Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Jan. 30: North)

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Updated on February 22, 2010
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.
Azimuth indicates 0 for south, 90 for west, 180 for north, 270 for east.

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* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is so bright as 9.5 mag (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps as bright as 9-10 mag for a long time until spring. It will be observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps visible visually for one year until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  14 37.75   37 53.8   2.194   2.599   102    9.5   5:33 (242, 84)  
Feb.  6  14 48.14   40 57.8   2.195   2.639   105    9.6   5:29 (207, 83)  

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is so bright as 9.7 mag (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable bright as 9-10 mag in a good condition for a long time until spring. It keeps observable until autumn when it fades down to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  13 10.68   -4 47.6   0.967   1.615   111    9.9   4:35 (  0, 50)  
Feb.  6  13 23.66   -5 34.3   0.913   1.607   115    9.8   4:20 (  0, 49)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in summer (Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 10.2 mag (Dec. 11, Carlos Labordena). Now it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in late February, then it keeps observable for a long time. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it is only observable in the low sky in spring, then it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  19 56.01  -20 47.1   4.657   3.704    12   10.8   5:33 (289, -9)  
Feb.  6  20  0.11  -21 24.5   4.656   3.739    19   10.9   5:29 (292, -6)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

Appearing in the morning sky, brighter than expected. Now it is 11.9 mag (Jan. 28, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach up to 8 mag and to be observable in good condition in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  18 17.41  -19 12.2   2.610   1.902    35   11.5   5:33 (302, 10)  
Feb.  6  18 26.13  -16 37.3   2.466   1.841    41   11.2   5:29 (303, 14)  

* C/2009 O2 ( Catalina )

Appearing in the morning sky, brighter than expected. Now it is 13.0 mag (Jan. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten rapidly after this, and will be bright as 8 mag in the northern sky in March and April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in the low sky after the perihelion passage only.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  19 48.97    6  7.0   2.020   1.242    28   12.7   5:33 (268,  8)  
Feb.  6  19 58.82    8 55.9   1.860   1.142    31   12.0   5:29 (267, 12)  

* 88P/Howell

It reached up to 8.4 mag in October (Oct. 20, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 10.5 mag still now (Jan. 11, Carlos Labordena). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the low sky until February when it fades down to 13.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  23  6.49   -8 28.2   2.505   1.785    34   12.4  18:52 ( 69, 14)  
Feb.  6  23 23.64   -6 32.3   2.586   1.829    32   12.7  18:59 ( 73, 12)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is bright as 11.5 mag (Jan. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   5 42.38   12 55.0   1.176   1.996   134   12.4  21:04 (  0, 68)  
Feb.  6   5 44.89   13 53.6   1.233   2.003   128   12.6  20:39 (  0, 69)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outbursts occured repeatedly since September, and it keeps visible visually. It is bright as 12.0 mag still now (Dec. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   9 40.68   12  7.6   5.229   6.191   166   13.5   1:06 (  0, 67)  
Feb.  6   9 37.45   12 18.1   5.210   6.192   174   13.5   0:35 (  0, 67)  

* 65P/Gunn

Appearing in the morining sky. It will brighten up to 12-13 mag in summer. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  18  1.94  -24 28.8   3.128   2.448    39   13.9   5:33 (308,  9)  
Feb.  6  18 16.37  -24 44.5   3.068   2.445    43   13.9   5:29 (310, 10)  

* 126P/IRAS

Now it is 15.6 mag (Dec. 6, A. Maury, J. B. de Vanssay, F. Mallia, F. Kugel). It will be 14 mag from winter to spring in 2010. But the condition is bad. Now it is not observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky at 15 mag in late May, then it keeps observable while fading gradually after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  22 31.12  -17 52.5   2.583   1.733    24   14.1  18:52 ( 67,  2)  
Feb.  6  22 44.86  -14 27.1   2.606   1.723    21   14.1  18:59 ( 73,  0)  

* 169P/NEAT

It became very bright and observed visually as 9.2 mag (Nov. 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez) and 11.6 mag (Dec. 7, Chris Wyatt) until around the perihelion passage. In January, it approached to the earth down to 0.2 A.U. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the excellent condition. But it is fading rapidly now. Now it is 15.0 mag (Jan. 26, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   9  8.13  -22  0.0   0.275   1.208   139   14.3   0:34 (  0, 32)  
Feb.  6   8 54.17  -11 52.0   0.340   1.296   151   14.6  23:47 (  0, 44)  

* 217P/2009 F3 ( LINEAR )

An outburst occured on Oct. 13, and it reached up to 8.5 mag on Oct. 15 (Toru Yusa). The central nucleus shined like a bright star, and the dust coma looked like 17P/Holmes in outburst. However, the comet returned to the normal state within a few days. Now it is 13.0 mag (Jan. 15, Carlos Labordena). It will be too faint to see visually soon. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time until spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   5 32.37   15 15.1   1.283   2.082   132   14.3  20:54 (  0, 70)  
Feb.  6   5 35.05   16 27.6   1.399   2.140   126   14.7  20:29 (  0, 72)  

