Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 June 4: North)

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Updated on July 22, 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 )

Now it is 9.4 mag (June 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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 the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until October when it brightens up to 6.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  23  0.96   -3 40.3   2.876   3.015    87   10.1   3:02 (300, 31)  
June 11  22 58.88   -2 12.3   2.687   2.947    94    9.8   2:59 (305, 36)  

* C/2011 C1 ( McNaught )

It approached to the sun down to 0.88 A.U. in mid April, and it brightened up to 8.6 mag (Apr. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but it is still bright as 11.9 mag (June 3, Chris Wyatt). It keeps observable until it fades out, although it keeps locating somewhat low in the morning sky. It will fade out rapidly after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   1 10.61   15  2.7   1.555   1.213    51   12.5   3:02 (263, 16)  
June 11   1 27.69   15 41.9   1.605   1.296    53   13.3   2:59 (263, 18)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

It will be 12-13 mag in June and July. However, it is not observable at all due to the bad condition in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   5 55.65   24 28.4   2.361   1.415    16   13.8  20:54 (125, -6)  
June 11   6 20.73   24 53.4   2.355   1.401    15   13.2  20:59 (127, -7)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

Now it is 13.3 mag and visible visually (May 30, Jakub Koukal). It will brighten up to 11-12 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring, although it becomes low temporarily in July. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   6 48.14   80 16.0   2.595   2.254    59   13.4  20:54 (169, 32)  
June 11   7  2.46   77 16.6   2.622   2.216    55   13.3  20:59 (166, 30)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.1 mag (June 6, Chris Wyatt). It keeps bright as 13-14 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)  
June  4  11 42.80  -81 21.2   5.179   5.671   114   13.5  20:54 (  5,-27)  
June 11  11 22.03  -80 27.1   5.182   5.657   112   13.5  20:59 (  8,-28)  

* 213P/2009 B3 ( Van Ness )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in a major outburst in 2005. Now it is very bright as 12.2 mag and visible visually (June 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable in an excellent condition from summer to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  22 46.21   -8  5.7   1.815   2.124    92   13.6   3:02 (307, 30)  
June 11  22 54.38   -6 39.8   1.740   2.123    97   13.5   2:59 (310, 34)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is bright as 11.0 mag and visible visually (June 6, Marco Goiato). It is getting lower in the evening sky. It will be unobservable in early July in the Northern Hemisphere, or in mid August in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  10 44.69    1 30.4   6.189   6.257    89   13.9  20:54 ( 61, 37)  
June 11  10 46.58    1 22.1   6.299   6.257    82   14.0  20:59 ( 67, 31)  

* 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 13.3 mag and visible visually (June 3, Jakub Koukal). 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)  
June  4  10 27.70    8 11.3   1.833   1.980    82   14.3  20:54 ( 71, 38)  
June 11  10 29.85    8  0.4   1.827   1.873    76   14.0  20:59 ( 76, 32)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 13.9 mag and visible visually (June 4, Jakub Koukal). 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)  
June  4  20  0.90   -4 44.2   4.960   5.662   129   14.1   3:02 (355, 50)  
June 11  19 53.84   -4 50.9   4.849   5.640   137   14.1   2:39 (  0, 50)  

* 174P/(60558) 2000 EC98 ( Echeclus )

It has brightened in outburst up to 14 mag in 2006 January. Another outburst occured in late May. Now it is bright as 14.3 mag (June 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  16 14.76  -16 28.4   7.507   8.509   170   14.6  23:24 (  0, 39)  
June 11  16 12.39  -16 22.5   7.510   8.491   163   14.7  22:54 (  0, 39)  

* (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 13.8 mag (Apr. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is getting lower in the evening sky, and will be unobservable in August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   9 44.78   27 51.8   3.069   2.828    66   14.6  20:54 ( 99, 39)  
June 11   9 53.24   26 47.9   3.138   2.817    62   14.6  20:59 (101, 34)  

* C/2011 L3 ( McNaught )

New comet. Bright as 15.2 mag (June 4, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable at 13.5 mag in good condition in summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition until autumn. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will become low after August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  22 42.83  -15 26.2   1.723   2.096    96   14.9   3:02 (313, 25)  
June 11  22 36.90  -12  8.9   1.578   2.063   103   14.6   2:59 (318, 32)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is fading slowly, but still bright as 13.8 mag (May 30, Hidetaka Sato). It will keep 14-15 mag until mid September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  23 56.19   11 38.3   3.050   2.857    69   15.0   3:02 (277, 30)  
June 11  23 57.71   10 25.1   2.963   2.893    76   15.0   2:59 (282, 34)  

