Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 Aug. 4: South)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on August 3, 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 It approached to the sun down to 0.12 A.U. on July 14, and brightened up to 7.8 mag (July 22, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading in the evening sky. But it is still bright as 9.2 mag (Aug. 1, Man-To Hui). It keeps observable while fading rapidly in the evening low sky after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 11 53.56 23 13.6 0.902 0.689 41 10.5 18:47 (129, 12) Aug. 11 12 55.90 15 38.7 0.969 0.853 50 11.8 18:51 (129, 22) C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is so bright as 10.8 mag (July 23, 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) Aug. 4 14 12.68 30 42.3 2.782 2.650 71 10.9 18:47 (160, 21) Aug. 11 14 17.58 27 42.4 2.785 2.592 68 10.8 18:51 (153, 22) 185P/Petriew It brightened rapidly. Now it is very bright as 10.4 mag (July 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has a large coma. It keeps observable in the morning sky all through this apparition, although it locates somewhat low. It keeps bright at 10-11 mag until mid September. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 5 17.11 25 23.9 1.137 0.943 51 11.3 5:25 (222, 16) Aug. 11 5 54.07 23 46.1 1.171 0.933 49 11.0 5:19 (226, 15) C/2011 R1 ( McNaught ) Now it is so bright as 11.3 mag (July 28, Marco Goiato). 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) Aug. 4 6 56.84 -69 40.3 2.039 2.269 89 11.6 5:25 (335, 40) Aug. 11 8 10.64 -71 32.1 2.036 2.238 87 11.5 5:19 (337, 35) 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 not observable. 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) Aug. 4 9 34.61 12 8.1 4.219 3.226 10 11.7 18:47 ( 99, -8) Aug. 11 9 38.81 10 53.5 4.302 3.294 5 11.8 18:51 ( 94,-13) C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS ) It is expected to be a great comet of -1 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 11.9 mag (July 17, 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) Aug. 4 15 3.92 -24 56.3 3.419 3.710 98 12.4 18:47 (140, 77) Aug. 11 15 1.50 -24 57.6 3.454 3.625 91 12.3 18:51 (119, 72) C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR ) It brightened much faster than expected. Now it is so bright as 10.7 mag (July 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 11-13 mag in good condition until early 2013. Although it becomes extremely low in August, it will be getting higher again in the morning sky after September. 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) Aug. 4 9 32.57 52 58.1 2.874 2.144 36 12.8 18:47 (137,-28) Aug. 11 9 38.90 50 24.9 2.897 2.151 35 12.8 18:51 (132,-31) (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) Aug. 4 16 7.78 -26 37.3 1.888 2.469 113 13.3 19:15 (180, 82) Aug. 11 16 12.01 -27 9.0 1.974 2.473 107 13.4 18:52 (180, 82) C/2009 F4 ( McNaught ) Now it is bright as 13.1 mag (July 27, Jakub Cerny). 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) Aug. 4 4 56.71 -52 57.5 5.641 5.681 87 13.7 5:25 (315, 57) Aug. 11 4 58.90 -53 18.2 5.626 5.695 88 13.7 5:19 (317, 59) C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 13.2 mag (July 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps bright at 13-14 mag for a long time until 2014. 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) Aug. 4 22 25.46 57 18.1 5.932 6.243 103 13.8 1:35 (180, -2) Aug. 11 22 14.10 57 6.9 5.857 6.227 106 13.8 0:56 (180, -2) C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS ) Now it is so bright as 11.4 mag (July 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 12-14 mag and observable in good condition until September. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 15 30.90 -12 11.8 4.900 5.198 101 13.8 18:47 (174, 67) Aug. 11 15 26.70 -12 18.3 5.040 5.207 93 13.9 18:51 (153, 65) C/2012 CH17 ( MOSS ) Now it is 16.6 mag (July 19, Hidetaka Sato). It was expected to brighten up to 13.5 mag from summer to autumn. But actually, it is much fainter than expected. Sato reported the nuclear magnitude is fainter than 19 mag. Maybe the comet has been disintegrated, and will disappear soon. It keeps observable for a long time until December, but it keeps locating low in the evening after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 12 45.66 19 17.1 1.893 1.535 54 14.2 18:47 (136, 22) Aug. 11 13 2.94 16 46.5 1.863 1.483 52 14.1 18:51 (131, 22) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Now it is 13.3 mag (July 11, Jakub Cerny). It still locates high and will be observable until early September in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 12 23.38 -11 9.7 6.725 6.252 58 14.1 18:47 (106, 40) Aug. 11 12 27.15 -11 28.8 6.814 6.251 52 14.1 18:51 (100, 34) 260P/2012 K2 ( McNaught ) First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2005. It was reported so bright visually as 12.8 mag on July 23 (Juan Jose Gonzalez) and 11.6 mag on July 28 (Marco Goiato). It will brighten up to 12-13 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) Aug. 4 1 17.21 2 34.1 0.849 1.556 112 14.3 4:26 (180, 52) Aug. 11 1 27.96 5 50.0 0.794 1.538 116 14.1 4:09 (180, 49) 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 was not observable around the perihelion passage. But it is appearing in the morning sky now. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 6 14.03 13 28.6 2.574 1.903 39 14.3 5:25 (241, 16) Aug. 11 6 28.77 13 7.7 2.578 1.954 42 14.5 5:19 (240, 17) P/2012 NJ ( La Sagra ) Looks almost asteroidal. But it has a very faint tail. Bright as 13.9 mag (July 22, Artyom Novichonok). It keeps 14.5-15 mag until mid August. It moves northwards rapidly and keeps observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 20 52.89 40 47.5 0.662 1.476 121 14.4 0:06 (180, 14) Aug. 11 19 54.79 43 42.1 0.760 1.523 117 14.8 22:29 (180, 11) 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT ) Now it is so bright as 12.3 mag (July 21, Carlos Labordena). 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) Aug. 4 13 23.82 1 58.2 3.278 3.031 67 14.4 18:47 (132, 41) Aug. 11 13 30.79 0 42.1 3.350 3.020 62 14.4 18:51 (125, 38) 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) Aug. 4 8 3.98 15 47.2 3.545 2.566 12 14.6 5:25 (255, -7) Aug. 11 8 16.47 15 4.2 3.554 2.597 16 14.7 5:19 (255, -4) C/2012 J1 ( Catalina ) Now it is 14.5 mag (July 19, P. C. Sherrod). 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) Aug. 4 23 50.29 38 31.2 2.881 3.381 111 15.1 3:00 (180, 16) Aug. 11 23 51.47 39 7.2 2.793 3.358 115 15.0 2:33 (180, 16) C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 14.8 mag (July 11, Jakub Cerny). 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) Aug. 4 18 4.28 -82 4.1 3.384 3.893 112 15.0 21:10 ( 0, 43) Aug. 11 17 29.75 -82 12.3 3.438 3.891 109 15.1 20:09 ( 0, 43) C/2012 K5 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 14.5 mag (July 17, Yasukazu Ikari). 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) Aug. 4 16 9.64 48 15.5 1.850 2.089 88 15.5 19:15 (180, 7) Aug. 11 15 50.30 47 46.1 1.862 2.010 83 15.4 18:51 (176, 7) C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs ) Now it is 14.6 mag (June 30, Jakub Cerny). Jakub Cerny reported the comet brightened in late July. It will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere while fading gradually after this. 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) Aug. 4 23 14.86 -23 29.4 2.532 3.429 147 15.5 2:24 (180, 78) Aug. 11 23 12.30 -24 40.0 2.548 3.481 152 15.7 1:54 (180, 80) 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) Aug. 4 12 39.38 -13 20.8 1.606 1.455 62 16.2 18:47 (107, 44) Aug. 11 12 54.36 -10 36.8 1.798 1.529 58 16.6 18:51 (106, 39) 189P/NEAT It approached to the earth down to 0.17 A.U. in July, and brightened up to 14.5 mag (July 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.0 mag (July 22, Artyom Novichonok). It keeps observable in good condition after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 19 20.85 30 2.9 0.260 1.191 127 16.3 22:28 (180, 24) Aug. 11 19 30.98 34 22.7 0.301 1.206 123 16.7 22:10 (180, 20) 71P/Clark The condition of this apparition is bad, and it was not observable around the perihelion passage. Now it is 15.7 mag (June 30, Jakub Cerny). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late October. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 2 6.84 3 21.1 2.141 2.538 100 16.4 5:16 (180, 52) Aug. 11 2 9.17 3 24.1 2.090 2.577 107 16.4 4:51 (180, 52) 168P/Hergenrother Now it is 17.0 mag (July 29, Hidetaka Sato). Brightening rapidly. 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. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 0 39.96 -19 15.9 0.720 1.560 127 16.7 3:49 (180, 74) Aug. 11 0 45.07 -16 35.4 0.654 1.529 131 16.4 3:27 (180, 72) C/2012 L1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.6 mag (July 23, S. Shurpakov). 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) Aug. 4 14 34.98 76 13.8 2.916 2.775 71 16.8 18:47 (176,-22) Aug. 11 14 12.34 74 57.7 2.894 2.732 70 16.7 18:51 (172,-22) 152P/Helin-Lawrence Now it is 16.8 mag (July 25, K. Hills). 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) Aug. 4 16 7.88 -18 40.0 2.599 3.120 111 16.9 19:15 (180, 74) Aug. 11 16 10.90 -19 9.7 2.690 3.121 105 17.0 18:51 (179, 74) C/2012 L2 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.5 mag (July 23, 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) Aug. 4 1 22.09 82 1.0 3.864 3.752 76 17.2 4:31 (180,-27) Aug. 11 1 35.48 83 26.0 3.763 3.684 77 17.0 4:18 (180,-28) 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 has already faded down to 16.6 mag (June 30, Jakub Cerny). 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) Aug. 4 4 58.34 -23 46.5 4.410 4.195 71 17.1 5:25 (263, 53) Aug. 11 5 1.21 -25 30.8 4.388 4.255 75 17.1 5:19 (263, 58) C/2008 S3 ( Boattini ) Now it is 17.4 mag (July 24, A. Diepvens). 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) Aug. 4 23 16.87 14 4.8 7.688 8.418 133 17.2 2:26 (180, 41) Aug. 11 23 12.29 13 50.1 7.624 8.431 140 17.2 1:54 (180, 41) 262P/2012 K7 ( McNaught-Russell ) First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1994. Now it is 18.9 mag (July 24, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok). It will brighten up to 13.5 mag and will be observable in good condition from autumn to winter. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 19 41.33 31 59.2 1.249 2.033 127 17.6 22:47 (180, 23) Aug. 11 19 33.98 32 11.0 1.198 1.970 125 17.3 22:12 (180, 23) P/2012 O3 ( McNaught ) Now it is 17.4 mag (July 24, Siding Spring Survey). It keeps 17.5 mag until September. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 21 45.69 -32 10.8 0.612 1.606 161 17.5 0:56 (180, 87) Aug. 11 21 40.64 -29 27.8 0.601 1.602 165 17.4 0:23 (180, 85) 261P/2012 K4 ( Larson ) First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2005. Now it is 18.3 mag (July 23, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok). It will be observable in excellent condition at 17-18 mag until November. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 23 33.81 4 8.0 1.381 2.224 135 17.8 2:43 (180, 51) Aug. 11 23 33.14 4 42.2 1.325 2.216 142 17.7 2:15 (180, 50) C/2012 K6 ( McNaught ) Now it is 17.4 mag (July 22, A. C. Gilmore, P. M. Kilmartin). 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) Aug. 4 17 9.82 -74 40.6 3.753 4.283 115 17.7 20:15 ( 0, 50) Aug. 11 16 42.53 -72 48.5 3.785 4.245 110 17.7 19:21 ( 0, 52) C/2012 L3 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 17.0 mag (July 23, A. Diepvens). 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) Aug. 4 17 46.69 26 11.7 2.499 3.089 116 17.9 20:52 (180, 29) Aug. 11 17 32.14 23 17.9 2.583 3.101 111 18.0 20:10 (180, 32) C/2011 Q2 ( McNaught ) It was observed at 12.5 mag on Apr. 1, as bright as expected (Michael Jager). However, it has faded very rapidly. Hidetaka Sato reported that it has been already too faint to catch, fainter than 19.0 mag on June 25. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be high after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 4 5 11.41 46 31.6 3.433 2.964 54 19.5 5:25 (209, -1) Aug. 11 5 21.31 46 48.4 3.433 3.037 58 19.7 5:19 (207, 0)