comet will keep in the evening sky until May.

78P/Gehrels 2 [Finding Chart] 78P/Gehrels 2 has already passed the perihelion on Aug. 7, 1997. But it keeps so bright as 12 mag for six months from August to January, because it was getting closer to the earth until December. Visual observers reported as 11 mag in autumn and winter, so the comet has not yet shown to fade out still now. It is going away from the earth now, too. So it will fade out as 13 -> 14 mag this month. When it becomes low in the west in May, it reaches to 15 mag. However, considering to the current behavior of this comet, it may keep the brightness a while more. The comet still locates between the Orion's arm and Gemini. Finding it in your view is not difficult, although there are many faint stars around it because it is in the midst of winter Milky Way. It locate overhead in the evening and the good chance of visual observation continues, with 69P/Taylor which is also in Gemini.

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 [Finding Chart] 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, famous for the repeated outbursts, is now in another outburst since late January and reported as bright as 12 mag now. In this season, Kojima discovered that it has already bursted out on Nov. 24, just after appearing at dawn, but it turned to be diffused on Dec. 3. Visual observers monitored the comet after that. The comet kept 14 mag, a very small and diffused image. On Jan. 25, Hale discovered it was in another outburst, when the comet was 12.4 mag and almost stellar. Then it was observed visually as bright as 12 mag, getting diffused gradually and the diameter was also spreading out. The comet is on the Hydra's tail and locates in the south before dawn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates low, about 35 deg high. Though the ephemeris shows it is 14 mag, it will be much brighter in early February. On the other hand, it may become much fainter after the outburst finishes. But the comet has kept 14 mag all though this season, even when it was calm.

43P/Wolf-Harrington [Finding Chart] 43P/Wolf-Harrington has been bright for a long time, 13 mag in summer, 12 mag in autumn and 13 mag in winter. Though the perihelion passage was on Sept. 29, the comet was getting closer to the earth after that. That's the reason why it kept bright for a while. However, it is now going away from the earth, too. It will fade out rapidly after this. It becomes 14 mag this month. The comet still locates south of Hydra's body this month. Although it is opposite, it may be hard to observe because the comet is low, less than 35 deg high. Now the declination is most in the south and it moves northwards again after this. But it also closes to the sun apparently. So it locates at the same altitude for a while. When it becomes low in the west in early June, it will reach to 18 mag.

C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) [Finding Chart] C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) is a new comet discovered by Jean Mueller as 16 mag on a plate of the second Palomar Sky Survey taken on Feb. 17, 1997. It was observed until June as 13-14 mag, a bit brighter actually. After the conjunction with the sun in summer, it appeared again at dawn in September. Though it has already passed the perihelion on Oct. 11, the comet has been coming close to the earth. So the peak was from late November to early December. The comet was predicted to reach to 11 mag at that time. However, it was observed much fainter than expected. Some visual observers reported as 11 mag only in early November. But all other visual reports say about 12-13 mag. CCD observers reported as 14 mag. In January visual observers also reported as around 14 mag. These reports imply that the comet did not become active when it closed to the sun. Therefore I modified the ephemeris as the comet is much fainter, which shows it is about 14 mag and fading out gradually this month. The comet locates between Eridanus and Cetus. Although it has been moving drastically on the celestial globe in autumn and winter, the motion is very slow now. It locates in the southwest at dusk but the altitude at the end of evening glow becomes lower rapidly, 40 -> 23 deg. It is already hard to observe it visually, and CCD observations will be also impossible in March. Because the perihelion distance is so large as 2.2 AU, it can be observable again in next summer as 16 mag. However, the altitude of the comet reaches only to 22 deg in August at opposition. The comet will be at very low in the south after this, so it is very difficult to observe it again.

Faint Comets

A new comet discovered as 18 mag on Apr. 12, 1997, C/1997 G2 ( Montani ) [Finding Chart] had been at conjunction with the sun after being observed as 17 mag until July. It appears again at dawn since last month. However the comet locates in the southern sky and the Northern observers cannot see it. It moves from Ara to Pavo this month, becoming higher in the southeast at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. The comet is predicted to be around 15 mag. The perihelion passage is on Apr. 16 and the brightness reaches to 14 mag from March to July. Unfortunately the declination is about -70 deg, so the Northern people cannot observe it at all.

When 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1 [Finding Chart] was recovered in September 1996 as 20.7 mag, the nucleus was split into two pieces. In last year, it has brightened much more drastically than expected, 18 mag in August, 17 mag in September, and 16 mag in October. During November to January, it was about 15-16 mag with CCD, or 14 mag visually. The magnitude equation for this rapid brightening is: m1 = -92.5 + 5 log d + 220 log r This is quite unusual. Maybe this is the result of the nucleus splitting. It has already passed the perihelion on Nov. 20 and the ephemeris shows it fades out as 15.5 -> 16 mag this month. But actually it may be brighter. It is in Taurus and enters into Hyades after mid February. It locates overhead in the evening.

C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) [Finding Chart] , discovered on May 3, 1997, as 14 mag, was observed about 14-16 mag during October to January. The comet has passed the perihelion on the discovery day and only to get fainter. It is around the horns of Taurus, moving towards M1. It locates overhead in the evening and fades out 15.5 -> 16 mag this month. We can observe this comet until spring when it reaches to 17 mag. After that, it will appear again at dawn in next autumn as 19 mag.

95P/(2060) Chiron [Finding Chart] , also registered as an asteroid (2060), is still around the alpha-Lib and locates in the south at dawn as 16 mag. It has passed the perihelion in 1996 February. But the perihelion distance is so large and the magnitude will never change so much for more several years. The image is stellar and not so interesting. But it was observed as a bit fainter than expected in the former half of the last year. In addition, some say that the absolute magnitude varies erratically. The altitude of the comet is now low in the Northern Hemisphere, less than 40 deg. This situation will continue for a while.

