* * * * * C/2002 F1 (Utsunomiya) * * * * *

lightcurve Year Mn Day MM Mag Ref Scope Pwr coma DC tail p.a. Obs Site 2002 5 20.35 B 7.9 AA 10.0B 25 SEA The Entrance, NSW 2002 5 17.35 B 7.6 AA 10.0B 25 SEA The Entrance, NSW (Comet small and quite strongly condensed, with a possible broad fan-shaped tail to north. Comet not as easily seen through Swan Band filter.) 2002 5 12.86 S 8.8:TK 20.3T 67 1.0 5 BIV Pico-Veleta, Spain (Comet very low in twilight [alt.=2.8-0.6 deg.] but excellent observing conditions. With 20.3-cmT at 267x central condensation at m~10.3. Seeing fair.) 2002 5 11.85 S 7.8:TK 20.3T 67 1.5 4 BIV Pico-Veleta, Spain (Comet very low [alt.=1.7-0.5 deg.] in twilight [Sun -14.5 deg.], but excellent observing conditions [IRAM Pico-Veleta:elevation 2900m, clear western horizon to > 200km.]. With 20.3-cmT at 267x central condensation at m~9.5. Seeing poor.) 2002 5 3.88 I [6.5 YG 15.2L 38 GRA Blindern, Oslo (The comet was not seen despite its closeness to Mercury; this observation was affected by strong twilight [solar altitude -10 deg.] and low altitude [4 deg.]. Sky was clear and transparency good, Mercury was clearly visible NE and the brightest stars in Pleiades [seen under similar conditions] were faintly visible in 7x50B.) 2002 5 2.82 $S 5.5:TT 6.0B 20 2 5 RES Szamotuly (Comet faintly visible due to twilight and low altitude [about 6 deg.]. Extinction assumed. Mercury and Pleiades nearby.) 2002 5 1.86 S 5.7:TK 20.3L 48 2.0 6 >0.16 45 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (Low but good transparency. With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=8.9.) 2002 4 29.87 S 4.6 TK 25.6L 42 2.0 7 0.4 40 BIV Longuesse 2002 4 29.86 S 4.8 TK 5.0B 7 2 7 0.6 30 BIV Longuesse (With 25.6-cmL at 169x, central condensation at m=7.5. V-shape [p.a. 25 and 40 deg.] tail at 42x.) 2002 4 29.856 M 5.0 TT 8.0B 15 6/ 0.6 40 BOU Sint Annen (Tail appears to be rather broad, but is very faint in strong twilight.) 2002 4 27.81 $S 4.7 TT 6.0B 20 3 6/ 0.4 45 RES Szamotuly (Twilight, comet has a nice sharp tail. m2 about magn. 5.8-6.2. Comet altitude 9.5 deg. Extinction assumed.) 2002 4 25.87 S 5.1 TK 20.3L 48 3.0 7 >0.25 15 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee 2002 4 25.86 S 5.0 TK 5.0B 7 3 6 0.6 20 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (Good transparency. With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=7.9.) 2002 4 25.08 I 5.9:YG 7.0R 24 8/ GRA Fjellhamar (The comet was stellar in appearence, with only a possible trace of inner coma. This was a challenging observation due to low altitude of 5 deg. and strong morning twilight [solar altitude -10 deg], but the comet was seen at correct location relative to the comparison star 21 Per. The false nucleus appeared clearly brighter than on Apr. 24.90. A new outburst in progress?) 2002 4 24.90 M 4.8 YG 5.0B 7 GRA Blindern, Oslo 2002 4 24.90 N 6.8 TK 7.0R 24 2 7 0.5 5 GRA Blindern, Oslo (With 20.0-cmL at64x, the comet showed a bright false nucleus and a fan-shaped tail [width approx. 