Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Oct. 16: North)

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 Updated on October 17, 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/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )
Not observable. It will appear at dawn at 5 mag in November and keep observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Norhtern Hemisphere, it will become visible in the morning low sky in latter Novemberk, but become unobservable soon, then keep unobservable until January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  12 35.95  -12 23.4   1.975   1.024    12    5.9     30.3 201.8   4:42 (278,-10)  
Oct. 23  12 30.32  -15 46.0   1.912   1.036    20    5.9     32.3 202.3   4:48 (286, -4)

* C/2004 Q2 ( Machholz )
It will be getting brighter on and on after this, then it will reach to 4 mag locating high in the evening sky in December and January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time while the comet is bright enough visible visually until 2005 October when it becomes faint as 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   5  7.12  -28 17.4   1.284   1.927   114    8.8     10.8 134.2   3:28 (  0, 27)  
Oct. 23   5 10.55  -29  7.2   1.173   1.852   117    8.5      8.3 142.2   3:04 (  0, 26)

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )
It locates visible all night in the northern sky. It keeps observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  15 23.96   69 16.3   2.492   2.533    80   10.8     28.1  79.5  18:48 (154, 37)  
Oct. 23  16  1.80   69 42.8   2.522   2.617    84   11.0     29.1  84.1  18:40 (155, 39)

* C/2004 Q1 ( Tucker )
It is around 10.5 mag visually, brighter than this ephemeris. It will turn to be in the evening sky after November, but it keeps locating overhead in this year, brighter than 12 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   1 34.37   24 47.9   1.162   2.138   163   11.1     47.4 309.5  23:51 (  0, 80)  
Oct. 23   1 14.71   28 11.2   1.149   2.115   161   11.1     47.3 306.1  23:03 (  0, 83)

* 78P/Gehrels 2
Well condensed and easy to see visually. It is observable in good condition as bright as 11-12 mag until January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   3 25.73   17  0.1   1.087   2.010   149   11.3      6.0 190.7   1:47 (  0, 72)  
Oct. 23   3 24.50   16 15.5   1.055   2.008   156   11.2      7.8 209.6   1:19 (  0, 71)

* C/2004 R2 ( ASAS )
Appearing at dawn. Because it rapidly faded out just after the perihelion passage, now it may be much fainter than this ephemeris. Or, it may have already disappeared. Anyway, it will fade out rapidly after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  14 35.15    3 16.8   0.955   0.364    21   12.5    176.8  81.2  18:48 ( 91,  4)  
Oct. 23  15 56.17    5 10.9   0.896   0.580    35   14.4    170.0  87.3  18:40 ( 84, 18)

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )
The fading has been slow and it keeps 13 mag still in December. It is diffused visually. It has a long tail on the CCD image. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  11  5.38   41 22.0   3.051   2.688    59   12.7     15.7 115.2   4:42 (241, 35)  
Oct. 23  11 13.68   40 39.1   3.054   2.758    63   12.8     13.8 113.6   4:48 (243, 40)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
It was in outburst on Oct. 6 and reached to 11 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   0  4.93   10 43.5   4.777   5.725   160   13.1      6.5 245.3  22:23 (  0, 66)  
Oct. 23   0  2.27   10 24.5   4.820   5.726   153   13.1      5.9 242.9  21:53 (  0, 65)

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn, however, it will be mid November when the altitude exceeds 20 deg high. No observation has been reported since mid July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  11 32.35  -12 54.2   3.807   2.962    27   13.1      7.2 132.5   4:42 (288,  2)  
Oct. 23  11 34.66  -13 28.0   3.832   3.050    33   13.3      6.5 138.1   4:48 (293,  8)

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )
The brightening evolution is slower than usual. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until 2005 spring when it reaches to 8 mag. It keeps observable both in the evening and morning until December, however, it keeps locating low at 20-25 deg high. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  13 32.24   64 43.4   2.880   2.770    73   13.4     30.0 110.3  18:48 (152, 26)  
Oct. 23  14  2.70   63 21.8   2.767   2.684    74   13.2     31.7 113.1  18:40 (151, 26)

