Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Jan. 29: North)

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Updated on February 2, 2011
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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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* 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 10.2 mag (Jan. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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. 29   7  4.27   -9 32.2   0.708   1.608   142   11.1  22:30 (  0, 46)  
Feb.  5   7  4.60   -7 27.6   0.786   1.669   140   11.7  22:03 (  0, 48)  

* 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. 29  18 34.45  -24 23.1   2.280   1.520    30   12.3   5:34 (303,  3)  
Feb.  5  18 58.11  -24 30.8   2.265   1.529    32   12.4   5:30 (303,  3)  

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Already very bright, much brighter than expected, as 10.5 mag (Jan. 3, Alexandre Amorim). Not observable now. 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 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. 29  22 10.19  -23 41.7   5.136   4.231    20   12.9  18:51 ( 64, -5)  
Feb.  5  22 13.73  -22 41.3   5.104   4.164    15   12.9  18:58 ( 69,-10)  

* (596) Scheila

Big asteroid discovered in 1906. It suddenly showed the cometary activity on Dec. 11, probably due to an impact of a small object. It was very bright as 11.5 mag visually (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has a dust coma still on Jan. 9 (Joseph Brimacombe).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29   9 42.84   34  7.9   2.094   3.036   159   13.4   1:13 (  0, 89)  
Feb.  5   9 36.46   34 56.2   2.077   3.025   160   13.4   0:39 (  0, 90)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 13.5 mag (Jan. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29  11 13.30   -1  2.0   5.474   6.247   138   13.7   2:43 (  0, 54)  
Feb.  5  11 11.14   -0 57.5   5.405   6.247   146   13.6   2:13 (  0, 54)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 13.3 mag, much brighter than originally expected and visible visually (Jan. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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. 29  21 50.82   28 44.9   3.045   2.521    49   14.1  18:51 (111, 21)  
Feb.  5  22  1.98   27  3.1   3.123   2.522    44   14.2  18:58 (112, 16)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 13.7 mag and visible visually (Jan. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has a long tail by CCD observations. 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. 29   5  1.12  -13 36.5   2.367   2.943   116   14.6  20:27 (  0, 41)  
Feb.  5   4 51.99  -14 31.9   2.473   2.942   108   14.7  19:51 (  0, 40)  

* 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. 29  16 17.02  -63 36.9   6.359   5.985    63   14.8   5:34 (346,-12)  
Feb.  5  16 22.50  -64 56.8   6.263   5.965    68   14.7   5:30 (348,-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. 29  17 12.50   30 48.4   3.364   3.174    70   15.1   5:34 (263, 51)  
Feb.  5  17 20.65   33 14.3   3.238   3.116    74   15.0   5:30 (260, 55)  

* 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. 29  20 20.75   -7  9.0   7.069   6.111    12   15.1   5:34 (274, -7)  
Feb.  5  20 22.61   -7  1.8   7.029   6.083    15   15.1   5:30 (277, -3)  

* 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. 29  18 12.93  -51 43.7   6.674   6.015    44   15.3   5:34 (326,-12)  
Feb.  5  18 16.24  -52 22.5   6.648   6.063    50   15.3   5:30 (329,-11)  

* 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. 29   4  9.93   32 45.4   3.176   3.734   117   15.5  19:37 (  0, 88)  
Feb.  5   4  7.45   31 18.8   3.354   3.803   109   15.7  19:07 (  0, 86)  

* 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. 29   6 43.96  -62 38.9   2.696   2.963    95   15.6  22:08 (  0, -7)  
Feb.  5   6 23.40  -59  7.5   2.694   2.984    97   15.6  21:21 (  0, -4)  

* 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. 29  20 20.18   33 20.7   5.161   4.617    51   15.7   5:34 (240, 16)  
Feb.  5  20 30.52   33 51.5   5.186   4.629    50   15.7   5:30 (241, 18)  

* 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 has already faded down to 16.0 mag (Jan. 23, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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. 29   6  8.64   43 56.5   1.478   2.310   138   15.9  21:35 (180, 81)  
Feb.  5   6  7.13   44 16.0   1.554   2.331   131   16.1  21:06 (180, 81)  

* 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 14.5 mag (Jan. 24, Tzec Maun Observatory, Mayhill).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29   2  5.46    0 55.2   2.353   2.407    81   15.9  18:51 ( 33, 51)  
Feb.  5   2 14.27    2 18.4   2.481   2.450    76   16.2  18:58 ( 42, 50)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 6, 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. 29  13 20.96  -26 50.7   2.146   2.501    99   15.9   4:50 (  0, 28)  
Feb.  5  13 22.25  -27 28.8   2.102   2.548   105   16.0   4:24 (  0, 27)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 15.7 mag (Jan. 23, Toru Yusa). 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. 29   4 44.31   38 33.2   1.747   2.444   124   16.5  20:11 (180, 86)  
Feb.  5   4 45.05   38 27.6   1.795   2.419   117   16.4  19:44 (180, 87)  