The 7th return of D/1952 B1 ( Harrington-Wilson ) [Finding Chart] , a lost comet since the discovery in 1952, is predicted in this April. This comet was discovered in course of the Palomar Sky Survey with 1.22-m schmidt camera in 1952 January. Then it closed to Jupiter down to 0.6 AU and the orbit has become quite uncertain. The ephemeris in this article depends on the orbital elements calculated by Kenji Muraoka from only 7 observations. It is probably impossible to recover it just as the ephemeris predicts. But the inclination is about 18 deg, which means the comet always locates near the ecliptic. The magnitude reaches 16 mag at best, so maybe recovered my chance.

129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 [Finding Chart] , which passes the perihelion on Mar. 4, is at the peak in this winter. It has been brightening as 17-18 mag in autumn, 16-17 mag in December and 16 mag in January. Visual observations reported as bright as 14-15 mag in January. It is still in the center of Gemini, near by delta-Gem, and locates around zenith in the evening. Though the ephemeris says 16 mag, it may be brighter actually. It has already passed more than one year since the comet was recovered in 1996 October. Because the eccentricity is 0.25, almost a circle, it will keep 18.5 mag even at the opposition in 1999 spring. So the comet will be observed for a long time.

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 16 mag. It was observed as 13-17 mag from 1997 July to 1998 January. Visual observers reported the comet was much brighter than expected in summer and autumn. It is south of Pisces, just south of Saturn this month. Although it locates in the southwest at dusk, the altitude becomes lower as 34 -> 17 deg. After conjunction, it appears again at dawn as 17 mag in late July. This comet is as bright as 18 mag even at the aphelion and observable all around the orbit.

C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) [Finding Chart] has passed the perihelion about one year before, on Dec. 30, 1996. In early May in 1997, J. Kobayashi found that the comet was split into two nuclei, 10 mag (nucleus A) and 13 mag (B). Then the nucleus A faded out rapidly and reached to 16 mag in early July, then 17.5-18 mag in August. The light curve of the nucleus A is expressed as: m1 = -0.2 + 5 log d + 27.6 log r After that the fading became gentle and it was observed as 18.9 mag on Dec. 24. But it is extremely diffused. On the other hand, the nucleus B has been fading gradually, 14.7 mag in early July and kept 15 mag still in December and 16 mag in January. The light curve of the nucleus B is: m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 6.6 log r Here the ephemeris depends on the nucleus B. Though it is farther than 5 AU from the sun, it still keeps 17 mag. It still locates in Triangulum, in the evening sky. But the altitude becomes lower rapidly: 72 -> 48 deg.

A new periodic comet P/1997 V1 ( Larsen ) [Finding Chart] discovered on Nov. 3 as 16.6 mag, was observed a bit brighter, as 15.5-16 mag. It has already passed the perihelion on Aug. 16 and will never be brighter after this. But the perihelion distance is large as 3.3AU and the eccentricity is small as 0.33, it can be observed for a while. It still locates in Pisces, just north of Saturn. But the altitude becomes lower: 47 -> 29 deg. After conjunction, it appears again at dawn in autumn as 17 mag.

A new comet C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch ) [Finding Chart] , discovered on Jan. 31, 1997, as 19.4 mag, was originally reported as an asteroid. But the current images is cometary with a faint coma. It is getting brighter gradually, 18 mag in November and December, and around 17 mag in January. It will pass the perihelion in November 1999 and is expected to be bright as 13 mag. However it locates near the South Pole around the perihelion passage and cannot be observed in the Northern Hemisphere. Though it is so far as 6.5 AU from the sun now, it will brighten slowly around 17 mag this month. It still locates just north of alpha-Lib. It becomes opposite in eary February and locates in the south at midnight. Northern observers can trace this comet until May as 17 mag. But it goes into the southern sky after that and we in the Northern Hemisphere cannot observe it until 2000 autumn.

132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 [Finding Chart] was recovered on July 13, 1997, as 19.5 mag, about 2 mag fainter than expected. Then it brightened rapidly as 17.5 mag in early September, 16.5 mag in late September, and 15.5-16 mag in October and November. In January it faded out a bit and observed as 17-17.5 mag. On the other hand, visual observers reported it as around 15 mag during November and January, although the comet was so diffused. It has already passed the perihelion on Nov. 10. and the ephemeris says it fades out as 17.5 -> 18 mag in this month. But actually it may be a bit brighter. It moves eastwards in Taurus and locates in the southwest at dusk. We can observe it until early April.

A new asteroid 1997 CU26 [Finding Chart] , discovered as 18 mag on Feb. 15, 1997, is moving on an orbit with 13 AU 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 as about 18 mag for more than 20 years. Maybe someone detect the coma of this object and it turns to be a comet. It was observed a bit brighter, as 17-17.5 mag in January. It still locates near by alpha-Cnc. It becomes at opposition in early February and high in the south around midnight. In mid and late February, it closes to a globular cluster M67 within 1 deg.

62P/Tsuchinshan 1 [Finding Chart] , which passes the perihelion on Apr. 19, was observed on Oct. 12 for the first time in this return. It was so faint as 20 mag in October and November, about 2 mag fainter than expected, so it seems to reach only to 18.5 mag at best in March and April. However it brightened rapidly in January as 18.5 -> 17.5 mag. So we can observe it as 17 mag for a while. It moves from north of Cetus's head to Taurus. It locates in the southwest at dusk.

88P/Howell [Finding Chart] , which passes the perihelion on Sept. 27, has been observable at dawn since November, and finally observed by Scotti in early January for the first time in this return. Then it was also observed by Maury and Nakamura. Because it was so faint as 20 mag in early January and 19 mag in late January, about 3 mag fainter than expected, the observation of this comet had been failed previously. Here I modified the ephemeris to fit these reports. It still locates north of Spica and transits meridian before dawn. The brightness is 19 -> 18 mag in this month. The comet brightens rapidly after this, but reaches only to 14 mag in summer and autumn. However, some say that this comet tends to become bright after perihelion passage. In this case, it may be 11-12 mag in autumn.

An asteroid (5145) Pholus [Finding Chart] , which was discovered on Jan. 9, 1992 as 17 mag, was quite a rare object. The orbital elements show that it moves on an orbit with 8.7 AU perihelion distance and 90 year period. Because that is very similar to that of 95P/Chiron, which had been regarded as an asteroid for a long time and the true character is a comet, maybe this object is also a comet. But no coma was detected by the following observations. This object is very famous for its extreme red color. Although 6 years have already passed since the perihelion date, the brightness will not change so much and it will be observable for more several years after this because of the large distance from the sun. It locates still in southwest of Arcturus, reaches overhead in the morning, as 18 mag.

