Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2005 Dec. 17: South)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on December 17, 2005
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

C/2005 E2 ( McNaught ) It was faint as 16.4 mag at the discovery in March (Mar. 12, R. H. McNaught). Then it brightened well as expected, and became visible visually as 12.2 mag in August (Aug. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 10.9 mag (Dec. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Strongly condensed and easy to see. It was very small and sharp before, however, the coma is getting larger and it looks like an ordinary comet now. It will reach to 10 mag from January to March. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable only until December. In the Northern Hemisphere, the altitude will be getting lower slowly after January, and it will be too low to observe in April. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 21 18.88 -17 2.3 2.220 1.788 51 10.7 20:57 ( 81, 17) Dec. 24 21 34.12 -14 52.1 2.222 1.740 48 10.5 21:02 ( 81, 13) C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR ) It was expected to reach to 9 mag in 2006 spring. But actually, it is much fainer than expected, 13.9 mag on Aug. 1 and 11.7 mag still on Oct. 27 (Michael Mattiazzo). It seems to be a comet with very slow brightness evolution, similar to C/2003 T4. It will be 11 mag at best. It is not observable until late March in the Northern Hemisphere, but will be observable for a long time while it is getting fainter after that. It will be too low even in the Southern Hemisphere from January to February. It was reported as 13.3 mag on Dec. 9 (Andrew Pearce). So maybe it is fading unexpectedly? Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 20 12.32 -61 1.5 2.290 1.755 45 11.5 20:57 ( 33, 27) Dec. 24 20 14.06 -57 21.2 2.341 1.719 40 11.5 21:02 ( 34, 22) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 It had been so faint as around 15 mag for a long time since May. It had been too faint to see visually. However, an outburst occured on Sept. 9 and it brightened to 13 mag (Stephane Garro). Another outburst occured on Nov. 2, and it reached to 12.5 mag (Piotr Guzik). After that, it keeps somewhat faint around 14-15 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 1 43.73 22 2.9 5.140 5.776 126 13.3 20:57 (164, 31) Dec. 24 1 43.30 21 48.6 5.235 5.778 119 13.3 21:02 (156, 29) C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR ) It brightened faster than a typical comet, and it is already visible visually as 13.5 mag (Oct. 24, Seiichi Yoshida). Small and strongly condensed. Because it is distant from the sun, it keeps observable at 13.5 mag in good condition for a long time until 2006 June. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 10 11.20 49 10.0 4.681 5.263 121 13.7 2:53 (195, 3) Dec. 24 10 12.27 49 48.8 4.611 5.255 126 13.6 2:56 (191, 4) C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR ) Although it has already passed the perihelion in 2004 October, the fading after the perihelion passage is slow. It is visible visually still now, bright as 13.1 mag (Oct. 24, Seiichi Yoshida). Moderately condensed and easy to see. Because it is distant from the sun, it can be visible visually as 13 mag for a while after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 2 43.29 -11 44.9 4.803 5.423 124 14.3 20:58 (180, 67) Dec. 24 2 38.45 -11 19.0 4.961 5.489 117 14.4 21:02 (159, 65) P/2005 R2 ( Van Ness ) Although it was reported so faint as 16-20 mag at the discovery in September, it is actually much brighter, around 14 mag. It was also visible visually as 13.6 mag (Sept. 25, Werner Hasubick). Then it brightened furthermore, 12.6 mag on Nov. 4 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). It must have been observable as 14-15 mag in 2004 spring and summer, but it was not discovered at that time. Therefore, now it may be in an unusual temporary outburst. In late November, it seems to be a bit fainter. It became invisible visually, fainer than 13.5 mag, on Dec. 9 (Andrew Pearce). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 1 33.24 24 0.3 2.278 2.947 124 14.3 20:57 (162, 29) Dec. 24 1 35.08 23 37.1 2.385 2.973 117 14.5 21:02 (155, 27) C/2005 B1 ( Christensen ) Recovery of a peculiar asteroid 2004 FS101 discovered in 2004 spring. Although it was 18 mag in mid January, it has been brightening rather faster than a typical comet, and it reached to 16 mag in early September. It keeps observable at 15-16 mag for a long time from 2005 spring to the end of 2006. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps observable for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. It is brightest until May, but keeps lower than 30 deg high. It was not visible visually, fainter than 14.0 mag on Aug. 5 (Seiichi Yoshida), when the altitude was high. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 17 27.43 51 1.2 3.396 3.272 74 14.7 2:53 (230,-53) Dec. 24 17 50.17 51 36.3 3.369 3.259 75 14.7 2:56 (229,-51) C/2004 Q2 ( Machholz ) It was fantastic, so bright as 3.5 mag, so large as 30 arcmin, locating high overhead at its best time in early January. Then it has been getting fainter and smaller gradually, 12.5 mag on Sept. 3 (Edwin van Dijk) and 13.8 mag on Oct. 19 (Mitsunori Tsumura). It will appear again in the morning sky at 15 mag in December, then it keeps observable using CCD cameras until next summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 16 16.57 0 30.3 5.137 4.324 31 14.9 2:53 (285,-21) Dec. 24 16 22.68 0 14.7 5.161 4.393 35 15.0 2:56 (281,-16) C/2005 N1 ( Juels-Holvorcem ) It reached to 11.4 mag in August (Aug. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was expected to start fading since early September. But actually, it keeps bright as 11.8 mag still on Oct. 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Because it had been very low in the morning, it was not observed visually after that. It was bright as 13.8 mag still on Oct. 31 (Ken-ichi Kadota). However, it must be already faint around 15 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 13 28.86 1 34.3 2.296 2.090 65 15.0 2:53 (259, 13) Dec. 24 13 32.17 -0 3.3 2.279 2.170 71 15.2 2:56 (256, 19) P/2004 VR8 ( LONEOS ) Although it was faint as 18 mag at the discovery in 2004 November, then it brightened very rapidly until early 2005, and reached to 16.0 mag on May 7 (Ken-ichi Kadota). After it appeared in the morning sky again, it continued brightening furthermore, and reached to 14.7 mag on Nov. 22 (Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be visible visually around 13.5 mag. After this, it keeps bright as 15 mag for a long time until 2006 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2006 summer when it becomes too faint. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 13 13.78 13 7.4 2.599 2.517 74 15.3 2:53 (247, 9) Dec. 24 13 23.46 12 40.8 2.538 2.536 78 15.3 2:56 (244, 13) 101P/Chernykh It was observed as 17.0 mag on July 10. Then it brightened as expected and reached to 15.0 mag on Oct. 1 (Mitsunori Tsumura). It was also visible visually as 13.5 mag Oct. 24 (Seiichi Yoshida). The second component was found at 18 mag on Nov. 30 about 20 arcmin from the main component. The main component also started fading, and it is 16 mag now. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 0 32.24 -3 4.6 1.955 2.352 101 15.9 20:57 (129, 46) Dec. 24 0 39.52 -2 4.7 2.034 2.351 96 16.0 21:02 (124, 41) C/2004 D1 ( NEAT ) It brightened faster than a typical comet, and it reached to 16.4 mag on Dec. 2 (Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will be observable in good condition as 16 mag for a long time until next spring. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 10 51.21 60 24.7 4.484 4.993 115 16.0 2:53 (196, -9) Dec. 24 10 55.12 61 21.1 4.433 4.989 119 16.0 2:56 (193, -9) C/2004 K1 ( Catalina ) It was visible visually as 14.3 mag in 2005 spring (July 10, Edwin van Dijk). Although it has been not observable for a while, now it is appearing in the morning sky again. It will be observable in good condition again in 2006 spring, but only 16 mag at best. Then it will fade out rapidly, and become fainter than 18 mag in July. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 13 59.80 6 16.5 4.101 3.726 61 16.3 2:53 (260, 4) Dec. 24 13 58.43 6 36.2 4.004 3.752 68 16.3 2:56 (255, 10) C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR ) It passes the perihelion in 2006 February. But it is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 17 mag for a long time. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps locating high and observable in good condition until 2006 summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 15 8.58 64 26.6 6.691 6.805 92 16.7 2:53 (211,-35) Dec. 24 15 14.67 64 31.4 6.659 6.803 94 16.7 2:56 (210,-32) 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 The component C was recovered on Oct. 22 as 19.3 mag (C. W. Hergenrother). Then it brightened to 17.6 mag on Dec. 7 ((Mitsunori Tsumura). It will pass only 0.08 AU from the earth on May 12, remarkable approach after 76 years since its discovery in 1930. It was expected be so bright as 2 mag, but actually, it was fainter than its last appearance by 1.5 mag. Anyway, it will be 3.5 mag at best, and will be visible with naked eyes. It keeps observable in good condition all through the encounter in May. Brightening rapidly, and will be visible visually as 14 mag in late January. The components B (F) and E have not been recovered yet. The component B (F) will reach to 7 mag in May. However, it may be fainter than its last appearance as the component C. The component E may have already disappeared because it faded before the perihelion passage in its last appearance in 2001. Due to the approach of the comet, Bootids meteor shower observed in 1930 may appear in outburst again in 2005 May and June. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 12 13.88 11 48.3 2.123 2.288 86 17.1 2:53 (238, 20) Dec. 24 12 24.07 11 21.0 1.979 2.228 91 16.7 2:56 (235, 24) C/2005 A1 ( LINEAR ) It passed the perihelion on Apr. 10 and reached to 8 mag in the southern sky. The nucleus was split into two components and it had a broad long dust tail. Then it had been fading slowly, and it was visible visually still on Oct. 25 as 13.5 mag (Seiichi Yoshida). However, it is fading rapidly now. The component B has been already fainter than 18 mag. The component A is already faint as 16 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 22 22.02 23 37.5 3.664 3.682 83 16.9 20:57 (124, 5) Dec. 24 22 25.51 23 42.8 3.838 3.758 77 17.2 21:02 (119, 0) 119P/Parker-Hartley It reached to 17 mag in 2004 autumn. It will be observable as 17 mag in good condition in this winter again. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 7 49.60 16 5.1 2.351 3.230 148 17.0 2:08 (180, 39) Dec. 24 7 45.66 16 2.8 2.317 3.242 156 17.0 1:36 (180, 39) C/2005 R4 ( LINEAR ) Although it was so faint as 18.5 mag at the discovery in September, it brightened rapidly. It reached to 16.4 mag on Nov. 27 (Yuji Ohshima). It will be observable around 17 mag until March. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 4 0.67 19 43.1 4.304 5.224 156 17.0 22:15 (180, 35) Dec. 24 3 50.56 19 30.3 4.362 5.218 147 17.0 21:37 (180, 35) 60P/Tsuchinshan 2 It was observed around 20 mag in early October, as bright as expected. It brightened up to 17.9 mag on Nov. 30 (Yuji Ohshima). It will be observable in good condition at around 17 mag from December to March. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 10 42.41 4 42.8 1.239 1.768 104 17.2 2:53 (223, 40) Dec. 24 10 51.54 2 58.6 1.181 1.766 109 17.0 2:56 (218, 45) P/2005 K3 ( McNaught ) It was 16.8 mag at the discovery in May (May 20, R. H. McNaught). Then it brightened rapidly, and became visible visually as 13.7 mag (Sept. 3, Edwin van Dijk). Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps locating high for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it is fading rapidly now. It faded down to 16.2 mag on Nov. 27 (Mitsunori Tsumura). It will be fainter than 18 mag in early January. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 4 4.95 50 49.2 1.099 1.998 147 17.2 22:19 (180, 4) Dec. 24 4 1.15 49 36.4 1.164 2.042 143 17.5 21:48 (180, 5) 10P/Tempel 2 It was 13.6 mag on May 12, as bright as expected (Michael Mattiazzo). After that, no successful observations were reported for a while even when the comet became locating high also in the Northern Hemisphere. Actually, it was 17.1 mag on Sept. 3 (Ken-ichi Kadota). It seems the comet faded faster than expected. But it will keep 17 mag for a while. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 4 31.43 9 16.9 2.031 2.970 158 17.2 22:46 (180, 46) Dec. 24 4 25.52 9 35.7 2.106 3.007 151 17.4 22:12 (180, 45) (944) Hidalgo It reached to 13 mag and was observed visually in good condition in 2004 autumn. It has been not observable since August, but it is appearing at dawn again. It keeps 17 mag until late April. But it will go away soon after that. Next return is in 2018, when it will be 14.3 mag at best. