Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2006 Nov. 18: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on November 18, 2006
Last week South Next week

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

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

* C/2006 P1 ( McNaught )

Although it was reported so faint as 17 mag at the discovery, it was actually much brighter as 14 mag (Aug. 21, Terry Lovejoy). Then it is brightening rapidly and it is already so bright as 9.1 mag (Nov. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is getting larger, and better condensed. However, it is locating extremely low in the evening, and it will be unobservable soon. It will pass only 0.17 A.U. from the sun in mid January, and reach to 1 mag. But it is not observable at that time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears at 3.5-4 mag in late January, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  17  4.59  -13  0.1   2.313   1.455    22    8.7  18:20 ( 71,  4)  
Nov. 25  17 14.45  -12 31.8   2.212   1.320    19    7.8  18:18 ( 74,  1)  

* C/2006 M4 ( SWAN )

After it kept 5.5-6.0 mag from early October to mid October, it suddenly brightened in outburst on Oct. 24, and reached up to 4.2 mag on Oct. 25 (Maik Meyer). It became easily visible with naked eyes, and a very long tail of 5 degrees was visible with binoculars. But now it is fading, and it has already faded down to 7.0 mag (Nov. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the evening sky until early January while fading gradually after this. 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)  
Nov. 18  19  3.55   14 12.7   1.318   1.217    61    7.8  18:20 ( 75, 44)  
Nov. 25  19 32.26    9 17.9   1.492   1.311    59    8.5  18:18 ( 69, 41)  

* C/2006 L1 ( Garradd )

It had not been observed for a long time since June. In October, after it appeared again in the morning sky, it brightened very rapidly from 13 mag up to 10 mag. Now it is 9.4 mag (Nov. 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be at opposition in December and it is coming closer to the earth. So it will keep visible visually at 9-10 mag for a while until December. Bright and large, but weakly condensed. It keeps observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It will fade out rapidly after January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   9 32.80   16 19.1   1.084   1.532    95    9.2   5:09 (334, 69)  
Nov. 25   9 10.07   23 37.3   0.927   1.563   109    8.9   4:56 (  0, 78)  

* 4P/Faye

Now it reached to the maximum brightness at 9.5 mag (Nov. 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Strongly condensed and easy to see. It keeps 9-10 mag until December, and observable in its best condition. It keeps observable after that until May when it fades down to 16 mag. It will be visible visually for a long time until around March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   2 10.80    3 16.6   0.720   1.668   154    9.5  22:21 (  0, 58)  
Nov. 25   2 13.12    2 32.1   0.749   1.670   147    9.6  21:56 (  0, 58)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

Because it has been locating low in the evening sky, a few observations have been reported. CCD observers reported as 14 mag, but it was reported much brighter visually as 11.5 mag (Oct. 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It becomes too low in the evening to observe in October and November. But it will be getting higher in the morning sky after December. Then it keeps 13 mag until March and visible visually for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  15 45.85   12  4.4   2.771   1.994    31   12.7  18:20 (103,  2)  
Nov. 25  15 56.29   14  2.4   2.725   1.995    34   12.7   5:15 (255,  3)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Another outburst occured in mid October, and it became bright up to 11.5 mag (Oct. 16, Maciej Reszelski). Now it is diffuse, but still bright as 12.1 mag (Nov. 11, Jose Carvajal). In this year, it has been bright as 12-13 mag and visible visually since it appeared in the morning sky in early July. It keeps observable in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   4  7.95   31 37.2   4.895   5.856   165   13.2   0:22 (  0, 87)  
Nov. 25   4  4.12   31 26.9   4.885   5.858   169   13.2  23:46 (  0, 86)  

* 181P/2006 U4 ( Shoemaker-Levy 6 )

Recovered after 15 year blank. The condition is good in this return. It was expected to reach to 13.5 mag in November. But it was much fainter than expected by 3 mag, 17.4 mag at the recovery on Oct. 26 (R. H. McNaught). However, it was reported so bright as 12.0 mag on Nov. 13 (Alexandre Amorim). Michael Jager reported it was bright as 14.5 mag on his CCD image on Nov. 15. Although the nuclear magnitude is extremely faint, the total magnitude seems very bright. It is getting higher gradually after this also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be bright enough to observe in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  20 53.55  -29 28.5   0.921   1.132    72   13.7  18:20 ( 18, 23)  
Nov. 25  21 21.91  -25  8.3   0.910   1.128    72   13.4  18:18 ( 18, 28)  