22P/Kopff [Finding Chart] was observed by T. Oribe and A. Sugie on Nov. 2 and 3 as 17 mag, about 3 mag brighter than expected. It has kept the brightness and observed as 17.8 mag on Dec. 31. However, the image was so diffused and very hard to observe in early November. So the comet may fade out drastically soon. It still locates in Taurus, high in the evening sky, but it is hard to observe it. On Dec. 3, 1996, the comet was split into 3 nuclei or more at the ESO. The comet had been observed until 1997 February, while it faded out gradually and reached to 16 mag. Therefore, perhaps the comet bursted out around the conjunction with the sun. The splitting of the nucleus may caused the outburst.

80P/Peters-Hartley [Finding Chart] , which will pass the perihelion on Aug. 11, is getting brighter now, as 19 -> 18.5 mag. It moves southwards in Antlia, south of the center of Hydra. Though it becomes opposite this month, the meridian altitude is so low, 22 -> 18 deg, and it is very hard to observe in the Northern Hemisphere. On the other hand, it locates around zenith in the Southern Hemisphere. The condition is bad in the Northern Hemisphere. The altitude will never higher than 23 deg after this. The comet will reach to 16 mag in the evening before the perihelion passage, but it will be seldom observed. Because it keeps low in the south always, maybe nobody observe it until April when the comet reaches to 17 mag.

C/1997 O1 ( Tilbrook ) [Finding Chart] , discovered as 10 mag in Australia on July 22, 1997, appeared again at dawn in November. It was observed as 15.3 mag on Dec. 4, 17.3 mag on Jan. 11, a bit brighter than expected. But it will fade out rapidly as 18.5 -> 19.5 mag this month. Because the comet was so diffused in December, it may be much fainter actually. It moves northwards from Hercules to Draco and locates high in the northeast at dawn. The Southern observers cannot observe it now. It enters into Ursa Minor next month.

74P/Smirnova-Chernykh [Finding Chart] , observable all around the orbit, 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 around the joint of Pisces, just south of Saturn. But it becomes too low to observe in mid February. After conjunction, it appears again at dawn in summer.

A new comet discovered on June 3, 1997, as 17 mag at the Xinglong station of BAO had been called Comet Xinglong, but it was renamed as C/1997 L1 ( Zhu-Balam ) [Finding Chart] on IAUC 6811 issued on Jan. 23. This object was reported as a new asteroid by the discoverer, and the early motion could be considered as that of a ordinary asteroid. But another observer revealed that it was really a comet immediately. There is another similar case in October of P/1997 T3. These two objects was decided to be named after two persons, the discoverer and the observer who indicated it cometary. This comet has already passed the perihelion in 1996 November. But because the perihelion distance is so large as 4.9 AU, it is fading very slowly. It still keeps about 18 mag now, though the distance from the sun is almost 6 AU. It moves northwards in northern part of Ophiucus and locates in the south at dawn.

C/1997 A1 ( NEAT ) [Finding Chart] is now very low in the northwest at dusk. The altitude at the end of evening glow is 55 deg in early February but 32 deg in late February. We cannot observe it after next month until it appears at dawn in late June as 20 mag. By the way, it passes in front of it in early February so maybe becomes hard to observe.

A new asteroid 1997 MD10 [Finding Chart] , discovered as 18.8 mag on June 29, 1997, 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 passed the perihelion on Nov. 10 and closed to the sun down to 1.5 AU at that time, but no coma was observed. It moves eastwards fast in Andromeda, and locates in the northwest at dusk as 19 mag, at about 42 deg high in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

No one succeeded to observe P/1996 R2 ( Lagerkvist ) [Finding Chart] , a new periodic comet discovered in 1996 September, since 1997 January. It has been in a good position since it appeared again at dawn last summer. Therefore the comet must be much fainter than expected now. Although it locates between Taurus and Gemini, overhead in the evening, probably no one can observe it. It closes to C/1997 J1 ( Mueller ) within 30 arcmin from Feb. 9 to 11.

10P/Tempel 2 [Finding Chart] is observable all around the orbit. Although it was just after aphelion passage last year, it has been observed as 20 mag. The next perihelion passage is 1999 September and the comet brightens slowly after this. But it is now only 19 mag. It locates in Leo, near by beta-Leo, overhead after midnight.

A Centaur type asteroid discovered in 1995, 1995 GO [Finding Chart] , is now 10 AU from the Sun, as far away from the sun as Saturn, so faint as 19 mag. This object will pass the perihelion in 2002. Then it is about 7 AU from the sun and reaches 17 mag. It locates on Hydra's tail and transits meridian before dawn this month. But the altitude is low, less than 35 deg, in the Northern Hemisphere. The situation continues for a while after this.

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 the brightness was about 2.5 mag fainter than expected, it was observed a bit brighter after that and reached to 17 mag at best. It will fades gradually as 19 -> 19.5 mag this month. It is north of Cetus's head and locates in the southwest at dusk. 104P/Kowal 2 passes about 30 arcmin south of this comet on Mar. 8 and 9.

A new periodic comet P/1997 G1 ( Montani ) [Finding Chart] discovered on Apr. 9, 1997, as 19 mag, appeared again at dawn in November. It was observed in December as 19 mag as expected. The comet is still south of Leo and locates high in the south after midnight this month. It becomes opposite next month. Though it has already passed the perihelion in last April, it will not fade out rapidly because of the large perihelion distance as 4 AU.

C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) [Finding Chart] , discovered on Aug. 10, 1996 as 13 mag, has already passed the perihelion on Mar. 1, 1996, but it is observable still now. It was observed as 17 mag in November. Because the perihelion distance is large, it is going faint slowly. It will be 19 mag this month. It locates between Eridanus and Cetus, in the southwest at dusk. It becomes too low to observe next month. Until it appears at dawn in late August, it fades out about 1 mag and will reach to 20.5 mag.

