Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2006 July 15: North)

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Updated on July 16, 2006
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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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* 73P-C/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

It reached to 6 mag at best in early May at the remarkable approach to the earth, when it became double naked eye comets with the component B around the zenith. Now it is going away from the earth and fading. It has already faded down to 10.5 mag (July 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). The apparent distance between the two components is reduced and two bright comets are now in the same field of a photo. It is getting higher again in the morning sky also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 17.03  -11 52.4   0.486   1.089    85    9.9   3:14 (303, 21)  
July 22   2 22.44  -12  6.4   0.518   1.141    90   10.1   3:20 (309, 26)  

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova

The condition is worst in this time, not visible in the Northern Hemisphere at all. It was observed in the Southern Hemisphere as 11.4 mag on June 6, as bright as expected (Michael Mattiazzo). However, in this appearance, the comet will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   7 20.34   22 31.6   1.630   0.619     3   10.0   3:14 (228,-15)  
July 22   8  3.32   21 16.5   1.718   0.702     0   10.6   3:20 (227,-17)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

It brightened much more rapidly than expected after late April, and reached to 9.5 mag on June 15 (Willian Souza). Now it is 10.3 mag (Juny 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is fading now, but it keeps observable in the evening until autumn when it becomes too faint to see. It keeps locating around 30 degree high. Great outburst over 6 mag has occured always in recent appearances in 1995 and 2001. So it may brighten much more after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  12 26.16    9  0.4   0.957   1.140    70   10.1  20:57 ( 80, 29)  
July 22  12 58.01    5 26.6   0.976   1.179    72   10.4  20:51 ( 75, 29)  

* 73P-B/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

It reached to 5 mag at best in early May at the remarkable approach to the earth, when it became double naked eye comets with the component C around the zenith. Now it is going away from the earth and fading. It had faded down to 8.5 mag on June 10 (Willian Souza). No observations were reported recently, but it will be fainter than 11 mag now. The apparent distance between the two components is reduced and two bright comets are now in the same field of a photo. It is getting higher again in the morning sky also in the Northern Hemisphere. Since mid May, no nuclear split or outburst has occured at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 18.05  -12 32.6   0.467   1.082    85   11.1   3:14 (303, 21)  
July 22   2 22.97  -12 48.4   0.499   1.134    90   11.6   3:20 (309, 25)  

* C/2006 M4 ( SWAN )

New comet discovered on the SWAN images. Now it is only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Even in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at 7.5 mag in the extremely low sky at dawn in late September. It will turn to locate in the evening sky after early October. Then it keeps observable in the evening sky until early January while fading gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it cannot be observable until next April when it becomes fainter than 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   9  9.13   -0 59.6   2.332   1.566    31   11.8  20:57 (101,-17)  
July 22   9 17.80    1 26.6   2.314   1.470    26   11.5  20:51 (105,-18)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is brightest and reached to 11.0 mag (June 15, Willian Souza). It keeps 11-12 mag until July. The condition is best beucase it is almost at opposition at the perihelion passage. However, it keeps very low, only about 15 degree high until 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)  
July 15  19 38.28  -41 42.2   0.612   1.605   159   12.2   0:09 (  0, 13)  
July 22  19 37.22  -42 14.2   0.636   1.622   157   12.3  23:36 (  0, 13)  

* 4P/Faye

It was 15.0 mag on June 13 (Giovanni Sostero and Ernesto Guido), brightening as expected. It will become visible visually soon. It will be brightening rapidly after this, and will reach to 8.5 mag from autumn to winter, and observable in its best condition. It keeps 14 mag still in 2007 April, so it keeps visible visually for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   0 36.90   11 16.6   1.625   2.051    99   12.7   3:14 (306, 55)  
July 22   0 47.56   12 14.3   1.524   2.015   103   12.3   3:20 (313, 60)  

* 177P/2006 M3 ( Barnard 2 )

Recovered after 117 year blank since 1889. It is already visible visually at 13.2 mag (July 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). This time it will be closer to the earth than at the discovery. It moves northwards rapidly and keeps observable in good condition at 12-13 mag until September in the Northern Hemisphere. Based on the brightness in 1889, it can be much britghter than this ephemeris. However, because it is very close to the earth, it will look very diffuse.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  17 10.18    2 25.1   0.370   1.311   136   13.3  21:36 (  0, 58)  
July 22  17  1.84   13 55.0   0.367   1.257   123   12.8  21:01 (  0, 70)  

* C/2005 E2 ( McNaught )

