Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2008 Feb. 16: South)

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Updated on February 17, 2008
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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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* 17P/Holmes

Great outburst occured on Oct. 24, and it bacame a naked eye comet of 2 mag. It still keeps so bright as 3.8 mag on Feb. 6 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it became hard to see and reported so faint as 4-5 mag without an excellent sky condition. It was completely stellar just after the outburst. Then the coma had spread out and now it looks like a huge nebula. The coma diameter has increased up to about 90 arcmin in December and January. But now it is going away from the earth, and the diameter reduced to about 60 arcmin. 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 comet will be observable in excellent condition for a while after this. It will be easily visible with naked eyes for a while in the dark sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   3 32.62   38 50.5   2.681   2.915    93    4.5  20:24 (151,  8)  
Feb. 23   3 41.25   38 23.3   2.801   2.945    88    4.6  20:14 (149,  7)  

* 8P/Tuttle

It passed near by Earth in early January, and it became a bright large object at 5.4 mag (Jan. 3, Seiichi Yoshida). It was visible with naked eyes. However, it is fading now. It has already faded down to 6.9 mag (Feb. 9, Marco Goiato), but it is somewhat brighter than this ephemeris recently. It has already moved away towards the southern sky, and it is no longer observable in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   3 13.43  -49 46.2   0.778   1.072    73    8.1  20:24 ( 51, 55)  
Feb. 23   3 24.17  -52 10.8   0.860   1.106    73    8.6  20:14 ( 47, 54)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

Now it reached to the maximum brightness at 8.3 mag (Feb. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable at 8.5 mag in good condition until March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   2  6.78   15 49.9   0.918   1.073    68    8.5  20:24 (121, 14)  
Feb. 23   2 37.29   20 16.9   0.921   1.093    69    8.5  20:14 (127, 13)  

* C/2007 T1 ( McNaught )

Now it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, but observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It brightened up to 8.5 mag on Jan. 6 (Alexandre Amorim). Now it is fading gradually, but still bright as 9.3 mag (Feb. 6, Alexandre Amorim). 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)  
Feb. 16   5 59.57  -64 58.5   1.064   1.462    90   10.0  20:24 (  2, 61)  
Feb. 23   5 55.72  -52 37.4   1.095   1.545    95   10.4  20:14 ( 15, 72)  

* C/2003 T12 ( SOHO )

The return of a comet discovered in 2003 by SOHO spacecraft. It can be a short periodic comet with a period of about 4 years. If so, it is expected to return in 2008 spring. If it passes the perihelion in spring, it will be visible at 12-15 mag in the evening sky. But the period is quite uncertain with an error of several months. So we have to wait until it is re-discovered by chance.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  22 42.92   -9 35.2   1.404   0.485    12   12.0  20:24 ( 70,-11)  
Feb. 23  23 32.76   -6 43.7   1.284   0.456    17   11.4  20:14 ( 78, -6)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 12.1 mag (Feb. 7, Stuart Rae). It will reach to 11 mag in 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 keeps extremely low and hard to observe for a while. However, it will be getting higher after March, and will be visible visually at 11 mag in the evening sky until June. 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)  
Feb. 16   9 38.05  -50 34.7   2.537   3.108   116   11.7  23:54 (  0, 74)  
Feb. 23   9 34.14  -49 32.6   2.468   3.076   119   11.6  23:22 (  0, 76)  

* C/2008 C1 ( Chen-Gao )

New bright comet discovered by two Chinese amateurs. It is very bright visually at 12.2 mag (Feb. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 12 mag until May. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition in the evening sky until mid May. But then it moves southwards, and it will never be observable again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in late March, then it keeps observable until it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   0 38.43   60 36.3   1.388   1.559    80   12.6  20:24 (147,-26)  
Feb. 23   1 27.14   58 36.9   1.349   1.502    78   12.4  20:14 (147,-22)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightened up to 13.5 mag and became visible visually in 2007 autumn (Nov. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will reach to 10.5 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2008 autumn. Now it is not observable. But it will appear in the morning sky at 12.5 mag in May, then it keeps observable, visible visually, brighter than 14 mag for one year until 2009 May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  22 37.95    4 46.8   4.237   3.329    20   13.4  20:24 ( 81,-21)  
Feb. 23  22 46.74    6  4.6   4.212   3.281    17   13.3  20:14 ( 81,-24)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