85P/Boethin [Finding Chart] should have passed the perihelion on Apr. 17, 1997. 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. After perihelion the comet appeared again at dawn in 1997 November but not yet observed. So this return of the comet has not been registered yet. It is in Leo and locates high in the south after midnight. But the brightness is so faint as about 20 mag. Because it has passed a while under the good condition without being observed, the comet will be missed in this return.

37P/Forbes [Finding Chart] , which passes the perihelion in 1999 May, will be observed soon. Though it is so faint as 20 mag now, it is around the forefoot of Leo, becomes opposite this month and locates high in the south at midnight. It closes down to only 2 arcmin to Regulus. They are within 1 deg during about 10 days around the date. The comet has appeared 8 times since 1929. It will brighten as 13 mag at best at the perihelion passage and will be observed visually.

98P/Takamizawa [Finding Chart] , which will pass the perihelion on Nov. 7, has not observed in this return yet. But it should be about 20 mag already. Because the comet gets brighter gradually after this, it will be observed soon. The condition of this return is bad. We can observe it only until summer, when it reaches to 17 mag. It is in the head of Virgo, just east of beta-Leo, and locates high in the south after midnight this month.

This comet had been without its own name for a while and just called P/1997 T3. But finally it was named on IAUC 6811 issued on Jan. 23. The comet should be called P/1997 T3 ( Lagerkvist-Carsenty ) [Finding Chart] after this. This object was reported as a new asteroid by the discoverer, and the early motion could be considered as that of a ordinary asteroid. But another observer revealed that it was really a comet immediately. There is another similar case in June of C/1997 L1. These two objects was decided to be named after two persons, the discoverer and the observer who indicated it cometary. Though almost one year has passed since the comet passed the perihelion, it is still about 19 mag. Because of the large perihelion distance as 4.2 AU, it is fading out gradually. However, it becomes very low this month. It locates just east of Saturn.

21P/Giacobini-Zinner [Finding Chart] , which will pass the perihelion on Nov. 21, appears at dawn. Now that it is farther than 3 AU from the sun, it should be so faint as 20 mag. But it is expected to brighten rapidly after this while coming away from the sun apparently. It will be about 17 mag in spring and within range of amateurs' CCD. It will be brighter than 14 mag in August, then reaches to 10 mag in autumn and winter and observed visually in the evening. This comet is also a mother of Giacobinid meteor shower in October. Usually the shower does not appear at all, but a great appearance is expected in next October caused by the return of this comet. The previous chance was in 1985, when many observers did not believe it, but a sudden great appearance happened in Japan and surprised them so much. How about this time? The comet moves northwards in Ophiucus.

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 may be recovered soon. Because the condition is good and it should be about 20 mag this winter, Scotti tried to recover it but failed. The comet is probably much fainter than expected. Therefore, the recover of this comet will be in next winter, when it becomes 1-2 mag brighter than now.

Ephemeris Table

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

55P/Tempel-Tuttle m1 = 7.5 + 5 log d + 35.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 1 28.83 41 40.5 1.109 0.506 90 7.6 18:50 (112, 68) 1998- 2- 6 1 18.04 22 59.9 1.042 0.805 70 7.7 18:59 ( 82, 52) 1998- 2-16 1 15.10 14 47.0 0.997 1.120 56 7.7 19:07 ( 81, 37) 1998- 2-26 1 13.66 10 8.2 0.977 1.415 43 7.9 19:16 ( 85, 25) 1998- 3- 8 1 12.65 7 0.9 0.985 1.672 32 8.4 19:24 ( 89, 13)

C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp ) m1 = -1.4 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 5 20.60 -62 42.6 4.200 4.081 90 7.9 20:53 ( 0, -8) 1998- 2- 6 5 7.95 -61 18.9 4.304 4.214 88 8.1 20:01 ( 0, -6) 1998- 2-16 4 59.82 -59 45.1 4.407 4.348 86 8.2 19:14 ( 0, -5) 1998- 2-26 4 55.59 -58 8.2 4.509 4.484 85 8.4 19:16 ( 6, -4) 1998- 3- 8 4 54.60 -56 33.2 4.610 4.620 83 8.6 19:24 ( 13, -4)

103P/Hartley 2 m1 = 8.3 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 1 44.01 -2 13.1 1.148 0.858 76 9.2 18:50 ( 34, 47) 1998- 2- 6 2 33.33 0 10.9 1.213 0.912 79 9.8 18:59 ( 36, 50) 1998- 2-16 3 19.15 2 28.3 1.287 0.990 81 10.5 19:07 ( 38, 51) 1998- 2-26 4 0.99 4 30.2 1.368 1.088 82 11.2 19:16 ( 42, 52) 1998- 3- 8 4 38.99 6 11.7 1.453 1.206 82 12.0 19:24 ( 47, 52)

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) 1998- 1-27 20 16.68 36 28.8 3.080 3.533 55 11.3 5:35 (237, 17) 1998- 2- 6 20 35.13 35 11.9 3.068 3.576 51 11.3 5:29 (240, 19) 1998- 2-16 20 52.25 34 8.4 3.059 3.613 49 11.3 5:20 (242, 21) 1998- 2-26 21 8.08 33 17.4 3.054 3.641 47 11.4 5:10 (244, 23) 1998- 3- 8 21 22.65 32 37.4 3.051 3.658 45 11.4 4:57 (246, 25)

C/1997 T1 ( Utsunomiya ) m1 = 7.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 18 49.89 -0 48.0 1.528 2.275 31 11.5 5:35 (281, 14) 1998- 2- 6 18 49.08 -2 22.1 1.598 2.239 38 11.8 5:29 (287, 19) 1998- 2-16 18 46.79 -3 52.0 1.677 2.171 47 12.0 5:20 (294, 25) 1998- 2-26 18 42.40 -5 22.2 1.761 2.074 57 12.3 5:10 (302, 30) 1998- 3- 8 18 35.03 -6 57.5 1.851 1.956 69 12.5 4:57 (311, 34)

