18 Feb
2009
18 Feb
'09
6:43 p.m.
If there is any type of a weather break tonight, Comet 144P/Kushida is peaking near mag 8 and is within 1.25 degs north of mag 7 open cluster NGC 1807, dia. 17'. NGC 1807 and Kushida are about midway between alf Tau Aldebaran and M1, the south "horn" of Taurus. It transits about 7:30-8pm MST. Comet Lulin is nearing its peak at near magnitude 6 and is about 4 degs southeast of Porrima (gam Vir). Lulin is 2 degs north of NGC 4697 (Caldwell 52), a mag 9.3 elliptical galaxy, 6' x 3'. It is high enough by 1:30am but transits at 3:25am. - Kurt