* C/2005 YW ( LINEAR )

It had been unobservble for a long time. When it appeared again in the morning sky, it has showed a cometary activity and it has become much brighter than expected. Now it is also visible visually at 13.7 mag (Oct. 31, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps 13-14 mag until March. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. However, in the Northern Hemisphere, it rises only up to 20 degree in November, then it moves southwards and is only observable until December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  11 39.75  -22 17.2   2.420   2.007    54   13.9   5:09 (320, 21)  
Nov. 25  11 53.48  -25 52.7   2.362   1.999    56   13.8   5:15 (326, 20)  

* D/1986 W1 ( Lovas 2 )

It has been lost since its discovery in 1986. The condition is good in this return. In calculation, it was expected to be 14 mag from autumn to winter. But actually, it must be much fainter than expected. Although it has been listed up as an observable target since May, it has not been recovered yet. It was probably in outburst and brightened unexpectedly at the discovery. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until it fades out in next spring. It is moving away from the Milky Way, so it will be easier to recover.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  20 42.74  -16 34.7   1.319   1.402    73   13.8  18:20 ( 25, 35)  
Nov. 25  21  5.44  -15  1.1   1.347   1.401    71   13.8  18:18 ( 27, 36)  

* P/2006 HR30 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Oct. 31, Seiichi Yoshida). Almost asteroidal. It did not brighten at all since early September. Although the slight cometary activity was detected in late July, it became completely stellar soon. However, its tail became visible again in late October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps good condition after this. It keeps locating high until next spring. If it keeps asteroidal after this, it will be 14 mag at best. However, it may suddenly become active and brighten rapidly someday.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  20 46.79   33 24.3   0.942   1.382    91   14.2  18:20 ( 91, 73)  
Nov. 25  20 55.32   34 30.9   0.927   1.340    88   14.2  18:18 ( 96, 70)  

* 177P/2006 M3 ( Barnard 2 )

Recovered after 117 year blank since 1889. It brightened rapidly in mid July and reached to 8 mag. Then it kept bright at 8 mag with a large diffuse coma until early September. However, now it is fading. It faded down to 12.2 mag on Oct. 31 (Seiichi Yoshida). Then, no visual observations have been reported. It seems to have faded out rapidly in November. It has been already so faint as 15.6 mag by CCD (Nov. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating very high in the evening sky for a long time after this. However, it will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   0 28.11   57 39.1   0.854   1.663   128   14.2  20:40 (180, 68)  
Nov. 25   0 49.83   53 15.1   0.922   1.738   131   14.8  20:34 (180, 72)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag for a long time since last autumn until spring. Although it had been unobservable for a while, now it locates very high in the morning sky. No observations have been reported recently, although it must be bright as 14 mag. It keeps 14 mag and observable in excellent condition until April. Although it is fainter than last year by 1 mag, it will be visible visually at 14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  12 41.75   23  9.7   5.889   5.452    59   14.4   5:09 (268, 40)  
Nov. 25  12 46.95   22 48.8   5.822   5.468    64   14.4   5:15 (272, 46)  

* P/2006 T1 ( Levy )

New comet discovered visually very near by Saturn. It was very bright, 9.4 mag on Oct. 5 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). But it was fainter than 12 mag in the photo on Sept. 30 (Tetuo Kudo). Probably, it brightened rapidly in early October. It is a short periodic comet with a period of 5.4 years. It may be one of the faint NEOs usually. It faded rather rapidly down to 11.6 mag on Oct. 31 (Seiichi Yoshida). It looked about to be disrupted on Michael Jager and Gerald Rhemann's image. In November, it is getting diffuse rapidly. It has faded down to 13.9 mag on Nov. 8 (Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be too faint to see visually soon. It keeps locating in the morning sky until winter, then it keeps locating observable until next summer. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes low in the south in 2007.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  12 11.49  -12 16.7   1.526   1.146    48   14.5   5:09 (306, 24)  
Nov. 25  12 30.62  -15 39.9   1.556   1.195    50   15.4   5:15 (312, 24)  

