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

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Updated on November 29, 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 6.9 mag (Nov. 26, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps so bright as 6-8 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be extremely low from late November to late December. But after that, it will be observable in excellent condition again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But it will be observable again in 2012 spring, although it locates low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  17 30.79   20  6.6   2.116   1.597    46    6.4  18:18 (100, 22)  
Dec.  3  17 30.41   20 53.8   2.111   1.577    44    6.3  18:18 (104, 17)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

Now it is 9.6 mag (Nov. 26, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will start fading after December. But it keeps observable in excellent condition for a while in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until 2012 spring when it fades down to 15-16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   4 34.46   28 14.1   1.248   2.226   169   10.9   0:19 (  0, 84)  
Dec.  3   4  8.70   22 28.2   1.282   2.265   173   11.2  23:19 (  0, 77)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

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)  
Nov. 26  15 18.83  -13 20.1   2.003   1.066    13   11.3   5:15 (283, -5)  
Dec.  3  15 48.61  -14 58.0   2.025   1.087    12   11.6   5:21 (285, -5)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is very bright as 10.6 mag (Nov. 28, Marco Goiato). It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  23 49.13    0  0.7   1.432   2.047   114   11.9  19:30 (  0, 55)  
Dec.  3  23 55.84    0 13.7   1.492   2.037   108   11.9  19:09 (  0, 55)  

* C/2011 Q2 ( McNaught )

It was observed as bright as 13.9 mag in 2011 autumn (Oct. 19, Hidetaka Sato). It is not observable now. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable again in 2012 summer, when it will be fainter than 15 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  17 41.32  -26 57.6   2.431   1.569    22   12.6  18:18 ( 59, -3)  
Dec.  3  18  2.94  -25  9.7   2.405   1.521    20   12.4  18:18 ( 61, -3)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is 12.2 mag and visible visually (Nov. 25, Seiichi Yoshida). It will reach up to 10 mag from January to March, but it will be too low to observe. It is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. It is getting lower in the evening sky also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be lower than 10 degree in early January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  18 10.25   -2 31.7   2.157   1.471    35   13.5  18:18 ( 74, 17)  
Dec.  3  18 30.96   -3  9.2   2.117   1.410    33   13.1  18:18 ( 74, 16)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

It brightened up to 12.3 mag around the perihelion passage, although it located very low (Oct. 19, Hidetaka Sato). Now it is 13.6 mag (Nov. 21, Katsumi Yoshimoto). The condition of this apparition is bad. In the Northern Hemisphere, 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, on May 14 (Hidetaka Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  18 59.85  -29 50.5   1.655   1.106    40   13.2  18:18 ( 45,  8)  
Dec.  3  19 36.37  -29 11.7   1.699   1.159    41   13.5  18:18 ( 44, 10)  

* P/2006 T1 ( Levy )

First return of a new comet which brightened up to 9.5 mag in a major outburst in 2006. It will approach to the earth down to 0.2 A.U. in January, and will be observable in excellent condition. However, the brightness will be quite uncertain. The comet has not been recovered yet. It was fainter than 20 mag on Oct. 2 (Jean-Francois Soulier).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  22 29.11   36 26.3   0.451   1.199   106   14.2  18:18 (130, 88)  
Dec.  3  22 37.35   34 19.9   0.416   1.151   102   13.2  18:18 ( 84, 84)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

Now it is bright as 13.0 mag and visible visually (Nov. 25, Seiichi Yoshida). t keeps the current brightness until December. Then it starts fading, but it keeps observable in good condition until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it so bright as 10.2 mag visually on Nov. 24.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  10 46.16    7 45.0   1.233   1.485    83   13.4   5:15 (324, 58)  
Dec.  3  11  3.38    8  2.6   1.204   1.508    86   13.5   5:21 (331, 60)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 17.1 mag in late June (June 24, J. F. Hernandez). The condition of this apparition is bad, and it is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear in the morning sky at 14 mag in 2012 April in the Southern Hemisphere. It will not be observable until 2012 June in the Northern Hemisphere, when the comet will be 15.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  16 37.13  -23 45.8   2.551   1.579     8   13.5  18:18 ( 70,-13)  
Dec.  3  17  0.02  -24 48.7   2.548   1.572     6   13.4  18:18 ( 70,-15)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 13.9 mag (Nov. 11, K. Hills). 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)  
Nov. 26  13 48.26  -85 23.7   5.798   5.461    65   13.5   5:15 (355,-33)  
Dec.  3  14 30.30  -86 47.4   5.797   5.459    65   13.5   5:21 (356,-34)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

