Reports from Geisei Observatory <February 21, 2009>

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, 33P/Daniel, and C/2007 N3 (Lulin)

    On February 20, I found C/2007 N3 (Lulin) definitely 0.2 magnitude brighter than on February 18 and easier to see with the naked-eye. But in the 15cm at 18x it appeared somewhat smaller (perhaps my imagination) than on February 18 (UT). I visually estimated it at 4.8 magnitude.

    The following are the observations of two periodic comets which are known for changing brightness.

0029P          2009 01 17.72604 08 00 47.92 +23 32 52.2          14.8 T      372
0029P          2009 01 25.65694 07 56 41.08 +23 38 00.0          15.0 T      372
0029P          2009 01 28.74375 07 55 06.99 +23 39 36.9          15.3 T      372
0029P          2009 02 12.48056 07 48 17.63 +23 43 51.6          12.9 T      372
0029P          2009 02 17.46111 07 46 20.40 +23 43 53.8          13.5 T      372
0029P          2009 02 18.57684 07 45 55.86 +23 43 48.6          13.7 T      372

0033P          2009 02 20.56563 11 30 28.85 +40 50 39.0          14.5 T      372
0033P          2009 02 20.59201 11 30 27.37 +40 50 47.9          14.4 T      372

The latest observations of Comet Lulin glowing in the eastern sky:

    CK07N030   2009 02 20.61580 12 23 57.93 -02 13 40.8            6.0 T     372
    CK07N030   2009 02 20.66458 12 23 07.39 -02 08 27.9                      372
    CK07N030   2009 02 20.72938 12 22 00.00 -02 01 32.2            6.0 T     372

    Recently 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has been slightly on the bright side showing subtle changes. The sharp nucleus is visible on and off.

    33P/Daniel reminds me of Comet Daniel-Shimizu. Dr. Hideo Hirose (then at Tokyo Astronomical Observatory) calculated the perturbation of the comet, which had been missing until then. In January 1937, he sent the predictions based on the results of his calculation to Mr. Shinichi Shimizu (Shimada city, Shizuoka prefecture) requesting search for this comet. Mr. Shimizu was a pioneering figure for astronomical photography in Japan. He discovered this comet using optics designed for portrait photography of an only 8cm aperture.
    In those days it seems that there were not many people involved in astronomical photography even at professional observatories. This renowned pair of Hirose and Shimizu reunited at the Comet Conference held in Aichi prefecture nearly 40 years later. A 10cm equatorial telescope, which had been used for comet discoveries, was donated to Shizuoka Prefecture Library and displayed at the Comet Conference in Shizuoka prefecture.

    A reunion after 40 years!
    In those days people were more hopeful and optimistic.