Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 June 5: North)

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Updated on June 9, 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 )

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 5.5 mag (June 6, Alexandre Amorim). 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 late June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   1 52.83   38 49.7   1.203   0.799    41    5.7   3:01 (237, 21)  
June 12   3  5.00   45 37.0   1.143   0.667    35    4.7   2:59 (226, 17)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

Now it is so bright as 8.3 mag (June 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable for a long time until when it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be visible visually until autumn, although it will be low in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   6 23.62   74 46.2   1.874   1.513    53    9.1  20:55 (164, 28)  
June 12   6 50.95   71  9.0   1.997   1.550    49    9.4  21:00 (160, 26)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Brightening rapidly. It is already so bright as 10.3 mag (June 6, Marco Goiato). It keeps observable bright as 9-10 mag for a long time until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  22 28.42   -7 36.1   0.913   1.457    98   10.1   3:01 (312, 34)  
June 12  22 49.81   -7 11.7   0.868   1.443    99    9.9   2:59 (312, 35)  

* 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 11.5 mag (May 23, 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)  
June  5  19 39.44  -40 29.9   3.596   4.424   140   11.6   2:48 (  0, 15)  
June 12  19 28.18  -42  1.5   3.579   4.468   147   11.6   2:09 (  0, 13)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It reached up to 9.2 mag in March (Mar. 20, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading, but still bright as 10.5 mag (June 5, 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)  
June  5  14  7.03   -6 27.0   1.004   1.881   137   11.6  21:12 (  0, 48)  
June 12  14 10.83   -7 11.2   1.081   1.915   131   11.9  21:00 (  4, 48)  

* 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)  
June  5   4 17.60   22 51.0   2.390   1.391     7   11.8   3:01 (230,-13)  
June 12   4 43.11   22 53.7   2.372   1.376     8   11.7   2:59 (230,-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)  
June  5   4  2.33   22 29.2   1.735   0.765    11   12.0   3:01 (233,-10)  
June 12   4 42.39   22 45.2   1.780   0.791     8   12.1   2:59 (230,-13)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is visible visually at 12.3 mag (May 22, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
June  5  21 12.14  -26 34.6   1.830   2.510   121   12.9   3:01 (340, 26)  
June 12  21 14.54  -27 10.4   1.772   2.520   127   12.9   2:59 (346, 26)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

It brightened up to 9.5 mag in January (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading rapidly. But it is still bright as 12.3 mag (June 4, 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)  
June  5  14 35.61   61 44.2   3.288   3.467    91   13.4  21:40 (180, 63)  
June 12  14 34.03   60 41.9   3.377   3.521    89   13.6  21:11 (180, 64)  

* 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 11.8 mag still now (June 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). The coma is expanding up to 3 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)  
June  5  13 14.98    2 32.4   2.477   3.132   121   13.4  20:55 ( 16, 56)  
June 12  13 15.03    1 49.1   2.562   3.136   115   13.7  21:00 ( 29, 53)  

* 2P/Encke

It passes the perihelion in August. But the condition of this apparition is bad. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in the evening sky at 9 mag in late August, then it will keep observable while fading rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   3  5.05   23 39.7   2.170   1.314    24   14.4   3:01 (241,  0)  
June 12   3 29.63   25 13.9   2.049   1.210    25   13.4   2:59 (240,  1)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Great outburst up to 11 mag occured on Feb. 2. Another new minor outburst occured on Apr. 16 (Albert Sanchez Caso). It is bright as 11.8 mag still now (June 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   9 28.10   12 15.6   6.551   6.214    66   14.0  20:55 ( 86, 27)  
June 12   9 31.39   11 57.9   6.651   6.215    60   14.1  21:00 ( 90, 21)  

* P/2010 A5 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 14.3 mag (May 21, Alan Hale). 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)  
June  5  16 11.10  -27 20.0   0.775   1.782   169   15.0  23:16 (  0, 28)  
June 12  16 11.31  -26 25.2   0.806   1.804   164   15.1  22:48 (  0, 29)  

* 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)  
June  5  17 53.48   39 27.7   4.067   4.608   116   15.2   1:02 (180, 86)  
June 12  17 49.75   40 23.4   4.059   4.597   116   15.2   0:30 (180, 85)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.5 mag (May 14, Richard Brown). 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)  
June  5  14 53.16  -48 23.1   5.996   6.853   145   15.2  21:57 (  0,  7)  
June 12  14 46.95  -48 23.3   6.008   6.824   140   15.2  21:24 (  0,  7)  

* 126P/IRAS

It had been unobservable for a while, but it is getting observable in the morning sky now. Now it is 16.1 mag (June 3, Francois Kugel). It keeps observable after this while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   2 39.52   39 42.1   2.813   2.034    32   15.4   3:01 (231, 14)  
June 12   2 56.18   42 20.0   2.816   2.074    35   15.5   2:59 (230, 17)  

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Now it is 15.6 mag (June 8, Robert McNaught). It is expected to keep so bright as 6-8 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012, and to be observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2010, it is observable in the Southern Hemisphere while brightening slowly. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere, but it keeps observable until the end of 2010. It is observable in a very good condition in the Southern Hemisphere now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  23 58.19  -32  2.8   6.290   6.348    88   15.5   3:01 (312,  2)  
June 12  23 58.47  -32 17.9   6.126   6.289    94   15.4   2:59 (316,  5)  