It had been observed at 10 mag in the evening sky from winter to spring. But now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again in late August at 13.5 mag. It will come to locate high in October, then it will be visible visually again at 14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   7 17.48   33 11.3   3.399   2.416    12   12.9   3:14 (221, -6)  
July 22   7 33.06   32 38.0   3.456   2.483    14   13.0   3:20 (225, -4)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

New comet just discovered on June 14. It is bright as 13.4 mag and visible visually (June 16, Willian Souza). In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates rather low in the evening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates high. It will be observable at 13 mag for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  14  9.62  -20 43.9   2.052   2.512   104   13.1  20:57 ( 37, 25)  
July 22  14  7.81  -17 28.1   2.129   2.464    96   13.1  20:51 ( 44, 25)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing at dawn. It is already in outburst and visible bright as 12.9 mag now (July 9, Esteban Reina Lorenz). It will be observable in good condition in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   3 56.12   28 52.8   6.425   5.823    49   13.8   3:14 (251, 25)  
July 22   4  0.93   29 11.9   6.341   5.825    55   13.8   3:20 (254, 31)  

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )

It was observed as 12 mag in spring. It was diffuse visually, but bright and enjoyable with a large telescope. It was still bright as 12.8 mag on June 25 (Carlos Labordena). However, it is fading rapidly now. It keeps observable in good condition until autumn, but it will be too faint to see visually soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  15 44.20   31 27.0   2.156   2.584   103   13.8  20:57 ( 73, 80)  
July 22  15 34.80   31  1.6   2.320   2.650    97   14.0  20:51 ( 81, 73)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag since last October. Small and strongly condensed. It kept observable in good condition for a long time, but it will be getting lower in the evening, and will be too low to observe soon. However, it will be observable in good condition again at 14.5 mag in next winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  10 40.81   37  8.7   5.943   5.241    42   14.2  20:57 (121, 22)  
July 22  10 47.70   36  8.6   6.000   5.248    38   14.2  20:51 (121, 19)  

* 102P/Shoemaker 1

Although it was not observed in its last return in 1999, it is observable in good condition after the periheliion passage in this return. Now it is brightest. But actually, it was 18.6 mag, much fainter than this ephemeris by 4-5 mag (June 30, Filip Fratev). In this appearance, it will never be brighter than 18 mag and it will fade out after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 16.73   28 33.3   2.076   1.999    71   14.6   3:14 (263, 45)  
July 22   2 28.69   31  5.8   2.022   2.009    74   14.6   3:20 (262, 50)  

* (3200) Phaethon

It is not observable around the perihelion passage in early August. But it will be observable in good condition as 15-16 mag from September to November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   6 58.21   21 45.8   1.717   0.730     8   15.5   3:14 (232,-12)  
July 22   7 32.92   19 41.5   1.567   0.575     7   14.8   3:20 (234,-13)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

In 2005 spring, it reached to 14 mag and became visible visually as 13.8 mag (July 8, Reinder J. Bouma). In 2006, it will be the same condition and brightness in summer again. Somewhat low in the south. But it will reach to 14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  22 49.42  -20  1.6   2.401   3.202   135   15.0   3:14 (358, 35)  
July 22  22 47.92  -20 30.6   2.352   3.213   141   15.0   2:50 (  0, 35)  

* D/1986 W1 ( Lovas 2 )

It has been lost since its discovery in 1986. The condition is good in this return. In calculation, it will be 14 mag from autumn to winter. However, it was probably in outburst and brightened unexpectedly at the discovery. So it can be much fainer than this ephemeris actually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until it fades out in next spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  17 36.43  -23 22.5   1.022   1.979   152   15.5  22:03 (  0, 32)  
July 22  17 30.43  -23 10.3   1.015   1.932   144   15.3  21:29 (  0, 32)  

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

It was in major outburst unexpectedly and reached to 10.5 mag in its last appearance in 1999. It was already recovered in 2005 October. But it has not been observed for about 1 year since that. So the current brightness is quite uncertain. It will appear in the morning sky at 15.5 mag in September, then it will fade out gradually. But actually, it can be much fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   7  7.47   28  2.7   2.778   1.782     9   15.5   3:14 (226, -9)  
July 22   7 28.48   27 11.1   2.760   1.772    10   15.4   3:20 (229, -7)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It is outside of Jupiter's orbit, so it keeps observable for a long time. In 2006, it is still faint and locating somewhat low. But in 2007 and 2008, it is expected to be bright as 14.5-15 mag. It will locate high at that time, so it may be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  19 32.96  -24 18.1   5.818   6.834   177   15.8   0:04 (  0, 31)  
July 22  19 25.73  -24 10.1   5.803   6.806   170   15.7  23:24 (  0, 31)  