69P/Taylor m1 = 8.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 8 16.31 30 24.6 1.985 1.013 167 12.5 23:49 ( 0, 86) 1998- 2- 6 8 10.62 33 5.9 2.003 1.058 156 12.6 23:04 ( 0, 88) 1998- 2-16 8 7.10 35 7.8 2.024 1.126 146 12.9 22:21 (180, 90) 1998- 2-26 8 6.72 36 29.7 2.048 1.214 136 13.1 21:42 (180, 88) 1998- 3- 8 8 9.88 37 15.5 2.074 1.317 127 13.4 21:06 (180, 88)

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) 1998- 1-27 0 47.67 8 46.3 1.447 1.501 67 12.8 18:50 ( 61, 47) 1998- 2- 6 1 17.37 9 47.2 1.422 1.533 64 12.7 18:59 ( 66, 45) 1998- 2-16 1 48.51 10 51.1 1.405 1.567 61 12.7 19:07 ( 71, 42) 1998- 2-26 2 20.84 11 53.2 1.397 1.605 59 12.7 19:16 ( 75, 40) 1998- 3- 8 2 54.11 12 49.3 1.398 1.648 57 12.8 19:24 ( 79, 37)

78P/Gehrels 2 m1 = 8.2 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 6 17.06 13 48.6 2.427 1.547 146 13.0 21:50 ( 0, 69) 1998- 2- 6 6 15.41 14 14.6 2.470 1.663 135 13.2 21:09 ( 0, 69) 1998- 2-16 6 16.57 14 42.2 2.513 1.797 126 13.5 20:31 ( 0, 70) 1998- 2-26 6 20.33 15 9.1 2.557 1.945 117 13.7 19:56 ( 0, 70) 1998- 3- 8 6 26.41 15 33.3 2.601 2.103 108 14.0 19:24 ( 1, 71)

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) 1998- 1-27 13 40.20 -20 4.4 6.256 6.071 96 13.9 5:16 ( 0, 35) 1998- 2- 6 13 41.05 -20 27.3 6.255 5.911 105 13.8 4:37 ( 0, 35) 1998- 2-16 13 40.82 -20 44.3 6.254 5.759 115 13.8 3:58 ( 0, 34) 1998- 2-26 13 39.52 -20 55.0 6.252 5.620 125 13.7 3:17 ( 0, 34) 1998- 3- 8 13 37.20 -20 58.7 6.251 5.498 136 13.7 2:36 ( 0, 34)

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) 1998- 1-27 10 3.91 -21 25.0 1.963 1.141 134 13.6 1:40 ( 0, 34) 1998- 2- 6 9 54.81 -22 0.3 2.017 1.152 141 13.9 0:52 ( 0, 33) 1998- 2-16 9 45.16 -21 45.1 2.073 1.181 145 14.2 0:03 ( 0, 33) 1998- 2-26 9 36.46 -20 46.8 2.130 1.231 146 14.5 23:11 ( 0, 34) 1998- 3- 8 9 29.97 -19 18.0 2.188 1.301 144 14.9 22:25 ( 0, 36)

C/1997 D1 ( Mueller ) m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 2 48.12 -13 26.5 2.557 2.389 88 13.9 18:50 ( 9, 41) 1998- 2- 6 2 39.66 -13 15.1 2.611 2.642 77 14.2 18:59 ( 27, 38) 1998- 2-16 2 34.90 -12 57.4 2.669 2.887 67 14.4 19:07 ( 41, 32) 1998- 2-26 2 32.85 -12 37.9 2.730 3.117 58 14.6 19:16 ( 52, 25) 1998- 3- 8 2 32.80 -12 19.8 2.793 3.328 49 14.8 19:24 ( 61, 17)

C/1997 G2 ( Montani ) m1 = 5.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 17 39.03 -54 12.2 3.180 3.735 49 15.4 5:35 (331,-11) 1998- 2- 6 18 1.73 -56 56.2 3.158 3.616 55 15.3 5:29 (334,-12) 1998- 2-16 18 27.09 -59 44.7 3.139 3.497 60 15.2 5:20 (336,-14) 1998- 2-26 18 55.92 -62 35.5 3.122 3.381 66 15.1 5:10 (338,-16) 1998- 3- 8 19 29.27 -65 25.0 3.109 3.272 71 15.0 4:57 (340,-18)

128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1 m1 = -0.8 + 5 log d + 30.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 4 3.23 16 55.7 3.070 2.519 115 15.4 19:37 ( 0, 72) 1998- 2- 6 4 7.39 17 10.6 3.078 2.655 106 15.6 19:02 ( 0, 72) 1998- 2-16 4 13.52 17 30.7 3.086 2.797 97 15.7 19:07 ( 29, 71) 1998- 2-26 4 21.39 17 54.2 3.095 2.944 89 15.9 19:16 ( 51, 66) 1998- 3- 8 4 30.80 18 19.4 3.105 3.091 81 16.0 19:24 ( 65, 59)

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) 1998- 1-27 6 4.24 29 14.1 3.683 2.843 143 15.4 21:36 ( 0, 84) 1998- 2- 6 5 49.47 27 22.1 3.760 3.044 130 15.7 20:43 ( 0, 82) 1998- 2-16 5 38.82 25 39.8 3.838 3.273 118 15.9 19:53 ( 0, 81) 1998- 2-26 5 31.72 24 9.8 3.916 3.521 106 16.2 19:16 ( 11, 79) 1998- 3- 8 5 27.58 22 52.3 3.995 3.779 95 16.4 19:24 ( 52, 72)

95P/Chiron m1 = 4.0 + 5 log d + 7.5 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 15 2.66 -15 44.2 8.838 8.970 79 15.9 5:35 (341, 37) 1998- 2- 6 15 4.92 -15 48.7 8.848 8.815 88 15.8 5:29 (350, 39) 1998- 2-16 15 6.45 -15 50.0 8.859 8.659 98 15.8 5:20 (359, 39) 1998- 2-26 15 7.24 -15 48.1 8.870 8.507 108 15.8 4:45 ( 0, 39) 1998- 3- 8 15 7.27 -15 43.0 8.880 8.365 118 15.7 4:05 ( 0, 39)

