Reports from Geisei Observatory <December 23, 2008>

C/2007 N3 (Lulin)

    This is the observations of Comet Lulin, which has begun to appear in the low morning sky. The conditions were made unfavorable by brightening twilight past 6 am and nearby moon. In spite of this, the comet was shining strongly at the center of the 70cm telescope's field. The visual magnitude was 7 at 140x. The coma was 4' to 5' in diameter with a strong central condensation. Although the tail was not confirmed, the coma was elongated to the west faintly. I wonder how bright it will become. It is possible that this comet brightens to become a naked-eye comet.

    CK07N030   2008 12 23.86632 16 03 48.43 -19 51 13.3           7.1 T      372
    CK07N030   2008 12 23.87083 16 03 48.32 -19 51 13.6                      372
    CK07N030   2008 12 23.87708 16 03 48.20 -19 51 13.9           7.0 T      372