Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 Feb. 4: North)

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Updated on February 3, 2012
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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 6.3 mag (Jan. 30, Piotr Guzik). It keeps bright as 7 mag and observable in excellent condition until April. Then it will be fading and will be unobservable in June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. It will be observable in the evening low sky from April to June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  17 13.72   43 23.6   1.508   1.656    80    6.4   5:30 (243, 56)  
Feb. 11  17  1.46   48 52.5   1.421   1.692    87    6.4   5:25 (231, 62)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is very bright as 8.8 mag (Jan. 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will keep 10 mag until March, but it will be too low to observe. It is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  22 31.80   -3 56.5   1.853   1.036    24   10.3  18:56 ( 81,  6)  
Feb. 11  23  2.48   -3 30.0   1.850   1.031    24   10.3  19:03 ( 82,  6)  

* 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)  
Feb.  4  21 19.38    0 43.5   2.276   1.368    17   11.8  18:56 ( 95, -6)  
Feb. 11  21 40.91    4 16.6   2.287   1.389    18   11.9  19:03 (100, -6)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is very bright as 11.2 mag (Jan. 14, Uwe Pilz). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 11-12 mag in good condition until March, but it will be unobservable in April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be low in the evening sky after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   1 35.88    7 35.8   2.117   2.017    70   12.5  18:56 ( 57, 49)  
Feb. 11   1 49.82    8 42.4   2.190   2.023    67   12.6  19:03 ( 63, 46)  

* 257P/2012 A3 ( SOHO )

A comet discovered from the SOHO spacecraft images in 2003 was rediscovered from the STEREO spacecraft images. Hidetaka Sato reported it is bright as 15.1 mag (Feb. 3). It may be visible visually. It will be fading gradually, but getting higher after this. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  23 27.65   -9 58.2   1.022   0.599    34   12.7  18:56 ( 67, 14)  
Feb. 11   0 14.44   -7  5.9   0.925   0.651    39   13.0  19:03 ( 68, 18)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

It reached up to 9.7 mag with a large bright coma in autumn (Oct. 29, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after this. However, an outburst occured and a bright stellar nucleus is visible (Jan. 2, Alfons Diepvens). It is very bright still now as 10.8 mag (Jan. 20, Marco Goiato). It keeps high for a while, but it will be getting lower after February. It will be unobservable in late March in the Northern Hemisphere, or late April in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   2 52.16   -4  8.9   2.585   2.688    85   13.0  18:56 ( 23, 48)  
Feb. 11   2 53.63   -4 56.9   2.758   2.741    78   13.3  19:03 ( 33, 45)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 17.1 mag in late June in 2011 (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 pril in the Southern Hemisphere. It will not be observable until 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)  
Feb.  4  20 31.17  -24 10.5   2.594   1.640    11   13.2   5:30 (289,-15)  
Feb. 11  20 52.68  -23  6.3   2.605   1.661    13   13.3   5:25 (288,-14)  

* 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 approached nearly to the surface of the Sun on Dec. 16, and reached -4 mag or brighter at best. Then it appeared in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere, and it became a great comet with a bright long tail of 30-40 degrees. Now it is 12.0 mag (Jan. 27, Alan Hale). However, the nucleus of the comet is not visible at all, fainter than 19 mag (Jan. 2, Robert McNaught). Probably the comet itself has already disappeared and only the remnant is visible. The tail became extremely faint, but the very long tail of 20-30 degrees is detectable by photos still now with an excellent sky condition. Now it is observable also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   4 45.03  -32 48.3   0.947   1.484   100   13.5  19:49 (  0, 23)  
Feb. 11   4 49.66  -26 23.0   1.131   1.620    99   14.4  19:26 (  0, 29)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag and visible visually (Jan. 20, 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)  
Feb.  4   1 35.67  -77 10.0   5.737   5.460    68   13.5  18:56 (  8,-24)  
Feb. 11   1 47.57  -75 21.5   5.730   5.463    69   13.5  19:03 ( 10,-23)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It was 14.2 mag and strongly condensed on Jan. 3 (Juan Jose Gonzalez). Recent total magnitude is uncertain.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  12 39.88  -13 21.7   5.715   6.261   119   13.8   3:47 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 11  12 38.80  -13 27.2   5.620   6.261   126   13.7   3:18 (  0, 41)  

* 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)  
Feb.  4  19 42.63  -15  0.8   3.309   2.410    20   13.8   5:30 (288,  0)  
Feb. 11  19 57.79  -15  3.6   3.302   2.430    23   13.9   5:25 (289,  1)  