After an outburst on Dec. 29, some outbursts occured repeatedly until mid January. It became very bright as 10.4 mag on Jan. 15 (P. Clay Sherrod). Then it is fading gradually. But it is still bright as 11.5 mag on Feb. 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   5 47.80   29 42.4   5.433   5.996   120   13.5  20:24 (175, 25)  
Feb. 23   5 47.42   29 31.5   5.535   5.998   113   13.6  20:14 (171, 25)  

* C/2008 A1 ( McNaught )

It is already visible visually at 14.0 mag (Jan. 12, Alan Hale). It is expected to be 7 mag in September. But it keeps moving in the southern sky, so it is difficult to see in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be locating in the very low sky at about 10 degree high until mid March, then it becomes unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere. It will appear in the evening sky at 7 mag in late September, but it keeps locating in the evening low sky until the end of 2008 when it fades out down to 10 mag. Then it turns to appear in the morning sky, and it keeps observable in the northern sky after that while fading gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until late October after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   5 37.41  -43 32.5   3.040   3.338    98   13.6  20:24 ( 33, 80)  
Feb. 23   5 29.37  -42 48.0   3.020   3.261    95   13.5  20:14 ( 51, 77)  

* 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 13, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Now it is brightening rapidly. However, it is fainter than this ephemeris by 1.5 mag so far. It is expected to reach to 13 mag in March and April, and to be visible visually. But actually, it may be fainter than expected. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphre, it keeps locating low until March. But it will be getting higher after April and observable while the comet is fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  15  2.17  -41 19.5   0.679   1.212    91   14.5   4:02 (298, 73)  
Feb. 23  15 45.28  -40 12.5   0.637   1.180    90   13.9   4:11 (294, 72)  

* C/2007 W1 ( Boattini )

Now it is bright as 14.3 mag, already visible visually (Feb. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will pass 0.85 A.U. from the sun in late June, and it is expected to reach to 6 mag. In the Northern Hemipshere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time after this, while the comet is brightening gradually. It is observable until around May 25, when the comet will be 7.5 mag. It will be unobservable for one and a half month around the perihelion passage. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 7 mag in early July, then it keeps observable after that while the comet is fading gradually. In the Southern Hemipsphere, it keeps observable all the period until the comet fades out, although it will be low in mid June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  12 47.37  -11  8.9   1.498   2.273   131   14.4   3:07 (180, 66)  
Feb. 23  12 47.53  -12  5.0   1.348   2.183   137   14.0   2:39 (180, 67)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

Now it is 14.1 mag, already visible visually (Feb. 8, Alan Hale). It will reach to 13.5 mag from March to July. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  12 49.47    7  5.5   2.708   3.494   136   14.3   3:09 (180, 48)  
Feb. 23  12 47.46    6 45.2   2.611   3.460   143   14.2   2:39 (180, 48)  

* C/2006 S5 ( Hill )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag and visible visually (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It will keep visible visually at 14 mag until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   7 37.38   15 28.4   1.846   2.725   146   14.2  21:54 (180, 40)  
Feb. 23   7 37.42   15  9.6   1.916   2.745   139   14.3  21:26 (180, 40)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Jan. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be bright at 12 mag for a long time from 2008 spring to 2009 spring. However, it is only observable until August in the Northern Hemisphere because the comet moves southwards. It keeps observable for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  18  5.82   -2  5.0   4.284   3.849    57   14.5   4:02 (257, 21)  
Feb. 23  18  9.74   -2 35.0   4.144   3.800    63   14.4   4:11 (252, 28)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

