Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2007 Feb. 10: North)

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Updated on February 12, 2007
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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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* C/2006 P1 ( McNaught )

Excellent great comet, few times in a lifetime, for southern people. It reached to -5.5 mag on Jan. 14 and 15, brighter than Venus, and visible even in daytime. Then it appeared in the evening sky in the Southern Hemisphere and many people enjoyed a fantastic view of a beautiful great comet, a enormous curving tail with so many striae over 40 degrees. Now it is observable both in the evening and morning. It has already faded down to 4.3 mag (Feb. 8, Alexandre Amorim). It keeps observable almost all night after February until the comet has gone. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  21 34.37  -56 52.8   1.307   0.880    42    4.4  19:02 ( 41,-35)  
Feb. 17  21 51.37  -59 13.4   1.418   1.038    47    5.5   5:19 (322,-35)  

* 4P/Faye

It reached up to 9.3 mag between October and November (Oct. 27, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It had been observable in excellent condition. But it is fading now. It has already faded down to 11.7 mag (Feb. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it keeps observable after this until May when it fades down to 16 mag. It will keep visible visually until around March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   3 52.67    9  7.1   1.474   1.872    97   12.4  19:02 ( 16, 63)  
Feb. 17   4  5.97   10  6.0   1.567   1.903    93   12.7  19:08 ( 27, 63)  

* 185P/2007 A3 ( Petriew )

First return of a new bright periodic comet observed at 9 mag in 2001. It is brightening very rapidly. It was 16.1 mag on Jan. 11 (Filip Fratev), but it brightened up to 12.0-12.5 mag on Feb. 9 (Michael Jager). Fainter than expected by 1.5 mag, but unexpectedly, it is brightening to be visible visually. However, the condition of this apparition is bad. It keeps locating very low in the evening until early May. It reaches to 12.5 mag at best, and it will start fading after mid March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  23 12.35   -2 28.3   1.724   0.962    27   12.8  19:02 ( 81,  9)  
Feb. 17  23 43.41   -0 30.8   1.692   0.944    28   12.5  19:08 ( 83, 10)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 12.2 mag (Dec. 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 12-13 mag until March and visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  18 51.31   51 36.0   2.268   2.225    74   12.8   5:26 (229, 44)  
Feb. 17  19 18.29   55 46.0   2.290   2.263    75   12.8   5:19 (223, 43)  

* C/2006 M4 ( SWAN )

It suddenly brightened in outburst on Oct. 24, and reached up to 4.2 mag on Oct. 25 (Maik Meyer). But it had faded down to 10.5 mag on Jan. 11 (Carlos Labordena). Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again at 15-16 mag in May. Then it keeps observable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  21 55.14   -7  7.1   3.318   2.349     9   13.2  19:02 ( 88,-10)  
Feb. 17  22  2.99   -7 25.4   3.423   2.440     4   13.4  19:08 ( 91,-15)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

In this season, it has been bright as 12-13 mag and visible visually since it appeared in the morning sky in early July. Another outburst occurred on Jan. 29 and it reached to 13 mag on CCD images (Albert Sanchez Caso). It keeps observable in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   3 45.02   28 45.9   5.636   5.882    99   13.5  19:02 ( 54, 80)  
Feb. 17   3 46.79   28 38.3   5.749   5.884    92   13.6  19:08 ( 71, 74)  

* P/2006 HR30 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is 14.1 mag (Jan. 15, Maciej Reszelski). 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. Its tail became visible again in late October, however, it turned to be stellar again soon. Finally it has passed the perihelion, keeping almost asteroidal. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps good condition after this. It keeps locating high until spring. It is fainter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   3 16.21   42 29.5   0.801   1.343    96   13.8  19:02 (125, 76)  
Feb. 17   3 59.25   39  0.9   0.850   1.385    97   14.0  19:08 (113, 79)  

* C/2005 YW ( LINEAR )

It was visible visually on Oct. 31 at 13.7 mag (Seiichi Yoshida). It was still bright as 13.8 mag at the end of 2006 (Dec. 29, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It keeps 13-14 mag until March. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, although it is already not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  14 53.00  -61 37.8   2.042   2.138    81   13.8   5:26 (359, -7)  
Feb. 17  15 11.36  -63 50.7   2.031   2.169    84   13.9   5:19 (359, -9)  