* 2006 HR30

Peculiar asteroid moving along a comet-like orbit. It will reach to 14 mag in next January. It keeps observable in good condition after this while getting brighter rapidly. It may turn to be a comet after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  22 50.33    8 53.0   1.802   2.510   123   16.2   3:14 (356, 64)  
July 22  22 48.40   10 52.2   1.673   2.443   129   15.9   2:51 (  0, 66)  

* 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 2004 January. Then it has been getting fainter gradually, and become already too faint to see visually. However, it is still bright as 15.8 mag by CCD observations (Mar. 30, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It keeps observable until October when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  16  6.81    1 20.7   5.649   6.274   123   16.7  20:57 ( 10, 56)  
July 22  16  5.13    0 53.1   5.797   6.335   117   16.8  20:51 ( 20, 54)  

* 98P/Takamizawa

It was unexpectedly bright as 15.5 mag on Apr. 2 (Ken-ichi Kadota). Although it had been very low until June, now it is getting higher. It is already fading now. However, I has ever become a naked eye object in outburst, so observations are encouraged.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   0 29.63   -7 14.1   1.529   2.083   108   16.8   3:14 (324, 41)  
July 22   0 34.08   -7 42.7   1.496   2.121   113   16.9   3:20 (334, 44)  

* C/2005 B1 ( Christensen )

It was 16.0 mag on Mar. 13 (Ken-ichi Kadota). It kept 16-16.5 mag for about one year from early 2005. It keeps 17 mag until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   1  7.93   54 30.7   3.571   3.477    76   16.9   3:14 (221, 58)  
July 22   1  7.66   54 25.3   3.508   3.503    81   16.9   3:20 (216, 63)  

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

It is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 17 mag for a long time until 2007 summer. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps locating high and observable in good condition, except for 2006 autumn when it becomes low temporarily.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  13 16.74   56 27.5   7.164   6.874    69   16.9  20:57 (139, 51)  
July 22  13 18.01   55  5.9   7.217   6.881    66   16.9  20:51 (136, 49)  

* P/2006 H1 ( McNaught )

It is getting higher in the morning sky. It keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition after this until October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  23 55.95   -9  1.2   1.855   2.482   116   17.0   3:14 (335, 43)  
July 22  23 58.05   -8 26.3   1.801   2.498   122   17.0   3:20 (346, 46)  

* P/2005 L1 ( McNaught )

It was observed at 17 mag in 2005 summer. It will reach to 17 mag again in 2006 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  22 55.71   -8 43.1   2.527   3.279   130   17.2   3:14 (356, 46)  
July 22  22 54.81   -9  6.0   2.466   3.287   137   17.1   2:57 (  0, 46)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )

It was bright as 15 mag in 2004 and 2005. Now it is far away from the sun, but it still observable at 17 mag in 2006.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   1 11.41  -11  5.2   3.602   3.906    99   17.2   3:14 (316, 32)  
July 22   1 13.60  -11 19.9   3.524   3.923   105   17.2   3:20 (324, 36)  

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

It is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 16.5-17.5 mag for a long time until 2008. In 2006, it keeps observable in good condition until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  21 48.97  -16 22.0   5.515   6.402   148   17.3   2:19 (  0, 39)  
July 22  21 43.03  -16 13.1   5.439   6.382   156   17.2   1:46 (  0, 39)  

* P/2005 JY126 ( Catalina )

It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in September and October. Then it will fade out rapidly, and will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 27.87   18 43.8   2.504   2.388    71   17.3   3:14 (273, 38)  
July 22   2 37.67   18 53.9   2.446   2.412    76   17.3   3:20 (277, 43)  

* C/2006 M1 ( LINEAR )

It keeps 17 mag for a long time after this until the end of 2007. It will be observable in good condition in 2006 autumn and 2007 autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  19 47.64   47 46.7   3.566   4.037   110   17.3   0:18 (180, 77)  
July 22  19 43.14   48 18.6   3.528   4.008   111   17.3  23:42 (180, 77)  

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

It will reach to 14.5 mag in 2007 summer, but it will be observable only in the Southern Hemisphere at that time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  20 21.55   12 26.5   4.691   5.548   144   17.8   0:52 (  0, 67)  
July 22  20 15.35   11 38.6   4.613   5.501   147   17.7   0:18 (  0, 67)  

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