It will reach to 13.5 mag in the southern sky in spring and summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it is already unobservable. 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)  
Feb. 16   1  6.26  -45 24.1   3.265   2.767    51   14.5  20:24 ( 55, 34)  
Feb. 23   1 17.48  -45  9.4   3.244   2.736    51   14.4  20:14 ( 55, 33)  

* 19P/Borrelly

It will reach to 11 mag in summer. It must have already brightened up to 15 mag, but the comet was not observed recently. The condition in this apparition is bad. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps extremely low, or under the horizon, so it will not be observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until August when it appears in the morning sky at 11 mag. After August, it keeps observable and fading in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  23  2.31  -28 58.0   3.041   2.163    22   14.8  20:24 ( 58,  4)  
Feb. 23  23 17.71  -27 13.8   3.001   2.112    21   14.7  20:14 ( 59,  3)  

* 192P/2007 T3 ( Shoemaker-Levy 1 )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag and visible visually (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It has already passed the perihelion. But it tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. It will be visible at 14 mag until February. But the altitude will be around 30 deg. Then it is observable until April when it becomes too low at 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   1 10.62    5 31.4   2.056   1.641    51   14.7  20:24 (104, 10)  
Feb. 23   1 27.90    8 41.8   2.138   1.681    49   14.9  20:14 (107,  8)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

It reached to 12.7 mag on Dec. 4 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps locating in good position for a while after this. But it is already fading slowly. But it is still bright and visible visually at 13.3 mag (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   3 10.54   31 48.9   1.566   1.814    87   14.9  20:24 (143, 11)  
Feb. 23   3 29.78   32  7.9   1.647   1.839    84   15.1  20:14 (144, 11)  

* C/2006 K4 ( NEAT )

It keeps 15 mag until June. It moves in the southen sky, so it keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. 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. 16  19 27.74  -79  3.7   3.504   3.277    68   14.9   4:02 (347, 35)  
Feb. 23  20  1.38  -81 26.6   3.445   3.293    72   14.9   4:11 (349, 35)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It was visible visually at 14 mag from spring to autumn in 2007. Now it is 13.8 mag (Feb. 13, Alan Hale). It keeps observable visually at 14 mag at high location for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  17 15.01    5 49.5   5.824   5.598    72   14.9   4:02 (242, 26)  
Feb. 23  17 14.47    6 48.1   5.714   5.600    78   14.9   4:11 (234, 31)  

* C/2007 K3 ( Siding Spring )

Appearing in the morning sky. It shoudl be already bright as 15 mag. It will be getting higher gradually after this, and will be observable at 14 mag in good condition from spring to summer. It will also be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  18 31.84  -24 39.3   2.708   2.196    49   15.1   4:02 (282, 28)  
Feb. 23  18 49.32  -23 43.2   2.626   2.168    52   15.0   4:11 (279, 31)  

* 2005 WY3

Peculiar asteroid moving on a cometary orbit. Now it is brightest at 15.2 mag (Feb. 11, Alan Hale). It has passed the perihelion in late January, but still completely asteroidal. It keeps 15 mag until March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until July when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. Although already going away from the sun, it may show a cometary activity after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  10 15.38  -27 58.3   0.935   1.802   139   15.2   0:35 (180, 83)  
Feb. 23  10 16.29  -25 24.4   0.916   1.814   144   15.1   0:09 (180, 81)  

* C/2006 V1 ( Catalina )

It was observed at 16 mag in 2007 spring and summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps 16 mag and observable in good condition until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. No observations have been reported recently, and the current brightness is uncertain.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  18 24.67  -49 45.1   3.225   2.806    56   15.2   4:02 (309, 38)  
Feb. 23  18 42.21  -49 57.5   3.189   2.829    60   15.2   4:11 (309, 41)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It is already bright as 14.3 mag and visible visually (Dec. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Feb. 16   3 16.64   59 30.6   5.378   5.570    96   15.3  20:24 (159,-11)  
Feb. 23   3 13.04   58 48.1   5.434   5.523    89   15.3  20:14 (157,-12)  

* C/2007 F1 ( LONEOS )

