Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2009 Dec. 26: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on January 1, 2010
Last week South Next week

Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.
Azimuth indicates 0 for south, 90 for west, 180 for north, 270 for east.

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

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is so bright as 9.6 mag (Dec. 29, Maik Meyer). It keeps as bright as 9-10 mag for a long time until spring. It will be observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps visible visually for one year until 2010 autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 36.13   23 53.2   2.340   2.428    83    9.3   5:35 (290, 65)  
Jan.  2  13 49.31   26 23.1   2.293   2.458    87    9.3   5:37 (289, 70)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in summer (Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 10.2 mag (Dec. 11, Carlos Labordena). Now it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in late February, then it keeps observable for a long time. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it is only observable in the low sky in spring, then it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  19 34.38  -17 27.9   4.456   3.539    18   10.3  18:25 ( 69,  0)  
Jan.  2  19 38.67  -18 11.5   4.524   3.570    12   10.4  18:30 ( 72, -6)  

* 88P/Howell

It reached up to 8.4 mag in October (Oct. 20, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 9.7 mag still now (Dec. 20, Marco Goiato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the low sky until February when it fades down to 13.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 29.03  -18  8.1   2.122   1.582    44   10.5  18:25 ( 49, 20)  
Jan.  2  21 50.31  -16 16.2   2.194   1.620    42   10.8  18:30 ( 53, 19)  

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is so bright as 10.3 mag (Dec. 29, Maik Meyer). It keeps observable bright as 9-10 mag in a good condition for a long time from winter to spring. It keeps observable until 2010 autumn when it fades down to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  11 57.20    0 55.5   1.300   1.700    95   10.8   5:35 (358, 56)  
Jan.  2  12 12.56   -0 23.7   1.225   1.678    98   10.6   5:27 (  0, 55)  

* 169P/NEAT

Although CCD observers reported it as faint as 14-15 mag, it looks bright visually as 11.6 mag (Dec. 7, Chris Wyatt). Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it was significantly bright as 9.2 mag on Nov. 18. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable all through this apparition, although it becomes low in November and December. Especially, it will be observable in the excellent condition after January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But it will appear in the morning sky at 14 mag in late January, then it keeps observable while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  18 26.68  -57 21.3   0.269   0.775    34   10.7  18:25 ( 38,-32)  
Jan.  2  16 43.37  -68 38.4   0.222   0.856    49   11.2   5:37 (338,-24)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is 12.7 mag (Dec. 16, Marco Goiato). It is a bit fainter than expected. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time after this until 2010 spring when it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 52.47    8 51.3   1.020   1.985   164   11.9  23:31 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  2   5 48.15    9 26.2   1.031   1.984   160   11.9  22:59 (  0, 64)  

* 217P/2009 F3 ( LINEAR )

An outburst occured on Oct. 13, and it reached up to 8.5 mag on Oct. 15 (Toru Yusa). The central nucleus shined like a bright star, and the dust coma looked like 17P/Holmes in outburst. However, the comet returned to the normal state within a few days. Now it is 12.1 mag (Dec. 18, Marco Goiato). It will fade out rapidly, and will be fainter than 14 mag in late January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time until spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 43.00    7  1.7   0.835   1.796   161   12.2  23:22 (  0, 62)  
Jan.  2   5 37.52    8 55.8   0.904   1.852   157   12.6  22:49 (  0, 64)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outbursts occured repeatedly since September, and it keeps visible visually. It is bright as 12.0 mag still now (Dec. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   9 52.52   11 37.7   5.530   6.183   127   13.6   3:35 (  0, 67)  
Jan.  2   9 50.98   11 39.4   5.446   6.185   135   13.6   3:06 (  0, 67)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

It is expected to reach up to 10 mag and to be observable in good condition in spring. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky at 13 mag in late January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  17 33.60  -28 37.8   3.187   2.231    11   14.0   5:35 (296,-12)  
Jan.  2  17 42.36  -27  3.9   3.093   2.163    15   13.8   5:37 (298, -8)  

* P/2009 Q4 ( Boattini )

