Reports from Geisei Observatory<March 26, 1999>

The following latest observations have not been reported to the Smithsonian yet.

• Observations of Comet LINEAR (1998 M5), which almost "grazed" the polar star on March 15.

1999UT           RA         Decl.     m1
Mar.  15.545   4 10 40    +89 48.2 10.7(v)      372
      22.51493 7 51 46.3  +82 39   17.6 13.0(P) 372
      23.67969 7 53 31.82 +81 27   10.8 12.9(P) 372

On March 23 the comet was 11.3 magnitude and 3' across by the 20cm refractor at 60x.

• Observations of Comet Williams (1998 P1) discovered in Australia last year. It has rapidly become faint recently.

1999UT         R.A.        Decl.       m1
Mar.  15.59792 7 43 06.82 +42 02 25.0      372
      16.59625 7 41 04.96 +42 03 05.4 15.0 372
      22.52361 7 30 57.42 +42 01 53.4 16.5 372

• Comet Jäger(1998U3)

1999UT         R.A.        Decl.       m1
Mar.  17.58559 6 44 28.39 +21 33 08.9 14.1 372
      22.52917 6 50 35.69 +20 30 06.9 14.7 372