* 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. 29  11 42.56   39 59.8   8.709   9.441   135   16.7   3:12 (180, 85)  
Feb.  5  11 38.19   40 31.8   8.698   9.476   140   16.7   2:40 (180, 85)  

* 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. 29   6 30.30  -17 26.7   3.182   3.905   131   16.9  21:55 (  0, 38)  
Feb.  5   6 16.66  -16 32.8   3.250   3.908   125   17.0  21:15 (  0, 39)  

* P/2010 V1 ( Ikeya-Murakami )

Bright new comet discovered visually by Kaoru Ikeya and Shigeki Murakami. It was so bright as 7.6 mag at that time (Nov. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 14.8 mag (Jan. 7, Ken-ichi Kadota). Its envelope similar to 17P/Holmes is getting diffuse rapidly. The central nucleus has faded down to 17.9 mag (Jan. 14, Leonid Elenin). 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. 29  15 59.29  -24 58.3   2.039   1.866    65   17.0   5:34 (332, 24)  
Feb.  5  16 13.25  -26  8.5   2.003   1.899    69   17.6   5:30 (334, 24)  

* 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. 29   0 50.55   14 55.1   8.354   8.056    69   17.2  18:51 ( 70, 50)  
Feb.  5   0 50.37   14 52.8   8.467   8.052    62   17.2  18:58 ( 77, 43)  

* P/2010 WK ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 25, P. Dupouy). 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. 29   5 13.96   41 38.6   1.290   2.063   129   17.2  20:41 (180, 83)  
Feb.  5   5 20.74   40 48.4   1.378   2.101   124   17.4  20:20 (180, 84)  

* 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. 29   1 31.71   55 54.6   8.101   8.251    95   17.2  18:51 (146, 62)  
Feb.  5   1 30.71   55 23.6   8.165   8.219    89   17.2  18:58 (141, 58)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

It was observed around 16 mag in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, it keeps observable at 17 mag from spring to autumn. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29  16 57.23  -21 18.3   4.488   3.976    53   17.2   5:34 (317, 20)  
Feb.  5  17  4.19  -21 32.0   4.408   3.985    58   17.2   5:30 (321, 22)  

* 2008 YB3

Large Centaur-type asteroid. Now it is 17.0 mag (Jan. 7, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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. 29   7 39.85  -14 41.1   5.669   6.488   143   17.3  23:06 (  0, 40)  
Feb.  5   7 34.91  -13 43.5   5.685   6.487   141   17.3  22:33 (  0, 41)  

* 247P/2010 V3 ( LINEAR )

Asteroid discovered in 2002 was revealed to be a comet. Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 23, Toru Yusa). 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. 29   6 47.37   53 57.5   0.628   1.510   137   17.3  22:15 (180, 71)  
Feb.  5   6 56.80   53 25.9   0.665   1.526   134   17.4  21:57 (180, 72)  

* 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. 29  10 27.60    7  1.4   2.773   3.675   152   17.3   1:57 (  0, 62)  
Feb.  5  10 23.80    7 17.7   2.747   3.691   160   17.3   1:26 (  0, 62)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Jan. 17, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps 15 mag from 2011 summer to 2012 summer. But it is not observable around the perihelion. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere in 2011, and in the Southern Hemisphere in 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29  13 34.88   17 15.4   3.641   4.101   111   17.4   5:04 (  0, 72)  
Feb.  5  13 37.63   17 59.9   3.502   4.045   116   17.3   4:39 (  0, 73)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 5, Tzec Maun Observatory). It is fading slowly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2011 summer. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29  17 31.74   43  9.7   5.459   5.299    75   17.5   5:34 (242, 50)  
Feb.  5  17 34.73   43 21.7   5.445   5.321    77   17.5   5:30 (242, 53)  

* C/2010 X1 ( Elenin )

It will approach to the sun down to 0.5 A.U. in September, and it is expected to brighten up to 6 mag. Now it is 17.9 mag (Jan. 21, J. Gonzalez). It will be brightening gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until early September when it becomes 7 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes unobservable in August. But after appearing in the morning sky in October, it becomes observable in the excellent condition at midnight.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 29  12  6.70   -1 49.2   2.976   3.646   126   18.0   3:36 (  0, 53)  
Feb.  5  12  4.54   -1 38.8   2.807   3.563   133   17.8   3:06 (  0, 53)  

* 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. 29  10 57.31   10 45.8   2.592   3.460   146   17.9   2:27 (  0, 66)  
Feb.  5  10 54.43   11 14.4   2.546   3.464   154   17.8   1:57 (  0, 66)  

* 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. 29   3 54.85   21 56.0   3.345   3.833   112   19.5  19:22 (  0, 77)  
Feb.  5   3 55.55   21 58.4   3.476   3.861   105   19.6  18:58 (  3, 77)  

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