Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2006 Aug. 19: South)

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Updated on August 19, 2006
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

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* 177P/2006 M3 ( Barnard 2 )

Recovered after 117 year blank since 1889. This time it will be closer to the earth than at the discovery, and observable in good condition. It has been getting brighter and larger very rapidly since mid July. Now it is so bright as 8.5 mag, with a diameter of 10 arcmin or larger (July 22, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it locates very high in the evening sky. It keeps observable in good condition at 8-9 mag until September in the Northern Hemisphere. However, because it is very close to the earth, it looks diffuse.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  16 53.99   47 59.3   0.467   1.118    90    8.5  19:03 (180,  7)  
Aug. 26  16 58.87   53 26.6   0.500   1.108    87    8.6  19:00 (177,  1)  

* C/2006 M4 ( SWAN )

New comet discovered on the SWAN images. It was observed in the Southern Hemisphere in July, but now it is not observable. It was very bright as 9.6 mag visually on July 20 (David Seargent). It was about 10.0 mag in SOHO LASCO images on Aug. 15, almost bright as expected. 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)  
Aug. 19   9 58.22   11 23.7   2.105   1.095     2   10.0  18:56 ( 93,-16)  
Aug. 26  10 10.58   14 11.0   2.016   1.011     4    9.6   5:03 (265,-18)  

* 4P/Faye

It is brightening as expected, and it is already visible visually. Now it is 11.9 mag (Aug. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Aug. 19   1 27.21   14 57.2   1.158   1.881   119   10.9   3:39 (180, 40)  
Aug. 26   1 35.86   15 14.0   1.079   1.851   124   10.6   3:20 (180, 40)  

* 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 11.3 mag (Aug. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   2 20.03  -14 18.4   0.607   1.384   115   11.0   4:32 (180, 69)  
Aug. 26   2 12.85  -15  4.2   0.627   1.449   122   11.3   3:57 (180, 70)  

* 71P/Clark

It reached up to 10.3 mag on July 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Then it is fading gradually. Now it is 11.9 mag (July 28, Katsumi Yoshimoto). 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)  
Aug. 19  19 43.12  -40 58.6   0.807   1.712   140   11.8  21:52 (  0, 84)  
Aug. 26  19 48.17  -40  3.3   0.867   1.739   135   12.0  21:30 (  0, 85)  

* 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 10.8 mag (July 20, Carlos Labordena). 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  14 55.24   -7 49.9   1.167   1.377    78   12.0  18:56 (131, 53)  
Aug. 26  15 21.46  -10 27.4   1.242   1.433    78   12.5  19:00 (126, 54)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  10 10.24   13 26.0   2.103   1.097     4   13.0  18:56 ( 96,-15)  
Aug. 26  10 33.63   11 23.5   2.202   1.196     3   13.5  19:00 ( 93,-15)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

New comet just discovered on June 14. It is bright as 12.6 mag and visible visually (June 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Aug. 19  14 13.53   -7 35.6   2.465   2.288    68   13.1  18:56 (119, 46)  
Aug. 26  14 17.36   -5 44.8   2.543   2.249    61   13.0  19:00 (114, 39)  

* 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 has already faded down to 12.2 mag visually (July 21, Carlos Labordena), or 15.9 mag by CCD (Aug. 4, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It is very diffuse, and it will be too hard to see visually soon. Ken-ichi Kadota and Masayuki Suzuki reported that the nucleus seemed to have continued small outbursts still in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   2 18.82  -15  4.1   0.591   1.375   115   13.4   4:31 (180, 70)  
Aug. 26   2 11.22  -15 49.8   0.612   1.440   123   13.9   3:56 (180, 71)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Since it appeared in the morning sky in early July, it has been bright as 12 mag and visible visually. It is 12.4 mag still now (Aug. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Aug. 19   4 16.61   30 20.8   5.952   5.832    78   13.6   5:11 (198, 22)  
Aug. 26   4 19.42   30 36.0   5.846   5.834    84   13.6   5:03 (194, 23)  

* C/2005 E2 ( McNaught )

It had been observed at 10 mag in the evening sky from winter to spring. Although it has been unobservable since May, it will appear in the morning sky again soon. 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)  
Aug. 19   8 27.54   30  2.1   3.629   2.755    26   13.6   5:11 (241,-11)  
Aug. 26   8 39.31   29 21.2   3.657   2.824    29   13.7   5:03 (240, -9)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag for a long time since last autumn until spring. But it is already very low in the evening sky. It 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)  
Aug. 19  11 16.03   32 16.5   6.163   5.283    27   14.3  18:56 (121,-12)  
Aug. 26  11 23.18   31 21.3   6.186   5.293    25   14.3  19:00 (117,-16)  

* P/2006 HR30 ( Siding Spring )

Although it had been asteroidal for about one year since 2005 July, the cometary activity was detected in late July in 2006. But actually, it is almost stellar now. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps good condition after this. It keeps locating high until next spring. Now it is 15.2 mag (Aug. 4, Ken-ichi Kadota). The light curve had been completely asteroidal so far. However, it can brighten rapidly as a comet after this, and it may reach to 11 mag in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  22 23.56   19 29.1   1.255   2.173   146   14.9   0:36 (180, 36)  
Aug. 26  22 12.65   21 36.8   1.181   2.106   147   14.6  23:53 (180, 33)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  17 26.06  -22 34.9   1.050   1.753   116   14.8  19:36 (180, 78)  
Aug. 26  17 30.59  -22 31.3   1.069   1.710   110   14.6  19:13 (180, 78)  

