Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2006 Sept. 9: South)

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Updated on September 11, 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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* 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)  
Sept. 9  10 40.92   20 31.5   1.787   0.870    16    8.7   4:45 (259,-20)  
Sept.16  11  0.92   24 10.0   1.649   0.820    22    8.2   4:35 (256,-23)  

* 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. It is so bright as 8.4 mag still now, with a diameter of 8 arcmin or larger (Aug. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating very high in the evening sky until winter when it becomes too faint. It moves around the Northern Pole. So it will be observable all night until November, although it becomes low in the morning. It will be bright visually until September, but it will fade out rapidly after October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  17 19.45   62 11.0   0.561   1.122    86    9.0  19:10 (173, -8)  
Sept.16  17 37.53   65 43.9   0.588   1.145    87    9.4  19:15 (172,-12)  

* 4P/Faye

Now it is 11.7 mag (Sept. 4, Jakub Cerny). It is somewhat fainter than this ephemeris, however, it is well condensed and easy to see. It will be brightening rapidly after this, and will reach to 9 mag from autumn to winter, and observable in its best condition. It keeps 14 mag still in 2007 March, so it keeps visible visually for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   1 50.74   15  8.1   0.938   1.796   134   10.6   2:40 (180, 40)  
Sept.16   1 56.70   14 42.5   0.877   1.772   140   10.3   2:18 (180, 40)  

* 71P/Clark

It reached up to 10.3 mag on July 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Then it is fading gradually. Now it is 12.6 mag (Sept. 11, Walter Ruben Robledo). It had been very low, only about 15 degree high in the Northern Hemisphere. But it will get higher gradually after this. However, it will be too faint to see visually soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  20  2.17  -37 48.6   1.005   1.799   126   12.9  20:49 (  0, 87)  
Sept.16  20 10.72  -36 33.1   1.083   1.831   122   13.2  20:30 (  0, 89)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

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. It will be too low at dusk to observe in October. But it will be getting higher in the morning sky after December. It keeps 13 mag until 2007 March, so it will be visible visually for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  14 27.10   -2 31.5   2.680   2.177    50   13.0  19:10 (107, 27)  
Sept.16  14 32.85   -1  4.8   2.736   2.145    44   13.0  19:15 (104, 20)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

A small outburst occured in late August, and it was visible visually, bright and strongly condensed, in early September. Since it appeared in the morning sky in early July, it has been bright as 12-13 mag and visible visually. It is observable in good condition until winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   4 23.43   31  3.4   5.632   5.837    96   13.5   4:45 (186, 24)  
Sept.16   4 24.56   31 15.4   5.526   5.839   103   13.5   4:35 (183, 24)  

* 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 15.5 mag and completely stellar visually (Aug. 22, Seiichi Yoshida). 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. But actually, it is asteroidal so far, and still keeps around 14-15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  21 46.50   25 22.5   1.071   1.972   143   14.1  22:31 (180, 29)  
Sept.16  21 32.40   26 52.8   1.034   1.906   138   13.9  21:50 (180, 28)  

* 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, now it is appearing in the morning sky again. Now it is 14.5 mag (Sept. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Sept. 9   9  0.73   28  1.2   3.693   2.962    37   14.0   4:45 (239, -6)  
Sept.16   9 10.40   27 23.1   3.700   3.031    42   14.1   4:35 (239, -4)  

* 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 13.0 mag (Aug. 22, Seiichi Yoshida). It will be too faint to see visually soon. The component B has faded out rapidly since June, and already so faint, fainter than 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   1 51.57  -16 24.4   0.677   1.581   138   14.2   2:41 (180, 71)  
Sept.16   1 38.62  -16 48.9   0.713   1.647   146   14.7   2:01 (180, 72)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9  17 46.29  -22 26.6   1.109   1.631   100   14.4  19:10 (145, 75)  
Sept.16  17 57.22  -22 22.9   1.129   1.594    96   14.3  19:15 (131, 72)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag for a long time since last autumn until spring. Now it is not observable. However, it will be observable in good condition again at 14.5 mag in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  11 37.42   29 35.6   6.210   5.315    25   14.4  19:10 (110,-25)  
Sept.16  11 44.47   28 45.4   6.211   5.326    26   14.4  19:15 (106,-30)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

