Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Jan. 8: South)

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Updated on January 9, 2011
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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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* 103P/Hartley 2

It approached to the earth down to 0.12 A.U. and brightened up to 4.6 mag in October (Oct. 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was very large, double of the full moon, and very bright, visible with naked eyes. Now it is fading, but still bright as 9.3 mag (Jan. 4, Marco Goiato). After this, it keeps observable for a long time until June when it fades down to 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   7 12.70  -15 28.3   0.517   1.427   142    9.3   0:06 (180, 71)  
Jan. 15   7  8.39  -13 39.2   0.573   1.486   143    9.9  23:29 (180, 69)  

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 12.9 mag (Dec. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota). Bright, but it locates extremely low. It will be fading after this. The condition in this apparition is bad. It will be getting higher gradually after February in the Southern Hemisphere, however, it keeps extremely low until May in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  17 22.91  -22 41.9   2.335   1.511    25   12.3   3:10 (298,  1)  
Jan. 15  17 46.71  -23 28.8   2.315   1.511    27   12.3   3:19 (296,  3)  

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Already very bright, much brighter than expected, as 10.5 mag (Jan. 3, Alexandre Amorim). 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. It will be unobservable soon. It will appear in the morning sky in late March in the Southern Hemisphere, or in late April in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  22  1.18  -26 41.7   5.161   4.427    37   13.2  21:02 ( 66, 13)  
Jan. 15  22  3.86  -25 41.9   5.164   4.362    32   13.1  20:58 ( 64,  8)  

* (596) Scheila

Big asteroid discovered in 1906. It suddenly showed the cometary activity on Dec. 11. It was very bright as 11.5 mag visually (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has a dust coma still on Dec. 27 (Michael Jager).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   9 56.67   31 18.1   2.225   3.068   142   13.8   2:49 (180, 24)  
Jan. 15   9 53.16   32 16.1   2.169   3.057   149   13.6   2:18 (180, 23)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 13.8 mag (Dec. 18, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  11 17.17   -0 56.6   5.743   6.244   116   13.8   3:10 (205, 53)  
Jan. 15  11 16.35   -1  1.7   5.645   6.245   123   13.7   3:19 (190, 56)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 12.9 mag, much brighter than originally expected and visible visually (Dec. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable until spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower after this. The altitude will be lower than 10 degree from February to April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  21 12.94   35 14.8   2.801   2.531    64   14.0  21:02 (114,-30)  
Jan. 15  21 26.41   32 49.7   2.882   2.525    59   14.0  20:58 (110,-31)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 13.7 mag and visible visually (Dec. 12, Chris Wyatt). It keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   5 39.29   -9  6.1   2.128   2.957   140   14.4  22:27 (180, 64)  
Jan. 15   5 24.93  -10 55.7   2.191   2.951   132   14.4  21:45 (180, 66)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 7.9 mag in April and May (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. The central part is so faint as 16-17 mag. However, extremely faint large coma extends, and the total brightness is still bright as 14.3 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). It keeps observable for a long time until when it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   4 27.94   38  8.9   2.705   3.525   141   14.7  21:17 (180, 17)  
Jan. 15   4 19.90   36 11.2   2.849   3.595   133   15.0  20:58 (176, 19)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). It keeps bright as 14-15 mag for a long time after this until 2013. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  15 58.80  -59 55.8   6.624   6.049    50   14.9   3:10 (324, 32)  
Jan. 15  16  5.11  -61  6.4   6.540   6.028    54   14.9   3:19 (324, 36)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in 2009 summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. It becomes low also in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, no observations have been reported since October. But it will be getting higher after January. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2011 autumn when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  18  1.11  -50  4.2   6.689   5.871    31   15.1   3:10 (324, 12)  
Jan. 15  18  5.30  -50 34.7   6.695   5.919    35   15.1   3:19 (321, 16)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

It has kept bright as 8.5 mag since July until September. Now it is fading, but it is still bright as 13.2 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). It may be visible visually in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   1 41.26   -3 30.9   1.972   2.277    94   15.1  21:02 (124, 43)  
Jan. 15   1 48.90   -1 59.6   2.098   2.320    90   15.4  20:58 (121, 39)  

