Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2013 May 18: South)

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Updated on May 29, 2013
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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.

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* C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon )

It approached to the sun down to 0.73 A.U. on Mar. 24, and brightened up to 4.7 mag (Mar. 11, Michael Mattiazzo). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 6.8 mag (May 19, Uwe Pilz). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher gradually, then it keeps observable in good condition while fading gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps locating low in the morning sky after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0 20.29   22 21.7   1.728   1.263    46    7.5   5:21 (227, 16)  
May  25   0 20.93   27 55.3   1.737   1.361    51    8.1   5:25 (217, 16)  

* C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS )

It passed the perihelion on Mar. 10, and brightened up to 0-1 mag. Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 8.0 mag (May 18, Uwe Pilz). It is observable all night in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere for a while after this. The Earth will pass through the comet's orbital plane on May 27, then the dust tail will look dense and straight.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  23  6.56   80 39.6   1.691   1.600    67    7.7   5:21 (185,-27)  
May  25  21  6.61   84 35.8   1.767   1.720    70    8.0   4:59 (180,-30)  

* C/2012 L2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is so bright as 10.5 mag (May 19, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out, although it keeps locating low. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   5 31.67    3 39.0   2.277   1.514    31   12.1  18:31 (104, 14)  
May  25   5 46.11    0 56.3   2.295   1.524    31   12.1  18:28 (100, 13)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

It brightens up to 10 mag in summer. But the condition is worst and the comet will be hardly observable in this apparition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in autumn when the comet will be fainter than 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   2 34.52    9  5.8   2.176   1.261    18   13.2   5:21 (258,  1)  
May  25   2 59.57   11 32.0   2.129   1.214    18   12.7   5:25 (255,  1)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It brightened up to 11-12 mag in 2012. Now it is bright as 10.8 mag (May 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable in good condition until July in the Northern Hemisphere, or until September in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 53.92  -12 39.9   5.008   5.933   153   12.9  22:08 (180, 68)  
May  25  13 46.56  -12  9.8   5.098   5.959   145   12.9  21:33 (180, 67)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

It brightened up to 12 mag in 2012. It is bright as 14.1 mag still now (May 19, Chris Wyatt). It keeps 13-14 mag until autumn. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  19 58.65  -27 59.9   2.292   2.939   120   13.0   4:16 (180, 83)  
May  25  19 59.98  -28 43.3   2.223   2.947   127   13.0   3:50 (180, 84)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 13.0 mag (May 17, Chris Wyatt). 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 locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  21 13.20   32 35.1   5.905   5.900    84   13.4   5:21 (182, 22)  
May  25  21  9.79   32 51.8   5.812   5.900    90   13.4   5:00 (180, 22)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 12.9 mag (May 12, Carlos Labordena). It keeps observable at 11-13 mag for a long time from 2012 summer to 2013 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 53.45   15 32.5   2.366   3.176   136   13.4  22:07 (180, 39)  
May  25  13 43.76   17  9.1   2.506   3.232   128   13.6  21:30 (180, 38)  

* C/2013 E2 ( Iwamoto )

Now it is bright as 13.1 mag (May 17, Chris Wyatt). It keeps locating in the morning sky for a long time after this. I will keep the current brightness for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  23 46.24    9 25.1   2.053   1.725    56   13.4   5:21 (229, 31)  
May  25   0  0.65   10 10.6   2.057   1.781    59   13.6   5:25 (224, 33)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is faint as 14.3 mag (May 5, Toshiyuki Takahashi).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 42.11  -22 19.0   5.301   6.216   152   13.6  21:57 (180, 77)  
May  25  13 39.78  -21 60.0   5.351   6.215   145   13.6  21:27 (180, 77)  

* C/2012 V2 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 14.4 mag until April (Apr. 13, Sandor Szabo). It will brighten up to 12 mag from summer to autumn. Now it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will become observable in August, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   4 12.47   34 35.8   2.867   1.921    16   14.1  18:31 (119,-19)  
May  25   4 29.46   32 59.9   2.834   1.862    13   14.0  18:28 (117,-20)  

