Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2007 Aug. 18: South)

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Updated on August 19, 2007
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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 VZ13 ( LINEAR )

It reached to 7.2 mag on July 14 (Maik Meyer). It will be fading gradually after this. Now it is 9.0 mag (Aug. 13, Carlos Labordena). It had been observable in good condition for a while, however, it will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemipshere, it keeps observable bright as 9-10 mag in the evening sky until early September. After conjunction with Sun, it will appear in the morning sky in late October at 13 mag, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  12 49.40   -7 31.5   1.325   1.022    49    8.7  18:55 (103, 31)  
Aug. 25  12 43.64  -11 34.3   1.508   1.043    43    9.2  18:59 ( 93, 25)  

* C/2006 XA1 ( LINEAR )

It reached to 13.2 mag in last spring (May 12, Carlos Labordena). But now it is not observable. In the Southen Hemisphere, it will be observable again at 15 mag in November. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it will never observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  10 11.10    3 18.8   2.818   1.837    11   13.2  18:55 ( 88, -8)  
Aug. 25  10 26.52    0 31.8   2.838   1.856    10   13.3  18:59 ( 84, -9)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Although it had been unobservable for a long time, it appeared in the morning sky finally. Now it is bright as 14.9 mag by CCD (Aug. 2, Vitali Nevski).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   6  5.24   29 59.7   6.481   5.939    53   13.9   5:12 (221, 11)  
Aug. 25   6  9.90   30  1.7   6.391   5.941    59   13.8   5:04 (218, 13)  

* C/2007 F1 ( LONEOS )

It will approach down to 0.4 A.U. to the sun on Oct. 28, and it is expected to reach to 6 mag. However, it was much fainter than expected recently, 17.5 mag on June 17 (Michael Jager) and 18.1 mag on July 25 (Luca Buzzi). The condition in the Northern Hemisphere is very hard. It locates extremely low, slightly over the horizon in the morning sky, from late September to mid October, then it will never be observable again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the evening sky in early November, then it keeps observable while fading gradually, although it will not locate very high. It is expected to appear at 7 mag, but it can be much fainter actually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  10 43.28   28 15.6   2.508   1.593    19   14.5  18:55 (114,-15)  
Aug. 25  10 51.88   28 12.9   2.389   1.475    19   14.1  18:59 (111,-20)  

* P/2007 H1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.8 mag (July 21, Bob King). It will be observable in very good condition at 14 mag until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   0 21.26   -5 48.4   1.400   2.281   141   14.3   2:38 (180, 61)  
Aug. 25   0 21.33   -6 51.9   1.360   2.282   148   14.2   2:11 (180, 62)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

It will reach to 11 mag in 2008 spring. It will keep bright for a long time, however, it keeps moving in the southern sky for a while after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2008 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at 13 mag in November in a short time, but very low and hard to observe. However, it will be visible visually at 11 mag in the evening sky from March to June in 2008. Then it becomes unobservable again. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 13 mag at the end of 2008, then it keeps bright and observable for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   7 38.28  -28 49.8   4.749   4.210    52   14.4   5:12 (285, 31)  
Aug. 25   7 47.73  -29 33.1   4.680   4.161    53   14.3   5:04 (285, 33)  

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

Now it is 15.4 mag (June 12, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 14.5 mag in summer. It moves in the southen sky, and it is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  17 52.78  -56 54.3   2.742   3.339   117   14.4  20:06 (  0, 68)  
Aug. 25  17 36.10  -57 13.8   2.830   3.320   110   14.5  19:22 (  0, 68)  

* 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 50 degrees. It has already faded down to 12.6 mag (July 6, Walter Ruben Robledo). In the Southern Hemisphere, It keeps observable almost all night 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)  
Aug. 18  13 30.83  -63 18.3   3.716   3.812    87   14.6  18:55 ( 31, 50)  
Aug. 25  13 43.24  -62 24.3   3.874   3.897    83   14.8  18:59 ( 33, 48)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It is already bright and visible visually at 14.0 mag (Aug. 8, Alan Hale). It will reach to 10.5 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2008 autumn. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time while the comet is getting brighter slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  21 43.44   -8 31.9   3.691   4.700   175   14.9   0:01 (180, 63)  
Aug. 25  21 38.66   -8 28.0   3.645   4.646   171   14.8  23:24 (180, 63)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.2 mag (July 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable at 14 mag at high location from spring to summer both in 2007 and 2008.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  16 58.97   -1 16.1   5.311   5.700   107   14.8  19:13 (180, 56)  
Aug. 25  16 55.13   -1 11.9   5.420   5.690   100   14.8  18:59 (172, 56)  

