Reports from Geisei Observatory <May 3, 2006>

C/2006 A1 (Pojmanski), C/2004 B1 (LINEAR), and 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

    The following are my observations of two comets:
    As you see in the photograph, C/2006 A1 shows a faint but sharply-defined nucleus with a magnificent thin string-like tail trailing behind.

C/2006 A1 (Pojmanski)
2006UT        RA(2000.0)    Decl.           m1
May 2.79253   00 43 06.34  +62 56 52.9     16.5   372
    2.79813   00 43 07.31  +62 56 56.4            372

C/2004 B1 (LINEAR)
May 2.77483   19 36 44.12  +01 26 11.1     14.0   372

    The magnitude difference between Nuclei B and C of 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 has become narrower further. It seems that Nucleus C is 0.3 magnitude brighter than Nucleus B. While Nucleus C is stable with little changes, Nucleus B shows frequent variations of brightness. It is 7th magnitude, barely visible in 7x50 binoculars. Its geocentric distance has become as close as 0.1 AU, but it is not quite as impressive as expected.