* (944) Hidalgo
It is observable at 13.5 mag in good condition in October and November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   2  5.75   31  8.6   1.227   2.175   155   13.6     33.9 313.6   0:28 (  0, 86)  
Oct. 23   1 51.31   33 47.3   1.193   2.146   157   13.5     34.9 308.7  23:40 (  0, 89)

* P/2004 T1 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
New comet. Now it is brightest, and it will start fading after November. It keeps observable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in 2005 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   0 49.58  -10 44.2   0.756   1.723   158   14.0     14.2 316.9  23:07 (  0, 44)  
Oct. 23   0 45.41   -9 23.4   0.767   1.716   153   14.0     14.8 328.6  22:36 (  0, 46)

* 32P/Comas Sola
It will be 12-13 mag in winter, locating high in the evening sky. It keeps observable until that time in good condition while the comet is getting brighter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   3 14.30    9 25.7   1.457   2.388   152   14.6      7.8 281.3   1:36 (  0, 64)  
Oct. 23   3 10.01    9 37.3   1.389   2.350   160   14.4     10.5 279.8   1:04 (  0, 65)

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1
It was observed a bit fainter than this ephemeris. It will brighten very rapidly after this. It is expected to be visible visually at 11 mag from November to January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   8 20.42   17  7.7   1.435   1.592    79   15.8     43.3  94.6   4:42 (296, 58)  
Oct. 23   8 41.58   16 40.7   1.368   1.567    81   15.0     43.8  95.3   4:48 (301, 60)

* C/2004 S1 ( Van Ness )
New comet. It approached to the earth in mid October and reached to 15 mag. It will go far away from the earth after this. Because it will be closer to the sun, the ephemeris says it keeps 16 mag for a while after this. However, it may disappear due to its small perihelion distance. In November, it will be getting lower and lower rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  22 32.53   23 13.3   0.320   1.248   136   15.0    322.7 268.5  20:40 (  0, 78)  
Oct. 23  20 22.86   18 53.5   0.409   1.146   101   15.2    191.8 256.3  18:40 ( 25, 72)

* 103P/Hartley 2
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as 16.5 mag on Oct. 6, 1.5 mag fainter than this ephemeris. After this, it keeps observable while it will be fading gradually until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in 2005 April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  10 42.90   -2 39.5   2.780   2.126    40   15.0     25.5 115.9   4:42 (287, 18)  
Oct. 23  10 53.28   -3 56.3   2.781   2.188    44   15.2     24.0 116.7   4:48 (292, 22)

* 121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2
It tends to become brightest after the perihelion passage. It was 17 mag on Sept. 18. In this return, it will reach to 14 mag in 2005 February at the opposition. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   9 23.64   20 27.7   2.905   2.662    66   15.5     21.5  93.4   4:42 (278, 48)  
Oct. 23   9 34.10   20 19.8   2.825   2.667    70   15.4     20.6  92.5   4:48 (282, 52)

* 88P/Howell
Diffused, but some reported that it is still 14 mag. It keeps observable in good condition until December when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   2 14.36    9 44.8   1.304   2.288   167   15.5     17.6 257.3   0:36 (  0, 65)  
Oct. 23   2  6.27    9 18.3   1.340   2.333   175   15.8     17.3 257.7   0:01 (  0, 64)

* 48P/Johnson
In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps to be locating only around 30 deg high. It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  20 16.66  -27 40.8   1.964   2.310    97   15.6     17.1  84.0  18:48 (  3, 27)  
Oct. 23  20 26.06  -27 24.8   2.046   2.311    92   15.7     18.9  81.7  18:40 (  5, 27)

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
It will fade out gradually, and keeps observable brighter than 17 mag until the end of 2004. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  22 49.13    9  2.1   4.424   5.242   141   15.7     16.1 242.0  21:07 (  0, 64)  
Oct. 23  22 42.87    8 10.7   4.558   5.292   133   15.8     14.2 240.1  20:33 (  0, 63)

