Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Dec. 3: South)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on December 4, 2011
Last week North Next week

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* 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)  
Dec.  3  17 30.41   20 53.8   2.111   1.577    44    6.3  20:44 ( 92,-36)  
Dec. 10  17 30.32   21 54.0   2.092   1.562    45    6.2  20:51 ( 88,-44)  

* C/2011 W3 ( Lovejoy )

New Kreutz sungrazer comet discovered on the ground after 41-year blank since Comet C/1970 K1 (White-Ortiz-Bolelli). It will approach nearly to the surface of the Sun on Dec. 15. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southeren Hemisphere, it is visible in the morning sky now. Now it is 11.6 mag and visible visually (Dec. 3, Terry Lovejoy). The ephemeris says it will be brighter than 0 mag at the perihelion passage in calculation. However, because it is a very tiny comet, it is highly likely to be disintegrated and disappear. It will be unobservable on the ground around the perihelion passage. But it will be visible in the SOHO images.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  3  14 36.36  -51 17.2   0.697   0.603    37   11.5   2:55 (320, 20)  
Dec. 10  16 39.57  -40 28.8   0.759   0.358    18    9.8   2:53 (323,  0)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

Now it is 9.9 mag (Dec. 1, Jim Pryal). 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)  
Dec.  3   4  8.70   22 28.2   1.282   2.265   173   11.2  23:19 (180, 33)  
Dec. 10   3 47.09   16 56.7   1.353   2.306   160   11.5  22:30 (180, 38)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  15 48.61  -14 58.0   2.025   1.087    12   11.6   2:55 (302,-16)  
Dec. 10  16 17.97  -16 18.6   2.053   1.115    12   12.0   2:53 (303,-15)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  23 55.84    0 13.7   1.492   2.037   108   11.9  20:44 (143, 48)  
Dec. 10   0  3.73    0 36.5   1.555   2.028   103   11.9  20:51 (135, 44)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  22 37.35   34 19.9   0.416   1.151   102   13.2  20:44 (145, 10)  
Dec. 10  22 50.30   32  1.2   0.380   1.109    98   12.1  20:51 (140,  9)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  18  2.94  -25  9.7   2.405   1.521    20   12.4  20:44 ( 57, -2)  
Dec. 10  18 24.75  -23  7.8   2.379   1.477    18   12.3  20:51 ( 57, -5)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  18 30.96   -3  9.2   2.117   1.410    33   13.1  20:44 ( 79,-10)  
Dec. 10  18 52.98   -3 41.1   2.076   1.351    32   12.7  20:51 ( 76,-12)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  17  0.02  -24 48.7   2.548   1.572     6   13.4  20:44 ( 47,-12)  
Dec. 10  17 23.41  -25 39.1   2.547   1.569     5   13.3  20:51 ( 45,-13)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  11  3.38    8  2.6   1.204   1.508    86   13.5   2:55 (238, 26)  
Dec. 10  11 19.50    8 30.5   1.177   1.535    90   13.6   2:53 (236, 27)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  19 36.37  -29 11.7   1.699   1.159    41   13.5  20:44 ( 66, 18)  
Dec. 10  20 10.73  -28  1.1   1.755   1.217    41   13.9  20:51 ( 67, 17)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  14 30.30  -86 47.4   5.797   5.459    65   13.5   2:55 (356, 34)  
Dec. 10  16  3.75  -88  3.7   5.795   5.457    65   13.5   2:53 (358, 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)  
Dec.  3  17 19.69  -10 28.9   3.283   2.349    15   13.6  20:44 ( 61,-19)  
Dec. 10  17 35.53  -11 24.1   3.292   2.346    13   13.6  20:51 ( 57,-22)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is bright as 14.1 mag but very diffuse (Nov. 26, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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)  
Dec.  3  12 27.90  -10 21.7   6.696   6.262    60   14.1   2:55 (268, 21)  
Dec. 10  12 30.92  -10 50.5   6.594   6.262    66   14.1   2:53 (265, 26)  