* C/2009 U3 ( Hill )

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (Jan. 16, Michael Jager). Very faint large coma is visible in the excellent condition. However, the central nuclear is so faint as 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   0 51.26   44 43.1   1.356   1.579    83   14.6  18:52 (120, 58)  
Feb.  6   0 52.00   46 58.6   1.384   1.538    78   14.5  18:59 (124, 52)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It brightened up to 11 mag in spring and summer in 2009. Appearing in the morninig sky again. It keeps observable after this until autumn when it becomes fainter than 18 mag while fading gradually. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  18  5.77  -25 47.8   3.247   2.552    38   14.8   5:33 (309,  7)  
Feb.  6  18 18.88  -25 49.9   3.211   2.576    42   14.8   5:29 (310,  9)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 13.4 mag, already visible visually (Dec. 24, Marco Goiato). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter and spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   4 50.78   17 39.1   1.290   2.009   123   15.0  20:13 (  0, 73)  
Feb.  6   4 54.01   18 31.3   1.333   1.989   117   15.0  19:49 (  0, 74)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

It had been brightening as expected until Dec. 29 when it was 16.4 mag (Ken-ichi Kadota). However, it was reported bright as 14.2 mag on Jan. 3 (W. Hasubick). Maybe an outburst. The condition of this apparition is bad. It will reach up to 11-12 mag from spring to autumn in 2010, but it is not observable. It will be too low to observe soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  22 31.35    2 51.1   2.859   2.097    32   15.2  18:52 ( 83, 14)  
Feb.  6  22 45.16    3 52.5   2.851   2.048    29   15.1  18:59 ( 87, 11)  

* C/2009 R1 ( McNaught )

It will approach to the sun down to 0.4 A.U. in July, and it is expected to reach up to 4 mag. It keeps unobservable for a while. It will appear in the morning sky at 12 mag in April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  21 28.25  -18 28.0   3.776   2.809     9   15.4  18:52 ( 75,-11)  
Feb.  6  21 35.15  -17 15.4   3.696   2.714     4   15.2  18:59 ( 80,-15)  

* 94P/Russell 4

Now it is 17.1 mag (Jan. 24, Yasukazu Ikari). It was expected to be observable at 15 mag in good condition from winter to spring. But actually, it is much fainter than expected.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  10 38.72   19 20.8   1.350   2.277   154   15.4   2:04 (  0, 74)  
Feb.  6  10 35.66   20  2.0   1.314   2.269   160   15.3   1:33 (  0, 75)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightned up to 10 mag from late 2008 to early 2009. Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 16.2 mag (Dec. 30, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition at 16 mag for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  10 10.86    3 13.3   4.623   5.532   155   15.4   1:36 (  0, 58)  
Feb.  6  10  6.84    3 14.2   4.638   5.587   162   15.5   1:04 (  0, 58)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was observed as 15-16 mag in early 2009. In 2010, it will be observable at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  13 55.96   -4 51.6   3.293   3.614   101   15.7   5:20 (  0, 50)  
Feb.  6  13 58.43   -4 56.2   3.197   3.619   107   15.7   4:55 (  0, 50)  

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Jan. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota), a bit fainter than this ephemeris. It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  15 34.63   22 28.1   2.961   3.067    86   15.7   5:33 (298, 67)  
Feb.  6  15 29.10   23 15.7   2.874   3.097    93   15.7   5:29 (310, 73)  

* P/2009 T2 ( La Sagra )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is 14.8 mag and visible visually (Dec. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   3  4.53   -7 46.0   1.444   1.766    91   15.7  18:52 (  9, 47)  
Feb.  6   3 18.45   -7 23.7   1.508   1.776    88   15.9  18:59 ( 16, 46)  

* P/2009 Q4 ( Boattini )

It brightened much faster than expected. It became very bright visually at 11.8 mag in December (Dec. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). But it is fading rapidly now. It has already faded down to 15.2 mag (Jan. 10, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition for a long time. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in late February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  10 40.53   14 49.0   0.594   1.539   153   15.9   2:05 (  0, 70)  
Feb.  6  10 37.94   17  8.7   0.613   1.578   160   16.4   1:35 (  0, 72)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in 2008 summer (Aug. 4, Marco Goiato). Now it is 15.8 mag (Dec. 18, A. Novichonok, A. Smirnov, S. Plaksa). It keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it became observable again also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will keep 15-16 mag until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   4 40.37  -31 42.1   4.749   5.055   102   15.9  20:02 (  0, 23)  
Feb.  6   4 37.75  -30  2.1   4.866   5.107    98   16.0  19:32 (  0, 25)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 16, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 15 mag for a long time in 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  17 19.19   13 20.3   5.326   4.915    60   16.0   5:33 (285, 42)  
Feb.  6  17 25.30   14 24.1   5.230   4.893    64   16.0   5:29 (287, 46)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 13 mag and observed visually from 2007 to 2009. Due to the far distance, it is bright as 14.9 mag still now (Jan. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in good condition again until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  13 18.09   36 47.6   7.150   7.669   118   16.1   4:42 (180, 88)  
Feb.  6  13 14.22   37 39.9   7.109   7.701   123   16.1   4:11 (180, 87)  