* 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 14.2 mag (Oct. 31, Seiichi Yoshida), still visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  10  4.54   23 58.8   3.501   3.650    90   14.7   5:09 (302, 71)  
Nov. 25  10  6.40   23 57.4   3.463   3.718    97   14.8   5:15 (321, 76)  

* 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura

It was expected to reach to 13 mag in winter. But actually, it is so faint as 16.5 mag still now (Oct. 25, Mitsunori Tsumura), much fainter than expected. It will be observable in an excellent condition in November and December. However, it reached only to 15.5 mag at best in fact.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   7 49.73   20  7.7   0.864   1.604   119   15.5   4:03 (  0, 75)  
Nov. 25   7 58.92   23 56.4   0.816   1.604   125   15.4   3:44 (  0, 79)  

* C/2006 K3 ( McNaught )

It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it is not observable until January in the Northern Hemisphere. It was discovered at 17.5 mag in May. Then it has not been brightening well. It is 16.5-17 mag still in November. It will be observable also in the Northern Hemisphere in the evening low sky from January to March, however, it will be fainter than 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   6  4.32  -66 30.6   2.616   2.793    89   15.5   2:19 (  0,-12)  
Nov. 25   5 28.77  -66 24.3   2.555   2.761    91   15.4   1:16 (  0,-11)  

* 84P/Giclas

In its last apparition, it became brightest about 4 months after the perihelion passage. In this apparition, it was 17.6 mag in late July around the perihelion passage (July 23, Filip Fratev), however, now it brightened up to 15.8 mag (Oct. 27, B. Vasiljevic, R. Palcic). It will be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from November to January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   6  3.72   15 34.2   1.173   2.056   143   15.6   2:17 (  0, 71)  
Nov. 25   6  0.03   15 52.3   1.160   2.082   151   15.5   1:46 (  0, 71)  

* C/2005 EL173 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 15.9 mag, as bright as expected (Oct. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable at 15.5-16 mag until next spring. But, in the Northern Hemisphere, it locates somewhat low at 20-30 degree high.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   8  7.93  -27 14.1   3.727   3.999    98   15.9   4:21 (  0, 28)  
Nov. 25   7 58.45  -28 53.4   3.623   3.985   104   15.8   3:44 (  0, 26)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

It was bright as 13.2 mag on Sept. 27, and visible visually (Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps locating at the same altitude until December. But probably, it is already too faint to see visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  22 16.58  -20 12.8   3.225   3.427    93   15.8  18:28 (  0, 35)  
Nov. 25  22 20.93  -19 28.0   3.340   3.441    87   15.9  18:18 (  4, 36)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Now it is 16.2 mag (Oct. 21, Catalina Sky Survey). A bit fainter than this ephemeris, but it became almost as bright as expected. It keeps 16 mag until December. It keeps observable until February when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  10 17.55   -0 14.8   1.594   1.711    79   15.8   5:09 (327, 50)  
Nov. 25  10 27.74   -2 50.9   1.559   1.739    82   15.9   5:15 (337, 50)  

* 71P/Clark

It reached up to 10.3 mag on July 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Then it is fading gradually. Now it is 15.0 mag (Oct. 25, Mitsunori Tsumura). It is already invisible visually. It keeps locating at the same altitude in the evening sky until January when it will be fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  21 48.16  -23 36.4   1.990   2.159    85   15.9  18:20 (  6, 31)  
Nov. 25  21 59.66  -22  5.8   2.106   2.197    81   16.2  18:18 ( 10, 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 1 year since that. So the current brightness is quite uncertain. It has already appeared in the morning sky. It is expected to be 16 mag, but actually, it can be much fainter than this ephemeris. It will fade out gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  12 17.60   -2 44.0   2.450   1.971    50   16.3   5:09 (298, 30)  
Nov. 25  12 30.16   -4 33.8   2.419   2.000    53   16.4   5:15 (304, 32)  

* P/2006 U1 ( LINEAR )

