Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Apr. 17: South)

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Updated on April 18, 2010
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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/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

Now it is so bright as 7.9 mag (Apr. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable at 8-9 mag in good condition from April to May. After that, it keeps observable for a long time until when it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere, although it will be low in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  20  8.19   48  5.4   1.265   1.435    77    8.2   5:00 (195,  5)  
Apr. 24  20 28.45   58 41.9   1.278   1.425    76    8.2   5:05 (190, -5)  

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is so bright as 9.2 mag (Mar. 20, Marco Goiato). It will be fading gradually after late May. But it keeps observable in a good condition for a long time. 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)  
Apr. 17  14 11.03   -5  6.5   0.685   1.683   170    9.9   0:33 (180, 60)  
Apr. 24  14  8.36   -4 50.3   0.704   1.705   172   10.0   0:02 (180, 60)  

* C/2009 R1 ( McNaught )

It has been unobservable for a while, but now it is appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 10.2 mag, much brighter than expected (Apr. 17, Marco Goiato). It will approach to the sun down to 0.4 A.U. in July, and it is expected to reach up to 2-3 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  23  3.24    1 16.3   2.318   1.675    39   11.0   5:00 (255, 19)  
Apr. 24  23 15.51    4 27.2   2.140   1.559    42   10.5   5:05 (249, 21)  

* 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 11.7 mag (Apr. 17, 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)  
Apr. 17  20 19.61  -29 56.4   4.062   4.126    86   11.3   5:00 (263, 68)  
Apr. 24  20 17.68  -31 13.9   3.975   4.167    93   11.3   5:05 (259, 76)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

It brightened up to 9.5 mag on Jan. 13 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading rapidly. But it is still bright as 11.9 mag (Apr. 10, Carlos Labordena). It will be observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps visible visually until summer. In mid March, the nuclear fragmentation was observed.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  15 12.80   62 57.8   2.690   3.099   104   12.0   1:34 (180, -8)  
Apr. 24  15  6.82   63 37.6   2.771   3.150   102   12.2   1:00 (180, -9)  

* C/2010 F4 ( Machholz )

Bright new comet discovered at 11 mag in the extremely low sky at dawn. Now it is 10.7 mag (Mar. 27, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was observed only about one week. It will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   2  4.04   25 13.2   1.562   0.658    16   12.2  18:58 (107,-20)  
Apr. 24   2 35.98   21  8.6   1.685   0.725    11   12.7  18:50 (105,-16)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Now it is 15.9 mag (Apr. 9, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). 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)  
Apr. 17  20  3.72  -11 47.1   1.364   1.639    86   12.8   5:00 (224, 60)  
Apr. 24  20 23.41  -11 12.8   1.285   1.606    88   12.3   5:05 (218, 61)  

* P/2010 H2

Bright new comet discovered as a bright stellar object of 12.5 mag on Apr. 16. It was not detected, fainter than 20 mag, on the previous day (Apr. 15, Catalina Sky Survey). It was discovered just after the sudden outburst. It keeps observable good condition for a while. The coma will be expanding rapidly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  13 38.68    4 46.5   2.094   3.075   164   12.5   0:00 (180, 50)  
Apr. 24  13 33.48    4 47.6   2.106   3.073   160   12.5  23:23 (180, 50)  

* C/2009 O2 ( Catalina )

It became very diffuse with no condensation on Mar. 12 (Hidetaka Sato). This comet seems to disintegrate. Only very faint remnant like a ghost is detected now. However, it is still reported so bright as 10.7 mag visually (Apr. 16, Marco Goiato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be too low in early May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this, but it keeps locating low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   4 42.32   20 11.1   1.162   0.843    45   12.7  18:58 (125, 12)  
Apr. 24   5  5.47   14  2.7   1.339   0.927    43   12.8  18:50 (121, 16)  

* 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, but it is not observable.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   1 35.33   16 54.4   2.589   1.597     6   13.0   5:00 (263,-21)  
Apr. 24   1 56.24   18 10.5   2.556   1.559     5   12.8   5:05 (261,-19)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is visible visually at 13.4 mag (Mar. 25, Chris Wyatt). 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)  
Apr. 17  20 23.44  -24 58.6   2.340   2.457    84   13.3   5:00 (253, 65)  
Apr. 24  20 33.19  -24 59.6   2.262   2.462    89   13.3   5:05 (246, 70)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Great outburst up to 11 mag occured on Feb. 2. Now it is still bright as 11.7 mag (Apr. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Another new minor outburst occured up to 12.7 mag on Apr. 16 (Albert Sanchez Caso).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   9 16.13   13 23.8   5.781   6.205   110   13.8  19:34 (180, 42)  
Apr. 24   9 16.44   13 20.4   5.889   6.207   103   13.8  19:07 (180, 42)  