D/1952 B1 ( Harrington-Wilson ) m1 = 12.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 3 23.47 0 50.0 1.991 1.549 101 15.9 18:57 ( 0, 56) 1998- 2- 6 3 33.38 3 44.4 1.966 1.621 94 16.0 18:59 ( 15, 58) 1998- 2-16 3 45.92 6 37.1 1.944 1.698 88 16.0 19:07 ( 32, 58) 1998- 2-26 4 0.84 9 24.5 1.926 1.778 82 16.1 19:16 ( 48, 56) 1998- 3- 8 4 17.90 12 3.3 1.911 1.859 77 16.2 19:24 ( 60, 53)

129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 m1 = 5.7 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 7 31.89 22 43.3 2.824 1.863 164 16.1 23:04 ( 0, 78) 1998- 2- 6 7 25.16 22 37.9 2.821 1.909 152 16.1 22:18 ( 0, 78) 1998- 2-16 7 20.50 22 28.2 2.819 1.978 141 16.2 21:35 ( 0, 77) 1998- 2-26 7 18.34 22 14.7 2.818 2.068 130 16.3 20:53 ( 0, 77) 1998- 3- 8 7 18.84 21 57.8 2.817 2.175 120 16.4 20:14 ( 0, 77)

65P/Gunn m1 = 7.7 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 0 39.61 -3 18.3 3.751 4.125 61 15.8 18:50 ( 52, 37) 1998- 2- 6 0 48.08 -2 1.8 3.778 4.280 53 15.9 18:59 ( 62, 31) 1998- 2-16 0 57.15 -0 44.5 3.805 4.423 46 16.0 19:07 ( 70, 25) 1998- 2-26 1 6.69 0 32.9 3.831 4.553 38 16.1 19:16 ( 78, 18) 1998- 3- 8 1 16.63 1 49.7 3.858 4.668 31 16.2 19:24 ( 85, 11)

C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater ) m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 6.6 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 2 12.28 31 14.0 4.928 4.753 94 17.0 18:50 ( 79, 76) 1998- 2- 6 2 17.08 30 50.4 5.022 5.001 85 17.1 18:59 ( 87, 67) 1998- 2-16 2 22.81 30 35.4 5.115 5.248 76 17.3 19:07 ( 93, 58) 1998- 2-26 2 29.31 30 27.9 5.208 5.490 68 17.4 19:16 ( 97, 50) 1998- 3- 8 2 36.43 30 26.8 5.300 5.724 60 17.6 19:24 (102, 42)

P/1997 V1 ( Larsen ) m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 0 56.83 10 41.5 3.373 3.574 70 17.0 18:50 ( 61, 50) 1998- 2- 6 1 7.76 11 17.7 3.385 3.718 62 17.1 18:59 ( 70, 44) 1998- 2-16 1 19.39 11 59.4 3.398 3.854 55 17.2 19:07 ( 78, 37) 1998- 2-26 1 31.63 12 45.2 3.412 3.982 48 17.3 19:16 ( 85, 30) 1998- 3- 8 1 44.36 13 33.6 3.426 4.100 41 17.4 19:24 ( 91, 23)

C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch ) m1 = 5.3 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 9 26.79 -5 25.2 6.683 5.790 153 17.4 1:03 ( 0, 50) 1998- 2- 6 9 20.20 -5 42.5 6.617 5.689 158 17.3 0:18 ( 0, 49) 1998- 2-16 9 13.41 -5 53.4 6.552 5.622 158 17.2 23:27 ( 0, 49) 1998- 2-26 9 6.71 -5 58.4 6.486 5.586 153 17.2 22:41 ( 0, 49) 1998- 3- 8 9 0.43 -5 58.5 6.421 5.581 145 17.1 21:55 ( 0, 49)

132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 m1 = 11.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 2 58.66 9 44.4 2.034 1.646 98 17.2 18:50 ( 10, 64) 1998- 2- 6 3 14.50 11 10.7 2.066 1.778 92 17.5 18:59 ( 28, 64) 1998- 2-16 3 31.45 12 34.8 2.101 1.915 86 17.7 19:07 ( 44, 61) 1998- 2-26 3 49.28 13 54.2 2.138 2.056 81 18.0 19:16 ( 57, 57) 1998- 3- 8 4 7.82 15 7.1 2.178 2.199 75 18.3 19:24 ( 67, 53)

1997 CU26 m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 9 0.70 10 30.4 13.685 12.714 170 17.7 0:37 ( 0, 66) 1998- 2- 6 8 58.33 10 35.0 13.679 12.700 172 17.7 23:51 ( 0, 66) 1998- 2-16 8 56.01 10 40.4 13.673 12.717 164 17.7 23:10 ( 0, 66) 1998- 2-26 8 53.84 10 45.9 13.666 12.764 154 17.7 22:28 ( 0, 66) 1998- 3- 8 8 51.92 10 51.3 13.660 12.839 144 17.7 21:47 ( 0, 66)

62P/Tsuchinshan 1 m1 = 12.7 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 2 17.47 7 40.4 1.724 1.453 87 18.2 18:50 ( 30, 60) 1998- 2- 6 2 32.55 10 18.8 1.676 1.498 82 18.1 18:59 ( 46, 58) 1998- 2-16 2 50.50 13 1.3 1.633 1.541 76 17.9 19:07 ( 59, 55) 1998- 2-26 3 11.17 15 43.7 1.594 1.582 72 17.7 19:16 ( 70, 52) 1998- 3- 8 3 34.50 18 21.8 1.561 1.622 68 17.6 19:24 ( 78, 48)

88P/Howell m1 = 11.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 13 41.22 -6 5.1 2.646 2.272 101 19.1 5:17 ( 0, 49) 1998- 2- 6 13 48.13 -6 35.1 2.584 2.082 109 18.8 4:44 ( 0, 48) 1998- 2-16 13 53.31 -6 54.5 2.522 1.900 118 18.4 4:10 ( 0, 48) 1998- 2-26 13 56.39 -7 2.1 2.460 1.728 127 18.1 3:34 ( 0, 48) 1998- 3- 8 13 56.96 -6 57.1 2.396 1.570 137 17.7 2:55 ( 0, 48)

