Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Dec. 25: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on December 26, 2004
Last week South Next week

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/2004 Q2 ( Machholz )


It keeps bright at 4 mag locating high in the evening sky until late 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)  
Dec. 25   4  8.00   -4 13.0   0.386   1.298   138    4.1    105.7 340.7  21:49 (  0, 52)  
Jan.  1   3 51.42    8 52.8   0.354   1.262   135    3.8    127.8 344.0  21:05 (  0, 65)  

* C/2004 V13 ( SWAN )


New comet. It must have located in the very low sky at dawn in October and November. It had been around 6-6.5 mag from Dec. 16 to 20. If it survives the perihelion passage, it will appear in the evening sky in late December, then it will be observable while fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  19  9.18  -18 42.3   1.014   0.236    13    6.8    190.8  97.1  18:25 ( 70, -4)  
Jan.  1  20 38.49  -21 52.6   0.879   0.430    25    9.1    177.3  98.2  18:29 ( 59,  4)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until April when it reaches to 13 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dusk in mid January at 9 mag, then it will keep observable until the end of March in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   8  0.45  -60 33.8   1.153   1.559    93    7.5    100.9 264.9   1:50 (  0, -6)  
Jan.  1   6 28.36  -58 59.5   1.184   1.640    97    7.8     97.2 287.7  23:35 (  0, -4)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


It will be fading gradually after this, but it keeps 11 mag until the end of January. It will be visible visually until May when it becomes too low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   3  7.22   11  6.1   1.260   2.066   133   10.9      5.2  84.4  20:50 (  0, 66)  
Jan.  1   3 10.36   11 14.1   1.330   2.080   127   11.0      8.2  77.7  20:26 (  0, 66)  

* C/2004 Q1 ( Tucker )


It will be fading gradually after this, but it keeps 11 mag until mid January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  23 27.44   43 45.1   1.678   2.058    97   11.0     10.3   1.7  18:25 (127, 73)  
Jan.  1  23 28.71   44 59.6   1.761   2.069    93   11.2     11.6  17.7  18:29 (125, 68)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1


Very diffused and widely spreading visually. It keeps bright at 11 mag untill January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  11 41.18   12 21.9   0.939   1.500   102   11.2     34.6  91.4   5:26 (  0, 67)  
Jan.  1  11 57.01   12 20.8   0.909   1.511   105   11.2     31.6  88.8   5:14 (  0, 67)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until 2005 spring when it reaches to 8 mag. It will be unobservable in the evening sky soon. The altitude in the morning will be constant until late February, and it will not be higher.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  17 51.82   41 49.8   2.064   1.881    65   11.5     40.8 128.2   5:35 (234, 22)  
Jan.  1  18 11.32   38 51.6   2.018   1.789    62   11.3     40.7 128.7   5:37 (237, 23)  

* 10P/Tempel 2


The condition of this return is bad. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in 2005 July at 14.5 mag, then it will be fading after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  18 27.09  -20 47.8   2.506   1.526     3   12.7     46.5  93.2  18:25 ( 74,-14)  
Jan.  1  18 50.51  -20 58.9   2.485   1.503     2   12.4     47.3  91.0  18:29 ( 75,-16)  

* 32P/Comas Sola


It is a bit brighter visually than this ephemeris, around 12.5 mag. It keeps observable at 12-13 mag in the evening sky until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   2 24.59   14 42.0   1.319   2.049   125   12.9      8.7   1.1  20:07 (  0, 70)  
Jan.  1   2 25.59   15 45.6   1.357   2.022   118   12.8     10.3  22.8  19:41 (  0, 71)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


Completely diffused visually. It keeps observable for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also visible at midnight or dawn, but low.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  21 10.70   62 11.9   3.158   3.348    92   13.3     25.8 115.7  18:25 (147, 48)  
Jan.  1  21 32.82   60 54.6   3.275   3.426    90   13.6     24.5 115.7  18:29 (144, 47)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Although it was faint at 13 mag in early December, it brightened to 11 mag again in mid December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  23 59.97    9  6.5   5.641   5.729    90   13.4      4.5  80.1  18:25 ( 23, 62)  
Jan.  1   0  2.30    9 13.6   5.754   5.730    83   13.5      5.6  77.0  18:29 ( 37, 60)  

* C/2004 U1 ( LINEAR )


It bursted out in late November and reached to 13.5 mag. Now it is visible visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   6 38.28   52 35.5   1.765   2.665   150   13.7     58.0 296.7   0:26 (180, 73)  
Jan.  1   5 56.32   54 58.8   1.794   2.671   146   13.8     55.3 286.5  23:07 (180, 70)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It will be getting fainter gradually until 2005 June when it becomes 17 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  11 25.65  -17 15.5   3.604   3.801    94   14.1     10.2 263.6   5:11 (  0, 38)  
Jan.  1  11 20.20  -17 20.1   3.558   3.881   101   14.1     12.2 269.2   4:38 (  0, 38)  