* C/2010 G1 ( Boattini )

Bright new comet. Now it is 13.2 mag (Apr. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will become low in the evening sky very rapidly, and it will not be observable in early May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   4 44.78   19 41.1   1.696   1.226    45   14.5  18:58 (125, 12)  
Apr. 24   5  2.66   15 25.7   1.781   1.251    43   14.7  18:50 (121, 15)  

* 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)  
Apr. 17   0 56.38   18 57.5   2.770   1.809    13   14.6   5:00 (256,-14)  
Apr. 24   1 10.02   22  7.0   2.779   1.835    16   14.7   5:05 (251,-12)  

* 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)  
Apr. 17  16  2.36  -30 52.4   0.811   1.712   140   14.9   2:23 (180, 86)  
Apr. 24  16  7.15  -30 55.5   0.781   1.712   146   14.8   2:01 (180, 86)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

Not observed in this apparition yet. The condition of this apparition is very bad. It locates in the extremely low sky at dawn only. It will be unobservable after May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  23 37.51    5 36.2   1.763   1.032    30   15.6   5:00 (256,  9)  
Apr. 24   0  9.69    8 50.1   1.715   0.962    28   14.9   5:05 (254,  8)  

* 104P/Kowal 2

The condition of this apparition is very bad. It will go away without any observations.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   2 47.63   15 47.5   2.119   1.200    17   15.1  18:58 (104, -7)  
Apr. 24   3 14.89   16 60.0   2.109   1.187    17   15.1  18:50 (106, -6)  

* 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)  
Apr. 17  19 57.12  -24 31.3   2.636   2.825    90   15.3   5:00 (243, 70)  
Apr. 24  20  2.48  -24 26.4   2.566   2.850    95   15.3   5:05 (229, 75)  

* P/2010 A3 ( Hill )

It became bright more rapidly than expected. Now it is 14.8 mag (Apr. 6, Catalina Sky Survey). It will be visible visually. It keeps 15 mag for a while. But it will be getting lower gradually in the evening sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   5 23.66   32 38.3   1.961   1.629    56   15.3  18:58 (140,  8)  
Apr. 24   5 47.69   33 16.6   2.005   1.639    54   15.3  18:50 (141,  8)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 20, S. Plaksa, E. Bryssinck). It is also visible visually at 14.5 mag (Apr. 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Apr. 17  18  3.92   29 19.2   4.344   4.705   105   15.4   4:24 (180, 26)  
Apr. 24  18  4.52   31  0.2   4.281   4.689   107   15.4   3:58 (180, 24)  

* C/2009 U3 ( Hill )

Now it is 15.1 mag (Apr. 3, 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)  
Apr. 17   5 30.50   76 26.1   1.412   1.469    72   15.4  18:58 (169,-25)  
Apr. 24   7 12.22   75 54.8   1.414   1.499    74   15.5  18:50 (174,-22)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.3 mag (Mar. 26, P. Concari, S. Foglia, G. Galli, M. Tombelli). 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)  
Apr. 17  13 39.24   -2 31.8   2.672   3.669   172   15.4   0:01 (180, 58)  
Apr. 24  13 34.83   -2 14.4   2.688   3.675   167   15.5  23:24 (180, 57)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Apr. 11, John Drummond). It keeps bright as 14-15 mag for a long time after this until 2013. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  15 38.09  -46  9.5   6.305   7.063   136   15.5   2:00 (  0, 79)  
Apr. 24  15 32.58  -46 43.0   6.219   7.033   141   15.4   1:27 (  0, 78)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

It became visible visually at 13.3 mag in winter (Feb. 3, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading slowly. It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this. It will be too low to observe in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   6 47.67   24 40.2   1.893   1.884    74   15.5  18:58 (152, 25)  
Apr. 24   7  4.23   24 41.3   1.954   1.884    71   15.5  18:50 (152, 25)  

* 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)  
Apr. 17  10 10.67   20 38.2   1.565   2.244   120   15.5  20:29 (180, 34)  
Apr. 24  10 14.29   19 50.9   1.635   2.247   114   15.6  20:05 (180, 35)  

* 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). It will be getting fainter and lower rapidly after this. It will be unobservable in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   7 18.04   19 44.8   2.051   2.147    81   15.7  18:58 (158, 32)  
Apr. 24   7 31.17   19 44.9   2.145   2.168    77   15.9  18:50 (156, 31)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Brightening more slowly than expected. It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. It is getting higher gradually after this. In 2010, it is observable at 15-16 mag in good condition from spring to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  22  0.29    1  3.1   7.939   7.412    55   16.0   5:00 (244, 31)  
Apr. 24  22  0.52    1 16.7   7.801   7.377    61   16.0   5:05 (236, 36)  

* 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 14.8 mag still now (Apr. 7, E. Bryssinck, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov, L. Elenin). It will be observable in good condition again until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  12 12.33   43  0.1   7.435   8.027   123   16.4  22:30 (180, 12)  
Apr. 24  12  6.22   42 58.6   7.539   8.061   118   16.5  21:56 (180, 12)  

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 4, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition for a while, but it will be fading after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  13  4.00   28 36.4   2.625   3.456   140   16.6  23:20 (180, 27)  
Apr. 24  12 47.64   27 47.5   2.709   3.497   135   16.7  22:36 (180, 27)  

* 157P/Tritton

It reached up to 15.1 mag on Mar. 10 (Hidetaka Sato). It brightened up to 11 mag in outburst in 2003. However, it did not become so bright in this apparition. Now it is 16.5 mag (Apr. 9, Hidetaka Sato). It will be getting lower and fainter rapidly after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   6  8.94   22 17.8   1.606   1.497    65   16.6  18:58 (143, 23)  
Apr. 24   6 33.34   21 36.2   1.672   1.530    64   16.8  18:50 (143, 24)  

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightned up to 10 mag from late 2008 to early 2009. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.9 mag (Mar. 13, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fainter than 18 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17   9 37.75    4  5.1   5.587   6.125   118   17.2  19:56 (180, 51)  
Apr. 24   9 37.40    4  4.7   5.741   6.179   111   17.3  19:28 (180, 51)  

* C/2009 F2 ( McNaught )

It was observed at 17.5 mag in 2009 spring. It will be observable at 17.5 mag again in 2010 spring. However, it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  13 38.46  -20  0.7   4.982   5.974   170   17.2   0:00 (180, 75)  
Apr. 24  13 35.69  -19  1.5   4.989   5.983   170   17.3  23:25 (180, 74)  

* 213P/2009 B3 ( Van Ness )

It brightened up to 13 mag in major outburst in 2005. It was recovered at 20.7 mag in 2009 January. However, no observations have been reported after 2009 April. The current brightness is quite uncertain.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  13  9.76  -22 25.2   2.392   3.375   165   17.3  23:27 (180, 77)  
Apr. 24  13  4.02  -21 55.6   2.376   3.350   162   17.3  22:54 (180, 77)  

* C/2009 K2 ( Catalina )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Mar. 21, Hidetaka Sato). It will reach up to 17 mag in spring and summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  20 52.05   -2 50.9   3.469   3.311    72   17.4   5:00 (231, 46)  
Apr. 24  20 56.92   -3 31.6   3.380   3.325    78   17.4   5:05 (224, 50)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  19  1.03   37 45.6   6.511   6.607    91   17.4   5:00 (184, 17)  
Apr. 24  19  1.18   38 39.9   6.508   6.657    94   17.4   4:54 (180, 16)  

* 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)  
Apr. 17  23 18.80   74 20.0   5.145   4.843    67   17.4   5:00 (197,-28)  
Apr. 24  23 20.81   75 31.0   5.153   4.843    66   17.4   5:05 (194,-27)  

* C/2008 Q3 ( Garradd )

It brightened up to 6.7 mag in 2009 June (June 9, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.5 mag (Mar. 31, Hidetaka Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  10  5.45   56 49.0   3.601   3.900    99   17.6  20:23 (180, -2)  
Apr. 24   9 55.21   56  8.9   3.766   3.963    93   17.8  19:45 (180, -1)  

* 235P/2010 F2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition. However, it will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 17  11 28.60   -1 26.2   1.860   2.753   146   17.7  21:46 (180, 56)  
Apr. 24  11 27.60   -0 47.9   1.915   2.755   139   17.8  21:18 (180, 56)  

* 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)  
Apr. 17   6 30.63   30 48.6   5.096   4.846    70   20.4  18:58 (151, 18)  
Apr. 24   6 35.21   30 43.9   5.187   4.836    64   20.4  18:50 (148, 16)  

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