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Reports from Geisei Observatory <January 14, 2006>


73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (C)

    It has become fairly bright while unnoticed. Although it appears small, it shows a glimpse of a great comet on photographs. I used TP2415 film on the 60cm reflector. A pretty tail, about 60" long, was spotted at position angle (PA) 300 degrees or so. (PA is the angle of a celestial object measured in an easterly direction from north). It is still rather small.
    When it was discovered in 1930, it was at 6th magnitude and a binocular comet. The main interest for this comet at this apparition will be if it becomes a naked-eye comet.
    At Geisei we will continue to observe this comet including the other nuclei.
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3(C)
2006UT        RA (2000.0)   Degl.           m1
Jan.07.73056  12 45 21.30  +10 39 26.3     16.3      372
    09.84549  12 48 23.39  +10 35 37.2     16.5      372


    73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3(C)
Double exposure on TP2415 film from 2:22 to 2:42 on January 8, 2006
60cm reflector

Copyright (C) 2006 Tsutomu Seki.