Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2008 Sept. 27: South)

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Updated on September 30, 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, 2007, and it bacame a naked eye comet of 2 mag. It kept so bright as 5.5 mag still on Apr. 30 (Carlos Labordena), but it was extremely faint and difficult to see. The size was so large, the diameter was larger than 60 arcmin. It will become observable in good condition in autumn again. The extremely faint large diffuse object may be detected with a best sky condition, around 5-6 mag with a diameter of 1 or 2 degrees. Now the nuclear brightness is 18.6 mag (Sept. 14, Gustavo Muler).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   8 51.68   27 12.8   4.287   3.831    56    6.1   4:17 (232,  4)  
Oct.  4   8 57.73   26 49.6   4.221   3.856    62    6.1   4:06 (231,  6)  

* C/2008 A1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 6.3 mag (Sept. 4, Marco Goiato). Now it is brightest, and it keeps 6.5 mag until early October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the evening sky at 7 mag in ealy October, 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 is only observable until late October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  15  2.79  -28  4.8   1.445   1.074    47    6.6  19:24 ( 75, 30)  
Oct.  4  15 30.54  -22 57.0   1.517   1.076    45    6.7  19:31 ( 80, 26)  

* 6P/d'Arrest

Now it is 8.5 mag (Sept. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is brightest, expanding the large coma. It keeps bright as 9 ma until late October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes low in the south at brightest, but it keeps observable until it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  21 57.85  -39  9.8   0.585   1.441   128    8.5  21:33 (  0, 86)  
Oct.  4  22 15.21  -39 12.5   0.646   1.470   125    8.5  21:22 (  0, 86)  

* C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )

Now it is 10.8 mag (Sept. 7, Alexandre Amorim). It is expected to reach to 6 mag in 2009 February. Getting lower in the evening sky. It will be unobservable temporarily in November, but it will appear in the morning sky again at 9 mag in late December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  16 38.21  -20 47.9   2.145   1.978    66   10.6  19:24 ( 95, 46)  
Oct.  4  16 31.20  -20 37.3   2.228   1.903    58   10.5  19:31 ( 89, 37)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

Now it is bright as 10.9 mag (Sept. 8, Jim Pryal). It keeps observable in good conditioni as bright as 11 mag from autumn to winter. It keeps observable, visible visually, brighter than 14 mag for a long time until 2009 May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   5 46.75   57 53.4   2.130   2.435    95   11.2   4:17 (189, -4)  
Oct.  4   6  1.40   58 39.1   2.078   2.440    98   11.2   4:06 (188, -5)  

* C/2007 W1 ( Boattini )

It became so bright as 4.7 mag, and so large as 20 arcmin in June (June 12, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 10.6 mag (Sept. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps observable in good condition for a long time after this. It will be visible visually until around November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   1 16.11   22 41.5   0.852   1.808   154   11.2   0:53 (180, 32)  
Oct.  4   1  3.55   21 46.0   0.925   1.900   161   11.7   0:13 (180, 33)  

* 19P/Borrelly

Now it is 10.7 mag (Sept. 7, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Brighter than originally expected. It keeps observable and fading in the morning sky after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps extremely low, or under the horizon, so it will not be observable.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   9 53.99   28  9.3   2.090   1.555    45   11.4   4:17 (240, -7)  
Oct.  4  10 15.90   27 58.6   2.088   1.594    47   11.5   4:06 (241, -8)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

Brightening very rapidly, faster than expected. It is already so bright as 11.6 mag (Sept. 6, Reinder J. Bouma). Strongly condensed and easy to see. It is expected to reach to 10 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)  
Sept.27   2  4.31   76 17.8   3.760   4.116   103   11.6   1:43 (180,-21)  
Oct.  4   1 18.07   76 33.4   3.659   4.075   107   11.5   0:30 (180,-22)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke

An outburst occured in late May and it brightened up to 14.6 mag (May 23, Gustavo Muler), but it faded down to the original brightness in late May. Then it had been reported so faint as 17 mag by CCD observations. However, it suddenly became so bright and visible visually after late August. Now it is so bright as 11.0 mag visually (Sept. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Much brighter than originally predicted, by 3 mag. However, the nuclear magnitude by CCD is so faint as 16.6 mag (Sept. 9, Yasukazu Ikari). It locates extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  15 16.20  -16  0.6   1.704   1.253    46   11.6  19:24 ( 88, 27)  
Oct.  4  15 40.38  -19 16.0   1.719   1.256    46   11.6  19:31 ( 84, 27)  

