COMETS FOR THE VISUAL OBSERVER IN 2007

摘要

Several short-period comets are expected to become moderately bright during 2007, along with several additional fainter objects. One recently-discovered long-period comet may possibly become a bright object near the beginning of the year, and a handful of fainter long-period comets may also become visually detectable. At this writing in mid-November 2006, this comet has brightened to total visual magnitude mi ~ 9, although it is a difficult object at small elongation. If C/2006 PI maintains the brightening trend it has exhibited over the past two months.