Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2007 Nov. 24: South)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on November 27, 2007
Last week North Next week

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

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

* 17P/Holmes

Great outburst occured on Oct. 24, and it bacame a naked eye comet of 2 mag. It still keeps so bright as 3.2 mag on Nov. 25. It was completely stellar just after the outburst, however, then a round disk like coma is getting larger gradually. The coma has bcome larger than Moon, and the comet has bacome very diffuse. So it looks like a huge faint nebula now. This comet was also in great outburst at the discovery in 1892 and became so bright as 4 mag. At that time, the comet faded after the first outburst, but soon brightened again in the second outburst. The further brightness is uncertain. But the comet will be observable in excellent condition for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   3 18.79   49 45.5   1.657   2.558   149    3.3  23:06 (180,  5)  
Dec.  1   3 11.46   48 57.1   1.692   2.587   148    3.6  22:31 (180,  6)  

* 8P/Tuttle

It will reach to 6 mag in January, and will be observable in good condition. Now it is brightening very rapidly. It is already bright as 10.5 mag (Nov. 20, Syogo Utsunomiya), large bright diffuse object visually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable all night until mid December, then keeps observable until early February, when it fades down to 7.5 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, 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)  
Nov. 24  18 46.71   84 55.6   0.746   1.397   106   10.3  20:32 (174,-35)  
Dec.  1  20 48.66   83 44.4   0.631   1.333   108    9.5  20:41 (173,-32)  

* C/2007 F1 ( LONEOS )

Already unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is observable in the evening low sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It approached down to 0.4 A.U. to the sun on Oct. 28, and it reached to 5.3 mag (Oct. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 8.4 mag (Nov. 20, Marco Goiato). The brightening became very slow just before the perihelion passage, but it started fading rapidly after the perihelion passage. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere, 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)  
Nov. 24  17 22.25  -49 46.3   1.358   0.771    33    9.5  20:32 ( 39, 15)  
Dec.  1  17 33.73  -53 13.5   1.534   0.905    34   10.5  20:41 ( 33, 14)  

* C/2007 T1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 10.6 mag (Oct. 14, Mike Linnolt). It is already unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now for one month after mid November, but it will be observable in good condition at 10 mag from mid December to February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the evening sky at 11 mag in March, then it keeps observable while fading gradually until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  17  6.69  -35 52.6   1.869   1.021    21    9.9  20:32 ( 47,  4)  
Dec.  1  17  6.16  -39 27.0   1.860   0.989    19    9.8  20:41 ( 40,  1)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 12.7 mag (Nov. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez), already bright visually. 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  22 13.65  -26 22.0   1.086   1.399    84   12.9  20:32 ( 95, 57)  
Dec.  1  22 24.87  -24 17.7   1.082   1.345    80   12.4  20:41 ( 94, 51)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 13.0 mag and visible visually (Nov. 15, Alan Hale), brightening well as expected. 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 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)  
Nov. 24   9 34.43  -44  1.0   3.604   3.564    79   13.1   3:00 (299, 61)  
Dec.  1   9 39.71  -45 15.3   3.512   3.521    82   13.0   2:56 (303, 64)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.6 mag (Nov. 3, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Nov. 24   0 27.52   25 52.4   0.897   1.722   131   13.3  20:32 (176, 29)  
Dec.  1   0 32.37   26 13.0   0.929   1.713   126   13.4  20:41 (168, 28)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is faint as 14.2 mag (Nov. 3, Seiichi Yoshida). It has been observable since late July, but it keeps faint in this season. It has never be brighter than 14 mag yet.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   6 24.09   30 47.5   5.131   5.969   145   13.4   2:15 (180, 24)  
Dec.  1   6 21.09   30 50.0   5.078   5.971   152   13.3   1:45 (180, 24)  

* (3200) Phaethon

It has already brightened up to 14.7 mag and has been already visible visually (Nov. 18, Alan Hale). It keeps observable in good condition in the morning sky while it brightens rapidly. It will reach to 13 mag in early December, and will be visible visually. However, it turns to fade out and move lower very rapidly after Dec. 10, and it will be unobservable within a few days. Then it will never be observable again. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   8 46.26   29 14.3   0.367   1.188   114   14.3   3:00 (202, 22)  
Dec.  1   9 41.94   25 17.7   0.231   1.082   108   13.4   2:56 (211, 22)  

* C/2006 VZ13 ( LINEAR )

It reached to 7.2 mag on July 14 (Maik Meyer), then it faded down to 9.0 mag on Aug. 13 (Carlos Labordena). Although it had been unobservable for a while, now it is observable again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable while fading gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be fading while keeping extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  11 57.86  -38 59.3   2.355   1.946    53   13.9   3:00 (297, 34)  
Dec.  1  11 48.88  -41  2.7   2.323   2.030    60   14.1   2:56 (297, 40)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It is already bright and visible visually at 13.9 mag (Nov. 3, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Nov. 24  21 20.60   -5 43.1   3.999   3.943    79   14.0  20:32 (110, 35)  
Dec.  1  21 24.29   -5 11.5   4.050   3.890    73   13.9  20:41 (104, 28)  

