Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2007 Sept. 15: North)

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Updated on September 17, 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 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 is not observable already in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable for a while after mid September also in the Southern Hemipshere. After conjunction with Sun, it will appear in the morning sky in late October at 13 mag in the Southern Hemisphere, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear again at 14 mag in the very low sky at dawn in mid November. But it will be fading while keeping extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  12 32.35  -19 44.5   1.968   1.175    27   10.5  19:33 ( 78,-19)  
Sept.22  12 29.76  -21 49.5   2.084   1.236    24   10.9  19:22 ( 79,-24)  

* 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. It had been unobservable for a while, now it is finally appearing in the extremely low sky at dawn. It was so faint as 17.5 mag on June 17 (Michael Jager), however, now it is already very bright as 11 mag (Sept. 14, Michael Jager and Gerald Rhemann). However, 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 at 7 mag in early November, then it keeps observable while fading gradually, although it will not locate very high.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  11 25.94   28 11.3   1.929   1.101    24   12.3   4:16 (234, -1)  
Sept.22  11 41.76   28  7.5   1.740   0.970    27   11.6   4:22 (236,  2)  

* 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)  
Sept.15  11 11.74   -7 47.6   2.908   1.935    11   13.6   4:16 (265,-21)  
Sept.22  11 26.52  -10 31.2   2.933   1.968    13   13.7   4:22 (270,-19)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Although it has been observable since late July, it keeps faint in this season. It was 14.4 mag on Aug. 4 (Ken-ichi Kadota), but nobody reported it brighter than 14 mag so far.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   6 21.49   30  8.6   6.091   5.947    77   13.7   4:16 (268, 58)  
Sept.22   6 24.43   30 11.4   5.983   5.950    83   13.7   4:22 (272, 64)  

* 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. No observations have been reported since late May, but it keeps observable in good condition until 2008 summer in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at 13 mag from October to December 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)  
Sept.15   8 15.77  -32  9.4   4.459   4.017    57   14.1   4:16 (309, -2)  
Sept.22   8 24.90  -33  9.6   4.381   3.970    59   14.0   4:22 (313,  2)  

* P/2007 H1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.2 mag (Sept. 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable in very good condition at 13-14 mag until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   0 15.22  -10 28.4   1.299   2.290   166   14.2   0:42 (  0, 45)  
Sept.22   0 11.80  -11 37.6   1.303   2.294   168   14.2   0:11 (  0, 43)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It is already bright and visible visually at 13.8 mag (Sept. 9, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Sept.15  21 25.13   -8 16.4   3.592   4.482   148   14.6  21:48 (  0, 47)  
Sept.22  21 21.39   -8 11.1   3.602   4.428   141   14.5  21:17 (  0, 47)  

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Sept. 2, R. Salvo). It keeps 15 mag for a long time until 2008 spring. It moves in the southen sky, so it keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, although it becomes low only in winter. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  17  2.16  -57 23.9   3.127   3.270    89   14.6  19:33 ( 17, -6)  
Sept.22  16 55.85  -57 23.8   3.228   3.256    82   14.7  19:22 ( 19, -8)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 14.3 mag (Sept. 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is brightening rather faster than this ephemeris, and already visible visually. It is observable at 13.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   1  0.37   17 52.8   1.015   1.948   149   15.2   1:27 (  0, 73)  
Sept.22   0 57.22   19 18.0   0.959   1.916   154   14.9   0:57 (  0, 74)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.8 mag (Sept. 8, Carlos Labordena). It had been observable in good conditoin for a long time since spring, but it will be getting lower and lower after this, and will be unobservable in November. But it will be observable at 14 mag at high location again in 2008 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  16 47.80   -1  8.2   5.758   5.665    79   14.9  19:33 ( 50, 41)  
Sept.22  16 46.64   -1  8.5   5.868   5.657    73   15.0  19:22 ( 54, 38)  

* C/2006 S5 ( Hill )

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)  
Sept.15   6 34.23   27 17.0   2.879   2.778    74   15.2   4:16 (271, 54)  
Sept.22   6 45.58   26 53.7   2.776   2.755    78   15.1   4:22 (275, 59)  