* P/2010 V1 ( Ikeya-Murakami )

Bright new comet discovered visually by Kaoru Ikeya and Shigeki Murakami. Now it is 14.2 mag (Dec. 29, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Its envelope similar to 17P/Holmes is getting diffuse rapidly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this in the morning low sky. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere, but it will be getting higher gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  15 13.93  -20 51.2   2.132   1.772    55   15.1   3:10 (279, 25)  
Jan. 15  15 29.56  -22 20.2   2.102   1.802    58   15.7   3:19 (278, 29)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It is already bright as 14.5 mag and visible visually (Sept. 30, Alan Hale). Now it is unobservable. But it will appear in the morning sky in late February in the Northern Hemisphere, or in late March in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  20 15.18   -7 20.9   7.105   6.197    20   15.2  21:02 ( 66,-19)  
Jan. 15  20 16.99   -7 18.6   7.108   6.169    15   15.2  20:58 ( 62,-23)  

* 65P/Gunn

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in July (July 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 15.2 mag (Dec. 28, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). Fading slowly. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting lower in the evening sky gradually, and will be unobservable in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  22 24.95  -19  6.4   3.659   3.036    44   15.4  21:02 ( 76, 13)  
Jan. 15  22 34.71  -18  0.4   3.744   3.057    40   15.5  20:58 ( 75, 10)  

* 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT )

It reached up to 14.0 mag and became visible visually in December (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps locating high in the Northern Hemisphere after this. But it will be fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   6 23.85   41 37.3   1.310   2.252   157   15.4  23:12 (180, 13)  
Jan. 15   6 17.29   42 39.2   1.355   2.270   151   15.6  22:38 (180, 12)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

A small outburst occured and it brightened by 2 mag, up to 16.1 mag, on 2010 Aug. 31 (Bernhard Haeusler). Now it is 15.2 mag (Dec. 22, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten up to 11.5 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  16 48.85   25  7.1   3.745   3.349    59   15.6   3:10 (253,-20)  
Jan. 15  16 56.59   26 45.9   3.618   3.290    62   15.5   3:19 (248,-15)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok), much brighter than originally expected. It keeps 16 mag until 2011 spring. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it locates very low in 2011 spring only.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   8 21.65  -69 21.5   2.782   2.911    87   15.5   1:15 (  0, 56)  
Jan. 15   7 43.85  -67 54.5   2.742   2.927    90   15.5   0:10 (  0, 57)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

Now it is 15.4 mag (Dec. 22, Ken-ichi Kadota). It has a long tail by CCD observations. It keeps observable after this while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  13  9.13  -24 11.9   2.280   2.357    82   15.6   3:10 (266, 52)  
Jan. 15  13 14.31  -25 11.5   2.237   2.405    87   15.7   3:19 (262, 58)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Nov. 27, A. Novichonok and D. Chestnov). It will be fading very slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it temporarily becomes low in January, but it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring when it fades down to 17-18 mag. It will not be observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  19 48.91   32 14.4   5.074   4.584    55   15.6  21:02 (103,-45)  
Jan. 15  19 59.34   32 32.0   5.105   4.594    53   15.7  20:58 (102,-48)  

* P/2010 WK ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It must have been bright as 16 mag since September, but it was not discovered. It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   5  2.83   44  2.6   1.070   1.961   145   16.6  21:52 (180, 11)  
Jan. 15   5  4.84   43 17.4   1.136   1.993   140   16.8  21:27 (180, 12)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 23, G. Muler, R. Naves). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2011 spring when it brightens up to 16 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps locating low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   4 53.36   38 36.2   1.647   2.521   145   16.7  21:42 (180, 16)  
Jan. 15   4 48.56   38 39.0   1.672   2.495   138   16.6  21:10 (180, 16)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It had been bright as 13-14 mag for a long time from 2007 to 2009. Now it is fading, but it is 15.3 mag still now (Dec. 10, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok), much brighter than predicted. It keeps observable at 16 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  11 52.98   38 17.7   8.815   9.334   119   16.6   3:10 (199, 14)  
Jan. 15  11 49.99   38 52.0   8.768   9.370   125   16.6   3:19 (191, 15)  