It is bright as 13.7 mag and visible visually (Aug. 22, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps locating at the same altitude until December. But it will be too faint to see visually in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  22 19.42  -23 37.1   2.337   3.294   158   14.7  23:05 (180, 79)  
Sept.16  22 15.29  -23 44.2   2.386   3.306   151   14.8  22:33 (180, 79)  

* 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 soon, 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)  
Sept. 9   9 44.99   16 54.0   2.651   1.774    23   15.3   4:45 (254, -7)  
Sept.16  10  2.51   15  0.4   2.637   1.784    25   15.4   4:35 (256, -6)  

* (3200) Phaethon

It is observable in good condition at 15 mag in September and October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   8 28.98   57 34.3   0.533   0.879    60   15.7   4:45 (212,-19)  
Sept.16   7 45.97   66 16.2   0.517   1.002    74   15.5   4:35 (200,-19)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

It will be observable at 15.5 mag for a long time from September to January. However, it was 17.3 mag on Aug. 24 (Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero), somewhat fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   7 39.75   23 56.6   1.955   1.578    53   15.9   4:45 (230, 11)  
Sept.16   7 59.73   22  0.4   1.915   1.578    55   15.7   4:35 (232, 12)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It is outside of Jupiter's orbit, so it keeps observable for a long time. Now it is 15.8 mag (June 2, Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero). 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)  
Sept. 9  18 44.16  -22 31.7   6.143   6.618   114   15.7  19:30 (180, 78)  
Sept.16  18 40.48  -22 14.2   6.237   6.592   106   15.8  19:15 (164, 77)  

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )

It was observed as 12 mag in spring. It was diffuse visually, but bright and enjoyable with a large telescope. However, it has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Aug. 14, Mitsunori Tsumura). It keeps observable in good condition until autumn. It will be very low in November, but it will be getting higher in the morning sky after that. So it keeps observable for a long time until it becomes too faint.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  15 21.37   27  2.1   3.431   3.117    63   16.0  19:10 (139, 15)  
Sept.16  15 23.83   26 36.8   3.569   3.185    59   16.1  19:15 (133, 11)  

* C/2005 B1 ( Christensen )

It kept 16.5 mag for a year and a half since early 2005. Now it is at opposition and observable in very good condition. However, it will start fading after November, and will be fainter than 18 mag at the end of 2006.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   0 28.94   49 28.9   3.074   3.712   122   16.4   1:19 (180,  5)  
Sept.16   0 20.18   47 49.0   3.037   3.745   128   16.4   0:43 (180,  7)  

* 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura

It was observed at 18.5 mag on Aug. 27, as bright as expected (Luca Buzzi). It will brighten very rapidly in the morning sky after this. It will reach to 13.5 mag in November and December, and will be observable in an excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   5 40.26    1 54.5   1.580   1.752    81   16.9   4:45 (219, 46)  
Sept.16   5 54.77    2 52.6   1.499   1.726    84   16.5   4:35 (217, 45)  

* C/2006 P1 ( McNaught )

