Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Mar. 20: North)

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Updated on March 21, 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/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

Now it is so bright as 9.1 mag (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Mar. 20  19 19.61   10 32.8   1.568   1.539    69    9.1   4:40 (292, 44)  
Mar. 27  19 29.57   18 19.5   1.449   1.504    73    8.8   4:29 (284, 50)  

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is so bright as 9.2 mag (Mar. 19, Marco Goiato). 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)  
Mar. 20  14 12.63   -6 38.3   0.696   1.618   145    9.5   2:24 (  0, 48)  
Mar. 27  14 14.47   -6 17.8   0.681   1.630   151    9.5   1:58 (  0, 49)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

It brightened up to 9.5 mag on Jan. 13 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is still bright as 11.4 mag (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it is fading more rapidly than expected. It will be observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps visible visually until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  15 23.31   57  7.1   2.407   2.903   110   10.2   3:34 (180, 68)  
Mar. 27  15 23.24   59  2.4   2.470   2.950   109   10.4   3:07 (180, 66)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in last summer (Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 11.2 mag (Mar. 13, Marco Goiato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. 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)  
Mar. 20  20 18.50  -25 44.0   4.395   3.964    58   11.2   4:40 (310,  9)  
Mar. 27  20 19.90  -26 39.1   4.319   4.004    65   11.2   4:29 (313, 10)  

* C/2009 O2 ( Catalina )

It is not brightening at all after it appeared in the morning sky in late January. Now it is still 12.8 mag (Mar. 12, Hidetaka Sato). Hidetaka Sato reported that there was no condensation and it was very diffuse on Mar. 12. This comet seems to disintegrate. However, it was reported so bright as 9.8 mag visually (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be too low in early May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it becomes observable in mid April, after the perihelion passage, but it keeps locating low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  23 31.02   43  7.4   0.844   0.701    43   12.4   4:40 (227, 14)  
Mar. 27   1 26.62   43 54.2   0.810   0.697    43   12.3  19:41 (131, 19)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  22 22.93   -8  8.5   2.977   2.113    24   13.6   4:40 (278, -3)  
Mar. 27  22 32.11   -6  9.2   2.823   2.007    28   13.3   4:29 (277, -1)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 14.6 mag (Feb. 6, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Mar. 20  19 37.87  -25  8.5   2.651   2.443    67   13.6   4:40 (316, 15)  
Mar. 27  19 50.11  -25  5.6   2.575   2.445    71   13.5   4:29 (317, 16)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Great outburst up to 11 mag occured on Feb. 2. Now it is still bright as 11.7 mag (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   9 20.04   13 15.8   5.413   6.200   139   13.6  21:28 (  0, 68)  
Mar. 27   9 18.31   13 20.9   5.493   6.202   131   13.6  20:59 (  0, 68)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

It brightened up to 15.5 mag in January (Jan. 31, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It is not observable now. 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   0 19.54   11 25.8   2.721   1.765    13   13.9  19:35 (109, -6)  
Mar. 27   0 37.41   12 49.5   2.689   1.721    11   13.7  19:41 (113, -9)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Now it is 17.8 mag (Feb. 17, Hidetaka Sato). It will be getting brighter rapidly in the morning sky. It keeps observable bright as 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)  
Mar. 20  18 48.76  -13 24.7   1.720   1.788    77   14.6   4:40 (319, 31)  
Mar. 27  19  6.95  -13  7.5   1.626   1.749    79   14.2   4:29 (319, 31)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in January (Jan. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is still bright as 13.1 mag (Mar. 13, Carlos Labordena). 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)  
Mar. 20   6 29.87   18 35.9   1.688   2.075    97   14.2  19:35 ( 41, 69)  
Mar. 27   6 41.04   19  3.3   1.776   2.091    93   14.5  19:41 ( 53, 66)  

* 126P/IRAS

It was observed as 15.6 mag at the end of last year (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)  
Mar. 20   0  3.66    5 54.2   2.721   1.736     6   14.3  19:35 (107,-13)  
Mar. 27   0 16.66    9 13.2   2.736   1.750     6   14.3   4:29 (249,-13)  

* 88P/Howell

It reached up to 8.4 mag in October (Oct. 20, Marco Goiato). It has faded down to 14.4 mag in February (Feb. 28, Ken-ichi Kadota), and it became unobservable. It will not be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   0 55.55    4  2.8   3.047   2.103    15   15.0  19:35 ( 98, -4)  
Mar. 27   1  9.47    5 35.4   3.114   2.149    12   15.3  19:41 (102, -7)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  19 26.40  -25  8.3   2.903   2.723    69   15.1   4:40 (319, 17)  
Mar. 27  19 35.34  -24 57.6   2.839   2.748    74   15.2   4:29 (320, 18)  

* 94P/Russell 4

Now it is 15.6 mag (Mar. 17, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It was expected to be observable at 15 mag in good condition from winter to spring. But actually, it had been much fainter than expected until January. However, it is brightening very rapidly in February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  10  9.82   22 23.0   1.346   2.241   145   15.2  22:18 (  0, 77)  
Mar. 27  10  7.93   22 11.4   1.390   2.240   138   15.2  21:49 (  0, 77)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 13.3 mag, already visible visually (Feb. 3, 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)  
Mar. 20   5 48.14   23 15.3   1.655   1.903    88   15.2  19:35 ( 68, 66)  
Mar. 27   6  1.75   23 47.4   1.713   1.896    84   15.3  19:41 ( 74, 62)  

* P/2010 A5 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 14.5 mag (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Mar. 20  15 27.65  -28 41.3   0.997   1.742   121   15.4   3:39 (  0, 26)  
Mar. 27  15 38.32  -29 30.2   0.941   1.730   126   15.2   3:22 (  0, 25)  

