Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Apr. 17: North)

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Updated on April 19, 2004
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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* C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield )


New bright comet discovered in the very low sky in the evening. It had been locating high in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere from last autumn to early March, while the comet brightened to 9.5 mag, however, it was not discovered. It approached to the Sun down to 0.17 AU on Apr. 18. During several days around the perihelion passage, it is visible in the SOHO LASCO field. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn at 7 mag in late April. It will be a good target for visual observation in May. It passes very close by C/2003 T3 ( Tabur ) on Apr. 25.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   1 47.44    5 48.4   0.852   0.172     4    1.9    185.4 322.7  20:03 (115,-20)  
Apr. 24   1  5.69   23 44.2   0.900   0.319    18    4.8    122.8 340.9   3:45 (241,  0)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will be 2 mag in May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the south-western sky at dusk. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   2 53.91  -65 12.0   0.698   1.085    76    4.1     73.4  77.7  20:03 ( 31,-36)  
Apr. 24   4 28.05  -60 28.4   0.516   1.035    78    3.3    134.5  57.2  20:11 ( 35,-28)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It was observed at 4.6 mag on Apr. 9. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is best opportunity to see the comet in the morning until mid May. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low sky at dawn until early May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  23 52.18    5 29.0   1.317   0.629    27    4.5     15.7 178.3   3:56 (263,  0)  
Apr. 24  23 54.81    3 24.8   1.078   0.615    34    4.0     23.7 148.3   3:45 (267,  2)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Appearing at dawn. Juro Kobayashi observed it on Apr. 14 as 11 mag by CCD, which suggests it is about 9.5 mag visually now. The brightness evolution in 2003 autumn had been very slow, and it must have continued until now. After this, it keeps low until autumn. It passes very close by a new comet C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield ) on Apr. 25.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   0 40.21   21 24.4   2.410   1.490    18    9.5     49.4  42.6   3:56 (244,  0)  
Apr. 24   0 57.64   25 40.1   2.379   1.482    20    9.5     50.6  43.5   3:45 (240,  3)  

* 88P/Howell


Although it was so faint as 14.6 mag in late February, it brightened rapidly in late March. Now it is 10-11 mag visually. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating lower than 15 deg until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  22 23.41  -13 21.0   1.679   1.368    54   10.8     50.6  70.8   3:56 (292,  7)  
Apr. 24  22 45.89  -11 22.4   1.663   1.373    55   10.8     49.4  69.8   3:45 (289,  7)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


The condition is worst in this return. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in autumn, when it will already fade to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   0 52.23   10  6.4   2.085   1.123    12   11.6     61.9  73.6   3:56 (251, -9)  
Apr. 24   1 20.95   12  4.5   2.058   1.090    11   11.3     63.4  75.0   3:45 (248,-10)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


Well condensed and easy to see. It is about 0.5 mag brighter than this ephemeris visually. It will be 6.5 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition until early September when it becomes to 7.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  20 14.05   26 37.3   2.864   2.832    78   11.8     16.1 348.3   3:56 (273, 56)  
Apr. 24  20 11.55   28 33.7   2.686   2.750    82   11.5     18.6 340.1   3:45 (273, 60)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


It was diffused around 11.5 mag visually in February and March. But it suddenly began to fade in mid April. It will be lower and fainter gradually in the evening sky after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   8 59.69  -17  9.1   1.759   2.325   111   12.6     39.1 297.7  20:03 ( 14, 37)  
Apr. 24   8 45.12  -15 11.2   1.918   2.347   102   12.8     30.0 300.9  20:11 ( 29, 35)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will be lower and lower while fading after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   4 47.58   16 25.3   2.141   1.608    45   12.9     43.4  92.0  20:03 ( 95, 22)  
Apr. 24   5  8.63   16 10.3   2.189   1.622    43   13.0     43.2  93.4  20:11 ( 97, 19)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  23 50.19    4 57.1   6.592   5.725    28   13.8     11.8  62.5   3:56 (264,  0)  
Apr. 24  23 55.02    5 35.1   6.537   5.725    33   13.8     11.5  62.0   3:45 (265,  3)  

* 58P/Jackson-Neujmin


At the previous appearance, it brightened after the perihelion passage and reached to 10 mag. If it has behaved so again, it could have reach to 13 mag in February and March. However, it must be much fainter actually than expected. It seems to go while nobody succeeded to observe it in this return.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   3 24.16    9 19.6   2.638   1.784    25   14.4     40.8  75.8  20:03 (101,  1)  
Apr. 24   3 42.65   10 25.2   2.710   1.831    23   14.6     39.5  77.1  20:11 (104, -2)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Not observable. It will appear at dawn again at 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   0 51.40   12 42.3   4.934   3.960    12   14.5      5.2  41.7   3:56 (249, -7)  
Apr. 24   0 52.95   13  9.3   4.950   4.006    18   14.6      4.9  38.4   3:45 (251, -4)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and it was observed visually around 13.5 mag in February and March. After this, it will be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  12 53.87    8 35.5   1.395   2.354   157   14.9     13.1 244.6  23:09 (  0, 64)  
Apr. 24  12 48.73    7 52.0   1.444   2.377   151   15.1     12.0 235.5  22:36 (  0, 63)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


