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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2274      2006 Oct 24 21.16UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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COMET C/2006 M4 (SWAN)
Guy Hurst, Basingstoke, England reports detection of a significant
brightening of Comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN) which seems to be undergoing an 
outburst.

On 2006 October 21.748UT using 15x80B Hurst estimated m1 visually at 6.0 
using 15x80B and a similar result was obtained with 10x50B on Oct 
21.752UT.

However on Oct 24.775UT the comet was glimpsed through clouds using
15x80B passing from the west and was clearly much brighter than on Oct 
21. The m1 estimate was initially 4.7 in poor conditions but by Oct 
24.829UT in clearer skies but with the field lower, an estimate with 
15x80B placed it at m1=4.3.

A set of images obtained from Oct 24.822-24.827UT with the Canon 10D + 
85mm f1.8 lens at 400ISO for 30 seconds each clearly showed the comet 
brighter than Kappa CrB with a very well condensed coma of about DC 8 
and a tail of 1.6 degrees in PA 35.

Mark Kidger was contacted via MSN Messenger who relayed an appeal
without quoting specific results. Carlos Labordena, Valencia saw the 
comet at m1=5.0 on Oct 24.777UT using 11x80B and DC=8 but in very light 
polluted skies. He had made it a magnitude fainter on Oct 21.

Juan Jose Gonzalez reports Oct 24.823UT, 4.3.

Further observations welcomed.

Guy M Hurst
Guy M Hurst, 16 Westminster Close, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England
Telephone/FAX  (01256) 471074 International +441256471074
Mobile: 07905332226  http://www.theastronomer.org and www.guyhurst.co.uk
Internet: guy@tahq.demon.co.uk  Emergency backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk