Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2009 Feb. 28: South)

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Updated on March 18, 2009
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.
Azimuth indicates 0 for south, 90 for west, 180 for north, 270 for east.

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* C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )

Now it is 4.9 mag (Feb. 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Also visible with naked eyes under the excellent sky condition. Now it is passing near by the earth, and moving westwards very rapidly. It keeps observable in the excellent condition long time around the highlight until spring. Because it moves along the ecliptic plane, the anti-tail is clearly visible.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  10  7.43   11 21.3   0.436   1.423   170    5.4  23:23 (180, 43)  
Mar.  7   8 29.27   18 29.6   0.582   1.480   138    6.2  21:23 (180, 36)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

Brightening very rapidly, faster than expected. It is already so bright as 9.4 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is expected to reach to 8 mag in 2009 summer. It becomes low tempporarily in February and March. But then it will be observable at 8-10 mag in good condition for a long time until late autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  22 30.17   35  7.5   4.017   3.365    43    9.7   4:18 (250,-38)  
Mar.  7  22 34.02   34 40.1   4.027   3.341    40    9.7   4:25 (247,-32)  

* 144P/Kushida

It brightened much faster than expected, and reached up to 8.4 mag (Jan. 30, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was very large and visible through binoculars. It will be fading after this, but still bright as 8.6 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps locating high in the evening sky for a while. It keeps higher than 40 degree until mid May when it fades down to 14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   5 36.06   17 22.8   0.881   1.484   104    9.8  20:06 (162, 36)  
Mar.  7   5 56.43   17 30.0   0.935   1.505   102   10.1  19:55 (163, 36)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Brightening very rapidly, faster than expected. Now it is bright as 10.2 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez), already visible visually. It keeps 10-11 mag and observable in the evening sky for a long time until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   1 37.49   11 20.3   1.683   1.247    47   11.3  20:06 (108,  5)  
Mar.  7   2  1.97   14 10.4   1.696   1.249    46   11.2  19:55 (111,  5)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightened up to 9.8 mag in December and January (Dec. 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but still bright as 11.2 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps visible visually for a long time until June when it becomes low in the evening at 13 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   6  8.52   42  5.8   2.517   3.018   111   11.4  20:06 (174, 13)  
Mar.  7   6 14.16   40 34.5   2.641   3.062   105   11.5  19:55 (172, 14)  

* 22P/Kopff

Now it is 12.9 mag, already visible visually (Feb. 22, Marco Goiato). It will be bright at 9-10 mag for a long time from spring to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  17 46.49  -19  8.8   1.820   1.794    72   11.9   4:18 (260, 48)  
Mar.  7  18  5.72  -19 10.1   1.735   1.764    75   11.7   4:25 (257, 51)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

Already very bright as 11.3 mag (Feb. 28, Marco Goiato). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag from late 2009 to early 2010. Good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in the evening low sky from February to April. Then it becomes unobservable until September. But after October, it is observable at 10 mag for a while in good condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time while brightening until June when it brightens to 11 mag. But it becomes unobservable around and after the brightest time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   5 17.25  -39 25.6   3.145   3.318    91   12.0  20:06 ( 69, 73)  
Mar.  7   5 20.53  -37  2.8   3.131   3.265    88   11.9  19:55 ( 77, 71)  

* C/2008 A1 ( McNaught )

It reached to 6.3 mag in September in the southern sky (Sept. 4, Marco Goiato). It was bright at 10.0 mag still on Jan. 13 (U. Pilz). However, no visual observations have been reported since that. It keeps observable in the northern sky while fading gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  20 48.81   47 53.1   2.815   2.498    61   12.2   4:18 (228,-25)  
Mar.  7  21  3.80   50 53.5   2.883   2.579    62   12.5   4:25 (223,-23)  

* C/2008 T2 ( Cardinal )

Now it brightened up to 11.3 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will reach to 10-11 mag in June. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until May when it becomes brightest. But it will never be observable again after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until April. But after that, it will be observable while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   3 31.62   59  0.7   1.744   1.972    87   12.7  20:06 (157,-11)  
Mar.  7   3 50.50   55 39.6   1.734   1.897    83   12.5  19:55 (156, -9)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in summer (Aug. 4, Marco Goiato). Although it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. However, no visual observations have been reported since last summer. Recent CCD observations suggest that it is still visible visually around 12-13 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   0 35.91  -73 24.0   3.093   2.863    67   12.5  20:06 ( 20, 33)  
Mar.  7   1 20.91  -71 20.6   3.092   2.891    69   12.6  19:55 ( 23, 35)  

* 116P/Wild 4

Now it is very bright as 11.7 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will to be observable at 12-13 mag for a long time from January to July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   9 30.24   19 53.3   1.437   2.387   158   12.8  22:56 (180, 35)  
Mar.  7   9 25.47   20  1.6   1.453   2.368   150   12.8  22:24 (180, 35)  

* 85P/Boethin

It was expected to reach up to 7 mag and to be observable in good condition in winter. But finally, the comet has never been recovered after all. This comet has not been observed since 1986. It was not detected, fainter than 20 mag on Dec. 1 (Takaaki Oribe). So it will be much fainter than expected, maybe already disappeared.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   3 52.62   24 39.9   1.307   1.524    81   12.9  20:06 (141, 19)  
Mar.  7   4 18.59   25 29.6   1.404   1.584    80   13.7  19:55 (143, 19)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

It reached to 10.9 mag in May (May 11, Marco Goiato). It is fading slowly. Now it is 13.9 mag (Feb. 14, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps bright as 13-14 mag for a long time after this until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  16 40.68   17  1.3   3.475   3.665    93   13.5   4:18 (212, 32)  
Mar.  7  16 44.43   18 56.3   3.442   3.709    97   13.5   4:25 (203, 33)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Since the major outburst in last September, with a new outburst in December, it has been so bright as 10-11 mag for about half a year. Now it is still bright as 11.0 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   7 42.98   23 41.6   5.379   6.109   134   13.5  21:09 (180, 31)  
Mar.  7   7 41.42   23 38.2   5.466   6.111   126   13.6  20:40 (180, 31)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 14.2 mag and visible visually (Feb. 26, Alan Hale). It will brighten up to 12-13 mag in 2010 summer. It reaches to 14.5 mag in 2009 spring, and keeps observable in good condition until 2009 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  12 35.13   11 21.5   2.293   3.204   152   14.7   2:05 (180, 44)  
Mar.  7  12 31.23   11 57.4   2.237   3.183   158   14.6   1:33 (180, 43)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 13.9 mag (Feb. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). It had been bright and visible visually around 13 mag from spring to autumn in 2008. It will be visible visually at 14 mag again until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  15  5.73   29 33.0   5.833   6.320   115   14.7   4:18 (184, 25)  
Mar.  7  15  0.99   30 46.4   5.784   6.343   120   14.7   4:02 (180, 24)  

* 68P/Klemola

It had been observed until mid January in the evening low sky. It reached up to 14.1 mag (Jan. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). Now it is not observable. It will be observable again in summer, but it will be fainter than 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  23  7.41   -4 50.8   2.783   1.802     6   14.8  20:06 ( 73,-16)  
Mar.  7  23 25.69   -3 23.9   2.807   1.819     4   14.9  19:55 ( 74,-16)  

* 19P/Borrelly

It reached up to 9.6 mag in summer (Aug. 2, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.3 mag (Feb. 27, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It keeps observable in good condition until June when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  13 44.38   37 41.7   1.869   2.615   129   15.0   3:14 (180, 17)  
Mar.  7  13 37.91   38 42.4   1.889   2.664   132   15.2   2:40 (180, 16)  

* C/2007 B2 ( Skiff )

It brightened up to 12.7 mag in 2008 spring (Apr. 12, Marco Goiato). But it faded down to 14.9 mag in July (July 22, Mitsunori Tsumura). No observations have been reported for a long time since last summer. But in the Southern Hemisphere, it has appeared in the morning sky, and it will be observable in good condition after this. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  18 56.52  -46 25.4   3.876   3.515    61   15.1   4:18 (304, 43)  
Mar.  7  19  8.32  -46 54.3   3.834   3.551    66   15.1   4:25 (304, 47)  

* 77P/Longmore

Now it is visible visually at 14.4 mag (Feb. 26, Alan Hale). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  12 32.01   13 28.9   1.543   2.467   152   15.3   2:02 (180, 42)  
Mar.  7  12 25.67   13 10.7   1.496   2.452   159   15.2   1:28 (180, 42)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 14, Catalina Sky Survey). It will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   9 13.55   24 24.7   2.686   3.597   152   15.3  22:39 (180, 31)  
Mar.  7   9  9.94   24 35.7   2.732   3.593   145   15.3  22:08 (180, 30)  

* 33P/Daniel

It must have been fainter than 18 mag, however, an outburst occured unexpectedly on Jan. 30 and it brightened up to 15.2 mag (Catalina Sky Survey). Then it faded rapidly, down to 18.6 mag on Feb. 19 (Leonid Elenin). However, another outburst occured on Feb. 20 and it brightened to 14.6 mag (Leonid Elenin). It is also visible visually at 13.7 mag (Feb. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  11 23.49   41 21.3   1.868   2.743   145   15.4   0:53 (180, 14)  
Mar.  7  11 16.68   41 33.4   1.910   2.773   143   17.0   0:19 (180, 13)  

* 210P/2008 X4 ( Christensen )

First return of a bright new periodic comet discovered by SOHO spacecraft in 2003. Now it was re-discovered by STEREO-B spacecraft. It reached up to 6-7 mag in the SOHO images in late December, then it was observed around 10 mag in the morning sky in early January. Now it is fading. But it was bright as 12.5 mag still on Feb. 5 (Michael Jager). It keeps observable in good condition while fading gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  15 49.01   -0 46.5   0.754   1.378   103   15.5   4:18 (206, 53)  
Mar.  7  15 38.67    0 39.7   0.768   1.472   112   15.9   4:25 (186, 54)  

* C/2006 U6 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Jan. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It should have reached up to 14.5 mag in summer in the southern sky, but it is already fading. It keeps observable while the comet will be fading slowly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  11 54.12  -17 53.1   2.861   3.744   148   16.1   1:24 (180, 73)  
Mar.  7  11 47.72  -15 50.3   2.862   3.795   156   16.1   0:50 (180, 71)  

* 209P/2008 X2 ( LINEAR )

Brightened rapidly, and now it reached up to 16.5 mag (Feb. 28, E. Reina). It will be observable at 16.5 mag until April. It moves southwards very fast after early April, and will be unobservable very soon in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  15 31.70   73 48.0   0.385   1.139   102   16.3   4:18 (183,-19)  
Mar.  7  17  8.52   72 39.2   0.355   1.084    95   16.3   4:25 (188,-19)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 21, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be getting fainter and lower in the evening sky. It becomes unobservable in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   3 19.27   26  3.3   2.411   2.356    74   16.4  20:06 (135, 13)  
Mar.  7   3 32.02   26 20.0   2.487   2.356    70   16.4  19:55 (135, 12)  

* C/2008 Q1 ( Maticic )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 17, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition in 2009 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  17 25.70   27 36.9   2.946   3.019    84   16.8   4:18 (216, 17)  
Mar.  7  17 19.09   28 57.1   2.855   3.033    90   16.8   4:25 (207, 21)  

* 2001 TX16

Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. It will be observable around 17 mag in good condition for a long time until May. It will fade out very rapidly after May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  14 41.86   -4 25.7   1.218   1.910   119   17.1   4:11 (180, 59)  
Mar.  7  14 42.01   -4 21.6   1.197   1.954   126   17.1   3:44 (180, 59)  

* P/2008 Y2 ( Gibbs )

Brightening rapidly than expected. It reached up to 16.8 mag (Feb. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It will keep 17 mag until February, and will be observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   9 54.93   11 35.5   0.697   1.678   167   17.1  23:21 (180, 44)  
Mar.  7   9 52.40   10 38.6   0.727   1.694   160   17.2  22:51 (180, 44)  

* 204P/2008 R5 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

At the discovery in 2001, it became much brighter after the perihelion passage. In this apparition, although it was so faint as 20 mag in early September, it brightened very rapidly, and it reached up to 16.3 mag (Feb. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this. But it will fade out rapidly after this. It has already faded down to 17.6 mag (Feb. 21, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   8 17.31   25 25.6   1.188   2.055   141   17.2  21:44 (180, 30)  
Mar.  7   8 19.04   25 32.4   1.255   2.074   134   17.3  21:18 (180, 29)  