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 13 28.62 8 15.7 3.767 3.531 68 17.3 2:53 (253, 9) Dec. 24 13 32.44 7 43.3 3.711 3.575 74 17.3 2:56 (250, 14) C/2004 Q1 ( Tucker ) It was 17.3 mag on Nov. 1 (Ken-ichi Kadota), fading slowly as expected. It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. It keeps locating high. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 13 26.63 34 53.3 4.538 4.531 83 17.3 2:53 (232, -7) Dec. 24 13 29.31 35 7.0 4.510 4.590 88 17.3 2:56 (228, -3) 71P/Clark It has not been observed in this return yet. But it is getting brighter rapidly in the morning sky. It will become visible visually at 13 mag in March, and will reach to 11 mag in June. The condition is best beucase it is almost at opposition at the perihelion passage. However, it will be very low, only 13-20 deg high, from June to September in the Northern Hemisphere. When it gets higher again, it will be fainter than 14 mag, too faint to see visually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 13 54.26 -4 43.6 2.577 2.203 57 17.6 2:53 (268, 11) Dec. 24 14 7.50 -5 58.4 2.470 2.164 60 17.3 2:56 (266, 16) 171P/2005 R3 ( Spahr ) It was recovered at 17.3 mag on Sept. 7 (Filip Fratev), as bright as exepcted. It will be fainter than 18 mag in February. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 11 43.08 19 43.4 1.603 1.976 96 17.5 2:53 (227, 20) Dec. 24 11 53.13 20 38.2 1.561 2.006 101 17.5 2:56 (222, 22) 168P/2005 N2 ( Hergenrother ) First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1998. The condition is very good and it became brighter in this appearance than at the discovery. It was recovered in July at 19.5 mag, then it brightened as expected, and reached to 16 mag in September. Now it is fading rapidly, and it will be fainter than 18 mag at the end of 2005. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 23 14.97 18 11.1 1.111 1.510 91 17.5 20:57 (129, 18) Dec. 24 23 32.06 20 49.5 1.179 1.536 90 17.7 21:02 (128, 13) 65P/Gunn It will be at opposition again between autumn and winter, and observable at 17.5 mag locating high. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 3 32.34 17 26.6 3.676 4.555 149 17.5 21:47 (180, 38) Dec. 24 3 28.81 17 23.8 3.748 4.563 141 17.6 21:16 (180, 38) C/2004 L1 ( LINEAR ) It was expected to reach to 13 mag in 2005 spring at the perihelion passage. However, the brightness evolution was very slow actually and it was only 14.5 mag at best. Now it is getting higher again in the morning. The fading is very slow, too. The current distance is almost same as that at the discovery, and the brightness faded to 17.9 mag, as bright as at the discovery (Nov. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 6 54.82 7 13.4 2.671 3.590 155 17.6 1:14 (180, 48) Dec. 24 6 38.86 7 53.4 2.697 3.649 162 17.7 0:30 (180, 47) 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu 2 It reaches only to 17.5 mag at best in January and February. It will be getting lower in the evening sky. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 23 2.59 -7 43.7 1.942 1.998 78 17.7 20:57 (105, 33) Dec. 24 23 14.98 -6 41.3 1.997 1.982 74 17.7 21:02 (103, 29) P/2005 S3 ( Read ) New comet. Although it was announced so faint as 19 mag, it is actually much brighter, 17.1 mag on Nov. 27 (Yuji Ohshima). However, it will be fainer than 18 mag in January. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 1 56.52 15 24.7 2.140 2.846 127 17.7 20:57 (166, 38) Dec. 24 1 58.14 15 20.0 2.215 2.844 120 17.8 21:02 (157, 37) C/2005 W2 ( Christensen ) New faint comet. It will be only 18 mag at best in December and January. However, Yuji Ohshima reported it was bright as 16.5 mag on Nov. 27, much brighter than this ephemeris. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 3 33.61 34 56.2 2.550 3.441 150 17.7 21:48 (180, 20) Dec. 24 3 31.53 34 33.3 2.582 3.426 143 17.7 21:19 (180, 20) P/2005 R1 ( NEAT ) It was 16.8 mag on Sept. 9 (Yuji Ohshima). It keeps good condition for a long time. But it will fade out after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in early January. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 1 5.25 19 48.4 1.517 2.150 116 17.7 20:57 (153, 31) Dec. 24 1 14.52 19 14.0 1.603 2.171 111 17.9 21:02 (148, 29) C/2005 EL173 ( LONEOS ) It will reach to 15.5 mag from late 2006 to early 2007 although locating rather low. It is observable around 17 mag from this winter to spring. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 17 10 38.49 -6 28.0 5.134 5.409 101 17.9 2:53 (232, 50) Dec. 24 10 34.38 -6 59.9 4.975 5.370 108 17.8 2:56 (221, 55)