It has brightened much faster than expected. Now it is so bright as 11.8 mag (Dec. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after January. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time. But it may fade out very rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  10 19.06    5  8.8   0.602   1.382   119   14.0   4:01 (  0, 60)  
Jan.  2  10 28.51    6 29.7   0.591   1.407   124   14.3   3:43 (  0, 61)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again in 2010 February. It will brighten up to 12-13 mag in 2010 summer. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  16 49.10  -22  3.7   3.371   2.475    20   14.2   5:35 (297,  0)  
Jan.  2  17  3.61  -22 41.9   3.330   2.468    24   14.1   5:37 (300,  2)  

* 126P/IRAS

Now it is 15.6 mag (Dec. 6, A. Maury, J. B. de Vanssay, F. Mallia, F. Kugel). It will be 14 mag from winter to spring in 2010. But the condition is bad. Now it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until mid January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky at 15 mag in late May in 2010, then it keeps observable while fading gradually after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 16.35  -34 42.1   2.466   1.828    40   14.4  18:25 ( 41,  5)  
Jan.  2  21 32.33  -31 24.7   2.489   1.804    37   14.3  18:30 ( 45,  5)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It brightened up to 11 mag in spring and summer in 2009. Now it is not observable. It will be observable again in the morning sky after late January. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  16 55.22  -24 32.1   3.351   2.442    19   14.4   5:35 (298, -3)  
Jan.  2  17  9.84  -24 57.0   3.340   2.463    22   14.5   5:37 (301,  0)  

* C/2008 T2 ( Cardinal )

It brightened up to 8.5 mag in May and June (May 26, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It was still bright as 11.6 mag in October (Oct. 10, Marco Goiato). However, it is already too faint to see visually. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be low temporarily in winter, but it keeps observable until when it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  18 54.63  -49 17.0   3.813   2.969    26   15.1  18:25 ( 46,-24)  
Jan.  2  19  9.12  -48 26.4   3.901   3.045    25   15.2  18:30 ( 48,-26)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 13.4 mag, already visible visually (Dec. 24, Marco Goiato). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter and spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5  1.15   14  6.1   1.181   2.130   159   15.1  22:40 (  0, 69)  
Jan.  2   4 56.10   14 38.8   1.184   2.103   152   15.1  22:08 (  0, 70)  

* C/2008 Q3 ( Garradd )

It brightened up to 6.7 mag in June (June 9, Marco Goiato). Now it is 14.2 mag (Dec. 14, Ken-ichi Kadota), a bit brighter than this ephemeris. It must be visible visually still now. It will be fading after this, and keeps observable until next spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 42.10   24 30.2   2.854   2.891    82   15.1   5:35 (287, 64)  
Jan.  2  13 40.88   27 13.1   2.789   2.953    89   15.3   5:37 (290, 72)  

* C/2009 O2 ( Catalina )

It is expected to be bright as 9-10 mag in the northern sky in March and April. It must have been observable in the morning sky until mid December. However, few observations have been reported since October. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky at 13.5 mag in late January, then it will brighten rapidly. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in the low sky after the perihelion passage only.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  19 13.86   -2 35.6   2.590   1.746    24   15.5  18:25 ( 84,  5)  
Jan.  2  19 19.61   -1 20.5   2.507   1.646    22   15.2  18:30 ( 89,  0)  

* P/2005 JQ5 ( Catalina )

It will pass the perihelion in late December. It will brighten very rapidly near by the perihelion. However, the condition is very bad in this apparition. Extremely hard to recover.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  19 36.62  -23 17.9   1.702   0.824    17   15.2  18:25 ( 63, -3)  
Jan.  2  20 16.65  -21 56.1   1.676   0.826    20   15.2  18:30 ( 63, -1)  

* P/2009 T2 ( La Sagra )

New periodic comet, brightened very rapidly. Now it is 14.8 mag and visible visually (Dec. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   2  6.91   -6 30.3   1.147   1.767   111   15.2  19:47 (  0, 48)  
Jan.  2   2 16.45   -7 19.2   1.202   1.759   106   15.3  19:29 (  0, 48)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightned up to 10 mag from late 2008 to early 2009. Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 16.0 mag (Dec. 1, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in good condition again in winter at 15-16 mag. Then it may be still visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  10 25.51    3 55.8   4.735   5.261   117   15.3   4:08 (  0, 59)  
Jan.  2  10 23.60    3 40.3   4.692   5.315   124   15.3   3:38 (  0, 59)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in 2008 summer (Aug. 4, Marco Goiato). Now it is 15.8 mag (Dec. 18, A. Novichonok, A. Smirnov, S. Plaksa). It keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it became observable again also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will keep 15-16 mag until next spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5  8.33  -39 14.6   4.291   4.794   115   15.5  22:47 (  0, 16)  
Jan.  2   5  0.79  -37 56.6   4.362   4.846   113   15.6  22:12 (  0, 17)  

