Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Feb. 5: South)

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Updated on February 13, 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 11.0 mag (Feb. 5, 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)  
Feb.  5   7  4.60   -7 27.6   0.786   1.669   140   11.7  22:03 (180, 62)  
Feb. 12   7  6.47   -5 28.7   0.873   1.732   137   12.2  21:38 (180, 60)  

* 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 this 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)  
Feb.  5  18 58.11  -24 30.8   2.265   1.529    32   12.4   3:48 (292, 12)  
Feb. 12  19 21.42  -24 26.2   2.252   1.541    34   12.5   3:57 (290, 14)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  22 13.73  -22 41.3   5.104   4.164    15   12.9  20:38 ( 59, -3)  
Feb. 12  22 17.46  -21 40.6   5.060   4.098    11   12.8  20:29 ( 58, -6)  

* (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 had a dust coma still on Jan. 9 (Joseph Brimacombe). Now it is stellar at 13.6 mag (Feb. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  5   9 36.46   34 56.2   2.077   3.025   160   13.4   0:39 (180, 20)  
Feb. 12   9 29.71   35 36.0   2.075   3.014   158   13.4   0:05 (180, 19)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  11 11.14   -0 57.5   5.405   6.247   146   13.6   2:13 (180, 56)  
Feb. 12  11  8.62   -0 50.0   5.348   6.248   153   13.6   1:43 (180, 56)  

* 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, 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)  
Feb.  5  22  1.98   27  3.1   3.123   2.522    44   14.2  20:38 (101,-34)  
Feb. 12  22 12.54   25 33.3   3.197   2.525    40   14.3  20:29 ( 99,-35)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 13.5 mag and visible visually (Feb. 4, 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)  
Feb.  5   4 51.99  -14 31.9   2.473   2.942   108   14.7  20:38 (149, 67)  
Feb. 12   4 44.73  -15 14.5   2.585   2.942   101   14.8  20:29 (135, 64)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  16 22.50  -64 56.8   6.263   5.965    68   14.7   3:48 (330, 46)  
Feb. 12  16 27.50  -66 19.7   6.165   5.944    72   14.7   3:57 (334, 49)  

* 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 15.5 mag (Jan. 27, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Feb.  5  17 20.65   33 14.3   3.238   3.116    74   15.0   3:48 (231, -4)  
Feb. 12  17 28.91   35 57.8   3.117   3.059    77   14.8   3:57 (225, -1)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  20 22.61   -7  1.8   7.029   6.083    15   15.1   3:48 (290,-15)  
Feb. 12  20 24.39   -6 53.3   6.975   6.056    19   15.1   3:57 (285, -8)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in 2009 summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading, but still bright as 13.7 mag (Feb. 7, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. 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)  
Feb.  5  18 16.24  -52 22.5   6.648   6.063    50   15.3   3:48 (315, 31)  
Feb. 12  18 19.10  -53  4.3   6.614   6.111    55   15.4   3:57 (314, 36)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5   6 23.40  -59  7.5   2.694   2.984    97   15.6  21:21 (  0, 66)  
Feb. 12   6  8.31  -55 14.4   2.709   3.006    97   15.7  20:38 (  0, 70)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5   4  7.45   31 18.8   3.354   3.803   109   15.7  20:38 (159, 20)  
Feb. 12   4  6.31   30  2.6   3.538   3.872   102   15.9  20:29 (154, 20)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  20 30.52   33 51.5   5.186   4.629    50   15.7   3:48 (252,-38)  
Feb. 12  20 40.75   34 26.1   5.209   4.642    50   15.8   3:57 (248,-33)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 4, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Feb.  5  13 22.25  -27 28.8   2.102   2.548   105   16.0   3:48 (229, 79)  
Feb. 12  13 22.10  -27 57.8   2.059   2.595   111   16.1   3:56 (180, 83)  

* 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 15.9 mag (Jan. 29, E. Bryssinck). 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)  
Feb.  5   6  7.13   44 16.0   1.554   2.331   131   16.1  21:06 (180, 11)  
Feb. 12   6  7.65   44 25.9   1.637   2.353   125   16.3  20:39 (180, 11)  