* 157P/Tritton

It brightened up to 11 mag in outburst in 2003. However, it does not seem to be so bright in this apparition. Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in good condition in winter. But it seems to brighten only up to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   1 34.23   16 33.3   1.194   1.382    78   16.1  18:52 ( 62, 58)  
Feb.  6   1 55.82   17 47.1   1.214   1.370    76   16.1  18:59 ( 67, 57)  

* C/2008 Q3 ( Garradd )

It brightened up to 6.7 mag in June (June 9, Marco Goiato). Now it is 15.2 mag (Jan. 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). A bit brighter than this ephemeris. It will be fading after this, and keeps observable until spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  13 19.39   40 14.7   2.616   3.203   118   16.2   4:44 (180, 85)  
Feb.  6  13  8.36   43 42.3   2.610   3.266   124   16.4   4:05 (180, 81)  

* C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )

It passed near by the earth in late February in 2009, and it reached up to 4.9 mag (Feb. 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 16.2 mag (Dec. 22, R. Garcia). It will be low in the evening sky at 17-18 mag in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   4 41.03   20 22.8   4.300   4.889   121   16.2  20:02 (  0, 75)  
Feb.  6   4 36.42   20 16.5   4.480   4.956   113   16.4  19:30 (  0, 75)  

* P/2010 A5 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 16, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be bright as 14-15 mag in spring. It keeps observable for a long time until September when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  13 56.29  -19 32.6   1.533   1.905    95   16.7   5:20 (  0, 35)  
Feb.  6  14 10.01  -21  6.3   1.442   1.875    99   16.5   5:06 (  0, 34)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Dec. 18, Ken-ichi Kadota). This comet tends to brighten after the perihelion passage. It will be observable at 16 mag in 2010 and 2011. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   4 21.07   23 11.0   2.605   3.183   117   16.9  19:43 (  0, 78)  
Feb.  6   4 23.31   23  8.2   2.694   3.182   110   17.0  19:18 (  0, 78)  

* P/2010 A3 ( Hill )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Jan. 16, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition for a while. It will be fainter than 18 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   2  8.96   14 10.7   1.567   1.778    85   17.0  18:52 ( 46, 62)  
Feb.  6   2 20.05   16 11.1   1.602   1.747    81   16.9  18:59 ( 58, 60)  

* 230P/2009 U6 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Jan. 19, W. Hasubick). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  11  9.12   20 46.0   1.363   2.254   146   17.4   2:34 (  0, 76)  
Feb.  6  11  4.13   22 16.5   1.371   2.298   154   17.5   2:01 (  0, 77)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Jan. 24, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 17 mag until spring. It will reach up to 14 mag and will be observable in good condition in the next winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   7 26.73   72 39.6   3.999   4.620   123   17.5  22:46 (180, 52)  
Feb.  6   7  1.36   71 27.9   3.990   4.573   120   17.4  21:54 (180, 54)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 18.0 mag (Dec. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2010 to 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   2 17.55   17 11.7   8.529   8.552    88   17.5  18:52 ( 47, 66)  
Feb.  6   2 16.30   17  9.3   8.642   8.537    80   17.5  18:59 ( 60, 60)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

Fading slowly. Now it is 17.8 mag (Jan. 24, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition until February when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   9 49.66    8  7.8   1.841   2.796   162   17.5   1:15 (  0, 63)  
Feb.  6   9 42.35    8 26.7   1.871   2.848   170   17.7   0:40 (  0, 63)  

* 232P/2009 W1 ( Hill )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 8, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   9 53.18   35  9.8   2.128   3.062   157   17.8   1:18 (180, 90)  
Feb.  6   9 48.06   35 43.0   2.130   3.071   158   17.8   0:46 (180, 89)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 18.4 mag (Jan. 13, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in early 2010 and early 2011.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   5 16.35   20 54.5   2.846   3.560   129   17.8  20:38 (  0, 76)  
Feb.  6   5 15.60   21  3.2   2.922   3.552   122   17.8  20:10 (  0, 76)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )

New periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2004 and 2005. It should be observable at 18 mag also around the aphelion. However, no observations have been reported since 2008 January. It seems to have faded out rapidly. Now it is fainter than 20.4 mag actually (Sept. 16, Leonid Elenin).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   6 25.61   31  4.4   4.108   4.947   144   20.0  21:47 (  0, 86)  
Feb.  6   6 22.20   31  8.5   4.168   4.938   137   20.0  21:16 (  0, 86)  

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