* C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )

It passed near by the earth in late February in 2009, and it reached up to 4.9 mag (Feb. 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 16.2 mag (Dec. 22, R. Garcia). It will be low in the evening sky at 17-18 mag in 2010 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 21.34   21  8.9   3.589   4.551   166   15.5  23:00 (  0, 76)  
Jan.  2   5 11.07   20 59.5   3.698   4.620   157   15.7  22:22 (  0, 76)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Nov. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach up to 12 mag in 2012, and will be observable visually at 12-13 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2013. In 2009, it is observable in good condition at 16 mag from summer to autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be low around its brightest seasons.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 38.54   -1 24.6   8.530   7.980    53   15.7  18:25 ( 60, 33)  
Jan.  2  21 39.42   -1 26.7   8.588   7.944    46   15.7  18:30 ( 66, 28)  

* 22P/Kopff

It brightened up to 8.8 mag in May and June (May 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has already faded down to 15.7 mag (Dec. 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in the evening sky for a long time until next spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  23 45.96   -6 33.7   2.490   2.514    80   15.7  18:25 ( 21, 46)  
Jan.  2  23 54.92   -5 27.4   2.620   2.556    75   15.9  18:30 ( 30, 45)  

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 18, Ken-ichi Kadota), a bit fainter than this ephemeris. It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  15 44.22   20 39.0   3.339   2.936    57   15.8   5:35 (270, 38)  
Jan.  2  15 44.11   20 42.5   3.277   2.959    62   15.8   5:37 (274, 44)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

Now it is 16.6 mag (Dec. 8, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). The condition of this apparition is bad. It will reach up to 11-12 mag from spring to autumn in 2010, but it is not observable. It will be getting brighter gradually in the evening sky, but it will be too low to observe in January at 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 30.17   -0 52.6   2.819   2.340    51   16.0  18:25 ( 62, 32)  
Jan.  2  21 41.31   -0 19.7   2.838   2.291    47   15.9  18:30 ( 67, 29)  

* C/2009 U3 ( Hill )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Dec. 27, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be observable at 15.5 mag in the evening sky until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   1 23.84   35 10.9   1.185   1.844   116   16.0  19:03 (180, 90)  
Jan.  2   1 12.01   36 60.0   1.217   1.785   107   15.9  18:30 (152, 88)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.6 mag (Dec. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was observed as 15-16 mag in early 2009. In 2010, it will be observable at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 33.19   -3 22.5   3.784   3.595    71   16.0   5:35 (323, 45)  
Jan.  2  13 38.92   -3 48.7   3.688   3.599    77   16.0   5:37 (331, 47)  

* 94P/Russell 4

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 20, J. M. Trigo-Rodriguez). It is expected to brighten rapidly and to be observable at 15 mag in good condition from winter to spring. However, it is a bit fainter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  10 33.95   17 11.0   1.676   2.331   120   16.1   4:16 (  0, 72)  
Jan.  2  10 37.62   17 22.3   1.595   2.318   126   16.0   3:52 (  0, 72)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 13 mag and observed visually from 2007 to 2009. Due to the far distance, it is bright as 15.7 mag still now (Dec. 28, P. C. Sherrod). It will be observable in good condition again until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 28.10   32 50.5   7.462   7.511    89   16.1   5:35 (270, 70)  
Jan.  2  13 27.26   33 32.0   7.391   7.542    95   16.1   5:37 (272, 77)  

