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Reports from Geisei Observatory <July 30, 2002>


This is the hottest day this summer and the temperature in the dome exceeds 30 degrees C. Although there were a lot of clouds, I was able to capture the following three comets between the cloud‚“:

(1) Ikeya-Zhang
Only the nucleus was captured on the photograph. It faded to magnitude 15.6. The coma was only 30" across and no tail was visible. Does this comet continue to fade until the next return in 340 years?
[Photo of P/2002 C1(Ikeya-Zhang)]
P/2002 C1(Ikeya-Zhang)
21:15 July 30, 2002
12-minute exposure on TP6415
60cm f/3.5 reflector at Geisei Observatory

(2) C/2002 O4
This comet was discovered on July 22 in Germany. The magnitude is 13.5. It moves fast in the north and with a 10-minute exposur leaves a long trail. Many comets have been discovered between LINEAR projects.
[Photo of C/2002 O4]
C/2002 O4
23:31 July 30, 2002
8-minute exposure on TP6415
60cm f/3.5 reflector at Geisei Observatory

(3) Minor planet 2002 NY40
This comet in the photograph will pass by the earth in a close range. Because it is still very far from us, only a slight movement can be detected between the two photographs. The position measurements at Geisei are provided in the Comet Bulletin.
[Photo of 2002 NY40]
2002 NY40
A composite of two photographs taken at 22.29 and 22.56 July 30, 2002 60cm f/3.5 reflector at Geisei Observatory
TP6415 film






Copyright (C) 2002 Tsutomu Seki.