Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 June 30: South)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on July 2, 2012
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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.

96P/Machholz 1 Brightening rapidly. Marco Goiato reported it was 9.6 mag visually on June 30. It will approach to the sun down to 0.12 A.U. on July 14. In the Southern Hemisphere, it becomes unobservable temporarily in mid July, but it will be observable in good condition in the evening sky after the perihelion passage. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable now, but it will appear in the evening sky at 8 mag in late July. Then it keeps observable while fading rapidly in the evening low sky. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 5 27.36 -4 13.1 0.949 0.549 32 9.5 5:38 (267, 12) July 7 6 19.07 6 49.4 1.023 0.343 19 7.2 5:37 (262, 0) C/2009 P1 ( Garradd ) It kept as bright as 6-7 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 spring. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 10.6 mag still now (June 16, Carlos Labordena). It will be unobservable soon in late June. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 12.5 mag in October. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 9 12.80 18 59.0 3.637 2.884 36 10.8 18:29 (125, 13) July 7 9 17.14 17 29.9 3.774 2.953 31 11.0 18:32 (119, 10) C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is so bright as 10.7 mag (June 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. 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 30 14 3.84 44 33.3 2.803 2.950 88 11.4 19:28 (180, 11) July 7 14 3.18 42 0.6 2.794 2.889 85 11.3 19:00 (180, 13) C/2011 R1 ( McNaught ) Now it is bright as 12.0 mag (June 15, Chris Wyatt). It is expected to be observable at 11-13 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 until 2013 January in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 3 49.07 -51 18.0 2.365 2.459 83 12.3 5:38 (310, 48) July 7 4 10.92 -54 55.8 2.264 2.417 86 12.1 5:37 (316, 49) (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. Now it is 11.9 mag (May 29, Marco Goiato). It has already turned to be stellar. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 16 8.01 -24 0.2 1.542 2.452 146 12.6 21:32 (180, 79) July 7 16 4.98 -24 31.6 1.597 2.455 138 12.7 21:02 (180, 80) C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR ) It brightened much faster than expected. Now it is so bright as 10.9 mag (June 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 12-13 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) June 30 8 45.35 68 32.5 2.673 2.154 49 12.6 18:29 (159,-24) July 7 8 58.15 65 1.0 2.720 2.146 46 12.6 18:32 (154,-23) C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS ) It is expected to be a great comet of -1 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 12.6 mag (June 16, Carlos Labordena). Brightening faster than originally expected. 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) June 30 15 31.16 -25 28.5 3.313 4.123 137 12.8 20:55 (180, 81) July 7 15 23.84 -25 19.2 3.317 4.042 129 12.7 20:20 (180, 80) 185P/Petriew Brightening rapidly. It has already brightened up to 14.5 mag (June 18, Michael Jager). It has a large faint coma of 1.5 arcmin. It is expected to reach up to 10 mag in August. It keeps observable in the morning sky all through this apparition, although it locates somewhat low. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 1 57.28 23 57.3 1.136 1.134 63 14.1 5:38 (207, 26) July 7 2 35.88 25 36.8 1.110 1.082 60 13.4 5:37 (209, 23) C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS ) Now it is bright as 12.1 mag (June 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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) June 30 16 5.59 -12 8.8 4.319 5.162 142 13.5 21:29 (180, 67) July 7 15 56.83 -12 5.6 4.411 5.168 133 13.6 20:53 (180, 67) 58P/Jackson-Neujmin This comet brightened up to 10 mag in outburst in 1995, however, it became lost after that. The condition of this apparition is bad. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. Maybe it can be recovered after summer when it appears in the morning sky. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 4 48.77 13 41.3 2.503 1.666 27 13.6 5:38 (247, 8) July 7 5 7.30 13 53.2 2.522 1.710 29 13.7 5:37 (245, 10) C/2009 F4 ( McNaught ) Now it is bright as 13.9 mag (June 15, 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 30 4 35.98 -52 32.4 5.699 5.615 80 13.6 5:38 (312, 41) July 7 4 41.23 -52 25.7 5.690 5.627 81 13.7 5:37 (312, 44) C/2011 U3 ( PanSTARRS ) It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag from May to July. But actually, it has not been observed since late January. Michael Mattiazzo reported it was not detected, fainter than 17.0 mag, on June 10. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher gradually after this. It will be hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 9 23.00 -43 2.0 0.835 1.155 76 13.7 18:29 ( 63, 48) July 7 10 36.40 -35 14.7 0.923 1.202 76 14.1 18:32 ( 77, 54) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Now it is visible visually at 11.7 mag (June 16, Carlos Labordena). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 12 9.14 -10 11.4 6.211 6.255 87 13.9 18:29 (150, 62) July 7 12 11.28 -10 17.6 6.320 6.254 81 14.0 18:32 (138, 59) C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 13.9 mag (Mar. 26, Jakub Cerny). It is expected to be 13 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. It keeps observable for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 23 9.73 55 54.4 6.383 6.327 82 14.0 4:37 (180, -1) July 7 23 2.99 56 24.9 6.288 6.309 86 14.0 4:03 (180, -1) 78P/Gehrels 2 It kept as bright as 11-12 mag for a long time from 2011 autumn to 2012 spring. It is not observable now. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 15 mag in autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 6 56.28 18 31.8 3.424 2.416 6 14.3 18:29 (104,-12) July 7 7 10.47 18 6.8 3.457 2.445 4 14.4 18:32 (102,-15) 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT ) Now it is so bright as 11.6 mag (June 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Although it was extremely faint as 20.5 mag at the recovery in 2010 autumn, it brightened rapidly. It will keep 12-14 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) June 30 12 57.72 7 60.0 2.891 3.092 91 14.3 18:29 (178, 47) July 7 13 1.60 6 51.5 2.970 3.079 86 14.3 18:32 (168, 48) C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 15.9 mag (June 2, K. Hills). In the Southern Hemisphere, 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) June 30 20 24.15 -75 41.6 3.233 3.914 125 15.0 1:53 ( 0, 49) July 7 20 8.25 -77 39.8 3.243 3.908 124 15.0 1:10 ( 0, 47) C/2012 CH17 ( MOSS ) Now it is 16.1 mag (June 22, A. Diepvens). It is expected to brighten up to 13.5 mag from summer to autumn. But actually, it is fainter than this ephemeris recently. It keeps observable for a long time until December. It keeps locating low in the evening after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 11 35.30 28 59.2 2.006 1.846 66 15.2 18:29 (159, 23) July 7 11 47.16 27 23.7 1.990 1.779 63 15.0 18:32 (154, 23) C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs ) Now it is 15.3 mag (May 30, Jakub Cerny). After this, 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) June 30 23 14.68 -17 52.9 2.607 3.177 115 15.1 4:42 (180, 73) July 7 23 16.66 -18 52.3 2.575 3.226 121 15.2 4:16 (180, 74) 260P/2012 K2 ( McNaught ) First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2005. It was recovered as bright as predicted. Now it is 16.0 mag (June 27, C. Bell). It is expected to brighten up to 13 mag from summer to autumn, and will be observable in excellent condition. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 0 13.85 -10 51.4 1.198 1.694 99 15.6 5:38 (182, 66) July 7 0 27.44 -8 31.3 1.119 1.661 102 15.3 5:26 (180, 64) 189P/NEAT Brightening rapidly. Now it is 16.1 mag (June 19, K. Hills). It will approach to the earth down to 0.17 A.U. in July. Then it brightens up to 15 mag and moves northwards very quickly. Now it locates very high in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will become observable in late June, then it will be observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps excellent condition until July. It keeps observable also after that, but locates somewhat low. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 18 30.65 -32 47.1 0.189 1.203 170 15.7 0:00 (180, 87) July 7 18 41.12 -17 29.4 0.173 1.189 172 15.4 23:38 (180, 71) C/2011 Q2 ( McNaught ) It was observed at 12.5 mag on Apr. 1, as bright as expected (Michael Jager). Now it is 14.0 mag (Apr. 26, Michael Jager). In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low in the morning until June. It will be observable at high location after summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 4 8.51 44 38.2 3.337 2.598 37 15.5 5:38 (218, -6) July 7 4 22.74 45 6.9 3.369 2.671 40 15.6 5:37 (216, -5) C/2012 J1 ( Catalina ) Now it is 15.8 mag (June 10, K. Hills). It keeps observable in good condition at 14-15 mag for a long time until winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 23 33.38 33 49.3 3.374 3.513 89 15.6 5:00 (180, 21) July 7 23 38.09 34 55.5 3.271 3.485 93 15.5 4:37 (180, 20) 71P/Clark The condition of this apparition is bad, and it was not observable around the perihelion passage. Appearing in the morning sky now. It is bright still now, about 14 mag (May 16, Terry Lovejoy). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 1 39.13 1 32.7 2.389 2.343 75 15.8 5:38 (214, 48) July 7 1 46.54 2 6.6 2.343 2.382 79 16.0 5:37 (207, 50) C/2012 K5 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.5 mag (June 14, L. Arnold). It is expected to approach to the earth and to be observable at 9-10 mag in good condition in winter. The condition is good in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere, and will be unobservable after summer. But it will become observable in good condition after 2013 January. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 18 7.16 43 3.7 1.901 2.486 113 16.4 23:29 (180, 12) July 7 17 44.39 45 18.2 1.867 2.407 109 16.2 22:39 (180, 10) C/2010 G2 ( Hill ) It brightened up to 10 mag from autumn to winter in 2011. Now it is appearing in the morning sky again in the Southern Hemisphere. It keeps observable in good condition while fading graudlaly after this. It will be hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 4 37.10 -16 35.3 4.483 3.898 49 16.6 5:38 (271, 28) July 7 4 42.07 -17 49.2 4.477 3.957 53 16.7 5:37 (269, 34) 152P/Helin-Lawrence Now it is 15.5 mag (June 8, Catalina Sky Survey). It tends to brighten after the perihelion passage. It keeps observable at 16-17 mag from 2012 to 2013. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 16 8.08 -16 36.8 2.232 3.117 144 16.7 21:32 (180, 72) July 7 16 5.99 -16 57.2 2.290 3.116 137 16.7 21:03 (180, 72) C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.6 mag (June 12, Catalina Sky Survey). 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) June 30 14 31.35 8 18.0 5.165 5.630 112 17.1 19:55 (180, 47) July 7 14 25.92 8 5.0 5.282 5.633 105 17.1 19:23 (180, 47) 160P/LINEAR Now it is 20.0 mag (May 27, Hidetaka Sato), much fainter than expected. But it is expected to brighten rapidly, and to be observable in good condition at 16.5 mag from summer to autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 23 34.96 -8 20.7 1.636 2.170 107 17.4 5:02 (180, 63) July 7 23 40.30 -6 53.9 1.551 2.153 112 17.2 4:40 (180, 62) C/2008 S3 ( Boattini ) It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2009 to 2013. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 23 34.43 14 27.4 8.152 8.356 98 17.3 5:01 (180, 40) July 7 23 31.73 14 29.1 8.046 8.368 105 17.3 4:31 (180, 40) C/2012 L1 ( LINEAR ) New comet. Now it is 17.2 mag (June 5, A. Diepvens). It will brighten up to 15 mag from autum to winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere, except for 2013 spring, but the comet locates extremely low only. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 18 3.18 76 26.6 3.006 3.006 80 17.7 23:23 (180,-22) July 7 17 20.09 77 39.7 2.986 2.957 78 17.6 22:12 (180,-23) C/2012 L2 ( LINEAR ) New comet. Now it is 17.1 mag (June 4, A. Diepvens). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag from winter to spring in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2013 April. It is not observable now in the Southern Hemisphere. It will become observable after 2013 April, but it keeps locating low. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 0 19.81 74 29.7 4.341 4.086 68 17.8 5:38 (181,-20) July 7 0 31.66 76 2.2 4.249 4.019 70 17.7 5:31 (180,-21) C/2012 L3 ( LINEAR ) New comet. Now it is 17.4 mag (June 12, L. Elenin). Now it is brightest. It will be fainter than 18 mag very soon. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 19 32.40 36 18.5 2.427 3.054 119 17.8 1:01 (180, 19) July 7 19 8.86 35 16.1 2.394 3.059 122 17.8 0:10 (180, 20) C/2012 K6 ( McNaught ) New comet. Now it is 17.9 mag (May 30, K. Hills). It will brighten up to 15.5 mag in 2013 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2013 spring. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 20 57.80 -75 24.0 3.827 4.485 124 17.9 2:27 ( 0, 50) July 7 20 16.17 -76 41.0 3.781 4.445 125 17.9 1:19 ( 0, 48) 168P/Hergenrother It has not been observed yet in this apparition. It will approach to the earth down to 0.4 A.U., and it is expected to be observable in good condition as bright as 15 mag in September and October. Now it locates very high in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 23 53.65 -27 56.1 1.118 1.746 109 18.2 5:20 (180, 83) July 7 0 5.24 -26 32.3 1.031 1.705 112 17.9 5:04 (180, 82) P/2012 K3 ( Gibbs ) New periodic comet. Now it is 18.1 mag (June 18, Hidetaka Sato). It is observable at 18 mag in good condition from June to July. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 16 49.77 -6 40.3 1.258 2.196 149 17.9 22:14 (180, 62) July 7 16 46.53 -7 40.7 1.277 2.179 143 17.9 21:43 (180, 63) 105P/Singer Brewster It was predicted to brighten up to 17 mag and will be observable in good condition from spring to summer. But actually, it is so faint as 19.5 mag, much fainter than expected (June 16, Michael Jager). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) June 30 19 23.72 -5 32.9 1.277 2.256 159 18.8 0:52 (180, 61) July 7 19 18.70 -5 44.4 1.286 2.277 162 18.8 0:19 (180, 61)