20 deg]. Its appearence was not unlike Hubble's Variable Nebula [NGC 2261]. The comet was not to hard to see in 7x50B despite altitude about 6 deg, twilight and a nearly full Moon. This observation was made in conjunction to a meeting of Norwegian Astronomical Society and about a dozen persons saw the comet. The sky was clear and transparent and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter were all clearly seen NE around Apr. 24.85 UT.) 2002 4 24.856 sM 4.8 TT 8.0B 15 6/ 0.4 & 10 BOU Sint Annen (Moonlight and twilight. Comet well visible despite elevation of only 7 deg.) 2002 4 24.86 S 5.4 TK 20.3L 48 2.0 7 >0.15 0 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee 2002 4 24.85 S 4.8 TK 5.0B 7 3 6 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (Good transparency. With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=7.2 [bright].) 2002 4 22.80 $S 4.5 TT 6.0B 20 3 7 0.5 RES Szamotuly (Sharp tail well visible. Extinction assumed. Comet low, twilight.) 2002 4 20.89 M 4.8 YG 5.0B 7 2.5 0.9 GRA Hågår Obs., Eina 2002 4 20.89 N 6.4:YG 7.0R 24 2.5 7/ 1.0 350 GRA Hågår Obs., Eina (The comet was an impressive object in 7.0-cm R at 24x, quite similar to C/2002 C1 during the first days of March 2002. The sunward part of its coma appeared U-shaped and it showed a tail whose eastern edge was sharply defined, while its western boundary was more diffuse [apparently gas and dust components]. The comet was observed in astronomical twilight shortly before setting below the local horizon [altitude 6 deg]. Sky was quite transparent [NEL 3.5-4.0 near comet]. The comet was again seen in morning sky and through a 25.4-cmL at 76x it showed a jet-like structure in the same direction as its tail [Apr. 21.09 UT]. With this instrument the central condensation remained visible until 02h55m UT at solar altitude -5.8 deg. Click here for todays image of this comet.) 2002 4 20.84 S 5.7:TK 25.6L 42 2.5 5 >0.1 345 BIV Longuesse (Hazy, comet low. With 25.6-cmL at 169x, central condensation at m=8.4.) 2002 4 20.16 S 5.6:TK 25.6L 42 2.0 5 >0.1 0 BIV Longuesse (Hazy, comet low. With 25.6-cmL at 42x, central condensation at m=9 [not prominent].) 2002 4 19.09 M 4.5 YG 5.0B 7 3 GRA Fjellhamar 2002 4 19.09 N 6.1 TK 7.0R 24 2.5 7 0.6 335 GRA Fjellhamar (Innermost part of tail was clearly seen, also with binoculars. Using 7.0-cmR, the central condensation appeared stellar with 24x, but clearly diffuse with 69x. Observed in a somewhat hazy sky at altitude 8-10 deg. in astronomical-nautical twilight [NE limit near comet was about 3.0].) 2002 4 18.87 !S 4.0 YG 5.0B 7 0.5 SKI Hønefoss 2002 4 18.87 N 6.0:TK 8.0R 40 4 7/ 0.5 345 SKI Hønefoss (The coma appeared elongated and the shape of the tail was like a narrow V [width about 5 deg.], however it showed a possible curvature towards west. The comet was easily visible in binoculars despite altitude of 7 deg. and astronomical twilight.) 2002 4 16.18 S 4.8 TK 25.6L 42 2.0 7 >0.1 345 BIV Versailles (With 25.6-cmL at 169x central condensation at m=6.1. [new burst?].) 2002 4 14.15 S 5.6 TK 25.6L 42 1.5 7 0.4 320 BIV Longuesse 2002 4 14.14 B 5.5 TK 5.0B 7 2 7 0.8 320 BIV Longuesse (With 25.6-cmL at 169x central condensation at m=7.7.) 2002 4 12.16 B 5.4:TK 25.6L 42 2.0 7 >0.17 315 BIV (With 25.6-cmL at 169x central condensation at m=7.2.) 2002 4 11.16 B 5.4 TK 5.0B 7 2 7 0.2 310 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee 2002 4 11.15 S 5.6 TK 20.3L 48 1.2 7 0.15 310 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=6.9; 0.5' jet in p.a. 35 deg.) 2002 4 10.16 B 5.9 TK 20.3L 48 0.5 8/ BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=6.5 [comet quasi stellar].) 