* 65P/Gunn
It will be as faint as 17.5 mag in 2005 March when it becomes low in the evening western sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   1 14.46   -4  3.8   2.693   3.670   166   15.7     11.2 257.4  23:32 (  0, 51)  
Oct. 23   1  9.48   -4 18.4   2.734   3.690   161   15.8     10.4 260.6  23:00 (  0, 51)

* 56P/Slaughter-Burnham
It keeps observable at 16 mag in good condition until the end of 2004. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  23 26.68    0 28.2   1.721   2.628   149   16.0      6.1 273.1  21:45 (  0, 55)  
Oct. 23  23 24.39    0 32.6   1.758   2.615   141   16.0      3.8 284.6  21:15 (  0, 56)

* 119P/Parker-Hartley
It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition until January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   1  7.89   12 43.1   2.260   3.254   174   16.5     10.4 241.5  23:25 (  0, 68)  
Oct. 23   1  3.61   12  7.7   2.261   3.241   168   16.4     10.1 239.5  22:54 (  0, 67)

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )
It keeps observable in good condition at 16 mag until 2005 spring. It will reach to 15 mag in 2006. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   6  4.58   43 33.8   6.141   6.559   110   16.6      5.0  10.7   4:26 (180, 81)  
Oct. 23   6  4.85   44  8.5   6.018   6.528   116   16.5      5.0 358.7   3:59 (180, 81)

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )
It will reach to 9 mag in 2006 spring. It was 16.6 mag on Sept. 14, so it has been brightening well as expected. In this season, it keeps observable until 2005 March when it becomes 15.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   5 56.25   -8 50.5   5.161   5.583   110   16.7     10.6 209.5   4:17 (  0, 46)  
Oct. 23   5 53.40   -9 55.8   5.011   5.522   116   16.6     11.6 216.0   3:47 (  0, 45)

* 160P/2004 NL21 ( LINEAR )
New periodic comet. It will fade out after this, and become fainter than 18 mag at the end of 2004. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  22 11.51   -1 29.9   1.291   2.083   130   16.7      8.6   9.8  20:30 (  0, 54)  
Oct. 23  22 13.01   -0 30.0   1.352   2.084   124   16.8      9.9  29.6  20:04 (  0, 55)

* 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3
It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from November to February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   6  8.41   28  0.7   2.532   3.035   110   17.4      5.7  84.8   4:29 (  0, 83)  
Oct. 23   6 10.83   28  4.1   2.433   3.023   117   17.2      3.5  82.2   4:04 (  0, 83)

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck
It will be fainter than 18 mag in November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   0 36.67   -2 38.8   2.733   3.699   163   17.3      9.1 245.3  22:54 (  0, 52)  
Oct. 23   0 33.03   -3  3.0   2.804   3.734   155   17.4      7.8 247.0  22:23 (  0, 52)

* (3200) Phaethon
It keeps observable at 15.5 mag from mid November to mid February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   5 50.69   37  7.9   1.411   2.033   114   17.8      5.8 329.5   4:12 (180, 88)  
Oct. 23   5 47.49   37 44.1   1.279   1.987   121   17.5      9.7 303.1   3:41 (180, 87)

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )
It keeps observable at 18 mag in good condition until January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16   7 19.45   19 56.2   3.694   3.897    94   17.7     10.4 196.3   4:42 (316, 70)  
Oct. 23   7 17.50   18 45.7   3.621   3.941   101   17.7     11.3 206.0   4:48 (341, 73)

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )
It will be fainter than 18 mag in November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 16  18 30.58   39 12.2   6.784   6.776    85   17.8      6.5 127.5  18:48 (109, 66)  
Oct. 23  18 33.94   38 45.5   6.867   6.811    82   17.8      7.0 121.0  18:40 (108, 63)

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