* 8P/Tuttle

It will reach to 6 mag in January, and will be observable in good condition. Now it is 16.6 mag (Sept. 8, C. Rinner and F. Kugel). Brightening rapidly, and it will become visible visually in October. 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)  
Sept.15   3  2.53   83 48.6   1.843   2.106    90   15.8   3:29 (180, 41)  
Sept.22   3 39.93   85 38.5   1.738   2.035    91   15.4   3:39 (180, 39)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Sept. 8, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightening as expected. 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)  
Sept.15   1 27.84  -29  8.0   2.878   3.722   141   15.5   1:55 (  0, 26)  
Sept.22   1 22.96  -31 44.8   2.824   3.671   142   15.4   1:22 (  0, 23)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

It was observed at 16 mag in 2007 spring and summer. Now it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear again at 16 mag in winter, then it keeps 16 mag and observable in good condition until 2008 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  12 20.96  -21 50.5   3.626   2.780    28   15.4  19:33 ( 78,-22)  
Sept.22  12 32.83  -23 31.0   3.630   2.761    25   15.4  19:22 ( 77,-24)  

* 17P/Holmes

It was bright as 14.5 mag in July (July 16, Michael Jager). But now it is 15.4 mag (Aug. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota), getting a bit fainter. It keeps observable in excellent condition while getting fainter gradually until January when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   3 55.47   44  6.6   1.832   2.297   104   15.5   4:16 (186, 81)  
Sept.22   3 59.60   45 27.9   1.787   2.320   109   15.6   3:58 (180, 80)  

* 50P/Arend

Now it is 17.0 mag (Sept. 8, 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)  
Sept.15   2 39.45   30 29.6   1.228   1.971   123   15.7   3:06 (  0, 85)  
Sept.22   2 41.46   32 54.3   1.170   1.958   128   15.6   2:41 (  0, 88)  

* 188P/2007 J7 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1998 at 14 mag. Now it is 15.6 mag (Sept.. 10, Mt. Lemmon Survey), brightened as expected. It keeps observable at 16 mag in good condition until December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   0 16.12    1 53.5   1.640   2.630   167   15.7   0:43 (  0, 57)  
Sept.22   0 11.03    1 57.5   1.617   2.619   175   15.7   0:11 (  0, 57)  

* 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 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)  
Sept.15   6 36.88   28 37.9   2.117   2.073    73   15.9   4:16 (268, 54)  
Sept.22   6 25.41   29 15.0   2.022   2.145    82   16.1   4:22 (274, 64)  

* 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. It was reported as 18 mag in August, much fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   3 51.49  -29 27.5   3.961   4.449   112   16.0   4:16 (  0, 26)  
Sept.22   3 50.09  -29 40.6   3.909   4.456   117   15.9   3:49 (  0, 25)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Aug. 25, 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)  
Sept.15  16 33.03   19 16.6   5.124   4.970    75   16.0  19:33 ( 76, 52)  
Sept.22  16 34.12   17 46.3   5.158   4.918    70   16.0  19:22 ( 77, 48)  

* C/2005 EL173 ( LONEOS )

It reached up to 15.5 mag in late 2006 and early 2007. Now it is fading, 16.3 mag (Sept. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Sept.15   4 24.47  -28 35.1   3.846   4.232   105   16.2   4:16 (352, 26)  
Sept.22   4 16.12  -29 58.1   3.785   4.256   111   16.2   4:15 (  0, 25)  

* C/2006 K3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Aug. 8, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Sept.15   3 59.19   47 42.5   2.814   3.186   102   16.3   4:16 (187, 77)  
Sept.22   3 49.80   50 10.8   2.763   3.231   108   16.3   3:49 (180, 75)  

* 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1

It already locates high in the morning sky, however, no observations have been reported since January. 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)  
Sept.15   6 50.74   19 47.2   3.313   3.112    69   16.3   4:16 (279, 48)  
Sept.22   6 58.58   19 27.3   3.229   3.119    74   16.3   4:22 (284, 53)  

* C/2006 L2 ( McNaught )

It faded down to 16.5 mag on 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)  
Sept.15   5 57.01   66  3.3   3.876   3.904    84   16.4   4:16 (201, 54)  
Sept.22   5 51.52   66 28.0   3.840   3.965    89   16.4   4:22 (196, 56)  