* (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)  
Dec.  3  14 22.97   -5  6.0   3.282   2.552    36   14.3   2:55 (280, -6)  
Dec. 10  14 34.54   -6 10.7   3.219   2.544    39   14.3   2:53 (279, -2)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  17 59.16  -13 37.4   6.136   5.233    21   14.3  20:44 ( 65,-10)  
Dec. 10  18  0.85  -13 46.9   6.163   5.223    15   14.3  20:51 ( 60,-16)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  17 44.09  -66 13.1   3.004   2.420    45   14.7  20:44 ( 23, 22)  
Dec. 10  18 10.97  -67 36.4   2.974   2.396    45   14.7  20:51 ( 21, 23)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  14 30.94    7 35.6   2.168   1.586    42   14.7   2:55 (271,-15)  
Dec. 10  14 31.11    9 59.3   2.111   1.660    50   15.0   2:53 (266,-11)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  23  3.13   57 49.5   6.546   6.979   112   14.7  20:44 (161, -8)  
Dec. 10  22 59.60   56 37.3   6.584   6.954   108   14.7  20:51 (156,-10)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  13 16.84   -4 40.9   1.682   1.307    50   14.9   2:55 (271,  7)  
Dec. 10  13 28.42   -5 35.9   1.712   1.402    54   15.4   2:53 (269, 11)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  17 53.22  -26 43.9   2.481   1.577    18   14.9  20:44 ( 55, -2)  
Dec. 10  18 17.17  -26 18.4   2.493   1.575    16   14.9  20:51 ( 53, -4)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 15.6 mag (Nov. 21, S. Shurpakov). 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)  
Dec.  3  14 22.11   43 36.9   5.032   4.825    72   15.3   2:55 (236,-30)  
Dec. 10  14 30.63   43 36.5   4.917   4.764    75   15.2   2:53 (234,-27)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Nov. 20, K. Hills). 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)  
Dec.  3   1 32.98  -33 48.9   3.666   4.100   109   15.4  20:45 (180, 89)  
Dec. 10   1 25.76  -34 10.7   3.708   4.041   102   15.4  20:51 ( 93, 81)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  23  4.88    5 30.6   2.077   2.435    99   15.7  20:44 (132, 37)  
Dec. 10  23 12.44    6  3.5   2.184   2.458    94   15.9  20:51 (126, 32)  

* P/2010 JC81 ( WISE )

It was revealed to be a comet when appearing in the morning sky in early August. It was visible as 13.8 mag and visible visually (Sept. 4, Sandor Szabo). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.8 mag (Nov. 20, A. Diepvens). 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)  
Dec.  3  11 48.48   49 18.2   2.679   2.939    95   16.0   2:55 (216,-11)  
Dec. 10  11 55.07   49 58.7   2.663   2.991    99   16.1   2:53 (213, -9)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3   3 25.83   22 56.8   0.773   1.742   164   16.0  22:37 (180, 32)  
Dec. 10   3 17.89   22  1.5   0.910   1.851   155   16.7  22:02 (180, 33)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  21 49.66  -23 32.2   2.460   2.343    71   16.4  20:44 ( 88, 41)  
Dec. 10  22  1.76  -22 32.0   2.545   2.353    67   16.6  20:51 ( 86, 36)  

* C/2011 S2 ( Kowalski )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Nov. 15, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
Dec.  3  12 50.98  -17 22.5   1.585   1.259    52   16.5   2:55 (278, 20)  
Dec. 10  13 10.13  -20 31.3   1.614   1.312    54   16.7   2:53 (280, 23)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

Now it is bright as 16.5 mag (Nov. 30, Hidetaka Sato). Although it was extremely faint as 20.5 mag at the recovery in 2010 autumn, it brightened rapidly. It will keep 15 mag and observable in good condition for a long time from 2012 to 2013. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere in 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  3  12 50.02   10 30.3   3.892   3.571    63   16.6   2:55 (254,  4)  
Dec. 10  12 57.04   10  6.8   3.784   3.553    69   16.5   2:53 (252,  8)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3   1 30.42    1 23.0   3.270   3.984   130   16.6  20:44 (180, 54)  
Dec. 10   1 28.81    1 35.0   3.373   4.001   123   16.7  20:51 (164, 52)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  13 52.36  -30 24.4   2.793   2.094    37   16.6   2:55 (297, 15)  
Dec. 10  14  4.13  -31 28.7   2.827   2.180    40   17.0   2:53 (296, 18)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  22 38.95   37 40.1   5.334   5.655   104   16.7  20:44 (147,  7)  
Dec. 10  22 43.09   36 38.2   5.445   5.687    99   16.7  20:51 (141,  4)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  11 53.62  -23 56.7   1.893   1.709    64   16.7   2:55 (277, 34)  
Dec. 10  11 52.90  -28 12.3   1.891   1.799    69   16.9   2:53 (278, 42)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  13 27.52  -69 32.9   2.375   1.982    55   16.8   2:55 (335, 33)  
Dec. 10  13 16.54  -70 38.6   2.343   2.001    57   16.9   2:53 (336, 37)  

