Reports from Geisei Observatory <January 18, 2010>

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, 217P/LINEAR, and C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)

The following are photographic observations made by Geisei's 70cm reflector.
29/Schwassmann-Wachmann seems to be brightening gradually, while 217P/LINEAR, which had been bright as a result of outbursts, has been slowly fading.
As C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring) has clearly become bright enough for visual observation, a magnitude estimate of the comet by the 70cm reflector is provided below:

visual observation:                                                     
C/2007Q3      m1     dia.     DC     Seeing   Trans     Inst.           
Jan.17.72     9.6    1.5′     6      4/5      4/5   70cm L 144x  T.Seki

Astrometric observations:                                                       
0029P          2010 01 07.63451 09 49 23.78 +11 42 31.4          15.4 N      372
0029P          2010 01 17.63090 09 45 54.78 +11 51 34.6          13.1 N      372

0217P          2010 01 07.61701 05 34 18.22 +10 22 51.9          15.5 N      372
0217P          2010 01 17.58333 05 31 18.80 +12 44 25.9          16.5 N      372

    CK07Q030   2010 01 07.72465 13 59 52.24 +28 33 45.6          12.4 N      372
    CK07Q030   2010 01 17.71840 14 17 36.72 +32 37 01.4          11.5 N      372

C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
Nikon D700, ISO 1600 5min x 2
Contrast control and fogging correction were made.
Digital processing was applied.
70cm reflector at Geisei Observatory