Reports from Geisei Observatory<December 23, 2000>

• C/2000 W1(Utsunomiya-Jones) and a Geminid
These are the color photos of Comet Utsunomiya-Jones and a Geminid taken on December 15. The comet is at magnitude 7 and shows a 15'-long tail. It was visible only for 10 days in the evening sky.
From mid-January it will move to the eastern sky.

The Geminid meteorite was captured at 4 am on December 10 in the southern sky. Canis Major is seen in the upper right.
The meteor flew to the south near ζ Gem. It was at magnitude -1 and low in the sky at -40 degrees in declination.

Comet Utsunomiya-Jones
At 18:05 on December 15, 2000
2-minute exposure by the 60cm reflector
Scanned and enlarged
Tsutomu Seki at Geisei Observatory


A Geminid meteorite At 4 am on December 10, 2000 Enlarged photograph