* C/2007 E1 ( Garradd )

It passed near by the earth in early April, and reached to 8.7 mag (Apr. 10, Werner hasubick). Then it faded down to 11.8 mag on May 26 (Seiichi Yoshida), and became too low to observe in the evening. Now it is not observable. Although it has been unobservable for a long time, it has appeared in the morning sky finally. Now it is 15.2 mag (Aug. 10, Ken-ichi Kadota), fading as expected.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   7  2.05   26 37.1   2.432   1.794    40   14.9   5:12 (232,  5)  
Aug. 25   6 58.02   27  2.6   2.369   1.861    48   15.2   5:04 (228,  9)  

* 17P/Holmes

Now it is bright as 14.5 mag (July 16, Michael Jager). It will keep bright as 14-15 mag and observable in good condition for a long time until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   3 24.92   38  2.7   2.034   2.211    86   15.1   5:12 (186, 17)  
Aug. 25   3 34.25   39 38.8   1.982   2.231    90   15.2   5:04 (184, 15)  

* C/2006 S5 ( Hill )

It has appeared in the morning sky after long time blank since last winter. Now it is 16.0 mag (Aug. 12, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightening as expected. It will reach to 14 mag in next winter, and will be observable in good condition. It is expected to be visible visually. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time until 2008 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   5 45.38   28  9.5   3.289   2.883    57   15.7   5:12 (218, 15)  
Aug. 25   5 57.97   28  2.7   3.188   2.854    61   15.6   5:04 (217, 16)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

Appearing in the moring sky. No observations have been reported since January. But it must have already brightened up to 16.5 mag. It will reach to 13.5 mag in the southern sky in 2008 spring and summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. However, it is only observable until autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, when the comet brightens up to 15 mag. Then it will be observable again at the end of 2008, when the comet will already fade down to 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   1 37.01  -19 15.5   3.259   3.926   124   16.0   3:54 (180, 74)  
Aug. 25   1 36.21  -21 32.4   3.142   3.875   130   15.9   3:26 (180, 76)  

* 188P/2007 J7 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1998 at 14 mag. Now it is 16.4 mag (Aug. 14, Y. Sugiyama), brightening as expected. It keeps observable at 16 mag until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   0 28.81    1  5.8   1.847   2.682   137   16.0   2:46 (180, 54)  
Aug. 25   0 27.14    1 23.7   1.780   2.668   144   15.9   2:17 (180, 54)  

* C/2006 K1 ( McNaught )

Although it had been observable only in the Southern Hemisphere for a long time, now it becomes observable also in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps 16 mag until winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   3 48.46  -28 31.0   4.208   4.432    96   16.1   5:12 (243, 77)  
Aug. 25   3 50.46  -28 43.5   4.142   4.435   100   16.1   5:04 (232, 80)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.6 mag (July 24, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 12 mag in 2008 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable almost all time until that while the comet is brightening gradually. However, it goes to the southern sky and will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  16 35.28   25 24.9   4.997   5.180    94   16.1  18:55 (179, 30)  
Aug. 25  16 33.65   23 53.4   5.025   5.127    90   16.1  18:59 (170, 30)  

* 50P/Arend

Now it is 17.5 mag (Aug. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition until it fades out in 2008 spring. It is expected to reach to 15 mag in autumn, however, recent reports are fainter than this ephemeris by 1 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   2 17.99   21 10.0   1.523   2.038   105   16.3   4:35 (180, 34)  
Aug. 25   2 24.95   23 25.0   1.441   2.019   109   16.1   4:14 (180, 32)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Apr. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). No observations have been reported since June. However, the fading is slow. The comet will be fainter than 18 mag in 2008. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until that time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   5 58.65   64 46.6   3.986   3.664    64   16.1   5:12 (199,-16)  
Aug. 25   6  0.87   65  0.5   3.966   3.724    68   16.2   5:04 (197,-15)  