New comet with a very short period of 4.6 years. Almost stellar, with a long thin tail. It locates at opposition in November and December. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in excellent condition. It keeps 16.4 mag in November, however, it will fade out very rapidly in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   5  3.60   21 48.5   0.553   1.516   158   16.4   1:18 (  0, 77)  
Nov. 25   4 39.11   20  9.3   0.622   1.605   171   16.4   0:26 (  0, 75)  

* 112P/Urata-Niijima

Although it was so faint as 20.7 mag on Aug. 2 (P. Birtwhistle), it brightened rapidly as expected, and reached up to 16.5 mag on Oct. 16 (Katsumi Yoshimoto). The condition of this apparition is excellent. It keeps 16.5 mag until November. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   5 16.35   58 37.1   0.599   1.480   136   16.5   1:30 (180, 67)  
Nov. 25   5 12.55   62 38.9   0.614   1.493   136   16.7   0:59 (180, 63)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Now it is fading, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  23 22.65   31 38.3   1.020   1.765   122   16.8  19:33 (  0, 86)  
Nov. 25  23 26.46   28 27.9   1.143   1.825   117   17.2  19:10 (  0, 83)  

* 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)  
Nov. 18  20 17.04   36 24.3   3.557   3.643    87   16.9  18:20 (102, 67)  
Nov. 25  20 27.17   35 33.7   3.593   3.630    84   16.9  18:18 (101, 64)  

* C/2004 L2 ( LINEAR )

It reached up to 16 mag in 2005 summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it is 16.6 mag (Sept. 19, Mitsunori Tsumura). The brightening was very slow, and the fading seems also very slow. It will keep 17 mag until January after this. But then it will turn to fade out rapidly, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   5 32.66  -23 15.5   4.253   4.929   128   17.0   1:46 (  0, 32)  
Nov. 25   5 27.81  -22 56.0   4.255   4.966   131   17.0   1:14 (  0, 32)  

* P/2001 Q2 ( Petriew )

First return of a new bright periodic comet observed at 9 mag in 2001. But it has not been recovered yet. The condition of this apparition is bad. It keeps locating very low in the evening. But it is expected to reach up to 11 mag in February and March. It should be already so bright as 17 mag. But it may be much fainter in fact. It will be brightening rapidly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  18 35.29  -12 47.2   2.183   1.629    44   17.5  18:20 ( 57, 20)  
Nov. 25  18 51.64  -12 49.9   2.161   1.563    41   17.0  18:18 ( 58, 19)  

* C/2005 B1 ( Christensen )

It kept 16.5 mag for a year and a half since early 2005. 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)  
Nov. 18  23 33.19   25 52.6   3.426   4.072   124   17.1  19:44 (  0, 81)  
Nov. 25  23 33.09   23 41.1   3.550   4.111   118   17.2  19:16 (  0, 79)  

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

It is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 17 mag for a long time until 2007 summer. It had been low temporarily, however, it keeps locating high and observable in good condition for a long time after this because it moves in the northern sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  14 23.91   38 32.9   7.486   7.041    59   17.1   5:09 (240, 27)  
Nov. 25  14 28.00   38 10.6   7.449   7.053    62   17.1   5:15 (243, 32)  

* C/2004 D1 ( NEAT )

It reached to 16 mag in early 2006. It will be fading very slowly from 17 mag to 18 mag until 2007 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating high.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18  13 38.37   31 39.3   5.882   5.418    57   17.2   5:09 (252, 32)  
Nov. 25  13 44.61   31 18.0   5.841   5.439    61   17.2   5:15 (255, 37)  

* 2006 QL39

Peculiar asteroid moving along an orbit like a comet. It was observable in excellent condition at opposition in October, then it reached to 16.5 mag. It will fade out gradually after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   0 56.28   -7 31.6   1.424   2.221   133   17.2  21:07 (  0, 47)  
Nov. 25   0 57.21   -7 42.4   1.462   2.198   126   17.3  20:40 (  0, 47)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Oct. 20, Filip Fratev). 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)  
Nov. 18   4 42.04   10 35.8   3.826   4.773   161   17.2   0:56 (  0, 66)  
Nov. 25   4 38.15   10 36.4   3.794   4.760   166   17.2   0:24 (  0, 66)  