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 had already faded down to 10.1 mag on Dec. 1 (Marco Goiato). However, no observations have been reported after that, and the current brightness is uncertain. 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)  
Feb. 16  19 27.97  -76  4.5   2.398   2.198    66   15.3   4:02 (343, 35)  
Feb. 23  19 40.02  -78 33.7   2.419   2.300    71   15.5   4:11 (346, 36)  

* 110P/Hartley 3

Now it is 14.5 mag and visible visually (Jan. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It will be observable at 14.5-15 mag in an excellent condition until February. It starts fading after March, and will be too low at 17 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   5  5.04   25  3.3   1.959   2.490   110   15.5  20:24 (164, 28)  
Feb. 23   5 10.42   24 34.8   2.043   2.491   105   15.6  20:14 (161, 28)  

* 124P/Mrkos

Now it is 16.4 mag (Feb. 7, J. R. Vidal), brightened as expected. It will reach to 16 mag from February to April, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  10 42.68   60 22.5   0.810   1.640   131   16.4   1:04 (180, -5)  
Feb. 23  10 21.32   58 37.8   0.774   1.611   131   16.3   0:15 (180, -4)  

* 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. It was still visible visually at 14.0 mag on Dec. 9 (Seiichi Yoshida). But it has already faded down to 16.4 mag (Jan. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable until March when it becomes too low at 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   1 42.54   -0 12.2   2.985   2.595    57   16.4  20:24 (104, 19)  
Feb. 23   1 53.06    0 59.7   3.079   2.616    53   16.5  20:14 (104, 17)  

* 70P/Kojima

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightening as expected. It keeps observable at 16.5 mag in good condition for a long time until April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  12 47.22    3 54.2   1.452   2.274   136   16.4   3:07 (180, 51)  
Feb. 23  12 45.97    4 35.2   1.424   2.299   143   16.4   2:38 (180, 50)  

* 180P/2006 U3 ( NEAT )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 7, J. R. Vidal), brightened as expected. It will be observable in good condition for a hile until spring. It will reach to 16.5 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  10 55.44   33 41.7   1.625   2.554   154   16.7   1:15 (180, 21)  
Feb. 23  10 50.83   34 38.7   1.613   2.543   154   16.6   0:43 (180, 20)  

* 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)  
Feb. 16  12 35.78   12 35.5   3.615   4.425   140   16.7   2:55 (180, 42)  
Feb. 23  12 29.05   12 22.9   3.513   4.389   148   16.7   2:21 (180, 43)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

It will reach to 15 mag in 2009 and 2010. Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 18, J. R. Vidal). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   4 45.91   23 37.4   3.560   3.956   106   16.7  20:24 (159, 28)  
Feb. 23   4 47.80   23 45.1   3.655   3.947    99   16.7  20:14 (155, 27)  

* 79P/du Toit-Hartley

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 26, J. Manteca, A. Sanchez). It is brighter than originally expected by 1 mag. It will be observable at 15.5-16 mag from April to July. It will be fainter than 18 mag in late August. It keeps locating in the evening sky all time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   6 57.11   22 53.7   0.830   1.690   136   16.9  21:13 (180, 32)  
Feb. 23   6 52.89   22 38.1   0.830   1.641   128   16.7  20:42 (180, 32)  

* 50P/Arend

It was visible visually at 14.6 mag on Jan. 4 (Seiichi Yoshida). But it is already fading. It keeps observable in good condition for a while, but it will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   3 30.22   42 10.6   1.837   2.144    93   16.8  20:24 (152,  5)  
Feb. 23   3 45.86   41 56.0   1.930   2.171    90   16.9  20:14 (152,  5)  

* C/2007 U1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 15.5 mag in autumn and will be observable in good condition. In this winter, it is observable at 17 mag in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   4 35.80    7 45.8   3.375   3.701   101   16.8  20:24 (148, 42)  
Feb. 23   4 28.51    8 29.7   3.486   3.674    93   16.9  20:14 (142, 38)  