(5145) Pholus m1 = 7.0 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 13 56.60 14 34.6 12.854 12.581 103 18.0 5:32 ( 0, 70) 1998- 2- 6 13 56.90 14 54.0 12.881 12.462 113 18.0 4:53 ( 0, 70) 1998- 2-16 13 56.68 15 15.3 12.907 12.356 122 18.0 4:14 ( 0, 70) 1998- 2-26 13 55.96 15 37.6 12.934 12.266 130 18.0 3:34 ( 0, 71) 1998- 3- 8 13 54.78 16 0.0 12.960 12.196 138 18.0 2:53 ( 0, 71)

22P/Kopff m1 = 2.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 3 28.50 14 31.2 4.283 3.898 106 18.1 19:02 ( 0, 70) 1998- 2- 6 3 30.15 14 50.0 4.319 4.089 96 18.3 18:59 ( 23, 68) 1998- 2-16 3 33.25 15 13.0 4.355 4.283 87 18.4 19:07 ( 47, 63) 1998- 2-26 3 37.63 15 39.2 4.390 4.476 78 18.6 19:16 ( 63, 56) 1998- 3- 8 3 43.14 16 7.5 4.424 4.663 70 18.8 19:24 ( 74, 49)

80P/Peters-Hartley m1 = 12.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 9 59.20 -32 23.4 2.494 1.791 125 19.2 1:36 ( 0, 23) 1998- 2- 6 9 50.61 -34 24.4 2.430 1.683 129 18.9 0:48 ( 0, 21) 1998- 2-16 9 39.89 -35 50.7 2.367 1.594 131 18.6 23:53 ( 0, 19) 1998- 2-26 9 28.07 -36 34.9 2.304 1.522 131 18.3 23:02 ( 0, 18) 1998- 3- 8 9 16.68 -36 33.7 2.242 1.468 130 18.1 22:11 ( 0, 18)

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) 1998- 1-27 16 3.03 45 5.3 2.946 2.796 88 18.3 5:35 (237, 64) 1998- 2- 6 16 8.46 50 15.6 3.048 2.812 94 18.6 5:29 (222, 67) 1998- 2-16 16 11.19 55 31.1 3.150 2.851 98 18.9 5:20 (204, 66) 1998- 2-26 16 10.05 60 41.2 3.251 2.916 100 19.3 5:10 (191, 64) 1998- 3- 8 16 3.26 65 34.1 3.352 3.006 101 19.6 4:57 (181, 59)

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) 1998- 1-27 0 59.97 1 5.4 4.573 4.860 67 18.5 18:50 ( 51, 44) 1998- 2- 6 1 6.12 1 57.0 4.565 4.992 59 18.6 18:59 ( 61, 37) 1998- 2-16 1 13.06 2 51.7 4.556 5.113 50 18.6 19:07 ( 71, 30) 1998- 2-26 1 20.67 3 48.7 4.547 5.221 43 18.7 19:16 ( 78, 23) 1998- 3- 8 1 28.86 4 47.3 4.538 5.312 35 18.7 19:24 ( 85, 15)

C/1997 L1 ( Zhu-Balam ) m1 = 7.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 17 4.62 7 55.6 5.897 6.348 58 18.7 5:35 (291, 40) 1998- 2- 6 17 9.97 9 14.7 5.938 6.266 66 18.7 5:29 (296, 46) 1998- 2-16 17 14.53 10 41.4 5.980 6.178 73 18.7 5:20 (301, 52) 1998- 2-26 17 18.21 12 15.1 6.022 6.086 81 18.7 5:10 (307, 57) 1998- 3- 8 17 20.89 13 54.8 6.065 5.996 89 18.7 4:57 (314, 62)

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) 1998- 1-27 0 44.13 43 27.9 3.797 3.773 83 18.7 18:50 (118, 60) 1998- 2- 6 0 44.40 41 36.2 3.849 3.993 74 18.9 18:59 (115, 51) 1998- 2-16 0 46.22 40 10.5 3.902 4.205 65 19.0 19:07 (115, 42) 1998- 2-26 0 49.12 39 7.3 3.956 4.406 57 19.2 19:16 (117, 33) 1998- 3- 8 0 52.75 38 23.3 4.012 4.590 49 19.3 19:24 (121, 25)

1997 MD10 m1 = 16.0 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 22 58.65 47 3.5 1.846 1.877 72 18.7 18:50 (125, 42) 1998- 2- 6 23 47.46 48 5.8 1.919 1.979 72 18.9 18:59 (126, 42) 1998- 2-16 0 34.59 48 22.5 1.997 2.105 70 19.1 19:07 (127, 42) 1998- 2-26 1 18.49 48 2.7 2.079 2.250 67 19.4 19:16 (126, 41) 1998- 3- 8 1 58.42 47 17.3 2.164 2.412 63 19.6 19:24 (126, 40)

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) 1998- 1-27 5 47.46 26 20.5 3.309 2.492 140 18.8 21:20 ( 0, 81) 1998- 2- 6 5 45.01 26 15.4 3.338 2.622 129 18.9 20:39 ( 0, 81) 1998- 2-16 5 44.91 26 10.3 3.367 2.769 119 19.1 19:59 ( 0, 81) 1998- 2-26 5 47.05 26 5.6 3.395 2.929 109 19.3 19:22 ( 0, 81) 1998- 3- 8 5 51.24 26 1.3 3.424 3.097 100 19.5 19:24 ( 44, 78)

10P/Tempel 2 m1 = 10.5 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 11 47.56 12 31.6 4.135 3.392 133 19.3 3:24 ( 0, 68) 1998- 2- 6 11 44.03 13 27.1 4.105 3.261 144 19.2 2:41 ( 0, 68) 1998- 2-16 11 38.92 14 29.2 4.074 3.156 155 19.1 1:57 ( 0, 69) 1998- 2-26 11 32.48 15 34.1 4.043 3.079 164 19.0 1:11 ( 0, 71) 1998- 3- 8 11 25.15 16 37.1 4.010 3.034 168 18.9 0:24 ( 0, 72)