* C/2009 U3 ( Hill )

Now it is 14.9 mag (Feb. 20, Ken-ichi Kadota). It has a very faint large coma. It was observed so bright as 13.5 mag in January (Jan. 16, Michael Jager).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   1 52.20   64 46.1   1.436   1.414    68   15.3  19:35 (150, 34)  
Mar. 27   2 20.00   68 19.9   1.429   1.418    68   15.3  19:41 (154, 34)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It will be observable at 12-13 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. It is getting higher gradually after this. In 2010, it is observable at 14 mag in good condition from spring to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  21 56.57    0  5.7   8.399   7.553    30   15.4   4:40 (275,  7)  
Mar. 27  21 57.85    0 20.1   8.301   7.518    36   15.4   4:29 (277, 10)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 14, E. Bryssinck, S. Farmer, Jr., P. Camilleri, S. Plaksa). 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)  
Mar. 20  13 55.18   -3 55.3   2.750   3.647   150   15.4   2:07 (  0, 51)  
Mar. 27  13 51.83   -3 34.6   2.710   3.652   157   15.4   1:36 (  0, 51)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 20, S. Plaksa, E. Bryssinck). 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)  
Mar. 20  17 54.73   22 38.3   4.658   4.773    90   15.6   4:40 (298, 68)  
Mar. 27  17 57.97   24 15.7   4.571   4.755    94   15.6   4:29 (300, 71)  

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Feb. 18, 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)  
Mar. 20  14 16.94   28 45.3   2.511   3.301   136   15.7   2:29 (  0, 84)  
Mar. 27  13 58.92   29 12.1   2.505   3.339   140   15.7   1:44 (  0, 84)  

* 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 15.8 mag (Feb. 16, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Mar. 20   9 44.52    3 49.6   5.053   5.911   146   15.9  21:53 (  0, 59)  
Mar. 27   9 42.03    3 55.6   5.171   5.964   139   16.0  21:23 (  0, 59)  

* 157P/Tritton

Now it is 15.4 mag (Feb. 14, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It brightened up to 11 mag in outburst in 2003. However, it does not seem to be so bright in this apparition. It seems to be 16 mag at best.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   4 25.39   22 56.6   1.394   1.396    69   16.0  19:35 ( 85, 49)  
Mar. 27   4 51.81   23  7.5   1.439   1.415    68   16.1  19:41 ( 87, 48)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  12 39.41   42  0.3   7.136   7.896   137   16.2   0:51 (180, 83)  
Mar. 27  12 32.49   42 25.5   7.191   7.929   135   16.3   0:17 (180, 83)  

* C/2008 Q3 ( Garradd )

It brightened up to 6.7 mag in 2009 June (June 9, Marco Goiato). Now it is 16.0 mag (Mar. 9, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
Mar. 20  11 13.27   57 10.8   3.013   3.646   122   16.6  23:20 (180, 68)  
Mar. 27  10 52.62   57 37.0   3.144   3.710   117   16.9  22:32 (180, 67)  

* 217P/2009 F3 ( LINEAR )

It reached up to 8.5 mag on Oct. 15 (Toru Yusa). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Feb. 20, P. Bacci). 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)  
Mar. 20   6 12.72   21  5.6   2.208   2.482    93   16.8  19:35 ( 54, 69)  
Mar. 27   6 21.33   21 30.2   2.353   2.538    88   17.1  19:41 ( 65, 65)  

* P/2010 A3 ( Hill )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Feb. 13, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Mar. 20   3 55.68   27 40.1   1.807   1.631    63   16.9  19:35 ( 96, 45)  
Mar. 27   4 16.14   29 13.3   1.843   1.624    61   16.9  19:41 ( 99, 43)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Jan. 31, 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)  
Mar. 20   5 56.05   60 26.4   4.171   4.291    90   17.2  19:35 (157, 61)  
Mar. 27   5 54.96   58 32.1   4.225   4.245    84   17.2  19:41 (148, 59)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 23, 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)  
Mar. 20   4 56.12   23 30.4   3.276   3.189    76   17.2  19:35 ( 81, 56)  
Mar. 27   5  4.13   23 36.3   3.372   3.192    71   17.2  19:41 ( 85, 50)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition for a long time in 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  23  3.35   70 46.2   5.072   4.852    71   17.4   4:40 (202, 30)  
Mar. 27  23  7.89   71 28.4   5.097   4.849    70   17.4   4:29 (202, 31)  

* 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. But it is fading rapidly now. Now it is 17.3 mag (Mar. 11, 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)  
Mar. 20   8 47.19   10 13.6   0.960   1.786   131   17.6  20:56 (  0, 65)  
Mar. 27   8 51.96   11 14.8   1.091   1.861   125   18.0  20:33 (  0, 66)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 17, Hidetaka Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  18 54.48   33 58.0   6.532   6.405    78   17.9   4:40 (261, 60)  
Mar. 27  18 56.98   34 55.1   6.527   6.455    81   17.9   4:29 (261, 63)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Mar. 6, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It will reach up to 15 mag and will be observable in good condition from autum to winter in 2010. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time while it is brightening gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  10 41.71   70 56.0   3.668   4.092   108   17.9  22:48 (180, 54)  
Mar. 27  10 20.94   71 41.4   3.691   4.040   103   17.9  22:00 (180, 53)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   6 18.25   31  3.7   4.700   4.885    94   20.2  19:35 ( 79, 75)  
Mar. 27   6 20.36   31  0.5   4.801   4.875    88   20.3  19:41 ( 86, 69)  

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