* (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). Now it is 14.1 mag (Jan. 3, Hidetaka Sato). It has already turned to be stellar.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  16  2.00  -12 52.3   2.582   2.489    73   14.0   5:30 (330, 37)  
Feb. 11  16 11.55  -13 28.0   2.490   2.483    78   13.9   5:25 (334, 37)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It was already visible visually at 14.3 mag in 2011 (Oct. 1, Jakub Cerny). Although it has been unobservable for a while, it is appearing in the morning sky now. It keeps 13-14 mag and observable in good condition until September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  18 13.70  -14 13.4   5.852   5.160    41   14.2   5:30 (301, 17)  
Feb. 11  18 14.31  -14 11.6   5.754   5.155    48   14.1   5:25 (305, 20)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 13.9 mag and visible visually (Jan. 27, 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)  
Feb.  4  15 28.83   47  9.9   4.010   4.268    98   14.3   5:30 (220, 73)  
Feb. 11  15 33.75   48  2.3   3.906   4.206   100   14.2   5:25 (210, 74)  

* 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 August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  23 51.77  -65 38.4   2.697   2.299    56   14.3  18:56 ( 22,-20)  
Feb. 11   0 27.78  -62 54.5   2.680   2.299    57   14.3  19:03 ( 25,-18)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 14.3 mag (Jan. 20, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Feb.  4  23  0.73   49 37.1   7.021   6.760    70   14.7  18:56 (130, 36)  
Feb. 11  23  2.98   49 11.4   7.070   6.736    66   14.7  19:03 (131, 31)  

* 255P/2011 Y1 ( Levy )

First return of a new comet which brightened up to 9.5 mag in a major outburst in 2006. It was recovered on Dec. 17, but much fainter than expected. However, it looks very diffuse, and the total magnitude is bright as 13.5 mag (Dec. 26, Michael Jager). It may be visible visually. It approached to the earth down to 0.24 A.U. in late January. It will keep close to the earth and observable in good condition in the evening sky for a while after this. However, it may fade out very rapidly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   3 54.02  -13 21.8   0.248   1.046    97   14.7  19:01 (  0, 41)  
Feb. 11   4 46.54  -19  1.9   0.274   1.075   101   15.4  19:26 (  0, 36)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It is getting lower in the evening sky. It will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere, or in mid March in the Southern Hemisphere. 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   1  4.28  -33  6.0   4.036   3.571    55   15.1  18:56 ( 35, 11)  
Feb. 11   1  5.78  -32 48.4   4.049   3.513    51   15.0  19:03 ( 41,  8)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

It reached up to 11-12 mag in 2011 autumn. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Jan. 17, A. Diepvens). But it has a very long tail. It keeps observable in good condition until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  12 31.80   20  6.6   1.025   1.834   131   15.5   3:38 (  0, 75)  
Feb. 11  12 31.78   22 17.7   1.028   1.878   137   15.8   3:11 (  0, 77)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

Now it is bright as 15.6 mag (Jan. 13, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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)  
Feb.  4  13 35.49    9 57.0   2.882   3.414   114   15.8   4:42 (  0, 65)  
Feb. 11  13 37.04   10 19.9   2.782   3.397   121   15.7   4:16 (  0, 65)  

* C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Jan. 18, Toshiyuki Takahashi). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition until early 2013. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  19 29.72   25 51.2   3.438   2.882    48   16.0   5:30 (255, 25)  
Feb. 11  19 37.23   27 56.1   3.346   2.832    51   15.8   5:25 (255, 29)  

* C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR )

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is appearing int he morning sky. It will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition for a long time until 2013 summer. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  18 58.63  -38 12.9   5.008   4.245    35   16.3   5:30 (312, -7)  
Feb. 11  19  6.67  -39  7.7   4.917   4.221    40   16.2   5:25 (315, -5)  

* C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to be a great comet of 0 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 13, Toshiyuki Takahashi), brightening well. In 2012, it keeps observable until summer while brightening gradually. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  16 51.86  -22 46.2   6.117   5.689    60   16.5   5:30 (323, 22)  
Feb. 11  16 54.58  -23  0.3   5.940   5.620    66   16.4   5:25 (328, 24)  

* C/2011 S2 ( Kowalski )

It is bright as 16.1 mag still now (Jan. 23, Hidetaka Sato). After a small outburst in early December, it keeps its brightness without fading. It will keep 16 mag some more time. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemipshere. It keeps locating very low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  15  2.91  -36 53.0   1.737   1.859    81   16.6   5:30 (352, 18)  
Feb. 11  15 10.54  -38  7.7   1.735   1.935    85   16.8   5:25 (355, 17)  

* C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 17, M. Caimmi). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 16-17 mag in good condition for a long time from 2012 to 2013. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  12 43.01   49 33.4   3.662   4.312   125   17.2   3:50 (180, 76)  
Feb. 11  12 35.79   52 17.0   3.600   4.277   127   17.1   3:15 (180, 73)  

* 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 17.6 mag (Dec. 11, 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)  
Feb.  4  10 32.70   39 39.0  10.474  11.341   150   17.1   1:40 (180, 85)  
Feb. 11  10 28.62   39 55.6  10.498  11.378   151   17.1   1:08 (180, 85)  