* 65P/Gunn

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   8 24.03   30 57.7   3.320   4.218   152   16.9  22:40 (180, 24)  
Feb. 23   8 19.46   31  6.6   3.357   4.204   144   16.9  22:08 (180, 24)  

* C/2007 T5 ( Gibbs )

It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   8  4.72   37  2.1   3.277   4.128   145   17.2  22:21 (180, 18)  
Feb. 23   8  1.53   37 52.6   3.328   4.117   138   17.3  21:50 (180, 17)  

* P/2007 T6 ( Catalina )

Although it has been observable at 17 mag in 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. 16   9  1.77   36 31.3   1.729   2.649   153   17.4  23:18 (180, 18)  
Feb. 23   8 57.47   37 10.9   1.793   2.677   146   17.5  22:46 (180, 18)  

* C/2005 S4 ( McNaught )

It was observed at 16.5-17 mag in 2006 and 2007. Because it is a very distant comet, it is observable at 17 mag still in 2008 in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  19 41.00   22  9.9   6.658   6.041    47   17.4   4:02 (251,-12)  
Feb. 23  19 43.08   23 10.4   6.623   6.053    51   17.4   4:11 (246, -6)  

* C/2002 VQ94 ( LINEAR )

It had been observed at 16.5 mag for a long time from 2005 to 2007. Now it is fading. But it keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition for a long time until July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  14 37.38   15 40.5   7.846   8.264   111   17.5   4:02 (197, 38)  
Feb. 23  14 36.17   15 47.9   7.777   8.289   118   17.5   4:11 (185, 39)  

* C/2007 Y1 ( LINEAR )

It will be observable at 17.5-18 mag until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   8 44.79    4  7.6   2.407   3.355   160   17.5  23:00 (180, 51)  
Feb. 23   8 33.69    7 12.9   2.437   3.349   153   17.5  22:21 (180, 48)  

* C/2007 D1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Dec. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). Because it is a very distant comet, it keeps observable at 17.5-18 mag until 2009.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  11  8.36   -0  5.9   7.982   8.905   157   17.5   1:28 (180, 55)  
Feb. 23  11  6.80    0 20.0   7.951   8.911   165   17.5   0:59 (180, 55)  

* 191P/2007 N1 ( McNaught )

It kept brightening even after the perihelion passage, and reached to the maximum brightness at 15.5 mag in mid November. It was also visible visually at 14.5 mag (Nov. 14, Alan Hale). But it is fading now. It has already faded down to 17.9 mag (Jan. 27, F. Garcia).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   3 26.42   14  3.6   2.211   2.362    86   17.7  20:24 (135, 28)  
Feb. 23   3 36.11   15  6.7   2.319   2.387    81   17.9  20:14 (134, 26)  

* C/2003 WT42 ( LINEAR )

It was observed visually as bright as 13 mag from late 2005 to early 2006. It has already faded down to 17.6 mag (Jan. 9, M. Reszelski). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  14 28.40   -0 51.0   6.758   7.171   110   17.9   4:02 (200, 54)  
Feb. 23  14 28.09   -0 51.1   6.689   7.204   117   17.9   4:11 (184, 56)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

It was observed bright at 16.5-17 mag from late 2006 to early 2007. However, it is fading after that, although it is getting closer to the sun. Now it is observable in good condition, but very faint at 18.3 mag (Jan. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota). This comet was observed so faint around the perihelion passage in the previous apparition at the discovery. It faded out before the perihelion passage again in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   7 30.06   28 10.6   3.404   4.233   142   18.9  21:46 (180, 27)  
Feb. 23   7 27.81   28 25.5   3.469   4.230   135   19.0  21:17 (180, 27)  

* 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). In the previous apparition in 1997, it brightened after the perihelion passage, and observed visually at 13 mag. However, such a brightening did not happen and the comet kept faint in the current apparition. However, now it may be slightly brighter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   6 49.65   17 21.5   2.576   3.349   135   19.2  21:06 (180, 38)  
Feb. 23   6 48.93   17 30.8   2.664   3.363   127   19.3  20:38 (180, 37)  

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