Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Feb. 26: North)

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Updated on March 5, 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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* 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. 26  22 25.26  -19 38.6   4.933   3.965    10   12.5   5:10 (279,-22)  
Mar.  5  22 29.26  -18 37.1   4.850   3.898    14   12.4   5:01 (280,-18)  

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 14.6 mag (Feb. 11, Siding Spring Survey). 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. 26  20  6.48  -23 44.0   2.228   1.575    38   12.7   5:10 (301,  2)  
Mar.  5  20 28.04  -23  8.8   2.216   1.596    40   12.8   5:01 (300,  2)  

* 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. 26   7 14.18   -1 58.8   1.067   1.857   128   13.3  20:51 (  0, 53)  
Mar.  5   7 19.69   -0 30.1   1.175   1.919   124   13.7  20:29 (  0, 55)  

* (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. 26   9 16.66   36 23.7   2.109   2.991   147   13.6  22:52 (180, 89)  
Mar.  5   9 11.10   36 30.7   2.145   2.980   140   13.7  22:19 (180, 89)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 13.4 mag (Feb. 6, Carlos Labordena). Not very bright, but visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  11  2.83   -0 27.8   5.277   6.249   168   13.6   0:42 (  0, 54)  
Mar.  5  10 59.73   -0 13.9   5.264   6.250   173   13.6   0:12 (  0, 55)  

* 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 (Feb. 5, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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. 26  17 45.76   42 19.2   2.894   2.946    83   14.5   5:10 (244, 63)  
Mar.  5  17 54.36   45 57.0   2.796   2.890    85   14.3   5:01 (236, 64)  

* 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. 26  22 32.06   23  3.8   3.323   2.539    32   14.4   5:10 (243,  2)  
Mar.  5  22 41.10   22  1.4   3.373   2.549    28   14.4   5:01 (245,  3)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.4 mag (Feb. 27, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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. 26  16 35.42  -69 13.7   5.969   5.905    81   14.6   5:10 (354,-15)  
Mar.  5  16 37.91  -70 44.3   5.873   5.886    85   14.5   5:01 (356,-16)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It is already bright as 14.5 mag and visible visually (Sept. 30, Alan Hale). It is appearing in the morning sky in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be observable in late March also 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. 26  20 27.54   -6 33.2   6.824   6.003    31   15.0   5:10 (285,  9)  
Mar.  5  20 28.80   -6 21.9   6.730   5.976    37   15.0   5:01 (287, 13)  

* 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. 26   4 35.29  -16 13.3   2.816   2.948    87   15.0  19:16 ( 19, 37)  
Mar.  5   4 32.82  -16 34.3   2.931   2.953    81   15.1  19:22 ( 29, 33)  

* C/2011 C1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Feb. 16, L. Elenin and A. Novichonok). Diffuse object, but the total magnitude is bright. Tiny comet. But it will approach to the sun down to 0.9 A.U. and brighten up to 13-14 mag. It keeps observable until it fades out, although it keeps locating somewhat low in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  17 18.49  -16 47.3   1.035   1.261    76   15.6   5:10 (329, 32)  
Mar.  5  18  0.73  -15  7.0   0.971   1.180    73   15.2   5:01 (323, 31)  

* 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. 26  18 23.17  -54 36.8   6.525   6.207    67   15.4   5:10 (336, -7)  
Mar.  5  18 24.20  -55 27.3   6.472   6.255    73   15.5   5:01 (339, -6)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Feb. 7, Artyom Novichonok), much brighter than originally expected. It keeps 15 mag until 2011 spring. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes observable in the evening low sky only in March and April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   5 50.50  -46 59.5   2.787   3.054    96   15.6  19:26 (  0,  8)  
Mar.  5   5 46.07  -42 52.6   2.849   3.080    93   15.7  19:22 (  5, 12)  

* 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 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. 26  21  0.79   35 45.9   5.246   4.670    49   15.8   5:10 (243, 25)  
Mar.  5  21 10.54   36 30.5   5.261   4.685    50   15.8   5:01 (243, 27)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 21, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable after this while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  13 17.50  -28 24.3   1.987   2.688   125   16.3   2:57 (  0, 27)  
Mar.  5  13 13.19  -28 19.7   1.960   2.733   132   16.4   2:25 (  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)  
Feb. 26   4 58.31   38 11.2   1.963   2.350   100   16.3  19:16 (115, 81)  
Mar.  5   5  6.01   38  6.3   2.022   2.328    94   16.3  19:22 (108, 76)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 7.9 mag in April and May (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.5 mag (Feb. 23, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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. 26   4  7.23   27 58.2   3.915   4.010    88   16.4  19:16 ( 77, 69)  
Mar.  5   4  8.96   27  8.0   4.105   4.078    81   16.6  19:22 ( 82, 62)  