* 2P/Encke

It will reach to 6 mag at the perihelion passage in mid April. It has already started brightening very rapidly. How it is 14.0 mag (Feb. 9, Michael Jager). It is observale while brightening gradually in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it will locate very low when it is bright enough to see visually. It will be lower than 20 degree soon. It will be 11.5 mag in mid March, when the altitude becomes lower than 10 degree. After conjunction with the sun, it appears in the morning sky at 12 mag in June. But it locates only 20 degree high at most, and it will be fading rapidly. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in the morning sky at 8 mag in May, then it will be bright and observable for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  23 55.76    7  1.6   1.970   1.395    41   14.9  19:02 ( 82, 23)  
Feb. 17   0  7.81    8 11.8   1.926   1.295    37   14.0  19:08 ( 86, 20)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It has been visible at 13.5 mag for a long time since 2005 autumn until 2006 spring. Now it is fainter than last year by 1 mag, however, it is still visible visually at 14.2 mag (Dec. 22, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps observable in excellent condition until April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  13 13.49   23  1.9   5.020   5.673   127   14.4   3:55 (  0, 78)  
Feb. 17  13 12.43   23 17.3   4.973   5.694   133   14.4   3:27 (  0, 78)  

* C/2006 L1 ( Garradd )

When it approached to the earth between from November to early December, it reached up to 8.5 mag as a very large diffuse object with a diameter larger than 10 arcmin (Nov. 23, Peter Bus). However, now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 12.2 mag (Jan. 20, Carlos Labordena). It will be fainter than 14 mag, too faint to see visually, in February. It will set down in the evening sky at 17 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   1 17.55   35 29.4   2.215   2.145    73   14.5  19:02 (105, 53)  
Feb. 17   1 17.31   34 57.8   2.414   2.211    66   15.1  19:08 (106, 46)  

* C/2006 K3 ( McNaught )

It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it had been unobservable before 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 December. 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)  
Feb. 10   2 28.60  -27 28.8   2.698   2.525    69   15.2  19:02 ( 27, 22)  
Feb. 17   2 29.29  -23 31.8   2.777   2.515    64   15.2  19:08 ( 36, 22)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Although it had been unobservable since last autumn, now it is appearing again in the morning sky. It will be observable at 14.5 mag from spring to summer both in 2007 and 2008. The condition is good, and it may be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  18 58.00  -15  4.7   6.862   6.107    37   15.6   5:26 (298, 12)  
Feb. 17  18 59.42  -14 35.5   6.760   6.087    43   15.6   5:19 (301, 16)  

* C/2006 XA1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Jan. 10, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 15 mag in the evening sky until May. It is not observable around the perihelion passage in conjunction with the sun. Then it moves to the southern sky, and it will be unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   2 52.14   47 59.8   2.421   2.680    94   15.7  19:02 (135, 69)  
Feb. 17   3  1.99   46 56.8   2.440   2.621    89   15.6  19:08 (128, 66)  

* C/2005 EL173 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Jan. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable at 15.5-16 mag until 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)  
Feb. 10   5 16.01  -31 25.4   3.546   3.892   103   15.7  19:55 (  0, 24)  
Feb. 17   5  5.93  -30 10.0   3.632   3.889    97   15.7  19:17 (  0, 25)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 9, Mitsunori Tsumura). It will reach to 11 mag in 2008 spring. It keeps moving in the southern sky until that, so it keeps locating very low in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 16 mag in the evening low sky until March, then it will be unobservable. It will be observable again in a short time in the very low sky at dawn in November at 13 mag. After 2008 March, it will be visible visually at 11 mag in the morning low sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   4 49.85  -36 47.3   5.381   5.573    96   15.9  19:29 (  0, 18)  
Feb. 17   4 49.58  -36  3.0   5.388   5.521    92   15.9  19:08 (  1, 19)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

It will be brightening gradually at the high altitude until 2007 spring, while it brightens up to 16 mag. Then it keeps 15.5-16 mag for one year and a half until 2008 summer. However, because the comet moves southwards, it is only observable until 2007 June in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  11  0.57    3 28.3   3.031   3.951   155   16.6   1:43 (  0, 58)  
Feb. 17  10 55.92    3  8.5   2.945   3.903   163   16.5   1:11 (  0, 58)  

* C/2005 E2 ( McNaught )

It was still visible visually at 14.2 mag on Oct. 31 (Seiichi Yoshida). However, it has already faded down to 16.3 mag (Jan. 30, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps a good contition until spring, while the comet will be fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   9 30.76   26 36.5   3.482   4.452   167   16.5   0:14 (  0, 82)  
Feb. 17   9 25.29   26 43.2   3.562   4.517   163   16.6  23:36 (  0, 82)  

