Circular 2004/2
Tim Cooper
Director: Comet & Meteor Section
2004 May
Feedback
I have received a considerable number of observations of comets C/2001 Q4 (NEAT), C/2002 T7 (LINEAR), C/2003 H1 (LINEAR), C/2003 K4 (LINEAR) and 88P (Howell) from Gerrit Penning, Phillip Coetzer, Magda Streicher, Mike Begbie, David Pringle-Wood, Kos Coronaios, Bill Hollenbach, Koos van Zyl and myself. Regarding meteor showers, the maxima of the April Lyrids and pi Puppids were well observed by Gerrit Penning, Mia Zeelie, Kos Coronaios, Ronel du Preez, Jacques van Delft, Pat van Heerden, Barend Botha and myself. Many thanks to all of these observers for a superb effort !!
The following comets and meteors can be observed in the coming months.
Comet Bradfield C/2004 F4
This comet is very low in the morning sky, moving northwards and fading. It is currently magnitude 6 and should fade to 8th magnitude by mid May. The moon will pose problems early in the month, full moon on May 4.
Comet Howell 88P
This comet is magnitude 10, slightly brighter than predicted. Located in Aquarius, it has past its April perihelion, and begun to fade. I observed it as a magnitude 9.9 object, with circular coma with DC=3. It should remain above magnitude 11 for most of May.
Comet LINEAR C/2002 T7
Currently magnitude 4, the comet is closest to earth on 2004 May 19, at a distance of only 0.27 AU. Located in northern Eridanus, the comet will be at an elongation of 40° from the sun, setting at around 19h20 local time and possibly magnitude 2. As May progresses the comet climbs higher in the evening sky, crossing Lepus, Canis Major, Puppis and into Hydra. By month end it should still be magnitude 3 and setting around 23h00 local time. The comet has a sharpish coma and you should note the distinctive colour, with narrow tail.
Comet NEAT C/2001 Q4
This comet is currently around magnitude 3.8 and a fairly easy naked eye object. It passes closest to earth on 2004 May 7 at a distance of 0.32 AU, located in Canis Major, elongation 75° from the sun, and sets around 23h10 local time. The comet will be located close to the open clusters M46 and M47. Perihelion occurs a week later on 2004 May 15, distance 0.96 AU. The comet will be located in Cancer close to the open cluster M44, elongation 71° from the sun, and sets around 22h30 local time. New moon occurs on May 19, and thus favours observation. The comet heads northwards during June and will be unfavourably placed to watch it fade.
Eta Aquarids
Full moon on May 4 spoils the maximum which occurs on May 5. However, observations should still be made, especially since high rates continue up to about May 12. This is the most active southern shower, and brighter members with their fast speed and tendency to leave glowing green trains are quite spectacular.
June Lyrids
There has been some debate in the past as to whether this shower is active. Any activity should peak around the morning of June 15, from a radiant a few degrees south of Vega. Your observations can help in determining whether anything happens in 2004 or not. Since activity will probably be low, all meteors should be plotted.
June Bootids
This shower is related to comet 7P Pons-Winnecke, which reached perihelion again in 2002. Outbursts from the shower were recorded in 1916, 1921, 1927 and again in 1998. Calculations indicate another possible good display on the morning of June 27 this year around 03h00 SAST. Although the radiant remains low, any outburst will manifest itself as a few very long pathed meteors emanating from near the northern horizon, as was reported in 1998 by Neville Young and several other Pretoria members who were away on a dark sky weekend.
Clear Skies, Tim.
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