Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 May 15: North)

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Updated on May 19, 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 R1 ( McNaught )

It has been unobservable for a while, but now it is appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 9.1 mag, much brighter than originally expected (May 14, 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)  
May  15   0  5.02   17 40.5   1.611   1.193    47    8.5   3:18 (261, 19)  
May  22   0 29.99   23 50.5   1.451   1.064    47    7.6   3:11 (255, 21)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

Now it is so bright as 7.9 mag (May 5, 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)  
May  15   0 12.22   82 13.8   1.510   1.439    66    8.6   3:18 (190, 36)  
May  22   3 41.58   82 18.0   1.626   1.457    62    8.8   3:11 (187, 30)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Now it is 13.5 mag (Apr. 25, Chris Wyatt), already visible visually. It is 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)  
May  15  21 24.69   -9 18.9   1.076   1.519    93   11.1   3:18 (313, 32)  
May  22  21 45.74   -8 41.4   1.017   1.495    94   10.8   3:11 (312, 33)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It reached up to 9.2 mag in March (Mar. 20, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading, but still bright as 9.8 mag (May 3, Marco Goiato). 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)  
May  15  14  2.88   -4 56.4   0.816   1.785   155   10.8  22:30 (  0, 50)  
May  22  14  3.02   -5 18.3   0.871   1.816   149   11.1  22:03 (  0, 50)  

* 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. 25, 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)  
May  15  20  4.79  -35 39.9   3.739   4.294   117   11.4   3:18 (344, 17)  
May  22  19 57.80  -37 16.4   3.677   4.337   124   11.5   3:11 (350, 17)  

* P/2010 H2 ( Vales )

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 is bright as 11.7 mag still now (May 2, Seiichi Yoshida). The coma is expanding up to 2 arcmin.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)  
May  15  13 20.57    4 10.0   2.270   3.125   141   12.0  21:48 (  0, 59)  
May  22  13 17.76    3 43.6   2.332   3.128   134   12.1  21:18 (  0, 59)  

* 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)  
May  15   3  3.78   21 18.6   2.462   1.460     5   12.3   3:18 (232,-12)  
May  22   3 27.80   22  2.2   2.435   1.434     6   12.1   3:11 (231,-13)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

Chris Wyatt reported it was visible visually at 11.3 mag on Apr. 25. But no other observations have been reported. The condition of this apparition is very bad. It will never be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   1 59.69   17 46.0   1.661   0.798    20   13.0   3:18 (245, -4)  
May  22   2 40.04   19 58.2   1.673   0.769    17   12.5   3:11 (241, -6)  

* 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 12.3 mag (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
May  15  14 47.80   63 47.6   3.025   3.306    97   12.8  23:14 (180, 61)  
May  22  14 42.58   63 18.9   3.112   3.359    95   13.0  22:42 (180, 62)  

* 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)  
May  15  20 57.39  -25 23.7   2.033   2.483   104   13.1   3:18 (328, 22)  
May  22  21  3.47  -25 41.4   1.962   2.491   109   13.0   3:11 (332, 24)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Great outburst up to 11 mag occured on Feb. 2. Another new minor outburst occured up to 12.7 mag on Apr. 16 (Albert Sanchez Caso). It is bright as 11.2 mag still now (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   9 20.34   12 57.3   6.225   6.210    84   13.9  20:34 ( 70, 47)  
May  22   9 22.54   12 45.4   6.336   6.212    78   14.0  20:42 ( 76, 40)  

* 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)  
May  15   3 42.45   10  7.9   1.998   1.014     9   14.6  20:34 (120,-22)  
May  22   3 59.41    6 57.7   2.082   1.122    13   15.1  20:42 (122,-27)  

* P/2010 A5 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 14.5 mag (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
May  15  16 12.40  -29 49.2   0.738   1.734   164   14.7   0:43 (  0, 25)  
May  22  16 12.07  -29  5.3   0.741   1.747   170   14.8   0:16 (  0, 26)  

* 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. It had been unobservable for a while, but it is getting observable in the morning sky now. Then it keeps observable while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   1 52.84   31 14.7   2.799   1.926    24   15.0   3:18 (236,  6)  
May  22   2  7.90   34  9.0   2.804   1.960    27   15.1   3:11 (234,  9)  

* 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)  
May  15   4 40.08   19 12.5   2.112   1.187    17   15.1  20:34 (118, -5)  
May  22   5  8.87   19 23.8   2.125   1.200    17   15.1  20:42 (119, -6)  

* 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)  
May  15  18  1.94   35 43.7   4.139   4.646   114   15.3   2:32 (180, 89)  
May  22  17 59.68   37  6.8   4.107   4.633   115   15.2   2:03 (180, 88)  