* C/2008 J1 ( Boattini )

Diffuse comet, but it brightened up to 9.8 mag on July 7 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but still bright as 11.2 mag (Sept. 9, Syogo Utsunomiya). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until 2009 spring when the comet becomes faint. It will move near by the Northern Pole from summer to autumn, and will be observable all night. It will be visible visually until around October. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  12 49.99   84 32.8   1.775   1.980    86   11.8  19:24 (173,-36)  
Oct.  4  12 51.99   84 53.0   1.774   2.025    89   12.0  19:31 (174,-37)  

* 85P/Boethin

It is expected to reach up to 7 mag in winter, and will be observable in good condition. However, this comet has not been observed since 1986. It is predicted to be brightening up to around 12-13 mag, bright enough to be recovered. However, it was not detected, fainter than 20 mag on Sept. 26 (Gustavo Muler). It seems much fainter than expected. The condition of this apparition is good. It keeps observable for a long time until 2009 early summer both in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. Maybe it can brighten very rapidly near by the perihelion.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  19 34.88  -23 25.8   0.959   1.582   107   12.9  19:24 (163, 78)  
Oct.  4  19 39.77  -22 42.1   0.960   1.522   101   12.2  19:31 (139, 74)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is bright as 11.5 mag (Aug. 4, Marco Goiato). It keeps bright at 12 mag for a long time from 2008 spring to 2009 spring. However, it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. It will appear in the northern sky again in 2009 autumn, but it will be fainter than 15 mag and will keep locating very low after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until it fades out, although it becomes low in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  15 21.87  -43 35.1   3.078   2.700    58   12.3  19:24 ( 59, 39)  
Oct.  4  15 25.77  -44 57.3   3.145   2.687    54   12.3  19:31 ( 55, 34)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

It reached to 10.9 mag in May (May 11, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading slowly. It has faded down to 12.0 mag on July 21 (Alexandre Amorim). Now it is not observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, 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.27  13 20.03   -1 55.0   3.848   2.900    16   12.3  19:24 ( 84, -5)  
Oct.  4  13 31.12   -1 43.8   3.888   2.922    12   12.4  19:31 ( 81,-10)  

* 205P/2008 R6 ( Giacobini )

It had been lost for 112 years sincd 1896, but re-discovered by Koichi Itagaki and Hiroshi Kaneda. It is bright as 12.7 mag (Sept. 11, Juan Jose Gonzalez), visible visually. It should be bright temporarily in outburst now. It keeps locating high in the evening sky for a while after this, but it can fade out rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  21  5.33   -7 29.0   0.675   1.537   131   13.2  20:40 (180, 63)  
Oct.  4  21 18.83   -9 33.4   0.716   1.547   127   13.5  20:26 (180, 65)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

An large outburst occured on Sept. 21, and it became so bright as 11.3 mag (Juan Antonio Henriquez Santana). It is still bright as 10.9 mag, strong condensed (Sept. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   8  7.19   23 42.8   6.415   6.065    65   13.9   4:17 (228, 14)  
Oct.  4   8 10.63   23 31.9   6.312   6.067    71   13.9   4:06 (225, 16)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is 15.1 mag (Aug. 1, John Drummond). It is extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere now, but observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag from late 2009 to early 2010. Because the comet moves in the southern sky for a long time, it keeps impossible or very hard to observe in the Northern Hemisphere until 2009 September. But after 2009 October, it is observable at 10 mag for a while in good condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time while brightening until 2009 June when it brightens to 11 mag. But it becomes unobservable around and after the brightest time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   6 11.42  -45 20.2   4.441   4.544    89   14.1   4:17 (308, 70)  
Oct.  4   6 15.06  -46 25.9   4.353   4.487    91   14.0   4:06 (314, 72)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