* (944) Hidalgo


It will be fading slowly until 2005 August when it becomes low in the evening sky at 16.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   0 15.50   45 31.5   1.450   1.970   106   14.3      7.2   9.4  18:25 (157, 78)  
Jan.  1   0 17.58   46 23.7   1.508   1.962   101   14.4      9.3  32.2  18:29 (142, 74)  

* 121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2


It tends to become brightest after the perihelion passage. It was 16 mag in mid December, fainter than expected by about 1-1.5 mag. If it brightens as expected, it will reach to 14 mag in February at the opposition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  10 38.03   23  3.2   2.109   2.738   120   14.5      9.3  37.7   4:23 (  0, 78)  
Jan.  1  10 40.32   23 58.8   2.046   2.749   126   14.4      9.1  21.1   3:58 (  0, 79)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Diffused, and fading rapidly. It was around 16 mag in mid December, fainter than this ephemeris by 1 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  11 39.22   40 24.7   2.898   3.385   111   15.0      6.3 311.6   5:24 (180, 85)  
Jan.  1  11 35.60   40 55.5   2.884   3.454   117   15.1      8.4 303.0   4:53 (180, 84)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )


It has been brightening more rapidly than expected, and already reached to 15.5 mag. It may be reach to 13 mag in 2006.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   5 40.24   48 12.0   5.363   6.264   154   15.1      6.3 285.6  23:22 (180, 77)  
Jan.  1   5 36.07   48 21.6   5.357   6.236   151   15.0      5.9 280.3  22:50 (180, 77)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux


It keeps 15-16 mag in the evening sky until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   1  3.67  -19 30.0   1.131   1.535    92   15.3     28.6  40.1  18:47 (  0, 36)  
Jan.  1   1 13.59  -16 50.5   1.143   1.502    89   15.2     32.3  42.9  18:29 (  0, 38)  

* 69P/Taylor


It will be observable in good conditon at 15.5 mag until late January. In its last return in 1997, it burst out after the perihelion passage and became extremely bright, reached to 11 mag. However, it is faint in this return.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   9  9.08   20 28.5   1.096   1.953   139   15.4     17.7  12.5   2:54 (  0, 75)  
Jan.  1   9 10.16   22 36.1   1.061   1.960   146   15.4     19.1   1.6   2:28 (  0, 77)  

* (3200) Phaethon


It keeps observable at 15.5 mag until mid February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   1 59.44   25  2.4   0.614   1.410   122   15.5     68.9 232.2  19:40 (  0, 80)  
Jan.  1   1 34.50   20  8.4   0.626   1.322   108   15.6     60.3 227.3  18:48 (  0, 75)  

* 162P/2004 TU12 ( Siding Spring )


Almost stellar. It keeps observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   0  3.57   31 30.0   0.756   1.337    99   15.5     47.2  39.7  18:25 ( 70, 82)  
Jan.  1   0 20.88   35 25.6   0.824   1.371    98   15.7     44.4  45.1  18:29 ( 97, 79)  

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )


It will reach to 9 mag in 2006 spring. It has been brightening well as expected. In this season, it keeps observable until March when it becomes 15.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   4 57.05  -18  2.5   4.226   4.964   134   15.6     16.4 256.9  22:39 (  0, 37)  
Jan.  1   4 49.33  -18 24.1   4.214   4.901   129   15.5     15.6 260.9  22:03 (  0, 37)  

* 9P/Tempel 1


Brighening well as expected. We can observe it in good condition while it is brightening, then the comet will reach to 9 mag in spring and summer. It may become a naked-eye object due to the Deep Impact mission on July 4.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  12 25.85   10  3.2   2.070   2.315    91   16.2     20.6 101.3   5:35 (340, 64)  
Jan.  1  12 35.26    9 37.4   1.947   2.274    96   15.9     19.8  99.6   5:37 (351, 64)  

* P/2004 T1 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It was visible visually around 13.5 mag in October, but became faint rapidly in November. It keeps observable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   1 16.42    8 32.8   1.201   1.765   107   16.1     27.2  50.0  19:00 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  1   1 26.73   10 33.4   1.277   1.782   103   16.5     28.3  53.2  18:43 (  0, 66)  

* C/2004 RG113 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable in good condition at 16 mag from January to March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   7 55.88   59 32.7   1.268   2.116   139   16.3      7.1   3.2   1:42 (180, 66)  
Jan.  1   7 55.38   60 13.8   1.227   2.084   140   16.1      4.8 343.0   1:14 (180, 65)  

* 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3


It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition until February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   5 42.25   27 42.8   1.947   2.924   171   16.5     11.4 260.4  23:24 (  0, 83)  
Jan.  1   5 36.52   27 28.1   1.957   2.914   163   16.4     10.6 257.8  22:51 (  0, 82)  

* 56P/Slaughter-Burnham


It will be getting fainter and lower until March, when it becomes 17.5 mag and too low.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  23 55.01    5 15.1   2.386   2.540    87   16.5     18.3  64.9  18:25 ( 22, 58)  
Jan.  1   0  3.12    6 11.3   2.469   2.538    82   16.5     19.8  65.2  18:29 ( 33, 57)  

* P/2004 Y1 ( Christensen )