1995 GO m1 = 9.0 + 5 log d + 5.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 14 5.73 -20 52.8 10.438 10.384 90 19.2 5:35 (358, 34) 1998- 2- 6 14 6.33 -21 9.4 10.406 10.185 100 19.1 5:03 ( 0, 34) 1998- 2-16 14 6.28 -21 22.9 10.374 9.991 110 19.1 4:23 ( 0, 34) 1998- 2-26 14 5.57 -21 33.0 10.342 9.808 120 19.0 3:43 ( 0, 33) 1998- 3- 8 14 4.23 -21 39.5 10.310 9.640 130 19.0 3:03 ( 0, 33)

131P/Mueller 2 m1 = 9.3 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 1 55.57 9 7.3 2.449 2.362 83 18.9 18:50 ( 40, 58) 1998- 2- 6 2 9.26 10 6.9 2.461 2.495 76 19.1 18:59 ( 53, 54) 1998- 2-16 2 23.96 11 10.0 2.475 2.627 70 19.3 19:07 ( 64, 49) 1998- 2-26 2 39.53 12 14.6 2.490 2.757 64 19.4 19:16 ( 72, 43) 1998- 3- 8 2 55.84 13 18.6 2.506 2.882 58 19.6 19:24 ( 79, 38)

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) 1998- 1-27 11 8.30 0 33.2 4.500 3.713 138 19.1 2:45 ( 0, 56) 1998- 2- 6 11 5.16 0 43.9 4.519 3.641 149 19.1 2:02 ( 0, 56) 1998- 2-16 11 1.08 1 2.3 4.538 3.594 160 19.0 1:19 ( 0, 56) 1998- 2-26 10 56.42 1 26.8 4.557 3.576 170 19.1 0:35 ( 0, 56) 1998- 3- 8 10 51.57 1 55.0 4.577 3.589 173 19.1 23:46 ( 0, 57)

C/1996 P2 ( Russell-Watson ) m1 = 7.0 + 5 log d + 9.2 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 3 5.26 -7 35.5 7.172 7.033 94 19.1 18:50 ( 4, 47) 1998- 2- 6 3 6.19 -6 49.9 7.249 7.262 85 19.2 18:59 ( 21, 46) 1998- 2-16 3 7.95 -6 3.5 7.326 7.490 76 19.3 19:07 ( 36, 42) 1998- 2-26 3 10.46 -5 17.2 7.402 7.713 68 19.4 19:16 ( 49, 36) 1998- 3- 8 3 13.63 -4 31.8 7.479 7.927 59 19.5 19:24 ( 59, 30)

85P/Boethin m1 = 6.5 + 5 log d + 20.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 11 23.90 8 4.7 3.388 2.590 138 19.2 3:00 ( 0, 63) 1998- 2- 6 11 17.02 8 48.2 3.468 2.578 150 19.4 2:14 ( 0, 64) 1998- 2-16 11 8.85 9 36.5 3.546 2.592 162 19.6 1:27 ( 0, 65) 1998- 2-26 11 0.04 10 25.3 3.624 2.638 173 19.8 0:39 ( 0, 65) 1998- 3- 8 10 51.32 11 10.0 3.700 2.715 171 20.0 23:46 ( 0, 66)

37P/Forbes m1 = 10.5 + 5 log d + 12.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 10 30.71 10 22.9 3.864 2.970 151 19.9 2:07 ( 0, 65) 1998- 2- 6 10 23.86 10 53.5 3.818 2.864 163 19.8 1:21 ( 0, 66) 1998- 2-16 10 15.84 11 28.7 3.773 2.787 175 19.6 0:34 ( 0, 66) 1998- 2-26 10 7.23 12 5.2 3.726 2.742 172 19.5 23:41 ( 0, 67) 1998- 3- 8 9 58.71 12 39.5 3.678 2.730 160 19.5 22:53 ( 0, 68)

98P/Takamizawa m1 = 11.5 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 12 16.61 6 58.5 2.995 2.314 125 20.5 3:53 ( 0, 62) 1998- 2- 6 12 16.87 7 46.1 2.934 2.148 135 20.2 3:14 ( 0, 63) 1998- 2-16 12 14.89 8 49.8 2.874 2.001 146 19.9 2:32 ( 0, 64) 1998- 2-26 12 10.62 10 7.5 2.812 1.876 156 19.6 1:49 ( 0, 65) 1998- 3- 8 12 4.26 11 34.3 2.751 1.778 165 19.3 1:03 ( 0, 67)

P/1997 T3 ( Lagerkvist-Carsenty ) m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 10.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 1 13.88 5 12.9 4.249 4.445 72 19.5 18:50 ( 50, 49) 1998- 2- 6 1 21.12 6 7.2 4.246 4.585 64 19.6 18:59 ( 62, 43) 1998- 2-16 1 29.20 7 5.0 4.245 4.715 56 19.6 19:07 ( 71, 36) 1998- 2-26 1 38.01 8 5.4 4.244 4.835 48 19.7 19:16 ( 79, 29) 1998- 3- 8 1 47.45 9 7.4 4.243 4.942 40 19.7 19:24 ( 86, 21)

21P/Giacobini-Zinner m1 = 10.0 + 5 log d + 15.0 log r Date R.A. Decl. r d Elong m1 Best time (A, h) 1998- 1-27 16 36.66 -3 34.8 3.296 3.667 60 20.6 5:35 (308, 37) 1998- 2- 6 16 47.75 -2 50.2 3.227 3.471 67 20.3 5:29 (313, 41) 1998- 2-16 16 58.33 -1 51.9 3.156 3.269 74 20.1 5:20 (318, 44) 1998- 2-26 17 8.24 -0 38.8 3.084 3.064 81 19.8 5:10 (323, 48) 1998- 3- 8 17 17.28 0 50.2 3.010 2.859 89 19.5 4:57 (328, 51)

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) 1998- 1-27 7 25.00 14 8.9 4.131 3.183 162 20.3 22:57 ( 0, 69) 1998- 2- 6 7 18.73 14 28.1 4.108 3.216 151 20.2 22:12 ( 0, 69) 1998- 2-16 7 13.67 14 47.9 4.085 3.277 140 20.2 21:28 ( 0, 70) 1998- 2-26 7 10.15 15 7.2 4.062 3.360 129 20.3 20:45 ( 0, 70) 1998- 3- 8 7 8.39 15 25.0 4.038 3.461 119 20.3 20:04 ( 0, 70)