* 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 16.2 mag (Feb. 22, Hiroshi Abe). 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. 26   6 14.37   44 24.8   1.820   2.400   114   16.7  19:51 (180, 81)  
Mar.  5   6 20.24   44 16.2   1.918   2.424   108   16.9  19:30 (180, 81)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 24, Hiroshi Abe). It is expected to be 14 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this, although it becomes low temporarily in spring. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   1 31.42   54 13.2   8.354   8.125    73   16.7  19:16 (135, 44)  
Mar.  5   1 32.65   53 58.0   8.410   8.094    68   16.7  19:22 (135, 39)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Feb. 10, Michael Jager). 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. 26  13 41.61   20 44.0   3.131   3.879   133   16.9   3:21 (  0, 76)  
Mar.  5  13 41.36   21 45.8   3.027   3.825   138   16.7   2:53 (  0, 77)  

* 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 still bright as 14.4 mag and visible visually (Feb. 7, Sandor Szabo). It keeps observable at 15-16 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  11 23.16   41 50.7   8.751   9.582   145   16.8   1:03 (180, 83)  
Mar.  5  11 17.80   42  9.4   8.798   9.618   143   16.8   0:30 (180, 83)  

* 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 17.6 mag (Feb. 16, L. Elenin and A. Novichonok). 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. 26  11 51.34   -0 24.5   2.365   3.307   158   17.1   1:31 (  0, 55)  
Mar.  5  11 44.68    0 15.0   2.245   3.220   167   16.8   0:57 (  0, 55)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

It has kept bright as 8.5 mag since July until September. Now it is fading. Diffuse object, but the total magnitude is still bright as 15.7 mag (Feb. 22, Tzec Maun Observatory).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   2 42.30    6  8.8   2.860   2.577    63   16.9  19:16 ( 65, 40)  
Mar.  5   2 52.06    7 19.0   2.982   2.618    59   17.1  19:22 ( 71, 37)  

* C/2009 UG89 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 4, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition until summer. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  18 14.49   20 35.5   4.202   3.980    70   17.1   5:10 (281, 51)  
Mar.  5  18 13.02   22 16.6   4.114   3.990    75   17.1   5:01 (283, 56)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 17.7 mag (Jan. 30, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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. 26  17 22.30  -22  4.2   4.141   4.011    75   17.2   5:10 (331, 27)  
Mar.  5  17 27.24  -22 12.6   4.045   4.020    81   17.1   5:01 (334, 28)  

* 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. 26   5 44.87  -13 18.6   3.553   3.924   104   17.2  19:21 (  0, 42)  
Mar.  5   5 37.39  -12 11.5   3.675   3.931    97   17.3  19:22 ( 12, 42)  

* 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. 26   7 22.38  -10 30.1   5.825   6.486   128   17.4  20:58 (  0, 45)  
Mar.  5   7 19.20   -9 22.3   5.898   6.486   122   17.4  20:28 (  0, 46)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 24, La Sagra). 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. 26  10 10.70    8 20.3   2.756   3.742   174   17.4  23:46 (  0, 63)  
Mar.  5  10  6.44    8 42.0   2.789   3.760   166   17.5  23:14 (  0, 64)  

* 247P/2010 V3 ( LINEAR )

Asteroid discovered in 2002 was revealed to be a comet. Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 27, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag soon. 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. 26   7 34.21   49 38.8   0.807   1.595   124   17.4  21:12 (180, 76)  
Mar.  5   7 48.33   47 52.2   0.866   1.624   121   17.7  20:58 (180, 77)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 21, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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. 26  17 39.65   44 26.8   5.386   5.389    84   17.6   5:10 (239, 64)  
Mar.  5  17 39.74   44 55.9   5.362   5.413    87   17.6   5:01 (236, 67)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 24, La Sagra). 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. 26  10 42.55   12 51.5   2.490   3.478   175   17.8   0:22 (  0, 68)  
Mar.  5  10 38.18   13 22.7   2.500   3.483   171   17.8  23:46 (  0, 68)  

* 249P/2011 A4 ( LINEAR )

Now it is stellar at 17.3 mag (Feb. 12, Hidetaka Sato). Tiny periodic comet. It approaches to the sun down to 0.5 A.U. in mid April. But it brightens up to 17 mag only. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the morning sky until mid March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  17 42.03  -29 31.4   0.854   1.075    70   18.0   5:10 (330, 19)  
Mar.  5  18 41.11  -28  6.7   0.797   0.974    64   17.8   5:01 (322, 15)  

* P/2011 A2 ( Scotti )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 16, L. Elenin and A. Novichonok). Diffuse object, but the total magnitude is bright. It keeps 17-18 mag until April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  14 36.03   -9 22.3   1.017   1.712   117   17.9   4:15 (  0, 46)  
Mar.  5  14 40.77   -9 51.6   0.989   1.739   122   17.9   3:52 (  0, 45)  

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