* 157P/Tritton

It brightened up to 11 mag in outburst in 2003. However, it does not seem to be so bright in this apparition. Now it is 16.2 mag (Dec. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in good condition in winter. But it seems to brighten only up to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   0  7.52   11 10.3   1.102   1.502    91   16.3  18:25 ( 22, 65)  
Jan.  2   0 21.77   12  2.1   1.120   1.471    88   16.2  18:30 ( 32, 64)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Appearing in the morning sky. It will be observable at 15 mag for a long time in 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  16 46.12    9 25.7   5.747   5.031    39   16.3   5:35 (272, 19)  
Jan.  2  16 52.93   10  1.8   5.673   5.007    43   16.3   5:37 (275, 24)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Dec. 18, Ken-ichi Kadota). This comet tends to brighten after the perihelion passage. It will be observable at 16 mag in 2010 and 2011. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   4 26.49   24  4.7   2.276   3.191   154   16.8  22:06 (  0, 79)  
Jan.  2   4 23.29   23 49.6   2.321   3.188   146   16.8  21:35 (  0, 79)  

* C/2008 P1 ( Garradd )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 22, Toru Yusa). It has a very long tail in spite of the distance. It passed the perihelion in 2009, but it was brighter in 2008. It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in next spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  22 58.14   32  4.6   4.061   4.125    86   16.9  18:25 ( 90, 68)  
Jan.  2  23  0.87   32 28.1   4.171   4.145    81   17.0  18:30 ( 95, 62)  

* (3552) Don Quixote

It passed the perihelion in September, and brightened up to 14.6 mag (Sept. 19, Hidetaka Sato). It is fading now, but still bright as 16.5 mag (Dec. 20, J. M. Aymami). It keeps observable in good condition until February when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  22 49.87   11 31.0   1.796   1.810    74   16.9  18:25 ( 55, 55)  
Jan.  2  23  4.01   13 44.8   1.916   1.869    72   17.1  18:30 ( 63, 54)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

Fading slowly. Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition until February when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  10 15.80    7 53.7   1.875   2.528   121   16.9   3:58 (  0, 63)  
Jan.  2  10 12.87    7 42.2   1.849   2.582   128   17.0   3:28 (  0, 63)  

* 107P/(4015) Wilson-Harrington

The condition is good in this apparition. It approached to the earth down to 0.38 A.U., and brightened up to 15.9 mag (Nov. 24, A. Sanchez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.7 mag (Dec. 14, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will be fainter than 18 mag in mid January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   1 29.21   11 45.0   0.577   1.304   110   17.1  19:11 (  0, 67)  
Jan.  2   1 58.08   13 45.0   0.652   1.360   110   17.4  19:12 (  0, 69)  

* 230P/2009 U6 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Dec. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  11  9.95   14 21.2   1.462   2.034   111   17.1   4:52 (  0, 69)  
Jan.  2  11 13.28   15 19.2   1.430   2.077   117   17.2   4:28 (  0, 70)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 18.0 mag (Dec. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2010 to 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   2 30.61   17 53.1   8.002   8.626   126   17.4  20:10 (  0, 73)  
Jan.  2   2 27.07   17 41.2   8.094   8.611   118   17.4  19:39 (  0, 73)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 18.4 mag (Dec. 18, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in early 2010 and early 2011.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 33.55   20 24.6   2.628   3.599   169   17.7  23:12 (  0, 75)  
Jan.  2   5 28.74   20 29.1   2.646   3.591   161   17.7  22:40 (  0, 75)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

It brightened up to 15-16 mag in 2008 summer. Now it is 17.6 mag (Dec. 22, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fainter than 18 mag in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   3  1.93   33 41.3   2.551   3.330   136   17.7  20:42 (  0, 89)  
Jan.  2   3  0.88   33 16.9   2.640   3.349   129   17.9  20:13 (  0, 88)  

* 232P/2009 W1 ( Hill )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Dec. 21, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  10  5.55   31 26.1   2.301   3.023   129   17.8   3:48 (  0, 86)  
Jan.  2  10  5.41   32 10.7   2.245   3.030   135   17.8   3:20 (  0, 87)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )

New periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2004 and 2005. It should be observable at 18 mag also around the aphelion. However, no observations have been reported since 2008 January. It seems to have faded out rapidly. Now it is fainter than 20.4 mag actually (Sept. 16, Leonid Elenin).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   6 49.13   30  8.0   4.014   4.986   170   20.0   0:32 (  0, 85)  
Jan.  2   6 44.10   30 24.3   4.002   4.979   172   20.0   0:00 (  0, 85)  

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

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