It brightened up to 12.7 mag in spring (Apr. 12, Marco Goiato). However, it has already faded down to 14.9 mag (July 22, Mitsunori Tsumura). It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in October, but it will appear again in the morning sky at 15 mag in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  14  0.10  -25 33.0   3.766   2.998    34   14.3  19:24 ( 70, 16)  
Oct.  4  14 11.63  -26 58.0   3.816   3.007    31   14.4  19:31 ( 66, 13)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 12.6 mag (Sept. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez), bright and visible visually. It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this, and will be too low to observe in October. But it will locate high again in winter, and will be visible visually at 14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  14 54.16   18 59.6   6.568   5.890    44   14.7  19:24 (114,  1)  
Oct.  4  14 55.42   18 44.4   6.631   5.906    40   14.7  19:31 (110, -5)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

It was 15 mag on Jan. 14 (Michael Mattiazzo), brightening as expected. It should have reached up to 13.5 mag in summer in the southern sky. Now it is fading. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But it will appear in the morning sky at 15 mag in November, then it keeps observable while the comet will be fading slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  10 52.53  -30 23.7   3.545   2.782    34   14.7   4:17 (297, 15)  
Oct.  4  11  3.37  -30 13.3   3.581   2.815    34   14.8   4:06 (296, 16)  

* 15P/Finlay

It brightened up to 9.2 mag on July 15 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was bright as 10.9 mag still on Aug. 9 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it is fading rapidly after mid August. It is already invisible visually, fainter than 13.1 mag (Sept. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). It has already faded down to 14.9 mag on Sept. 9 by CCD (Ken-ichi Kadota). However, the location will be better after this. It keeps observable by CCD until it fades out in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   8 24.51   25 18.5   1.845   1.633    61   14.7   4:17 (229, 10)  
Oct.  4   8 37.34   24 54.5   1.844   1.700    65   15.2   4:06 (229, 11)  

* C/2008 C1 ( Chen-Gao )

It reached up to 9.5 mag on Mar. 29 (Maik Meyer). Now it is fading slowly. It faded down to 10.7 mag on May 11 (Marco Goiato), and it was a diffuse object with a weak condensation. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until it fades out. 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)  
Sept.27  11 52.31  -52 30.9   3.118   2.608    51   14.9   4:17 (323, 18)  
Oct.  4  12 11.72  -54 31.9   3.206   2.683    50   15.1   4:06 (324, 19)  

* 68P/Klemola

Now it is 16.2 mag (Aug. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable while the comet will be brightening gradually after this. It will reach up to 14.5 mag in autumn. However, then it locates low in the evening sky, and it will be unobservable soon in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  16 33.18  -11 53.0   2.338   2.114    64   15.0  19:24 (105, 40)  
Oct.  4  16 45.81  -12 41.8   2.367   2.077    61   15.0  19:31 (100, 36)  

* C/2007 U1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Sept. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in next autumn. It is also observed visually at 14.5 mag (Sept. 9, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   3  7.32   23 52.8   2.601   3.364   132   15.1   2:44 (180, 31)  
Oct.  4   2 49.47   23 42.6   2.517   3.374   143   15.1   1:59 (180, 31)  

* 199P/2008 G2 ( Shoemaker 4 )

It had been so faint as 18 mag until July. However, an outburst occured on Aug. 3 and brightened up to 14.5 mag (Gustavo Muler). But it is already fading. It has already faded down to 15.4 mag (Sept. 13, Gustavo Muler). It will be too low to observe in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  15 22.76   -7 24.6   3.838   3.239    47   15.3  19:24 ( 97, 23)  
Oct.  4  15 31.21   -8 35.2   3.884   3.220    42   15.4  19:31 ( 92, 19)  

* P/2008 Q2 ( Ory )

Brightening more rapidly than expected, and coming closer to the earth. It passes near by earth in October. Now it is visible visually at 14.5 mag (Sept. 28, Bob King). However, it will fade out rapidly in November, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   2 22.18    7 29.4   0.450   1.403   147   15.6   1:58 (180, 48)  
Oct.  4   2 30.32    8 29.0   0.426   1.392   152   15.3   1:39 (180, 47)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Now it is 15.4 mag (Sept. 7, F. Garcia). It will be brightening gradually after this, and reach to 12-13 mag in 2009 winter and spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2009 May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  20 43.94  -28 52.5   1.426   2.124   121   15.6  20:17 (180, 84)  
Oct.  4  20 42.82  -28 25.8   1.448   2.070   114   15.5  19:49 (180, 83)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