* 27P/Crommelin

It has returned after 27-year blank since 1984. Now it is 16.2 mag (June 5, Hidetaka Sato). It will approach to the sun down to 0.75 A.U. and brighten up to 10.5 mag in July and August. However, the condition of this apparition is bad. It locates extremely low, and only observable until mid July in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low and hard to observe in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   1 48.57   31  6.3   1.912   1.314    40   15.8   3:02 (244, 18)  
June 11   2 21.26   32 26.2   1.826   1.222    39   15.1   2:59 (242, 17)  

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 15.4 mag (May 14, Ken-ichi Kadota). It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere, but will be getting higher gradually. It will be fading gradually, and will be fainter than 18 mag in September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  23 51.45  -12 29.1   1.939   2.027    80   15.1   3:02 (298, 16)  
June 11   0  0.74  -12  4.7   1.902   2.067    84   15.3   2:59 (300, 19)  

* 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT )

It reached up to 14.0 mag and became visible visually in December (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Then it has been fading, and faded down to 18.3 mag on Mar. 31 (Yasukazu Ikari). However, it brightened up to 16 mag in outburst on Apr. 5. Then it keeps brightening and reached up to 14.7 mag now (May 28, Hidetaka Sato). It locates too low to observe in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting lower gradually after this in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   8 46.24   37  6.5   3.271   2.786    53   15.4  20:54 (116, 32)  
June 11   8 58.86   36 12.6   3.364   2.817    49   15.5  20:59 (117, 27)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 15.0 mag (May 31, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
June  4  13  8.06   26  6.6   2.694   3.165   108   15.7  20:54 ( 43, 78)  
June 11  13  8.68   25 15.3   2.722   3.116   103   15.6  20:59 ( 61, 72)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 15.8 mag (May 29, Tzec Maun Observatory, Mayhill). It is expected to be 13 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   2  3.35   56 39.7   8.378   7.698    45   15.9   3:02 (218, 27)  
June 11   2  4.96   57 15.1   8.307   7.669    48   15.9   2:59 (219, 30)  

* C/2010 M1 ( Gibbs )

It is expected to keep 14-15 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 summer. The condition is good in the Southern Hemisphere, and it keeps observable for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in the low sky in 2011 spring. But after that, it is not observable until 2012 August. However, this comet was observed only during two days in 2010 June. So the orbital elements are extremely uncertain.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  17 57.76  -40 28.3   2.590   3.543   156   16.1   1:11 (  0, 15)  
June 11  17 46.09  -42 19.2   2.520   3.490   159   15.9   0:32 (  0, 13)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 16.2 mag (June 4, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
June  4  22 46.20   48 14.2   5.123   4.932    73   16.0   3:02 (234, 55)  
June 11  22 49.94   49  4.7   5.089   4.954    76   16.0   2:59 (232, 58)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Now it is 16.1 mag (May 26, Hidetaka Sato). It brightens up to 12 mag in autumn. But the condition is bad. In the Northern Hemisphere, the altitude will be lower than 20 degree in June when it brightens up to 15 mag, then it will be unobservable in August. After the perihelion passage, it is only observable from December to February in the evening very low sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time, although it keeps locating extremely low. The component B was not detected, fainter than 20 mag (May 14, Hidetaka Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   9 24.10   25 52.4   2.204   1.961    62   16.2  20:54 ( 99, 34)  
June 11   9 34.26   24 40.4   2.213   1.897    58   16.0  20:59 (101, 29)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in 2009 summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.5 mag (May 31, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
June  4  16 51.81  -65 26.1   6.105   6.881   136   16.1   0:06 (  0,-10)  
June 11  16 37.92  -65 27.4   6.150   6.929   137   16.2  23:19 (  0,-10)  

* 48P/Johnson

Now it is 16.5 mag (May 30, A. Baransky). It will brighten rapidly, and will be observable at 15 mag in good condition from July to October. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  20 39.44  -15 10.8   1.712   2.435   124   16.5   3:02 (344, 38)  
June 11  20 41.93  -15 37.8   1.631   2.420   130   16.3   2:59 (351, 39)  

* 65P/Gunn

It became bright as 12 mag in 2010. Now it is fading. Appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be observable also in the Northern Hemisphere in mid June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4   1 33.81    1 29.2   4.030   3.483    51   16.3   3:02 (271,  4)  
June 11   1 40.69    2  4.7   3.972   3.504    55   16.3   2:59 (273,  8)  

* 130P/McNaught-Hughes

Now it is 17.1 mag (May 17, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  22 33.74  -14 48.9   1.703   2.104    98   16.5   3:02 (315, 27)  
June 11  22 43.50  -14 29.1   1.630   2.101   102   16.4   2:59 (318, 29)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Already bright as 16.5 mag (May 28, Tzec Maun Observatory). It will be observable in good condition at 12 mag in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  23 12.51    1 10.8   2.568   2.650    83   16.7   3:02 (294, 32)  
June 11  23 20.24    2  7.6   2.451   2.618    87   16.4   2:59 (297, 36)  