* 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)  
May  15  15 13.36  -47 55.8   6.043   6.942   150   15.3  23:40 (  0,  7)  
May  22  15  6.52  -48  9.8   6.013   6.912   150   15.3  23:06 (  0,  7)  

* P/2010 A3 ( Hill )

It became bright more rapidly than expected. Now it is 14.8 mag (Apr. 6, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
May  15   7  1.09   33 30.4   2.155   1.690    49   15.3  20:34 (112, 29)  
May  22   7 25.20   33  2.1   2.211   1.714    48   15.4  20:42 (113, 27)  

* C/2010 G1 ( Boattini )

Bright new comet. Now it is 13.2 mag (Apr. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable in the very low sky in the Southern Hemisphere. But it will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   5 47.83    4 20.5   2.030   1.373    37   15.4  20:34 ( 96, -1)  
May  22   6  1.23    1  3.9   2.106   1.426    36   15.7  20:42 ( 96, -8)  

* 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)  
May  15  13 23.66   -1 45.9   2.815   3.693   145   15.6  21:51 (  0, 53)  
May  22  13 21.11   -1 46.1   2.881   3.699   138   15.7  21:21 (  0, 53)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Jan. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
May  15  21 58.91    1 51.2   7.351   7.274    81   15.8   3:18 (296, 35)  
May  22  21 57.49    1 59.6   7.195   7.240    88   15.7   3:11 (300, 39)  

* 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)  
May  15   7 55.90   23 52.0   2.140   1.898    62   15.8  20:34 ( 96, 35)  
May  22   8 13.43   23 18.2   2.203   1.906    59   15.9  20:42 ( 98, 32)  

* 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)  
May  15  10 19.04   63 26.6   1.475   1.622    78   15.9  20:34 (158, 58)  
May  22  10 48.32   57 49.2   1.520   1.671    79   16.1  20:42 (149, 61)  

* 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)  
May  15  10 31.73   16 53.8   1.867   2.263    99   16.0  20:34 ( 55, 62)  
May  22  10 39.30   15 45.3   1.950   2.270    94   16.1  20:42 ( 62, 57)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in January (Jan. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 14.9 mag (Apr. 9, E. Bryssinck, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). 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)  
May  15   8 11.67   19  6.5   2.429   2.236    66   16.4  20:34 ( 89, 36)  
May  22   8 25.32   18 41.7   2.523   2.261    63   16.6  20:42 ( 91, 32)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It brightened up to 11 mag in spring and summer in 2009. Appearing in the morninig sky again. Now it is 16.7 mag (Apr. 23, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
May  15  20 12.00  -24 29.9   2.367   2.928   114   16.5   3:18 (338, 27)  
May  22  20 12.79  -24 38.0   2.308   2.954   120   16.5   3:11 (343, 28)  

* 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 getting lower in the evening sky after this, and it will be too low to observe in August. However, it will be observable in good condition again at 17.5 mag in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  11 50.96   42 21.7   7.901   8.161   101   16.6  20:34 (158, 82)  
May  22  11 47.05   42  1.0   8.033   8.194    95   16.7  20:42 (127, 77)  

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Apr. 17, Hiroshi Abe). 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)  
May  15  12  9.77   24 14.2   3.069   3.623   115   17.0  20:37 (  0, 79)  
May  22  12  1.03   22 52.1   3.215   3.666   108   17.2  20:42 ( 39, 75)  

* 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. Hidetaka Sato reported that it is so faint as 20.1 mag still now (May 5).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  12 49.93  -20 10.5   2.407   3.274   143   17.1  21:17 (  0, 35)  
May  22  12 46.91  -19 36.0   2.441   3.248   136   17.1  20:47 (  0, 35)  

* 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)  
May  15  21  7.43   -6 10.7   3.107   3.373    96   17.2   3:18 (314, 37)  
May  22  21  9.37   -7 19.4   3.018   3.392   102   17.2   3:11 (320, 39)  

* C/2009 F2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 10, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
May  15  13 28.53  -16  2.7   5.102   6.012   151   17.3  21:56 (  0, 39)  
May  22  13 26.80  -15  6.0   5.169   6.023   144   17.4  21:27 (  0, 40)  

* 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)  
May  15  23 15.39   79 37.0   5.154   4.845    66   17.4   3:18 (192, 38)  
May  22  23  5.91   81  6.8   5.148   4.847    67   17.4   3:11 (190, 39)  

* 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)  
May  15  18 58.05   41  4.3   6.516   6.809   102   17.5   3:18 (197, 84)  
May  22  18 55.89   41 43.9   6.525   6.859   105   17.6   2:59 (180, 83)  

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