* C/2006 S5 ( Hill )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Nov. 4, Alan Hale), already visible visually. It will reach to 14 mag in winter, and will be observable in good condition. 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)  
Nov. 24   7 54.93   21 32.6   1.946   2.636   124   14.2   3:00 (192, 32)  
Dec.  1   7 57.43   20 53.1   1.877   2.632   131   14.1   2:56 (187, 34)  

* P/2007 H1 ( McNaught )

It reached up to 12.6 mag and was bright visually in autumn (Oct. 5, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading, but it is still bright and visible visually at 13.3 mag (Nov. 3, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this. It will be visible visually for some more time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   0  6.27  -13 20.0   1.799   2.381   114   14.5  20:32 (156, 67)  
Dec.  1   0 10.78  -12 35.4   1.890   2.395   108   14.7  20:41 (141, 62)  

* 110P/Hartley 3

It brightened very rapidly in a short time, and now it reached to 15.3 mag (Nov. 3, Tony Farkas). It will be observable at 14.5-15 mag in an excellent condition from October to February. It may be visible visually, but it was not visible, fainter than 14.4 mag, on Oct. 5 (Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   5 35.35   33 14.6   1.598   2.526   154   14.7   1:27 (180, 22)  
Dec.  1   5 30.18   32 50.3   1.563   2.519   161   14.6   0:54 (180, 22)  

* 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. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating extremely low until January, and will be unobservable after that. 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)  
Nov. 24   0 22.23  -46 31.8   2.959   3.239    97   15.0  20:32 ( 19, 78)  
Dec.  1   0 18.63  -46 55.6   3.010   3.194    91   14.9  20:41 ( 40, 73)  

* 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)  
Nov. 24  17  8.04  -60 41.9   3.850   3.189    42   15.0  20:32 ( 28, 20)  
Dec.  1  17 14.26  -61 32.8   3.871   3.189    40   15.0  20:41 ( 25, 18)  

* C/2006 XA1 ( LINEAR )

It reached to 13.2 mag in last spring (May 12, Carlos Labordena). But it had been unobservable for a long time after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is appearing in the morning sky. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be too low to observe.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  13 35.09  -32 16.2   3.139   2.381    33   15.1   3:00 (300, 13)  
Dec.  1  13 48.80  -34 17.3   3.154   2.435    36   15.3   2:56 (301, 16)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It was visible visually at 14 mag from spring to autumn in 2007. Now it is not observable. 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)  
Nov. 24  16 55.58   -0 36.4   6.491   5.607    24   15.1  20:32 ( 73,-22)  
Dec.  1  16 57.81   -0 23.4   6.501   5.604    22   15.2  20:41 ( 67,-28)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

It was observed at 16 mag in 2007 spring and summer. Although it had been unobservable for a while, now it is appearing again in the Southern Hemisphere. It keeps 16 mag and observable in good condition after this 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)  
Nov. 24  14 41.89  -38 42.5   3.544   2.675    24   15.2   3:00 (314,  6)  
Dec.  1  14 58.90  -40 12.7   3.525   2.675    26   15.2   2:56 (314,  8)  

* 50P/Arend

Now it is visible visually at 14.4 mag (Nov. 12, Alan Hale). It keeps observable in good condition until it fades out in 2008 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   1 56.85   45 54.5   1.044   1.935   144   15.3  21:44 (180,  9)  
Dec.  1   1 53.70   45 48.0   1.076   1.943   140   15.4  21:14 (180,  9)  

* 191P/2007 N1 ( McNaught )

It brightened rapidly, and now it reached up to 14.5 mag and became visible visually (Nov. 14, Alan Hale). It will be observable in good condition for a while after this. But it will be fading rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   2 42.72    1 50.3   1.189   2.122   154   15.7  22:30 (180, 53)  
Dec.  1   2 39.61    2 26.7   1.237   2.137   147   15.8  21:59 (180, 52)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Oct. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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 Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   5 46.08   62 44.2   5.423   6.147   133   15.8   1:38 (180, -8)  
Dec.  1   5 32.19   63 23.6   5.342   6.099   136   15.7   0:57 (180, -8)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Oct. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightening as expected. It will reach to 13.5 mag from March to July in 2008, and will be visible visually. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time until next May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  12 12.68   13 43.2   4.285   3.965    64   15.8   3:00 (251,  4)  
Dec.  1  12 18.71   12 57.0   4.151   3.922    69   15.7   2:56 (249,  7)  

* C/2006 K1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Sept. 20, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Nov. 24   3  9.44  -26 58.0   3.832   4.544   131   16.0  22:56 (180, 82)  
Dec.  1   3  4.51  -25 55.1   3.878   4.558   128   16.0  22:24 (180, 81)  

* 188P/2007 J7 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1998 at 14 mag. Now it is 14.4 mag (Oct. 6, Seiichi Yoshida), visible visually. It keeps observable at 15 mag in good condition until December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  23 48.29    3 53.6   1.945   2.557   117   16.0  20:32 (158, 49)  
Dec.  1  23 51.27    4 29.1   2.024   2.554   111   16.1  20:41 (147, 45)  

* 70P/Kojima

Now it is 17.0 mag (Oct. 20, Catalina Sky Survey), brightening as expected. It keeps observable at 16.5 mag in good condition for a long time until next April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  11 22.42    6 40.4   2.120   2.051    72   16.5   3:00 (248, 18)  
Dec.  1  11 34.65    5 47.0   2.058   2.063    76   16.5   2:56 (247, 20)  

* 2005 WY3

Peculiar asteroid moving on a cometary orbit. It was asteroidal at 18 mag in late August. It will reach to 15 mag in February and March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. It may show a cometary activity after this, although the perihelion distance is somewhat large as 1.8 A.U.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   8 59.41  -21 35.8   1.545   1.903    94   16.7   3:00 (248, 63)  
Dec.  1   9 10.57  -23 36.4   1.477   1.878    97   16.6   2:56 (248, 66)  

* 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)  
Nov. 24   0 48.95   58 23.9   2.956   3.661   129   16.6  20:36 (180, -3)  
Dec.  1   0 33.77   57 28.6   3.055   3.712   125   16.7  20:41 (174, -3)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

It will reach to 15 mag in 2009 and 2010. Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 4, J. A. Henriquez). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition until winter in this year.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   5 22.57   23  4.8   3.120   4.061   159   16.6   1:14 (180, 32)  
Dec.  1   5 17.93   23  8.1   3.082   4.052   167   16.6   0:42 (180, 32)  

* C/2006 M1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Sept. 16, 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)  
Nov. 24   2 38.54   22 19.4   3.400   4.349   161   17.0  22:26 (180, 33)  
Dec.  1   2 35.35   20 56.8   3.475   4.384   154   17.1  21:55 (180, 34)  

* 65P/Gunn

It will reach to 13 mag in 2010. Now it is around the aphelion, but it will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   9  5.02   26  0.6   3.943   4.378   109   17.5   3:00 (208, 23)  
Dec.  1   9  5.48   26 18.9   3.831   4.366   116   17.4   2:56 (203, 25)  

* 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)  
Nov. 24   2 49.99    4 44.5   3.968   4.894   157   17.7  22:37 (180, 50)  
Dec.  1   2 46.10    4 44.2   4.022   4.904   150   17.7  22:06 (180, 50)  

* C/2007 D1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Nov. 18, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was observed at 17.5 mag in early 2007. It will be observable at 17.5 mag again in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  11  6.76   -2 16.2   9.082   8.839    72   17.8   3:00 (253, 26)  
Dec.  1  11  8.64   -2 18.7   8.973   8.843    79   17.7   2:56 (249, 30)  

* 179P/2006 U2 ( Jedicke )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). Now it is at maximum of brightness, but it keeps observable in good condition for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   3 28.23   -5 22.8   3.181   4.087   153   17.7  23:15 (180, 60)  
Dec.  1   3 24.40   -5 13.3   3.209   4.087   149   17.8  22:44 (180, 60)  

* C/2007 M2 ( Catalina )

It keeps 16 mag for one year from 2008 spring to 2009 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while the comet is brightening until 2008 spring. But the comet moves southwards after that, and it will never observable after 2008 July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  12 48.44   17  6.2   5.314   4.886    59   18.0   3:00 (253, -5)  
Dec.  1  12 50.90   16 28.6   5.178   4.846    65   17.9   2:56 (251, -1)  

* 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 still bright as 16.4 mag (Oct. 6, Ken-ichi Kadota), brighter than this ephemeris. It locates in the good position in this winter, so it will be observable at 17 mag for some more time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   1 48.47    6 23.9   3.383   4.238   146   17.9  21:36 (180, 49)  
Dec.  1   1 45.67    6 22.0   3.464   4.252   138   18.0  21:06 (180, 49)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

It was observed at 16.5-17 mag in last winter. It will be observable in good condition also in this winter. It should be 16 mag by calculation. However, it was so faint as 18.5 mag in autumn, much fainter than expected. It was observed so faint around the perihelion passage in the previous apparition at the discovery. So maybe it suddenly faded out before the perihelion passage again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   8  6.82   22 46.4   3.673   4.281   122   18.5   3:00 (195, 31)  
Dec.  1   8  6.47   23  9.1   3.582   4.276   129   18.5   2:56 (189, 31)  

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

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