* C/2011 J2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.1 mag (May 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 13 mag and observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere for a long time from 2013 to 2014. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2014 autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   9  0.14   50 17.4   4.244   3.995    68   14.2  18:31 (168,  3)  
May  25   8 59.11   50 16.1   4.313   3.963    63   14.2  18:28 (164,  2)  

* C/2012 S1 ( ISON )

Now it is 15.5 mag (May 15, M.-T. Hui, X. Gao). It is expected to be a great comet in 2013 autumn when the comet approaches to the sun down to only 0.01 A.U. It keeps visible with naked eyes from November to January, and can be extremely bright as Venus or more at the highlight. It became unobservable in late May. The condition is excellent in the Northern Hemisphere. It will appear in the morning sky again in late August, then it keeps observable almost all through the period of brightening, at the highlight, and of fading. The condition is not good in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all the latter part of the highlight, and it keeps low all through the period.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   6 49.93   28 48.1   4.341   3.685    44   14.4  18:31 (136, 10)  
May  25   6 54.35   28 31.5   4.332   3.596    38   14.2  18:28 (133,  7)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 14.4 mag (Apr. 30, Taras Prystavski). It keeps bright as 13-14 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  14 17.41   -9 55.9   2.441   3.401   158   14.5  22:32 (180, 65)  
May  25  14 13.32   -9 53.0   2.469   3.387   150   14.5  22:00 (180, 65)  

* (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 has already turned to be stellar. It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. But it still locates very low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0  5.06  -13 45.1   3.179   2.852    62   14.6   5:21 (254, 44)  
May  25   0 13.71  -13 13.0   3.110   2.864    66   14.6   5:25 (248, 48)  

* C/2012 K6 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.2 mag (May 2, Yasukazu Ikari). It reaches up to 14-15 mag from spring to summer. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 44.13  -33 38.8   2.434   3.353   150   14.8  21:58 (180, 88)  
May  25  13 30.16  -30 17.4   2.484   3.353   143   14.9  21:17 (180, 85)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 9.0 mag in 2012 autumn (Nov. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it faded out unexpectedly around the perihelion passage. Now it is fainter than originally predicted by 4-5 mag. Now it is 14.3 mag (May 10, Taras Prystavski). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while fading slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will not be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   1 36.65  -42 30.5   2.618   2.430    68   14.8   5:21 (300, 38)  
May  25   1 54.87  -42 23.6   2.637   2.485    70   15.0   5:25 (299, 40)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Emmanuel Jehin detected the small outburst on May 15. Now it is bright and visible visually at 12.6 mag (May 17, Chris Wyatt).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  10 17.19    7 54.7   1.601   1.985    96   15.0  18:33 (180, 47)  
May  25  10 26.53    5 47.0   1.681   1.999    92   15.2  18:28 (175, 49)  

* C/2012 K1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.4 mag (May 2, Yasukazu Ikari). It is expected to brighten up to 5-6 mag in 2014 autumn. In 2013, it keeps observable in good condition until autumn when it brigthens up to 13-14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17  0.16   20  4.2   4.983   5.751   135   15.1   1:18 (180, 35)  
May  25  16 53.27   20 38.7   4.904   5.687   136   15.0   0:44 (180, 34)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.1 mag (Mar. 5, Hidetaka Sato). It will be fading slowly after this. But it keeps 15 mag in 2013. It becomes temporarily low in May, but will be observable in good condition again after June in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable now in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   3 38.78  -26  3.5   7.229   6.561    45   15.0   5:21 (296,  8)  
May  25   3 42.68  -25 29.0   7.240   6.588    46   15.0   5:25 (292, 13)  