* 84P/Giclas

It tends to become 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, it brightened up to 14.1 mag and became visible visually on Dec. 23 (Seiichi Yoshida). But it will start fading after this. Although it keeps a good condition for a long time, it will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   5 25.39   21 25.5   1.761   2.424   121   16.9  20:05 (  0, 76)  
Feb. 17   5 29.32   21 52.4   1.871   2.458   115   17.1  19:41 (  0, 77)  

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 29, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 17 mag for a long time until 2007 summer. 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)  
Feb. 10  14 49.89   38 52.8   6.844   7.200   107   17.1   5:26 (196, 86)  
Feb. 17  14 48.75   39 13.8   6.795   7.215   111   17.1   5:03 (180, 86)  

* P/2006 U5 ( Christensen )

It reached to 16.5 mag at best in December and January. But now it is already fading. It will be fainer than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   6  9.13   28 21.9   1.560   2.331   131   17.1  20:48 (  0, 83)  
Feb. 17   6 10.92   28  6.2   1.628   2.334   124   17.2  20:23 (  0, 83)  

* C/2004 D1 ( NEAT )

It reached to 16 mag in early 2006. Now it is 17.3 mag (Dec. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Feb. 10  14 24.21   32 18.1   5.253   5.697   112   17.2   5:06 (  0, 87)  
Feb. 17  14 24.20   32 41.8   5.210   5.722   116   17.2   4:38 (  0, 88)  

* 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura

It was expected to reach to 13 mag in winter. But actually, it was 15.7 mag at best (Dec. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota), much fainter than expected. It will fade out rapidly after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   7 49.81   62 33.1   1.003   1.794   128   17.3  22:29 (180, 62)  
Feb. 17   7 49.48   62 40.4   1.073   1.824   124   17.6  22:01 (180, 62)  

* 99P/Kowal 1

It was observed at 17.5 mag in 2006 spring. It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in 2007 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  14 13.58  -13  1.9   4.364   4.719   105   17.4   4:55 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 17  14 14.66  -13 10.9   4.260   4.720   111   17.3   4:29 (  0, 42)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Jan. 9, Mitsunori Tsumura). 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)  
Feb. 10   4 12.67   13 25.1   4.312   4.632   102   17.3  19:02 (  6, 68)  
Feb. 17   4 14.14   13 52.5   4.407   4.621    96   17.4  19:08 ( 27, 67)  

* 87P/Bus

It was observed at 19 mag in mid December. It will reach to 17 mag in spring, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  11 11.37    3 16.6   1.482   2.404   153   17.6   1:54 (  0, 58)  
Feb. 17  11  8.18    3 42.6   1.428   2.385   161   17.4   1:23 (  0, 59)  

* P/2005 SB216 ( LONEOS )

It has been observed in good condition at 17 mag. But it will be fading after this, and it becomes fainter than 18 mag in April. It will be observable in good condition at 18 mag again one year later.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   4  4.38   48 12.7   3.426   3.818   106   17.5  19:02 (167, 76)  
Feb. 17   4  8.94   47 42.1   3.513   3.819   100   17.5  19:08 (149, 75)  

* C/2004 B1 ( LINEAR )

It was visible visually at 12 mag in last spring. Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 29, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will keep good condition for a while after this, but it will be fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  16 54.11   40 28.9   4.558   4.574    84   17.8   5:26 (248, 64)  
Feb. 17  16 55.06   42 20.4   4.560   4.638    88   17.9   5:19 (243, 68)  

* 184P/2007 A1 ( Lovas 2 )

It had been lost since its discovery in 1986. But it was rediscovered on Jan. 9 at 16-17 mag. The condition is good in this return, and it was expected to reach to 14 mag from autumn to winter. But actually, it is fainter than originally expected, and it seems to have reached to 17 mag at best. It will be fainter than 18 mag in February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10   0 32.21    4 36.3   2.012   1.545    48   17.9  19:02 ( 74, 29)  
Feb. 17   0 52.92    6 43.9   2.079   1.579    46   18.1  19:08 ( 78, 28)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is around the aphelion and faintest, but it is observed at 18 mag. 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)  
Feb. 10   5 34.48   28 37.1   4.087   4.703   123   17.9  20:14 (  0, 84)  
Feb. 17   5 33.34   28 35.2   4.179   4.700   116   18.0  19:45 (  0, 84)  

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

It was in major outburst unexpectedly and reached to 10.5 mag in its last appearance in 1999. However, it is faint in this apparition. Now it is 17.4 mag (Nov. 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will fade out gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 10  14  0.22  -19 54.3   1.922   2.386   105   18.5   4:42 (  0, 35)  
Feb. 17  14  1.89  -20 45.9   1.874   2.425   112   18.6   4:16 (  0, 34)  

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