* C/2007 O1 ( LINEAR )

It was observed at 16 mag in July. It will be fading gradually after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  19  0.72  -23  1.7   2.135   2.977   139   16.2  21:15 (180, 78)  
Aug. 25  19  1.81  -24  2.1   2.217   2.996   132   16.3  20:48 (180, 79)  

* C/2005 EL173 ( LONEOS )

It reached up to 15.5 mag in late 2006 and early 2007. Now it is fading. It locates somewhat low in the south, but it is observable at 16.5 mag in autumn. It will be too low to observe in early 2008, when the comet will be fainter than 17.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   4 44.98  -23 23.5   4.151   4.143    82   16.3   5:12 (251, 64)  
Aug. 25   4 41.58  -24 35.0   4.070   4.164    88   16.2   5:04 (247, 69)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 15.2 mag (Aug. 17, Tony Farkas). It is observable at 13.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. It is brightening rather faster than this ephemeris, so it can be visible visually soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   0 58.67   11 49.7   1.325   2.091   126   16.7   3:15 (180, 43)  
Aug. 25   1  1.12   13 21.0   1.236   2.053   131   16.3   2:50 (180, 42)  

* 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1

Appearing in the moring sky. No observations have been reported since January. But it must have already brightened up to 16.5 mag. It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. It will be observable in good condition at 16 mag until winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   6 14.16   20 48.6   3.620   3.090    51   16.4   5:12 (228, 17)  
Aug. 25   6 23.98   20 36.6   3.549   3.095    55   16.4   5:04 (226, 19)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2

Now it is 16.8 mag (June 18, E. Guido, G. Sostero). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in summer and autumn in 2007, and observable at 17 mag in summer and autumn in 2008.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  17 19.88  -23 45.1   1.897   2.514   116   16.4  19:34 (180, 79)  
Aug. 25  17 22.81  -23 31.3   1.952   2.488   110   16.4  19:10 (180, 79)  

* 189P/2007 N2 ( NEAT )

It passed very close to the earth in July and reach to 15.5 mag (July 16, Michael Jager). But it will fade out rapidly after August, and will be fainter than 18 mag in September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  18 39.24   27 38.5   0.331   1.207   118   16.4  20:54 (180, 27)  
Aug. 25  18 57.70   30  6.4   0.374   1.229   117   16.8  20:45 (180, 25)  

* C/2006 K3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.5 mag (July 25, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Before the perihelion passage, it kept 16.5-17 mag and hardly brightened. After the perihelion passage, it seems hardly to be fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   4 14.17   37 57.4   3.084   3.016    76   16.5   5:12 (196, 15)  
Aug. 25   4 13.09   40 18.4   3.012   3.057    82   16.4   5:04 (191, 14)  

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.1 mag (June 12, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 16.5-17 mag in good condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  19 42.84   17 40.1   5.080   5.854   136   16.7  21:56 (180, 37)  
Aug. 25  19 36.39   17 39.7   5.134   5.856   131   16.7  21:22 (180, 37)  

* C/2007 M3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.4 mag (July 24, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable at 16-17 mag in 2007 summer. It will be observable brighter than 18 mag also in 2008, from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  17 32.92   -4 43.0   2.897   3.472   116   16.7  19:46 (180, 60)  
Aug. 25  17 22.44   -5 40.5   3.022   3.470   107   16.8  19:09 (180, 61)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It is expected to reach to 11 mag in 2009 summer. Because it moves in the northern sky, it keeps observable until it becomes brightest in the Northern Hemipshere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   6 29.49   50 52.5   7.355   6.821    54   16.9   5:12 (211, -8)  
Aug. 25   6 32.15   51 27.0   7.218   6.773    60   16.8   5:04 (208, -7)  

* C/2006 M4 ( SWAN )