* P/2011 UA134 ( Spacewatch-PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 16.8 mag (Nov. 23, Catalina Sky Survey). Although it was extremely faint as 21 mag at the discovery in late October, it brightened rapidly. It will keep 17 mag until the end of January. It may fade out rapidly after that. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere, but it is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  3   4 31.67   32 13.6   1.074   2.052   169   17.0  23:43 (180, 23)  
Dec. 10   4 27.10   32 55.5   1.080   2.052   166   16.9  23:11 (180, 22)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 16.8 mag (Nov. 15, V. Gerke. A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa, D. Chestnov). 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)  
Dec.  3  11  1.45   20 23.9   2.125   2.369    91   17.0   2:55 (229, 17)  
Dec. 10  11  8.05   20 47.9   2.077   2.409    97   16.9   2:53 (225, 19)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3   2 27.12  -80 21.9   4.249   4.127    76   17.0  21:35 (  0, 45)  
Dec. 10   1 43.64  -79 35.9   4.335   4.173    73   17.0  20:51 (  2, 45)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Although it has passed the perihelion in last November, it is uxexpectedly bright as 16.4 mag still now (Nov. 6, A. Tudorica, T. Badescu). 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)  
Dec.  3   6 43.88    3 28.1   3.875   4.705   143   17.0   2:00 (180, 52)  
Dec. 10   6 36.10    4 14.0   3.867   4.754   151   17.0   1:24 (180, 51)  

* (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)  
Dec.  3   2 48.97   35 10.3   1.185   2.114   153   17.0  22:00 (180, 20)  
Dec. 10   2 30.53   32 53.5   1.191   2.074   144   17.1  21:14 (180, 22)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 15, A. Diepvens). 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)  
Dec.  3  23 32.16   12 12.7   7.736   8.091   107   17.0  20:44 (144, 35)  
Dec. 10  23 30.00   11 49.5   7.864   8.097   100   17.1  20:51 (134, 30)  

* 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 17.5 mag (Oct. 28, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Dec.  3  10 56.36   36 27.0  10.824  11.017    98   17.1   2:55 (218,  5)  
Dec. 10  10 55.23   36 46.2  10.752  11.053   105   17.1   2:53 (213,  8)  

* C/2011 G1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Nov. 23, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Dec.  3  10 29.01   19 37.0   1.978   2.337    98   17.2   2:55 (223, 22)  
Dec. 10  10 15.50   22 41.2   1.851   2.369   109   17.1   2:53 (213, 25)  

* 244P/2010 Q1 ( Scotti )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 21, J. F. Soulier). 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)  
Dec.  3   5 29.96   26 15.3   2.957   3.923   166   17.3   0:46 (180, 29)  
Dec. 10   5 25.27   26 12.9   2.940   3.922   174   17.3   0:14 (180, 29)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3   0 25.76  -38 18.6   2.892   3.154    96   17.3  20:44 ( 72, 76)  
Dec. 10   0 27.46  -36 29.2   2.945   3.133    91   17.3  20:51 ( 79, 70)  

* 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT )

It had been fading after the perihelion passage in 2010 October, but it brightened again in outburst on Apr. 5, 2011. It reached up to 14.7 mag in May (May 28, Hidetaka Sato). It has been unobservable since July. But it is appearing in the morning sky now. Now it is 17.3 mag, much brighter than expected (Nov. 26, Hidetaka Sato). It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition after this. It will keep 17 mag for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  3  13 12.96   14 57.6   3.938   3.578    61   17.3   2:55 (254, -3)  
Dec. 10  13 19.53   14 44.7   3.880   3.607    66   17.4   2:53 (251,  1)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3   8  7.04    9 23.3   5.956   6.604   127   17.5   2:55 (190, 45)  
Dec. 10   8  3.53    9 56.7   5.871   6.610   135   17.4   2:51 (180, 45)  

* 242P/2010 P3 ( Spahr )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Nov. 24, V. Gerke. A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa, D. Chestnov). 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)  
Dec.  3   3  3.22  -15  4.3   3.244   4.019   136   17.6  22:15 (180, 70)  
Dec. 10   3  0.42  -15 10.9   3.296   4.014   131   17.7  21:45 (180, 70)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  23 43.45   -7 27.2   1.580   2.041   102   17.6  20:44 (132, 53)  
Dec. 10  23 52.19   -6 26.6   1.655   2.043    98   17.7  20:51 (125, 48)  

* P/2011 W2 ( Rinner )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Nov. 29, F. Losse). It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this. But it is brightest now, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  3   7 58.22    4 47.5   1.617   2.355   127   17.8   2:55 (187, 50)  
Dec. 10   7 57.74    3 41.0   1.572   2.366   134   17.7   2:45 (180, 51)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3   5 54.43   -3  3.2   1.813   2.702   148   17.7   1:10 (180, 58)  
Dec. 10   5 50.17   -3 28.4   1.810   2.716   151   17.8   0:38 (180, 58)  

* 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 is still bright as 16.1 mag (Nov. 17, V. Gerke, A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa, D. Chestnov). But it will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  3  23 23.00  -12 58.0   2.096   2.408    96   17.8  20:44 (120, 54)  
Dec. 10  23 30.49  -11 45.2   2.204   2.432    91   18.0  20:51 (114, 48)  

* 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)  
Dec.  3  11 34.17   -3 51.4   7.430   7.234    74   17.9   2:55 (254, 28)  
Dec. 10  11 34.64   -3 42.2   7.262   7.188    81   17.9   2:53 (249, 32)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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