Now it is 15.6 mag (Aug. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere, but it keeps observable around 16 mag until winter. It is also observed visually at 14.6 mag (Aug. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  20 54.71  -26 52.4   2.211   2.893   123   15.7  20:28 (180, 82)  
Oct.  4  20 55.18  -26  6.8   2.281   2.883   117   15.7  20:01 (180, 81)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach

Now it is 15.4 mag (Sept. 5, S. Sanchez et al.). It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   3 33.40   11 39.7   1.327   2.114   129   15.7   3:10 (180, 43)  
Oct.  4   3 35.13   11 10.2   1.280   2.119   136   15.7   2:44 (180, 44)  

* P/2008 L2 ( Hill )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Aug. 31, J. A. Henriquez). Brightened rapidly, and it still keeps brightening even after passing the perihelion. It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   0 59.49   25 41.6   1.402   2.343   153   16.0   0:36 (180, 29)  
Oct.  4   0 57.38   23 54.0   1.388   2.353   160   16.0   0:07 (180, 31)  

* 116P/Wild 4

Now it is 17.2 mag (Sept. 10, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten rapidly after this. It will be observable at 12-13 mag for a long time from January to July in 2009.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   8 36.49   21 52.2   3.309   2.910    58   16.3   4:17 (234, 10)  
Oct.  4   8 46.38   21 20.4   3.200   2.884    62   16.1   4:06 (233, 12)  

* 51P/Harrington

Now it is 15.2 mag (Aug. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). Now it is brightest, and it will be fading after this. It keeps observable in good condition until it fades out in winter. The position is very different from the original prediction. It is also observed visually at 14.0 mag (Sept. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   4 48.54   17 21.0   1.340   1.941   111   16.3   4:17 (182, 38)  
Oct.  4   4 52.31   17 34.1   1.306   1.973   117   16.4   4:01 (180, 37)  

* P/2001 J1 ( NEAT )

Not recovered yet. But now it should be brightening up to 16-17 mag. It will reach up to 16 mag in October and November, and will be observable in good condition. It keeps observable in the morning sky until January when it will be fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   7 46.68   13 48.8   1.007   1.127    68   16.5   4:17 (230, 24)  
Oct.  4   8 24.45   10 58.8   0.986   1.075    65   16.3   4:06 (236, 23)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Getting higher gradually in the morning sky. It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   8 54.11   21 23.7   4.204   3.709    54   16.5   4:17 (237,  8)  
Oct.  4   9  1.66   21  3.0   4.111   3.702    59   16.4   4:06 (236, 10)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 17.5 mag (Sept. 13, A. Sanchez). It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   2 36.05   29 15.1   1.834   2.653   136   16.8   2:13 (180, 26)  
Oct.  4   2 34.19   29 40.4   1.761   2.630   143   16.6   1:43 (180, 25)  

* C/2008 R3 ( LINEAR )

It will be observable at 16.5-17 mag in good condition in autumn. It will be fainter than 18 mag in February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  18 34.47   20 28.9   1.668   2.021    95   16.9  19:24 (159, 32)  
Oct.  4  18 40.56   20 51.2   1.700   1.996    91   16.9  19:31 (152, 29)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Aug. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten up to 12 mag in 2012. It is faint still in 2008, but observable at 17 mag in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  22 58.50    6  3.8   9.437  10.386   160   17.0  22:31 (180, 49)  
Oct.  4  22 55.14    5 41.6   9.442  10.348   153   17.0  22:00 (180, 49)  

* 201P/2008 Q4 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Aug. 31, Michael Jager). Recovered as bright as expected. It will getting higher, but will be fading gradually after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   9  6.07   21 52.0   1.869   1.477    51   17.1   4:17 (238,  5)  
Oct.  4   9 25.79   20 44.0   1.864   1.510    53   17.1   4:06 (240,  6)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2