* 115P/Maury

Now it is 15.8 mag (June 2, J. F. Soulier and A. Novichonok). It will brighten up to 16 mag from summer to autumn, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  16 23.57   -1 44.2   1.322   2.297   158   16.5  23:33 (  0, 53)  
June 11  16 19.16   -1 21.8   1.312   2.271   154   16.4  23:01 (  0, 54)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 16.3 mag (May 25, Toshiyuki Takahashi). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time until 2012 autumn when the comet brightens up to 10 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is hardly observble before the perihelion passage. But it becomes observable in good condition since 2013 after the perihelion passage.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  11 30.78   62 37.9   6.544   6.362    75   16.6  20:54 (153, 56)  
June 11  11 31.89   61 44.3   6.547   6.305    71   16.6  20:59 (149, 53)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It had been bright as 13-14 mag for a long time from 2007 to 2009. Now it is fading slowly, but it is still bright as 16.1 mag (Apr. 28, Artyom Novichonok). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  10 32.40   40 16.9  10.326  10.082    73   16.6  20:54 (113, 52)  
June 11  10 31.89   39 53.0  10.462  10.118    67   16.7  20:59 (114, 46)  

* C/2011 L1 ( McNaught )

New comet. Now it is 16.2 mag (June 4, Tzec Maun Observatory). Good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting higher also in the Northern Hemisphere. But it will fade out rapidly. It will be fainter than 18 mag in late July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  16  6.39  -33 54.4   1.805   2.799   165   16.8  23:15 (  0, 21)  
June 11  15 57.70  -30 50.1   1.859   2.839   161   16.9  22:39 (  0, 24)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 17.0 mag (May 13, J. F. Soulier). 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)  
June  4  17 21.34  -23 27.5   3.127   4.134   171   16.8   0:35 (  0, 32)  
June 11  17 16.52  -23 30.3   3.127   4.143   179   16.8   0:02 (  0, 31)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is 17.3 mag (May 23, Tzec Maun Observatory). It will brighten up to 13 mag in next winter. But the condition of this apparition is bad, and it will not be observable around the perihelion passage. It will be observable until July when it brightens up to 16 mag in the Northern Hemisphere, or until September when it brightens up to 15 mag in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  10 36.15   17 57.3   2.261   2.331    81   16.9  20:54 ( 80, 45)  
June 11  10 42.97   16 46.7   2.307   2.292    76   16.8  20:59 ( 83, 39)  

* C/2009 UG89 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 16.8 mag (June 3, P. Dupouy). 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)  
June  4  15 56.66   42 35.9   3.680   4.197   114   17.3  23:05 (180, 82)  
June 11  15 40.96   42 31.6   3.747   4.218   110   17.4  22:22 (180, 83)  

* 2008 HE

Now it is 17.4 mag (May 28, L. Buzzi). It will approach to the sun down to 0.1 A.U. in July and August. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. But it is observable in good condition at 17.5 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  15 48.16   -0 20.3   0.390   1.375   153   17.5  22:53 (  0, 55)  
June 11  14 43.23    7 23.4   0.327   1.258   132   17.5  21:20 (  0, 63)  

* C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.9 mag (May 4, Hidetaka Sato). It is observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2013. In 2011, it is observable in good condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  17 48.84    3 27.2   5.263   6.162   149   17.5   1:02 (  0, 58)  
June 11  17 40.91    3 41.3   5.223   6.142   152   17.5   0:27 (  0, 59)  

* C/2011 G1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.7 mag (May 28, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable in good condition at 17.5 mag in 2011 spring in the Southern Hemisphere, and at 17 mag in next winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  11 13.58  -11 55.3   2.071   2.471   100   17.5  20:54 ( 45, 31)  
June 11  11  4.52   -9  7.5   2.190   2.433    91   17.6  20:59 ( 56, 27)  

* C/2011 L2 ( McNaught )

New comet. Now it is 17.6 mag (June 6, R. H. McNaught). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 16-17 mag for a long time from summer to winter. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  22 36.32  -27 17.9   2.244   2.648   102   18.0   3:02 (322, 16)  
June 11  22 39.66  -30 41.1   2.085   2.595   108   17.7   2:59 (328, 16)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.4 mag (June 5, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
June  4  16 25.82   46 42.6   5.313   5.752   110   17.8  23:34 (180, 78)  
June 11  16 17.99   45 53.1   5.355   5.780   109   17.9  22:59 (180, 79)  

* 37P/Forbes

Now it is 17.8 mag (May 29, C. Bell). It will brighten up to 15 mag in autumn and winter. But the condition of this apparition is bad. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable until September when it brightens up to 16 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  4  11 14.66   -5 23.8   1.984   2.361    98   17.9  20:54 ( 49, 36)  
June 11  11 19.25   -5 39.3   2.029   2.319    93   17.8  20:59 ( 55, 32)  

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