It brightened up to 14.1 mag in August and September (Aug. 11, Artyom Novichonok and Vladimir Gerke). Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky at 14 mag at the end of February. Then it will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere while fading gradually. It will locate somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2011, some visual observers reported it was very bright as 10-12 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  17  4.02   -9 27.6   3.273   2.356    18   13.7  18:18 ( 78,  0)  
Dec.  3  17 19.69  -10 28.9   3.283   2.349    15   13.6  18:18 ( 79, -3)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is bright as 14.2 mag (Oct. 24, Jean-Francois Soulier). Juan Jose Gonzalez reported a very faint large coma, remnant of an old outburst, is visible with a total brightness of 10.0 mag on Nov. 24.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  12 24.57   -9 51.3   6.792   6.262    53   14.1   5:15 (310, 29)  
Dec.  3  12 27.90  -10 21.7   6.696   6.262    60   14.1   5:21 (317, 34)  

* (596) Scheila

Big asteroid discovered in 1906. It suddenly showed the cometary activity on Dec. 11, 2010, probably due to an impact of a small object. It was very bright as 11.5 mag visually (Dec. 17, 2010, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It had a dust coma still on Jan. 9, 2011 (Joseph Brimacombe). Then it turned to be stellar at 13.8 mag (Apr. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Appearing in the morning sky in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  14 11.36   -3 58.4   3.340   2.561    32   14.3   5:15 (285, 14)  
Dec.  3  14 22.97   -5  6.0   3.282   2.552    36   14.3   5:21 (290, 18)  

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova

It passed very near by the earth, within 0.1 A.U., and brightened up to 8.0 mag in the southern sky (Aug. 14, Willian Souza). After appearing in the morning sky in late September, it brightened up to 6.6 mag (Sept. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but still visible visually at 13.5 mag (Nov. 25, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  13  3.96   -3 36.9   1.641   1.210    47   14.3   5:15 (297, 27)  
Dec.  3  13 16.84   -4 40.9   1.682   1.307    50   14.9   5:21 (302, 30)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 14.3 mag and visible visually (Oct. 1, Jakub Cerny). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. However, it will be unobservable temporarily from November to January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  17 57.64  -13 26.5   6.095   5.244    27   14.3  18:18 ( 67,  8)  
Dec.  3  17 59.16  -13 37.4   6.136   5.233    21   14.3  18:18 ( 71,  3)  

* C/2011 Q4 ( SWAN )

New comet discovered in the spacecraft images. It was observed so bright as 9.4 mag (Sept. 22, Chris Wyatt). Appearing in the morning sky in the Northern Hemisphere. It is still bright as 13.2 mag and visible visually (Nov. 24, Seiichi Yoshida). It will be observable while fading gradually after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, further observations are very hard.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  14 30.23    5 26.7   2.213   1.515    35   14.3   5:15 (275, 16)  
Dec.  3  14 30.95    7 35.4   2.169   1.586    42   14.7   5:21 (278, 24)  

* C/2010 M1 ( Gibbs )

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  17 21.18  -64 46.9   3.029   2.445    45   14.8  18:18 ( 28,-27)  
Dec.  3  17 44.09  -66 13.1   3.004   2.420    45   14.7  18:18 ( 27,-28)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 13.6 mag (Nov. 27, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Nov. 26  23  7.87   59  2.7   6.518   7.004   115   14.8  18:48 (180, 66)  
Dec.  3  23  3.13   57 49.5   6.546   6.979   112   14.7  18:18 (179, 67)  