It was observed at 16.5-17 mag in 2007 autumn. Now it is 17.3 mag (July 2, J. F. Hernandez). It will be observable at 17 mag for a long time from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   5  7.43   28 19.9   2.210   2.661   105   17.1   4:17 (186, 26)  
Oct.  4   5 10.00   28 26.9   2.151   2.690   111   17.1   4:06 (183, 26)  

* C/2008 J6 ( Hill )

It was bright as 16.0 mag on June 30 (Michael Jager). Now it is 17.1 mag (Aug. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be fading gradually, and will be fainter than 18 mag in November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  22  6.68   57 51.6   2.204   2.822   118   17.2  21:39 (180, -3)  
Oct.  4  22  1.00   57 13.2   2.261   2.877   118   17.4  21:06 (180, -2)  

* P/2008 QP20 ( LINEAR-Hill )

It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in autumn. It will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   1 48.84   25 17.7   0.828   1.757   147   17.5   1:25 (180, 30)  
Oct.  4   1 47.54   26 22.1   0.795   1.746   152   17.4   0:57 (180, 29)  

* C/2006 K1 ( McNaught )

It reached up to 16 mag last winter. Now it is fading, but it will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   5  6.15   15 26.3   5.250   5.627   107   17.6   4:17 (188, 39)  
Oct.  4   5  5.36   15 50.5   5.178   5.660   114   17.6   4:06 (182, 39)  

* 188P/2007 J7 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

It was observed as bright as 14-15 mag in 2007 autumn. It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter in 2008.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   7 50.37   31  4.4   3.359   3.172    70   17.8   4:17 (220, 10)  
Oct.  4   7 58.03   31  0.8   3.290   3.196    75   17.8   4:06 (218, 12)  

* 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)  
Sept.27  17 29.55   39 58.8   6.663   6.605    82   17.8  19:24 (153,  8)  
Oct.  4  17 28.87   39 23.9   6.743   6.627    79   17.9  19:31 (147,  5)  

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

It will brighten up to 15 mag in 2009 and 2010. In this autumn, it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  22  8.30   17 46.9   3.656   4.513   144   17.9  21:41 (180, 37)  
Oct.  4  21 58.89   17 22.3   3.667   4.464   138   17.8  21:04 (180, 38)  

* C/2008 Q1 ( Maticic )

It keeps 17.5-18 mag for a long time until early summer in 2009. It becomes low in December, but it is observable in good condition except for that time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  17 40.01   38 27.4   3.043   3.105    84   17.8  19:24 (154, 11)  
Oct.  4  17 33.88   36 11.3   3.111   3.085    79   17.9  19:31 (146,  9)  

* 200P/2008 L1 ( Larsen )

It is observable at 18 mag in good condition in autumn. It was predicted to be 16 mag based on the brightness at the discovery in 1997. But actually, it is fainter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   0 58.23   18  9.4   2.315   3.277   160   17.9   0:35 (180, 37)  
Oct.  4   0 54.52   17 31.9   2.299   3.279   166   17.9   0:04 (180, 37)  

* 144P/Kushida

Now it is 19.4 mag (Sept. 11, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It was origibally expected to reach up to 10 mag in winter based on the brightness at the discovery. However, it is actually much fainter than expected, and will be only 16 mag at best. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time until next spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   3 19.07   22 30.3   1.143   1.951   130   18.7   2:55 (180, 32)  
Oct.  4   3 23.77   22 44.0   1.050   1.904   136   18.4   2:32 (180, 32)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

It was observed at 16-17 mag at the discovery in 1999. However, it is much fainter than predicted in this apparition. Now it is 19.9 mag (Sept. 3, T. H. Bressi). It will be 18-19 mag at best.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  23 56.78    3 43.7   3.041   4.041   174   20.2  23:29 (180, 51)  
Oct.  4  23 52.72    3 17.7   3.038   4.022   168   20.2  22:58 (180, 52)  

* C/2007 K3 ( Siding Spring )

It was predicted to be so bright as 14 mag now. But actually, it is extremely faint as 19.5 mag (Aug. 4, Gustavo Muler). Although it locates in good condition, it will be hard to observe.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  22  1.98   13 52.7   1.880   2.760   144   20.6  21:35 (180, 41)  
Oct.  4  22  2.13   13  9.4   1.973   2.813   139   20.7  21:08 (180, 42)  

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