It reached up to 4 mag in 2006 autumn. But it had faded down to 10.5 mag on Jan. 11 (Carlos Labordena). It had been unobservable for a long time since that, but now it is appearing at dawn again. Now it is 16.8 mag (May 27, Ken-ichi Kadota), fading rather rapidly. After this, 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)  
Aug. 18  22  6.51  -28 45.2   3.548   4.529   163   16.9   0:24 (180, 84)  
Aug. 25  21 58.27  -29 49.7   3.635   4.602   160   17.0  23:44 (180, 85)  

* P/2007 N1 ( McNaught )

It will reach to 16 mag in autumn, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   2 40.54    3 22.1   1.540   2.056   105   17.1   4:57 (180, 52)  
Aug. 25   2 48.75    3 25.7   1.472   2.052   110   17.0   4:38 (180, 52)  

* 108P/Ciffreo

Appearing in the morning sky, and observed at 16.7 mag as bright as expected (July 24, E. Guido, G. Sostero). It will be getting higher after this. But it will be fading gradually and becomes fainter than 18 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   6 19.88   25 56.6   2.210   1.745    50   17.0   5:12 (226, 12)  
Aug. 25   6 39.31   26 25.3   2.177   1.757    52   17.0   5:04 (225, 12)  

* 8P/Tuttle

It will reach to 6 mag in January, and will be observable in good condition. Now it is 18.3 mag (Aug. 2, Vitali Nevski). In the Northern Hemipshere, it keeps observable until early February, when it fades down to 7.5 mag. In the Southern Hemipshere, it is not observable until late December. But after that, it keeps observable until it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   1 42.20   75 28.7   2.263   2.389    84   17.3   3:59 (180,-20)  
Aug. 25   1 57.76   77 39.5   2.158   2.319    86   17.0   3:47 (180,-23)  

* C/2006 M1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.5 mag (July 16, Michael Jager). 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)  
Aug. 18   3  7.80   36 14.2   3.790   3.922    89   17.1   5:12 (183, 19)  
Aug. 25   3 10.47   35 52.6   3.713   3.948    95   17.0   5:00 (180, 19)  

* P/2006 F1 ( Kowalski )

Now it is 18.1 mag (Apr. 14, Maciej Reszelski). It is observable at 17.5-18 mag until autumn. It was discovered at 18 mag in 2006. It is a distant periodic comet, and it keeps observable at 18 mag for 4 years until 2009.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18  18 39.83  -15 57.9   3.381   4.155   134   17.4  20:54 (180, 71)  
Aug. 25  18 38.56  -16 30.7   3.457   4.152   127   17.5  20:25 (180, 72)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

It reached to 13.5 mag and became visible visually in 2005 and 2006. Now it has gone far away. But it is observable at 17.5 mag until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   2 29.56    8 51.5   3.620   4.027   106   17.6   4:46 (180, 46)  
Aug. 25   2 30.25    8 52.7   3.537   4.043   113   17.6   4:19 (180, 46)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

It will reach to 15 mag in 2009 and 2010. In this year, it is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   5  8.34   21 36.8   4.481   4.184    66   17.7   5:12 (214, 25)  
Aug. 25   5 13.81   21 46.7   4.374   4.175    72   17.6   5:04 (211, 27)  

* 110P/Hartley 3

Although it is so faint as 18 mag still in August, it will brighten very rapidly in a short time and reach to 15 mag in October. It will be observable at 14.5-15 mag in an excellent condition from October to February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   4 32.89   31 35.7   2.791   2.686    73   17.9   5:12 (202, 20)  
Aug. 25   4 43.36   32  1.2   2.693   2.671    77   17.6   5:04 (200, 20)  

* 136P/Mueller 3

Now it is 18.8 mag (July 26, Filip Fratev). It will reach to 17.5 mag until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   0  6.71   -6 42.1   2.094   2.982   145   17.7   2:24 (180, 62)  
Aug. 25   0  4.89   -7 24.5   2.045   2.977   152   17.7   1:55 (180, 62)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )

It was observed bright as 14-15 mag in 2004 and 2005. Now it is close to the aphelion, but it will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in 2007 autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 18   3 22.42    7  0.3   4.564   4.751    94   17.9   5:12 (190, 48)  
Aug. 25   3 23.86    6 57.5   4.470   4.763   100   17.8   5:04 (183, 48)  

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