New comet. It keeps 16.5 mag in good condition until late January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  11  3.99   23 20.7   1.792   2.375   114   16.5      9.8  33.6   4:49 (  0, 78)  
Jan.  1  11  5.99   24 22.4   1.757   2.416   121   16.6      9.7  14.0   4:23 (  0, 79)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be as faint as 17.5 mag in 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)  
Dec. 25   0 54.50   -2 19.2   3.597   3.861    98   16.6      6.4  39.6  18:37 (  0, 53)  
Jan.  1   0 56.75   -1 43.2   3.722   3.879    91   16.7      7.7  46.0  18:29 (  7, 53)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


It will brighten gradually, then it will be 15 mag in spring and summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  14 57.01  -13 29.6   4.066   3.482    47   16.8     18.2 108.6   5:35 (309, 24)  
Jan.  1  15  5.19  -14  8.9   3.973   3.468    52   16.8     17.6 108.0   5:37 (314, 27)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be too low in the evening sky at 17.5 mag in early February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  22 23.11    3 57.3   6.075   5.750    66   16.9      1.7 128.0  18:25 ( 54, 45)  
Jan.  1  22 23.93    3 52.0   6.238   5.801    59   17.0      2.2 102.7  18:29 ( 61, 40)  

* 163P/2004 V4 ( NEAT )


Although the condition is good, it will be fainter than 18 mag in late February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   3 51.03    8 45.3   1.071   1.946   142   17.0     12.4 340.1  21:33 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  1   3 49.87   10 10.1   1.105   1.937   136   17.1     12.5 357.1  21:05 (  0, 65)  

* P/2004 X1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Very diffused. It will fade out rapidly after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in early January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   0 14.96   12 50.0   0.514   1.149    95   17.2    111.6  65.3  18:25 ( 15, 67)  
Jan.  1   1  0.38   17 29.3   0.581   1.225    99   17.7     92.6  68.3  18:29 (  9, 73)  

* 119P/Parker-Hartley


It is observable at 17 mag in good condition until January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   0 57.72    9 19.0   2.769   3.146   103   17.2      7.6  82.0  18:41 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  1   1  1.69    9 29.3   2.857   3.137    97   17.2      9.5  78.6  18:29 (  7, 64)  

* P/2004 WR9 ( LINEAR )


Although the condition is good, it 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)  
Dec. 25   5 20.16   32  8.6   0.959   1.925   165   17.3      4.7 284.7  23:02 (  0, 87)  
Jan.  1   5 18.13   32 13.7   0.971   1.920   158   17.3      2.7 276.4  22:33 (  0, 87)  

* 88P/Howell


Diffused, and fading rapidly. It will be fainter than 18 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   1 38.86    9  8.2   2.197   2.732   112   17.3      6.4  55.3  19:22 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  1   1 41.82    9 35.7   2.330   2.774   106   17.6      8.4  59.7  18:57 (  0, 65)  

* P/2004 VR8 ( LONEOS )


It keeps 17.5 mag and locating high until February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   3 25.38   15 32.0   2.233   3.047   139   17.3      9.2 299.2  21:08 (  0, 71)  
Jan.  1   3 22.06   16  4.8   2.273   3.017   131   17.3      7.5 310.9  20:37 (  0, 71)  

* P/2004 V5 ( LINEAR-Hill )


It is observable in good condition at 17.5 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   9 45.90   37 53.4   3.695   4.425   133   17.6      5.2 346.2   3:31 (180, 87)  
Jan.  1   9 44.72   38 29.3   3.632   4.423   139   17.6      5.8 332.3   3:03 (180, 87)  

* 159P/2003 UD16 ( LONEOS )


Although it has passed the perihelion about 1 year ago, it has been brightening gradually, and reached to 17.5 mag now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   7 34.27   45 37.1   3.093   3.992   152   17.7      9.5 306.2   1:20 (180, 79)  
Jan.  1   7 28.85   46 13.2   3.093   4.007   155   17.7      9.6 299.1   0:47 (180, 79)  

* C/2004 D1 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 16.7 mag at best in early 2006. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps observable for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25   5 14.72   47 26.8   4.988   5.881   153   17.8      8.0 290.7  22:56 (180, 78)  
Jan.  1   5  9.70   47 44.1   4.992   5.854   148   17.8      7.3 287.0  22:24 (180, 77)  

* 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)  
Dec. 25   6 22.40    8 14.8   3.398   4.354   164   17.8     18.8 243.1   0:09 (  0, 63)  
Jan.  1   6 14.66    7 17.8   3.454   4.402   162   17.8     17.8 244.2  23:28 (  0, 62)  

* C/2004 X3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be observable at 17.5 mag until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  11 45.99    5 18.9   4.378   4.631    98   17.9      7.8 207.2   5:31 (  0, 60)  
Jan.  1  11 43.91    4 31.2   4.245   4.615   106   17.8      8.6 218.6   5:01 (  0, 60)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 18 mag until spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 25  14 15.30   43 15.1   6.590   6.602    86   17.8      5.8 358.5   5:35 (243, 61)  
Jan.  1  14 14.91   43 58.5   6.532   6.626    91   17.8      6.7 350.6   5:37 (239, 66)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.