It will pass only 0.17 A.U. from the sun in 2007 January. Now it is still faint as 17 mag. However, it may be already so bright as 14 mag (Aug. 21, Terry Lovejoy). The comet will be brightening gradually after this, but it keeps locating low in the evening in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable when it becomes brightest. After the perihelion passage, it is only observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  16 20.87  -15 49.7   2.581   2.603    80   16.7  19:10 (117, 57)  
Sept.16  16 20.60  -15 29.3   2.599   2.500    73   16.6  19:15 (109, 50)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9   6 10.85   22 45.5   1.984   1.955    73   16.9   4:45 (214, 24)  
Sept.16   6  0.91   20 38.9   1.856   1.996    82   16.8   4:35 (209, 29)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9   5  7.28   14 55.3   1.599   1.874    88   17.1   4:45 (202, 37)  
Sept.16   5 19.36   15  2.4   1.546   1.884    92   16.9   4:35 (200, 38)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9  19 22.51   46 28.6   3.395   3.827   107   17.0  20:09 (180,  9)  
Sept.16  19 23.20   45 35.9   3.394   3.805   106   17.0  19:42 (180,  9)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9   1  6.86  -14 42.2   3.144   4.045   149   17.1   1:56 (180, 70)  
Sept.16   1  3.02  -15 14.1   3.129   4.062   154   17.1   1:25 (180, 70)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9  22 30.75  -13 19.9   2.361   3.352   167   17.1  23:16 (180, 68)  
Sept.16  22 26.87  -13 52.7   2.399   3.362   160   17.2  22:45 (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)  
Sept. 9  20 57.50  -14 54.0   5.390   6.254   146   17.1  21:43 (180, 70)  
Sept.16  20 51.92  -14 37.9   5.449   6.236   138   17.1  21:10 (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)  
Sept. 9   3 21.21   16 45.2   2.016   2.592   113   17.2   4:10 (180, 38)  
Sept.16   3 22.81   15 56.7   1.963   2.619   120   17.1   3:44 (180, 39)  

* 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). Then it has been fading very rapidly. It is reported bright as 12.7 mag visually still now (Aug. 27, Juan Jose Gonzalez), however, it will be too faint to see visually soon. CCD observers reported that it has already fainter than 16 mag. Although it keeps higher than 20 deg in the evening sky until November, it may be too faint to observe soon even by CCD observers.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  16 10.26  -14 40.6   1.419   1.550    77   17.2  19:10 (116, 54)  
Sept.16  16 32.93  -16 17.7   1.519   1.609    76   18.0  19:15 (111, 53)  

* 112P/Urata-Niijima

Although it was so faint as 20.7 mag on Aug. 2 (P. Birtwhistle), it brightened very rapidly up to 17.9 mag on Aug. 28 (Filip Fratev). The condition of this apparition is excellent. It will brighten furthermore rapidly after this, and it is expected to reach to 16 mag in October and November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   3 53.29   11 33.4   0.933   1.563   107   17.7   4:42 (180, 44)  
Sept.16   4  5.89   14 52.4   0.865   1.539   110   17.3   4:27 (180, 40)  

* P/2006 H1 ( McNaught )

It keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition until October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  23 39.16   -6 16.3   1.596   2.598   172   17.3   0:29 (180, 61)  
Sept.16  23 33.72   -6  4.5   1.617   2.622   176   17.4  23:51 (180, 61)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )

It reached to 6 mag in 2004. It had been visible visually until January. It has already faded down to 17.2 mag (Aug. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Sept. 9   3  2.87   -2  3.2   7.169   7.744   121   17.4   3:52 (180, 57)  
Sept.16   3  0.05   -2 23.2   7.135   7.801   128   17.4   3:22 (180, 57)  

* 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. Now it is 17.2 mag (Aug. 27, J. Young). 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)  
Sept. 9  19 34.73    3 16.6   4.518   5.173   125   17.4  20:21 (180, 52)  
Sept.16  19 30.79    1 54.6   4.563   5.127   119   17.4  19:49 (180, 53)  

* 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)  
Sept. 9   2 43.23   24 36.1   4.799   5.372   119   17.5   3:33 (180, 30)  
Sept.16   2 35.63   24 28.0   4.706   5.386   128   17.5   2:58 (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)  
Sept. 9   4 50.60   11 15.1   4.735   4.899    93   17.8   4:45 (198, 42)  
Sept.16   4 52.67   11 12.5   4.617   4.886    99   17.7   4:35 (193, 43)  

* P/2005 SB216 ( LONEOS )

It will reach to 17 mag in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   4 39.15   43 47.5   3.771   3.929    91   17.8   4:45 (188, 11)  
Sept.16   4 43.67   44 44.1   3.669   3.919    96   17.8   4:35 (185, 10)  

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