* 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). It is in the same condition again this year, but somewhat low. It was visible visually at 13.5 mag in early August (Maciej Reszelsk).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  22 33.64  -22 36.8   2.266   3.258   166   15.0   0:46 (180, 78)  
Aug. 26  22 28.84  -23  2.6   2.276   3.269   167   15.1   0:14 (180, 78)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19   8 49.28   22  4.8   2.696   1.758    17   15.3   5:11 (250,-10)  
Aug. 26   9  8.37   20 27.2   2.681   1.760    19   15.3   5:03 (252, -9)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  15 18.95   28 38.4   2.978   2.916    76   15.5  18:56 (159, 23)  
Aug. 26  15 18.78   28  3.4   3.135   2.983    72   15.6  19:00 (152, 21)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  18 59.03  -23 21.1   5.914   6.698   137   15.7  21:08 (180, 78)  
Aug. 26  18 53.46  -23  5.4   5.980   6.671   129   15.7  20:35 (180, 78)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Appearing at dawn. It will be observable at 15.5 mag for a long time from September to January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   6 35.28   28 30.4   2.083   1.598    48   16.2   5:11 (226,  9)  
Aug. 26   6 57.44   27 12.8   2.038   1.588    49   16.1   5:03 (227,  9)  

* P/2006 H1 ( McNaught )

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)  
Aug. 19  23 53.29   -6 53.8   1.608   2.534   149   16.8   2:06 (180, 62)  
Aug. 26  23 49.26   -6 39.8   1.593   2.554   157   16.8   1:34 (180, 62)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19   0 52.39   52 50.1   3.240   3.617   103   16.9   3:05 (180,  2)  
Aug. 26   0 45.37   51 58.5   3.178   3.648   109   16.9   2:30 (180,  3)  

* C/2006 CK10 ( Catalina )

It was observed at 17 mag in spring. It will be observable in good condition at 17 mag again in autumn. It will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   6 28.29   27 41.5   2.339   1.853    49   17.0   5:11 (225, 10)  
Aug. 26   6 24.14   26 13.0   2.229   1.883    57   17.0   5:03 (222, 15)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  19 26.96   48 20.8   3.424   3.900   110   17.1  21:36 (180,  7)  
Aug. 26  19 24.47   47 52.5   3.410   3.875   110   17.0  21:06 (180,  7)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  22 43.39  -11 23.9   2.328   3.323   167   17.1   0:56 (180, 66)  
Aug. 26  22 39.23  -12  4.0   2.325   3.333   174   17.1   0:24 (180, 67)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19   1 14.49  -13  1.7   3.257   3.993   130   17.1   3:26 (180, 68)  
Aug. 26   1 12.68  -13 34.7   3.209   4.010   137   17.1   2:57 (180, 69)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  21 16.61  -15 34.0   5.305   6.307   170   17.1  23:25 (180, 71)  
Aug. 26  21  9.96  -15 22.0   5.317   6.289   162   17.1  22:51 (180, 70)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19   3  8.83   18 24.9   2.196   2.512    95   17.2   5:11 (183, 37)  
Aug. 26   3 14.16   17 59.3   2.134   2.538   101   17.2   4:58 (180, 37)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )

It reached to 6 mag in 2004. It had been visible visually until January. It is appearing at dawn after a blank of half a year. It will be already very faint as 17 mag. It will be fading slowly around 17-18 mag until December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3  8.77   -1  8.8   7.316   7.572   100   17.3   5:11 (184, 56)  
Aug. 26   3  7.25   -1 25.6   7.262   7.630   107   17.3   4:51 (180, 56)  

* 112P/Urata-Niijima

It has not been observed in this apparition yet. But now it must be brightening rapidly. The condition of this apparition is excellent. It will reach to 15.5 mag in October and November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3 14.24    3 26.8   1.166   1.652    98   17.6   5:11 (186, 51)  
Aug. 26   3 27.42    5 53.5   1.084   1.620   101   17.3   5:03 (183, 49)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19   0 36.50  -11  4.2   1.411   2.280   139   17.4   2:49 (180, 66)  
Aug. 26   0 33.38  -12  8.0   1.408   2.321   146   17.6   2:18 (180, 67)  

* 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)  
Aug. 19  19 50.22    7 17.2   4.464   5.312   143   17.5  21:59 (180, 48)  
Aug. 26  19 44.53    5 59.2   4.467   5.265   138   17.5  21:25 (180, 49)  

* 84P/Giclas

It was 17.6 mag on July 23 (Filip Fratev). It will brighten after the perihelion passage. It will reach to 15.5 mag and will be observable in good condition from November to January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   4 26.03   14  5.1   1.762   1.855    78   17.7   5:11 (206, 37)  
Aug. 26   4 40.49   14 27.2   1.707   1.859    82   17.5   5:03 (205, 37)  

* C/2005 R4 ( LINEAR )

It was observed at 17 mag in late 2005. In 2006, it will be observable at 17.5 mag in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3  0.70   24 34.0   5.131   5.333    96   17.6   5:11 (180, 30)  
Aug. 26   2 55.78   24 38.5   5.015   5.346   103   17.6   4:40 (180, 30)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

The perihelion passage is in 2008. It will be observable for several years after this at around 17 mag. But it may fade out rapidly just after the perihelion passage.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   4 41.11   11 14.5   5.088   4.937    75   18.0   5:11 (212, 38)  
Aug. 26   4 44.77   11 16.3   4.971   4.924    81   17.9   5:03 (208, 39)  

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