* 110P/Hartley 3

Although it was so faint as 18.2 mag on Aug. 10 (Ken-ichi Kadota), 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)  
Sept.15   5 11.53   33  0.6   2.395   2.629    91   16.7   4:16 (271, 73)  
Sept.22   5 19.48   33 15.1   2.297   2.616    96   16.4   4:22 (275, 78)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

It will reach to 8.5 mag from January to March, and will be observable in good condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2008 July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. Now it is 16.9 mag (Sept. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota), but it will be brightening rapidly after this. It will be visible visually in November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  22 18.81  -33 31.3   1.075   1.988   145   16.8  22:41 (  0, 21)  
Sept.22  22  9.35  -34 11.1   1.060   1.929   138   16.4  22:05 (  0, 21)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Aug. 30, P. Birtwhistle). 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)  
Sept.15   6 37.24   53 31.0   6.776   6.628    77   16.6   4:16 (224, 55)  
Sept.22   6 37.65   54 19.3   6.622   6.580    83   16.5   4:22 (220, 60)  

* 191P/2007 N1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.1 mag (Aug. 10, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 16 mag in October and November. Then it keeps observable in good condition until January when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   3  6.28    3  0.7   1.294   2.048   125   16.7   3:33 (  0, 58)  
Sept.22   3  9.28    2 42.5   1.243   2.049   131   16.6   3:08 (  0, 58)  

* C/2007 O1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Aug. 12, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Sept.15  19 11.17  -26 24.0   2.509   3.062   114   16.6  19:35 (  0, 29)  
Sept.22  19 16.21  -26 58.4   2.619   3.087   108   16.8  19:22 (  2, 28)  

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Aug. 12, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 17 mag for a long time until 2008 autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  19 20.64   17 15.0   5.364   5.865   115   16.8  19:44 (  0, 72)  
Sept.22  19 16.77   17  2.1   5.458   5.868   109   16.9  19:22 (  7, 72)  

* C/2006 M1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Aug. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is outside of Jupiter's orbit. So it keeps 17 mag for a long time until winter. 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)  
Sept.15   3 12.85   34 14.8   3.495   4.032   115   16.9   3:39 (  0, 89)  
Sept.22   3 11.74   33 29.5   3.431   4.061   122   16.9   3:11 (  0, 89)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

It will be at opposition and observable in good condition in winter. It will reach to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   7 31.35   21 29.8   4.748   4.342    60   17.3   4:16 (270, 40)  
Sept.22   7 37.38   21 29.5   4.646   4.335    65   17.2   4:22 (274, 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)  
Sept.15   5 27.14   22 10.7   4.037   4.149    89   17.4   4:16 (295, 65)  
Sept.22   5 30.34   22 17.3   3.923   4.140    95   17.3   4:22 (307, 71)  

* 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)  
Sept.15   7 35.19   27 10.8   2.075   1.809    60   17.3   4:16 (263, 42)  
Sept.22   7 52.70   27 15.5   2.039   1.831    63   17.4   4:22 (265, 45)  

* 136P/Mueller 3

Now it is 17.7 mag (Sept. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be brighter than 18 mag until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  23 55.26   -9 45.5   1.970   2.967   170   17.6   0:22 (  0, 45)  
Sept.22  23 51.30  -10 30.3   1.971   2.965   170   17.6  23:47 (  0, 44)  

* 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)  
Sept.15   2 27.52    8 36.3   3.325   4.089   134   17.6   2:54 (  0, 64)  
Sept.22   2 25.06    8 24.8   3.271   4.104   141   17.6   2:24 (  0, 63)  

* 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)  
Sept.15   3 24.18    6 35.1   4.205   4.795   120   17.7   3:51 (  0, 62)  
Sept.22   3 22.90    6 23.6   4.128   4.806   127   17.7   3:22 (  0, 61)  

* 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 is fading out rapidly after August. It has already faded down to 18 mag in early September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  19 51.42   32  5.6   0.516   1.325   117   17.8  20:16 (  0, 87)  
Sept.22  20  9.03   31 40.0   0.568   1.365   117   18.1  20:06 (  0, 87)  

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