* 37P/Forbes

It brightened up to 16.6 mag on Oct. 12 (Hidetaka Sato). But it is not observable now. It will keep unobservable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  17 29.29  -26 55.3   2.471   1.583    20   15.0  18:18 ( 61, -5)  
Dec.  3  17 53.22  -26 43.9   2.481   1.577    18   14.9  18:18 ( 61, -6)  

* C/2010 X1 ( Elenin )

It has brightened faster than expected, and reached up to 8.1 mag in mid August (Aug. 19, Michael Mattiazzo). However, the nucleus has been disintegrated, and it faded out and got diffuse very rapidly. The necleus has been already fainter than 22.5 mag and unable to be detected (Oct. 23, Jakub Cerny). But the remnant of the comet, extremely large, diffuse and elongated, was detected by CCD images in late October. Juan Jose Gonzalez reported the remnant is still visible visually on Nov. 24, and the total magnitude is 9.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   3 38.51   24 11.7   0.647   1.632   173   15.3  23:17 (  0, 79)  
Dec.  3   3 25.83   22 56.8   0.773   1.742   164   16.0  22:37 (  0, 78)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 15.8 mag (Oct. 22, Erik Bryssinck). It is already visible visually at 14.6 mag (Oct. 1, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Nov. 26  14 13.50   43 42.9   5.146   4.886    69   15.4   5:15 (238, 37)  
Dec.  3  14 22.11   43 36.9   5.032   4.825    72   15.3   5:21 (240, 41)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Oct. 20, Catalina Sky Survey). It is expected to be observable at 13 mag for a long time from 2012 summer to 2013 summer. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it is not observable at brightest time in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps observable for a while at 16 mag while brightening gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   1 41.02  -33 15.5   3.631   4.159   116   15.5  21:20 (  0, 22)  
Dec.  3   1 32.98  -33 48.9   3.666   4.100   109   15.4  20:45 (  0, 21)  

* 213P/2009 B3 ( Van Ness )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in a major outburst in 2005. In this apparition, it brightened up to 12 mag in 2011 summer and autumn. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.0 mag (Nov. 27, Jakub Cerny). It keeps observable in good condition until February when it fades out down to 17-18 mag. The fragment B is also observed at 20 mag. Another fragments C and D are also observed at 21-22 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  22 58.01    5  2.7   1.972   2.413   104   15.4  18:39 (  0, 60)  
Dec.  3  23  4.88    5 30.6   2.077   2.435    99   15.7  18:18 (  0, 61)  

* P/2010 JC81 ( WISE )

It was revealed to be a comet when appearing in the morning sky in early August. It has already passed the perihelion in April, and it will be fading after this. But it is still bright as 15.4 mag (Oct. 29, Artyom Novichonok). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition for a long time until 2012 summer. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  11 40.51   48 44.9   2.697   2.888    90   16.0   5:15 (230, 63)  
Dec.  3  11 48.48   49 18.2   2.679   2.939    95   16.0   5:21 (225, 66)  

* 27P/Crommelin

It has returned after 27-year blank since 1984. It brightened very rapidly, and became very bright as 9.1 mag (July 10, Tsutomu Seki). It may keep bright after the perihelion passage. It was visible in SWAN images still on Sept. 17 (Hirohisa Sato). Tsutomu Seki reported the comet is about 15 mag in early November, although he commented that confirmation is required.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  13 39.76  -29 14.4   2.751   2.006    33   16.2   5:15 (310,  3)  
Dec.  3  13 52.36  -30 24.4   2.793   2.094    37   16.6   5:21 (314,  6)  

* 48P/Johnson

It brightened rapidly, reached up to 14.2 mag in summer and became visible visually (Aug. 1, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading slowly. But it is still bright as 15.8 mag (Oct. 31, Mitsunori Tsumura). It keeps observable until winter when it fades out down to 17-18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  21 37.81  -24 27.8   2.373   2.335    75   16.3  18:18 ( 15, 29)  
Dec.  3  21 49.66  -23 32.2   2.460   2.343    71   16.4  18:18 ( 20, 29)  