* 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).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  5   2 14.27    2 18.4   2.481   2.450    76   16.2  20:38 (117, 29)  
Feb. 12   2 23.37    3 38.5   2.608   2.492    72   16.4  20:29 (116, 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)  
Feb.  5   4 45.05   38 27.6   1.795   2.419   117   16.4  20:38 (169, 15)  
Feb. 12   4 47.70   38 21.8   1.848   2.395   111   16.4  20:29 (166, 15)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  11 38.19   40 31.8   8.698   9.476   140   16.7   2:40 (180, 15)  
Feb. 12  11 33.45   41  1.4   8.701   9.511   143   16.7   2:08 (180, 14)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5   6 16.66  -16 32.8   3.250   3.908   125   17.0  21:15 (180, 71)  
Feb. 12   6  4.48  -15 31.5   3.337   3.913   119   17.0  20:35 (180, 70)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  13 37.63   17 59.9   3.502   4.045   116   17.3   3:48 (195, 36)  
Feb. 12  13 39.70   18 49.9   3.370   3.990   122   17.1   3:57 (185, 36)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  17  4.19  -21 32.0   4.408   3.985    58   17.2   3:48 (275, 33)  
Feb. 12  17 10.73  -21 44.1   4.323   3.994    64   17.2   3:57 (271, 39)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 3, E. Bryssinck), brighter than this ephemeris. 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)  
Feb.  5   1 30.71   55 23.6   8.165   8.219    89   17.2  20:38 (149,-15)  
Feb. 12   1 30.39   54 56.2   8.230   8.188    84   17.2  20:29 (147,-17)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5   7 34.91  -13 43.5   5.685   6.487   141   17.3  22:33 (180, 69)  
Feb. 12   7 30.30  -12 41.8   5.718   6.487   138   17.3  22:01 (180, 68)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Jan. 26, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). 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)  
Feb.  5  10 23.80    7 17.7   2.747   3.691   160   17.3   1:26 (180, 48)  
Feb. 12  10 19.58    7 37.0   2.736   3.708   168   17.3   0:54 (180, 47)  

* P/2010 WK ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 2, J. M. Bosch). 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)  
Feb.  5   5 20.74   40 48.4   1.378   2.101   124   17.4  20:38 (176, 14)  
Feb. 12   5 28.75   39 58.9   1.473   2.140   119   17.6  20:29 (174, 15)  

* 247P/2010 V3 ( LINEAR )

Asteroid discovered in 2002 was revealed to be a comet. Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 4, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Feb.  5   6 56.80   53 25.9   0.665   1.526   134   17.4  21:57 (180,  2)  
Feb. 12   7  8.03   52 29.4   0.707   1.546   130   17.6  21:40 (180,  3)  

* 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 (Feb. 4, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Feb.  5  12  4.54   -1 38.8   2.807   3.563   133   17.8   3:06 (180, 57)  
Feb. 12  12  1.29   -1 21.4   2.648   3.479   141   17.5   2:36 (180, 56)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 4, 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)  
Feb.  5  17 34.73   43 21.7   5.445   5.321    77   17.5   3:48 (225,-12)  
Feb. 12  17 37.08   43 39.0   5.428   5.343    79   17.5   3:57 (221, -8)  

* 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)  
Feb.  5  16 13.25  -26  8.5   2.003   1.899    69   17.6   3:48 (273, 45)  
Feb. 12  16 26.45  -27 13.2   1.964   1.933    73   18.1   3:57 (272, 50)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 17.8 mag (Jan. 27, 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)  
Feb.  5  10 54.43   11 14.4   2.546   3.464   154   17.8   1:57 (180, 44)  
Feb. 12  10 50.88   11 45.9   2.513   3.468   162   17.8   1:26 (180, 43)  

* 88P/Howell

It had been predicted so faint as 19 mag. But actually it was 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 was in outburst. However, it has already faded down to 18.2 mag (Jan. 26, Tzec Maun Observatory).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  5   3 55.55   21 58.4   3.476   3.861   105   19.6  20:38 (153, 28)  
Feb. 12   3 57.15   22  3.3   3.611   3.889    98   19.7  20:29 (149, 26)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.