----- Original Message -----
From: <fb4a042@...-hamburg.de>
To: <guide-user@egroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 29 November 2000 20:24
Subject: Re: [guide-user] Fwd: AstroAlert: Comet Utsunomiya-Jones

Hartwig wrote,

> Attached you'll find an UOV for displaying the comets path in the
> Sky in Guide (utjns.uov). Additionally I include an UOV
> for displaying comet McNaught-Hartley, which is currently
> visible (mcnr.uov).
>
> Despite the close perihelon distance, I am quite pessimistic
> concerning the new comet. Its intrinsic magnitude is very
> faint, and such comets tend to fissle when the approach
> the sun.

My observations for the past few days indicate that it is developing well.

2000 Nov 26.71 UT: m1=7.3,Dia=5.0',DC=3...7X50 B
2000 Nov 27.50 UT: m1=7.1,Dia=5.0',DC=3...7X50 B
2000 Nov 28.52 UT: m1=7.0,Dia=5.0',DC=4...7X50 B
[through 25X100mm binoculars, the comet is slightly more condensed
than on previous evenings and displays a very faint, short ion tail]
2000 Nov 29.52 UT: m1=6.8,Dia=5.0',DC=4/...7X50 B
2000 Nov 30.54 UT: m1=6.7,Dia=4.5',DC=4/...7X50 B

I independently discovered this comet but sadly Albert
Jones beat me to it by less than 24 hrs.

PLUS terrific aurora last night. (34 deg south)
And about time! I've waited 10 years for it.
I'll develop photos soon.

Cheers,
Michael Mattiazzo,
Wallaroo, South Australia
mmatti@...