* C/2011 S2 ( Kowalski )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Oct. 29, Artyom Novichonok). It kept 16 mag from October to November, but it will be fainter than 18 mag in winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating the same altitude in the morning sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low now, but it will be getting higher gradually. Juan Jose Gonzalez reported that it was visible as a 11.3-mag diffuse comet visually on Oct. 9.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  12 30.91  -13 55.8   1.556   1.213    51   16.3   5:15 (311, 25)  
Dec.  3  12 50.99  -17 22.5   1.585   1.259    52   16.5   5:21 (316, 25)  

* 65P/Gunn

It became bright as 12 mag in 2010. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Nov. 14, V. Gerke, A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   1 32.84    1 16.0   3.176   3.966   138   16.5  21:12 (  0, 56)  
Dec.  3   1 30.42    1 23.0   3.270   3.984   130   16.6  20:43 (  0, 56)  

* C/2011 M1 ( LINEAR )

Extremely diffuse and hardly detected by CCD images. The nucleus is already fainter than 18 mag (Oct. 15, Jean-Francois Soulier). The comet can be already disintegrated. However, Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it so bright as 9.5 mag visually on Sept. 25. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating higher than 20 degree from November to December. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in early November, then it will be getting higher rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  11 52.95  -19 37.0   1.896   1.619    58   16.5   5:15 (323, 26)  
Dec.  3  11 53.62  -23 56.7   1.893   1.709    64   16.7   5:21 (333, 26)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 14, A. Tudorica, T. Badescu). 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)  
Nov. 26  22 35.28   38 46.9   5.229   5.622   108   16.6  18:18 (173, 86)  
Dec.  3  22 38.95   37 40.1   5.334   5.655   104   16.7  18:18 (119, 84)  

* C/2011 L2 ( McNaught )

It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 spring. It keeps observable all thgough the period in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2012 spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. No observations have been reported since August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  13 34.93  -68 35.4   2.396   1.967    53   16.8   5:15 (340,-23)  
Dec.  3  13 27.52  -69 32.9   2.375   1.982    55   16.8   5:21 (343,-21)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

It reached up to 14 mag in 2010 autumn and winter. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Sept. 14, Hidetaka Sato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while fading gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   3 19.55  -80 33.8   4.164   4.083    78   16.9  22:53 (  0,-26)  
Dec.  3   2 27.12  -80 21.9   4.249   4.127    76   17.0  21:35 (  0,-25)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Although it has passed the perihelion in last November, it is uxexpectedly bright as 16.5 mag still now (Oct. 25, C. Bell). It keeps observable in excellent condition until winter. It will keep 16-17 mag for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   6 51.16    2 46.6   3.898   4.656   135   16.9   2:34 (  0, 58)  
Dec.  3   6 43.88    3 28.1   3.875   4.705   143   17.0   2:00 (  0, 58)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 15, Catalina Sky Survey). It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates low and will be hard to observe.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  10 53.74   20  8.3   2.174   2.329    86   17.0   5:15 (305, 67)  
Dec.  3  11  1.45   20 23.9   2.125   2.369    91   17.0   5:21 (317, 71)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 5, LINEAR). It keeps observable in good condition at 17-18 mag until March. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   3  9.64   37  8.1   1.197   2.150   159   17.0  22:48 (180, 88)  
Dec.  3   2 48.97   35 10.3   1.185   2.114   153   17.0  22:00 (180, 90)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Oct. 16, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  23 34.81   12 38.6   7.614   8.085   115   17.0  19:15 (  0, 68)  
Dec.  3  23 32.16   12 12.7   7.736   8.091   107   17.0  18:45 (  0, 67)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 13-14 mag and became visible visually from 2007 to 2009. Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 16.4 mag (Oct. 9, Artyom Novichonok and Vladimir Gerke). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition until early summer in 2012. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low only.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  10 57.11   36  9.6  10.899  10.981    92   17.1   5:15 (260, 73)  
Dec.  3  10 56.36   36 27.0  10.824  11.017    98   17.1   5:21 (259, 80)  