* C/2010 A4 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Dec. 28, D. Chestnov & A. Novichonok). It will be fading slowly after this. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   0 15.24  -57 35.7   3.198   2.895    63   16.6  21:02 ( 41, 45)  
Jan. 15   0 14.30  -54 15.0   3.288   2.918    59   16.7  20:58 ( 46, 42)  

* C/2009 K3 ( Beshore )

It was observed only during 3 days in 2009 May, then it has been lost. The ephemeris says that it passes the perihelion in 2011 January and it will be observable at 17 mag. But actually, it will not be found.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   7 17.03  -18 55.1   3.108   3.902   138   16.9   0:11 (180, 74)  
Jan. 15   7  0.89  -18 40.1   3.109   3.902   138   16.9  23:21 (180, 74)  

* 247P/2010 V3 ( LINEAR )

Asteroid discovered in 2002 was revealed to be a comet. Now it is 16.6 mag (Dec. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   6 31.15   52 22.5   0.554   1.485   148   16.9  23:21 (180,  3)  
Jan. 15   6 34.64   53 29.1   0.572   1.489   145   17.0  22:57 (180,  1)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Dec. 9, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2009 to 2012. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   0 53.42   15 18.3   7.992   8.070    91   17.1  21:02 (128, 21)  
Jan. 15   0 52.04   15  7.8   8.115   8.065    83   17.1  20:58 (123, 17)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 28, A. Novichonok and D. Chestnov). It is expected to be 15 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere, but not observable in the Southern Hemisphere now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   1 39.41   57 43.6   7.927   8.346   112   17.2  21:02 (160, -8)  
Jan. 15   1 35.99   57  5.3   7.981   8.314   106   17.2  20:58 (157,-10)  

* 2008 YB3

Large Centaur-type asteroid. It keeps observable at 17-18 mag for a long time until 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   7 55.53  -17  0.9   5.712   6.491   139   17.3   0:48 (180, 72)  
Jan. 15   7 50.28  -16 20.4   5.683   6.489   142   17.3   0:16 (180, 71)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 27, Charles Bell). It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. At the discovery in 1999, it became brightest one year after the perihelion passage. At this time, it became brightest three months after the perihelion passage, then it is fading. It keeps observable in good condition at 18 mag until may.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  10 34.94    6 38.7   2.922   3.625   129   17.3   3:10 (186, 48)  
Jan. 15  10 33.27    6 41.3   2.862   3.642   136   17.3   2:58 (180, 48)  

* 223P/2009 L18 ( Skiff )

It brightened after the perihelion passage, and it was observed at 17.5 mag in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere from October to December. It will be fainter than 18 mag soon. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   1 51.94   48 38.5   2.089   2.629   112   17.8  21:02 (158,  1)  
Jan. 15   1 59.34   48  1.7   2.173   2.648   107   17.9  20:58 (155,  0)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 18.1 mag (Dec. 13, Tzec Maun Observatory). It was observed at 18 mag in winter between 2009 and 2010. It will be observable again at 18 mag in good condition from winter to spring in 2011.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  11  0.90    9 47.3   2.795   3.449   124   18.0   3:10 (195, 44)  
Jan. 15  11  0.61   10  1.5   2.718   3.452   131   17.9   3:19 (182, 45)  

* 88P/Howell

It was predicted so faint as 19 mag. But actually it is observed much brighter than expected, 16.6 mag on Dec. 7 (Catalina Sky Survey), and 15.7 mag on Dec. 31 (Francois Kugel). Maybe it is in outburst.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   3 58.72   22  4.5   2.987   3.746   134   19.1  21:02 (176, 33)  
Jan. 15   3 56.39   21 59.0   3.099   3.776   127   19.2  20:58 (169, 32)  

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