* P/2011 W2 ( Rinner )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari), brighter than the early ephemeris. It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this. It keeps 17 mag until February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   7 24.40    0 38.5   1.483   2.389   150   17.1  22:28 (  0, 56)  
Feb. 11   7 21.55    1  2.3   1.530   2.402   144   17.2  21:57 (  0, 56)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  11 11.98   28 33.7   1.841   2.733   148   17.1   2:19 (  0, 83)  
Feb. 11  11  6.43   29 40.0   1.852   2.773   154   17.2   1:46 (  0, 85)  

* 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 17.6 mag (Jan. 23, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable at 17-18 mag in good condition until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  11 21.29   -0  9.3   6.010   6.824   143   17.2   2:28 (  0, 55)  
Feb. 11  11 17.42    0 36.9   5.896   6.778   151   17.2   1:57 (  0, 56)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Although it has passed the perihelion in 2010 November, it is uxexpectedly bright as 16.5 mag still now (Jan. 16, J. Nicolas). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. 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)  
Feb.  4   5 38.57   11 35.2   4.470   5.150   129   17.2  20:42 (  0, 67)  
Feb. 11   5 34.25   12 28.1   4.616   5.200   121   17.3  20:10 (  0, 68)  

* C/2011 Q4 ( SWAN )

It was observed so bright as 9.4 mag in September (Sept. 22, Chris Wyatt). It is still bright and visible visually at 14.7 mag (Jan. 26, Jakub Cerny). However, the nuclear magnitude is already so faint as 18.8 mag (Jan. 17, E. Prosperi, et al.). 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)  
Feb.  4  13 27.50   43 47.9   1.634   2.284   119   17.2   4:35 (180, 81)  
Feb. 11  13  0.50   48 55.3   1.646   2.363   125   17.6   3:40 (180, 76)  

* 2008 YB3

Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 4, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Feb.  4   7 24.75   15 42.5   5.754   6.662   155   17.3  22:28 (  0, 71)  
Feb. 11   7 20.13   16 27.6   5.817   6.669   147   17.3  21:56 (  0, 71)  

* C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR )

It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2013. In 2012, it keeps observable in good condition until early September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  16 41.14   -0 49.0   5.979   5.673    67   17.4   5:30 (311, 42)  
Feb. 11  16 40.40   -0 24.8   5.855   5.666    74   17.4   5:25 (317, 46)  

* 244P/2010 Q1 ( Scotti )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 18, P. C. Sherrod). 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)  
Feb.  4   5  0.07   25 24.5   3.306   3.919   122   17.5  20:04 (  0, 80)  
Feb. 11   5  0.53   25 20.6   3.398   3.919   115   17.5  19:37 (  0, 80)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

It reached up to 15.3 mag in early summer in 2011 (June 19, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.5 mag (Jan. 16, K. Hills). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. I will locate high in the Southern Hemishere, but somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  15 53.95  -18 20.6   2.764   2.669    74   17.6   5:30 (335, 33)  
Feb. 11  16  1.39  -19  5.5   2.699   2.698    79   17.7   5:25 (339, 33)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 14, K. Hills). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 2014. In 2012, it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  11 34.88   14 11.2   3.559   4.398   144   17.8   2:42 (  0, 69)  
Feb. 11  11 32.05   14 38.9   3.490   4.385   151   17.7   2:12 (  0, 70)  

* C/2011 G1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). 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)  
Feb.  4   6  8.15   41 55.8   1.912   2.692   134   17.7  21:10 (180, 83)  
Feb. 11   5 44.09   41 17.9   2.069   2.739   123   18.0  20:19 (180, 84)  

* 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 17.1 mag, much brighter than expected (Dec. 17, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Feb.  4  13 49.46   16 28.6   3.344   3.835   112   17.8   4:56 (  0, 71)  
Feb. 11  13 49.55   17  4.6   3.286   3.863   119   17.9   4:28 (  0, 72)  

* (306173) 2010 NK83

Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. It was observed at 18 mag in 2010 autumn. It will be observable at 18 mag again in 2012 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  10 19.88   22  6.9   1.977   2.930   162   17.9   1:27 (  0, 77)  
Feb. 11  10 15.49   22 55.3   1.991   2.962   167   17.8   0:55 (  0, 78)  

* 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. It has already faded down to 15.7 mag in mid December (Dec. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4  14 12.64   -7 42.8   1.657   2.080   100   17.9   5:19 (  0, 47)  
Feb. 11  14 11.14   -7 18.4   1.632   2.156   108   18.1   4:50 (  0, 48)  

* C/2011 L2 ( McNaught )

It had expected to keep 17 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 spring and observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But actually, it has faded down to 20.7 mag (Jan. 16, D. Herald), much fainter than expected by 4 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  4   8 22.01  -67  5.5   1.934   2.260    95   20.3  23:22 (  0,-12)  
Feb. 11   7 55.82  -62 38.1   1.908   2.304   100   20.3  22:30 (  0, -7)  

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