The brightness evolution is gradual in this return. So it will reach to 15 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  16  6.12    0 46.9   1.099   1.990   142   15.0      5.7 328.1   2:25 (  0, 56)  
Apr. 24  16  3.98    1 16.9   1.097   2.020   147   15.1      7.1 301.2   1:56 (  0, 56)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


Althouhg it must be fainter than 17 mag, it unexpectedly brightened from February to March and reached to 14.5 mag. It has already begun to fade, and faded to 16 mag in mid April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  11 30.83    9 49.7   1.965   2.823   141   15.5      5.0 300.0  21:46 (  0, 65)  
Apr. 24  11 29.32   10  2.4   2.056   2.853   134   15.7      2.4 299.6  21:18 (  0, 65)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 5 mag in 2005 spring. Until that time, it keeps observable in the Northern Hemisphere, which the comet will be getting brighter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   4 54.80   70 21.8   5.081   4.779    66   15.8      6.7 122.7  20:03 (156, 38)  
Apr. 24   5  3.16   69 58.3   5.074   4.708    63   15.8      7.2 115.1  20:11 (155, 36)  

* 81P/Wild 2


In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps fading at about 35 deg high until August when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  19 33.59  -18 54.3   2.144   2.448    95   15.8     10.2  79.3   3:56 (328, 29)  
Apr. 24  19 37.87  -18 42.3   2.094   2.489   100   15.8      7.5  78.4   3:45 (331, 31)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It will be fading slowly until November when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  19 14.16   32 38.5   5.861   5.945    89   16.9     12.0   7.1   3:56 (270, 70)  
Apr. 24  19 14.67   34  1.1   5.830   5.974    93   16.9     11.7   1.7   3:45 (268, 73)  

* 48P/Johnson


It was 18.5 mag in early April, about 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris. It will reach to 15 mag in summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  19 41.45  -14 41.0   2.349   2.596    92   17.1     16.3  85.5   3:56 (324, 32)  
Apr. 24  19 48.96  -14 33.0   2.243   2.576    97   16.9     14.9  86.3   3:45 (326, 34)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  16 15.94   52 59.6   5.528   5.923   108   16.9     16.6 304.3   2:35 (180, 72)  
Apr. 24  16  4.74   53 59.5   5.538   5.936   108   17.0     16.7 297.9   1:57 (180, 71)  

* C/2003 E1 ( NEAT )


It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  18 30.09   10 40.1   2.879   3.288   105   17.1      7.2  54.7   3:56 (331, 63)  
Apr. 24  18 32.43   11  7.9   2.815   3.298   109   17.0      5.4  46.6   3:45 (338, 65)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It will become fainter than 18 mag, and too low to observe in June. It was about 0.5 mag brighter than this ephemeris around the opposition from December to February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   8  1.54   25 16.8   4.149   4.269    90   17.4      7.4  77.5  20:03 ( 74, 65)  
Apr. 24   8  5.57   25 26.3   4.269   4.284    84   17.5      8.5  82.3  20:11 ( 81, 59)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It was observed around 17.5 mag recently. It will be fainter than 18 mag in late May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  13 35.62    7 33.0   6.051   7.012   161   17.5      9.5 267.0  23:51 (  0, 63)  
Apr. 24  13 31.21    7 28.2   6.116   7.057   157   17.5      9.2 264.5  23:19 (  0, 62)  

* C/2003 F1 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable around 17.5 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  18 17.22   -7 59.9   4.115   4.587   111   17.7      5.8 215.2   3:56 (346, 46)  
Apr. 24  18 15.25   -8 34.3   4.038   4.612   119   17.7      7.2 224.4   3:45 (352, 46)  

* C/2003 V1 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly. It will be observable in good condition until May when it will be fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   9 28.31   44 22.0   4.542   4.833   100   17.7      7.4 174.2  20:03 (161, 80)  
Apr. 24   9 29.20   43 30.1   4.697   4.894    95   17.8      7.7 165.0  20:11 (134, 77)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


It was brighter than this ephemeris recently, around 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  11 40.74   12 28.7   3.199   4.040   142   18.2      6.8 275.3  21:56 (  0, 67)  
Apr. 24  11 37.81   12 30.1   3.250   4.025   135   18.2      5.4 267.8  21:26 (  0, 67)  

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