2002 4 10.126 B 5.9 TT 8.0B 15 8/ 0.2 &305 BOU Sint Annen (Comet almost stellar sporting a short, very faint tail. Considerably brighter than 2 days ago. Small outburst?) 2002 4 10.13 B 6.2 YG 20.3T 100 0.2 8/ GRA Fjellhamar (An apparently stellar nucleus at m2=7.1 [ref. TJ] was surrounded by a bright planet-like disc. Easily seen despite bright twilight [Sun 9 deg below horizon].) 2002 4 10.10 B 6.1 YG 7.0R 24 8/ GRA Fjellhamar (This comet appears to be in outburst and showed an almost stellar central condensation, surrounded by a faint coma ~2' in diameter. Observed in astronomical twilight under a somewhat hazy sky.) 2002 4 8.16 B 7.5 TK 20.3L 48 1.0 7 0.05 290 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=9.0.) 2002 4 8.132 S 7.4 AA 12.0B 20 1.5 9 0.15 LOO Grand Bois (Twilight. Short tail visible.) 2002 4 8.130 S 7.1 TT 25.4J 58 7/ 8m 313 DIJ Sint Annen 2002 4 8.128 M 7.4 TT 25.4J 58 & 1 8 0.15 &290 BOU Sint Annen 2002 4 7.16 B 7.8 TK 5.0B 7 2 8 BIV Domart 2002 4 7.16 B 8.0 TK 10.0B 25 1.5 7 0.05 280 BIV Domart 2002 4 7.139 S 7.2 AA 25.0L 53 1 8 LOO Genk (Rapidly brightening.) 2002 4 6.17 S 8.3 TK 25.6L 42 1.5 7 0.05 275 BIV Ablis (With 25.6-cmL at 169x, central condensation at m=10.4.) 2002 4 6.135 S 7.9 TT 25.4J 47 1.1 6 8m 313 DIJ Sint Annen 2002 4 6.131 M 7.8 TT 25.4J 47 & 1 8 0.2 &290 BOU Sint Annen (Comet strongly condensed. Tail rather broad..) 2002 4 6.115 S 8.0 AA 25.0L 53 1 7 LOO Grand Bois (Twilight. Brief onset of tail visible.) 2002 4 6.11 S 7.6 TJ 7.0R 24 2 5 GRA Fjellhamar (Faint, but not too difficult with this instrument despite twilight. Viewed from a more favourable location than on Apr. 6.09.) 2002 4 6.09 M 7.8 TJ 20.3T 100 1.5 6 0.1 315 GRA Fjellhamar (Much easier to see than before despite low altitude and interference from nearby road lights. Tail was faint and p.a. approximate.) 2002 4 5.16 S 8.6 TK 20.3L 48 1.2 7 0.05 280 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee (With 20.3-cmL at 95x, central condensation at m=10.4.) 2002 4 5.142 S 8.0 TT 25.4J 47 2 5/ 4m 290 DIJ Sint Annen 2002 4 5.138 M 7.8 TT 25.4J 47 1.5 7/ 0.17 &280 BOU Sint Annen (Comet small and strongly condensed. Short broad tail visible.) 2002 4 4.16 S 9.1 TK 20.3L 48 1.3 7 0.03 270 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee 2002 3 30.14 S 8.4 AC 41.0L 72 2 4/ RES Szamotuly (Moonlight.) 2002 3 29.14 S 8.7 TK 20.3T 100 1.1 5 GRA Fjellhamar (Still a challenging object, but slightly easier than on Mar. 24. Twilight and Moon.) 2002 3 24.18 S 9.9:TK 20.3L 48 1.5 4 BIV Noordwijk aan Zee 2002 3 24.15 S 9.2 TK 20.3T 100 1.5 GRA Fjellhamar (Difficult observation due to twilight [Sun 12 deg. below horizon] and low altitude. A weak and apparently diffuse source was seen at R.A. = 22h06m.25, Decl. = +10o01'.5 [J2000.0, estimated accuracy 0'.5], i.e. near the ephemeris position. DC was not estimated.) 2002 3 23.151 S 9.2 TK 25.4J 58 1.9 3/ BOU Sint Annen (Comet fairly well visible, despite low elevation of only 8 degrees.) 2002 3 21.14 S 9.5 TT 41.0L 72 & 2 3/ RES Szamotuly (Comet for now is quite a challenge. Start of morning twilight. Comet is not far from Epsilon Pegasi. Seen between small clouds which sometimes crossed field.)