* P/2005 SB216 ( LONEOS )

It keeps 17 mag until January. Then it keeps observable util April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   4 36.95   51 53.9   3.001   3.852   144   17.2   0:51 (180, 73)  
Nov. 25   4 31.04   52 13.4   2.974   3.847   147   17.2   0:18 (180, 73)  

* P/2006 S6 ( Hill )

Unexpectedly bright as 17 mag on Oct. 16 (Michael Jager and Gerald Rhemann). It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   2 30.59   30  0.8   1.448   2.409   162   17.3  22:40 (  0, 85)  
Nov. 25   2 25.43   30  1.2   1.477   2.414   156   17.4  22:08 (  0, 85)  

* C/2006 CK10 ( Catalina )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Oct. 14, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is as bright as in last spring. It will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   2 26.10  -12 32.1   1.584   2.457   144   17.4  22:34 (  0, 42)  
Nov. 25   2  4.02  -14 45.1   1.724   2.515   134   17.7  21:45 (  0, 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. Recently it is fading more slowly than expected. It was visible visually at 13.9 mag still in late September (Sept. 27, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it has faded down to 17.4 mag (Nov. 9, Y. Sugiyama). It keeps locating in the evening sky for a while after this. But it will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   0 28.64  -10 27.6   1.491   2.220   125   17.5  20:39 (  0, 45)  
Nov. 25   0 29.38   -9 14.4   1.621   2.280   119   17.8  20:12 (  0, 46)  

* 2006 BZ8

Peculiar asteroid moving along an orbit like a comet. It was observed at 17 mag in February and March. It will be observable at 17 mag again in October and November. But it will fade out soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   1 35.29   25 53.0   1.505   2.424   152   17.7  21:43 (  0, 81)  
Nov. 25   1 11.05   21 54.6   1.627   2.469   140   18.0  20:52 (  0, 77)  

* C/2005 R4 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Oct. 19, Catalina Sky Survey). It is as bright as last year. It will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   1 10.70   19 20.4   4.677   5.530   146   17.7  21:20 (  0, 74)  
Nov. 25   1  2.97   18 34.3   4.775   5.548   138   17.8  20:45 (  0, 74)  

* P/2005 RV25 ( LONEOS-Christensen )

Although it moves very far away from the earth, now it is brightest around the perihelion. It keeps observable in good condition at 18 mag until February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   5 54.72   20 26.7   2.742   3.608   146   17.8   2:08 (  0, 75)  
Nov. 25   5 51.14   20  8.2   2.693   3.608   154   17.7   1:37 (  0, 75)  

* 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 (Sept. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fading slowly, around 17-18 mag for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   2 24.36   -4 43.0   7.428   8.306   150   17.7  22:34 (  0, 50)  
Nov. 25   2 20.56   -4 47.0   7.538   8.361   144   17.8  22:03 (  0, 50)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 17.9 mag (Oct. 1, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 15 mag two years later.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   2  3.88    6 45.8   3.575   4.492   155   17.8  22:14 (  0, 62)  
Nov. 25   2  0.44    6 36.8   3.621   4.485   147   17.8  21:43 (  0, 62)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is around the aphelion and faintest. But it will be observable at 18 mag in good condition until March. It will be 13-14 mag and visible visually again in 2009. It will reach to 12.5 mag in 2010. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it will locate very low in the south at that time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   6 25.88   27 31.7   3.935   4.730   139   17.9   2:39 (  0, 83)  
Nov. 25   6 22.34   27 44.9   3.868   4.729   147   17.8   2:08 (  0, 83)  

* 102P/Shoemaker 1

Recovered after 15 year blank since last apparition in 1991. It was originally expected to brighen up to 14.5 mag in 2006 summer. But actually, it was so faint as 20 mag, fainter than expected by 6 mag. It became a bit brighter on Sept. 18 up to 18.8 mag (Ken-ichi Kadota).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 18   3  1.76   61 14.2   1.555   2.380   137   20.2  23:11 (180, 64)  
Nov. 25   2 51.52   60 42.9   1.583   2.409   138   20.3  22:33 (180, 64)  

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

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