* C/2011 G1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Oct. 26, Hidetaka Sato). It was observed at 17.5 mag in 2011 spring, when the condition was good in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be observable at 17 mag in this winter, when the condition is good in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  10 38.98   17  0.8   2.114   2.307    88   17.3   5:15 (316, 67)  
Dec.  3  10 29.01   19 37.0   1.978   2.337    98   17.2   5:21 (340, 74)  

* P/2011 N1 ( ASH )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 14, K. Hills). It keeps 17-18 mag until early 2013. It keeps observable in good condition until early 2012 in the Southern Hemisphere, although it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in good condition from 2012 autumn to early 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   0 25.16  -40  2.1   2.842   3.175   100   17.3  20:05 (  0, 15)  
Dec.  3   0 25.76  -38 18.6   2.892   3.154    96   17.3  19:38 (  0, 17)  

* 244P/2010 Q1 ( Scotti )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Oct. 22, C. Bell). It keeps observable at 18 mag for a long time until 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   5 34.31   26 16.0   2.988   3.924   158   17.3   1:18 (  0, 81)  
Dec.  3   5 29.96   26 15.3   2.957   3.923   166   17.3   0:46 (  0, 81)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

It was bright as 13.5 mag and visible visually still in 2011 summer. But it is fading now. It has already faded down to 16.4 mag (Nov. 2, L. Elenin). It will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  21 53.89  -34 41.7   4.108   3.990    76   17.4  18:18 ( 10, 20)  
Dec.  3  21 55.93  -34 51.2   4.271   4.041    69   17.6  18:18 ( 15, 18)  

* 2008 YB3

Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. Now it is 18.4 mag (Oct. 26, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 18 mag for a long time from 2008 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   8 10.01    8 53.1   6.051   6.598   119   17.5   3:53 (  0, 64)  
Dec.  3   8  7.04    9 23.3   5.956   6.604   127   17.5   3:22 (  0, 64)  

* 253P/2011 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 14, V. Gerke, A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa). It will be observable in good condition for a while. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  23 35.61   -8 20.9   1.508   2.040   107   17.5  19:16 (  0, 47)  
Dec.  3  23 43.45   -7 27.2   1.580   2.041   102   17.6  18:57 (  0, 48)  

* 130P/McNaught-Hughes

It brightened up to 14.0 mag and became visible visually in August (Aug. 1, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Oct. 31, Yasukazu Ikari).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  23 16.12  -14  8.1   1.990   2.385   101   17.6  18:57 (  0, 41)  
Dec.  3  23 23.00  -12 58.0   2.096   2.408    96   17.8  18:36 (  0, 42)  

* 242P/2010 P3 ( Spahr )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Oct. 21, C. Bell). It will be observable in good condition at 18 mag from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   3  6.50  -14 48.3   3.202   4.023   141   17.6  22:46 (  0, 40)  
Dec.  3   3  3.22  -15  4.3   3.244   4.019   136   17.6  22:15 (  0, 40)  

* 97P/Metcalf-Brewington

The currently reported brightness shows large variation, 16.9 mag on Oct. 22 (Artyom Novichonok), 20.7 mag on Oct. 30 (Hidetaka Sato), 18.2 mag on Nov. 4 (Artyom Novichonok). It may be variable in a short time. This comet was re-discovered in major outburst in 1991.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26   5 58.09   -2 27.0   1.828   2.689   143   17.7   1:41 (  0, 53)  
Dec.  3   5 54.43   -3  3.2   1.813   2.702   148   17.7   1:10 (  0, 52)  

* C/2011 J2 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to keep 13 mag and observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere for a long time from 2013 to 2014. Now it is 18.3 mag (Nov. 7, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 17-18 mag in good condition until 2012 June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 26  11 33.32   -3 57.8   7.594   7.280    67   18.0   5:15 (318, 42)  
Dec.  3  11 34.17   -3 51.4   7.430   7.234    74   17.9   5:21 (327, 46)  

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