* C/2009 B2 ( LINEAR )

It will reach to 17 mag in March. But it will fade out soon, and will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  13 38.89  -16 18.6   1.563   2.330   130   17.3   3:09 (180, 71)  
Mar.  7  13  8.51  -15 38.8   1.452   2.328   143   17.2   2:12 (180, 71)  

* P/2008 Y3 ( McNaught )

It keeps observable at 17.5 mag until spring. But it locates low in the Northern Hemispere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   8 18.74  -24 13.2   3.716   4.442   132   17.3  21:45 (180, 79)  
Mar.  7   8 16.13  -23 51.4   3.758   4.444   128   17.4  21:14 (180, 79)  

* 143P/Kowal-Mrkos

It will reach to 17 mag at opposition in March. But then it will fade out soon, and will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  12 14.22   -8 50.4   1.721   2.637   151   17.5   1:44 (180, 64)  
Mar.  7  12 11.19   -8 35.6   1.672   2.624   159   17.4   1:13 (180, 64)  

* 88P/Howell

Now it is 18.2 mag (Mar. 1, W. Hasubick). It will be brightening rapidly after this, and will be 10 mag in autumn. It keeps observable for a long time until 2010 February. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be lower than 20 degree after July when it becomes about 13 mag, then it keeps very low all through the brightest time. It locates a bit higher in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  13 24.45   -3 26.7   1.720   2.546   138   17.7   2:54 (180, 59)  
Mar.  7  13 22.44   -3  7.8   1.618   2.502   145   17.4   2:24 (180, 58)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 21, Yasukazu Ikari). It will reach to 15 mag in 2010. It keeps observable for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  15 41.14   -5 38.4   6.070   6.393   104   17.5   4:18 (205, 58)  
Mar.  7  15 41.74   -4 55.4   5.927   6.357   111   17.4   4:25 (189, 60)  

* C/2007 S2 ( Lemmon )

It was observed at 18 mag from autumn to winter in 2007. It will be observable again at 18 mag from winter to spring in 2009.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  10 28.71   -6  7.8   4.668   5.632   165   17.9  23:54 (180, 61)  
Mar.  7  10 25.76   -5 59.4   4.677   5.638   164   17.9  23:24 (180, 61)  

* 211P/2008 X1 ( Hill )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Jan. 10, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition at 17.5-18 mag until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   5  5.97   16 31.6   2.064   2.404    97   17.9  20:06 (153, 34)  
Mar.  7   5 12.75   17 40.0   2.142   2.396    92   17.9  19:55 (151, 32)  

* 17P/Holmes

Great outburst occured in 2007 October, and it bacame a naked eye comet of 2 mag. It kept so bright as 5.5 mag still in 2008 spring (Apr. 30, Carlos Labordena), but it was extremely faint and difficult to see. The size was so large, the diameter was larger than 60 arcmin. Now it became observable in good condition again. The extremely faint large diffuse glow may be detected with a best sky condition, around 5-6 mag with a diameter of 1 or 2 degrees. Mitsunori Tsumura detected a possible glow of Comet Holmes on Nov. 4. Current brightness of the central core is 17.7 mag (Feb. 13, Catalina Sky Survey), much brighter than pre-outburst brightness still now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28   8 24.54   26 33.1   3.512   4.337   142   19.0  21:50 (180, 28)  
Mar.  7   8 21.02   26 20.7   3.603   4.357   134   19.1  21:19 (180, 29)  

* 173P/2005 T1 ( Mueller 5 )

It was observed bright at 16.5-17 mag from late 2006 to early 2007. However, it is fading after that, although it is getting closer to the sun. It was so faint as 19.4 mag around the perihelion passage in 2008 spring (Mar. 10, Mitsunori Tsumura). This comet was observed so faint around the perihelion passage in the previous apparition at the discovery. It faded out before the perihelion passage again in this apparition. No observations have been reported since 2008 April at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 28  11 43.13   22 48.8   3.442   4.384   159   21.7   1:13 (180, 32)  
Mar.  7  11 39.59   23 22.0   3.443   4.392   160   21.7   0:42 (180, 32)  

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