* 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)  
June  5   6  5.50   18 55.4   2.171   1.244    17   15.4  20:55 (120, -9)  
June 12   6 32.87   18 17.5   2.203   1.274    17   15.6  21:00 (121,-10)  

* 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)  
June  5   8 11.65   31 22.7   2.333   1.771    45   15.5  20:55 (114, 22)  
June 12   8 33.74   30 14.8   2.399   1.804    43   15.6  21:00 (114, 19)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 15.2 mag (May 12, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. 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)  
June  5  21 53.14    2 10.3   6.884   7.172   102   15.6   3:01 (313, 47)  
June 12  21 50.17    2 11.8   6.732   7.138   109   15.5   2:59 (322, 51)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.8 mag (May 15, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It was observed as 15-16 mag in early 2009. In 2010, it was also observed at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring. But it will be getting lower in the evening sky after this. It will be too low to observe in August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  13 18.29   -2  2.0   3.041   3.711   124   15.8  20:55 ( 13, 52)  
June 12  13 18.08   -2 17.3   3.132   3.718   117   15.9  21:00 ( 26, 50)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

Now it is 18.0 mag (May 25, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). This apparition is best condition. It will approach to the earth down to 0.12 A.U. in October, and brighten up to 5 mag. It will be visible with naked eyes. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable all through this apparition until 2011 June when it fades down to 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  21 38.03    4 47.7   1.567   2.074   104   16.7   3:01 (315, 51)  
June 12  21 45.55    6 40.9   1.443   2.012   108   16.3   2:59 (320, 55)  

* 94P/Russell 4

It reached up to 15.0 mag in March (Mar. 8, D. Storey). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (May 4, L. Elenin, S. Plaksa, D. Chestnov, A. Novichonok). It will be too low to observe in July at 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  10 56.38   13 17.4   2.119   2.288    86   16.4  20:55 ( 72, 45)  
June 12  11  5.70   11 59.0   2.206   2.298    82   16.6  21:00 ( 75, 40)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It brightened up to 11 mag in spring and summer in 2009. Appearing in the morninig sky again. Now it is 16.4 mag (May 1, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
June  5  20 10.64  -25  4.3   2.207   3.006   134   16.5   3:01 (355, 30)  
June 12  20  7.76  -25 21.5   2.169   3.033   141   16.6   2:48 (  0, 30)  

* C/2009 U3 ( Hill )

Now it is 14.1 mag (May 5, Hidetaka Sato), much brighter than this ephemeris. It has a very faint large coma.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  11 28.51   46 30.0   1.650   1.780    79   16.6  20:55 (123, 61)  
June 12  11 43.63   41  6.9   1.735   1.839    79   16.8  21:00 (112, 58)  

* 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 15.7 mag still now (May 20, H. Sato, T. Yusa, M. Suzuki). 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)  
June  5  11 41.04   41 11.1   8.302   8.261    84   16.8  20:55 (113, 64)  
June 12  11 38.91   40 43.2   8.437   8.295    78   16.9  21:00 (112, 57)  

* P/2010 J3 ( McMillan )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 16, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps 17 mag for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  15 22.87   -2 18.8   1.631   2.564   150   17.0  22:27 (  0, 53)  
June 12  15 20.21   -2 58.9   1.649   2.546   144   16.9  21:57 (  0, 52)  

* C/2010 J1 ( Boattini )

It was bright as 15 mag in early May at the discovery. But it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 16.9 mag (June 1, Hidetaka Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in late June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  14 41.63   22 55.4   1.530   2.267   124   17.0  21:45 (  0, 78)  
June 12  14 21.28   24  5.2   1.692   2.323   115   17.3  21:00 (  4, 79)  

* C/2010 J2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 19, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  21 44.76   -8 43.6   2.928   3.390   108   17.1   3:01 (324, 39)  
June 12  21 35.12   -7 43.2   2.807   3.392   117   17.0   2:59 (333, 44)  

* C/2009 K2 ( Catalina )

Now it is 17.8 mag (May 17, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
June  5  21 10.58  -10  5.1   2.851   3.432   116   17.1   3:01 (334, 41)  
June 12  21  9.77  -11 42.9   2.778   3.454   124   17.1   2:59 (343, 42)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 23, J. Gonzalez). 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)  
June  5  22 16.15   84  3.3   5.131   4.852    68   17.4   3:01 (185, 40)  
June 12  21 18.86   85 15.0   5.121   4.856    69   17.4   2:59 (182, 40)  

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 7, Hiroshi Abe). It will be fainter than 18 mag in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  18 50.20   42 45.8   6.559   6.959   109   17.7   1:58 (180, 82)  
June 12  18 46.83   43  7.2   6.584   7.009   110   17.7   1:27 (180, 82)  

* C/2009 UG89 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.8 mag (May 14, Hiroshi Abe). It keeps observable at 17-18 mag for a long time until 2011 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  20 42.55    6 48.8   3.729   4.275   116   17.8   3:01 (335, 60)  
June 12  20 34.12    7 54.9   3.609   4.252   123   17.7   2:59 (351, 63)  

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