* 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 15.9 mag still now (Apr. 13, Ken-ichi Kadota).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   8 10.69   -7  7.7   6.111   5.876    71   15.2  18:31 (127, 50)  
May  25   8 12.31   -7  5.8   6.269   5.936    66   15.3  18:28 (121, 46)  

* C/2013 F3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 11, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps 16 mag and observable in good condition until July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  19  9.04    1 20.3   1.521   2.253   124   15.9   3:27 (180, 54)  
May  25  18 57.26    6 43.9   1.464   2.252   129   15.9   2:48 (180, 48)  

* C/2012 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 16, M. Jaeger, E. Prosperi, S. Prosperi, W. Vollmann). It is expected to brighten up to 14 mag in July and August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. It keeps observable in good condition until September also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22  6.89   22  1.0   2.631   2.592    76   16.2   5:21 (197, 31)  
May  25  22  5.66   21 26.4   2.479   2.558    82   16.0   5:25 (188, 33)  

* P/2012 B1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 15.6 mag (Apr. 29, Taras Prystavski). It will be observable at 15-16 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  11 47.51    5 57.2   3.268   3.843   117   16.1  20:03 (180, 49)  
May  25  11 48.30    5 35.1   3.355   3.840   111   16.2  19:36 (180, 50)  

* 152P/Helin-Lawrence

It brightened up to 15.5 mag in 2012 summer. Although it has already passed the perihelion, it tends to become brightest after the perihelion passage. It will be observabel at 16 mag again in 2013 summer. Now it is 18.1 mag, fainter than this ephemeris (Apr. 11, Hidetaka Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 22.22  -17 30.0   3.437   3.516    86   16.3   5:21 (230, 65)  
May  25  22 27.03  -17 25.4   3.354   3.532    91   16.3   5:25 (216, 69)  

* P/2012 F2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Mar. 16, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable in good condition at 17 mag from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  18 53.63   -9 15.1   2.136   2.911   131   16.4   3:11 (180, 64)  
May  25  18 52.97   -8 25.5   2.083   2.916   138   16.4   2:43 (180, 63)  

* C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Mar. 4, Hidetaka Sato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition for a long time until 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)  
May  18   4  7.97  -45 26.3   4.869   4.540    65   16.5  18:31 ( 50, 23)  
May  25   4 17.75  -44 31.0   4.897   4.570    65   16.5  18:28 ( 49, 20)  

* C/2012 X1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to brighten up to 11 mag and become observable in excellent condition in 2014 spring. Now it is 16.8 mag (Apr. 17, A. Klotz, F. Kugel, J. Caron). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until early summer. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   8 45.55   39 55.7   4.003   3.736    67   16.7  18:31 (163, 12)  
May  25   8 50.96   39 36.6   4.026   3.670    62   16.7  18:28 (159, 11)  

* 257P/2012 F4 ( Catalina )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 15, W. Hasubick). It is expected to be observable at 16 mag in good condition in summer and autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 48.58   11 39.6   2.257   2.133    69   16.9   5:21 (213, 37)  
May  25  23  0.51   13  6.6   2.192   2.131    73   16.9   5:25 (206, 38)  

* P/2005 L1 ( McNaught )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2005. It will be observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014. However, it has not been recovered yet. Not it is fainter than 19.5 mag (Feb. 21, Martin Masek).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17 15.44  -13  1.3   2.316   3.266   155   17.1   1:34 (180, 68)  
May  25  17 11.35  -12 53.7   2.278   3.259   162   17.0   1:02 (180, 68)  

* C/2013 G2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.9 mag (May 19, Hidetaka Sato). It will be fading after this. It locates low in the Northern Hempshere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  19 41.73  -30 56.4   2.149   2.847   124   17.2   4:00 (180, 86)  
May  25  19 27.92  -29 23.9   2.100   2.898   134   17.2   3:19 (180, 84)  

* 91P/Russell 3

It was observed around 20 mag in 2012 spring. But it has not been observed recently. It will be observable at 17.5 mag from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  18 28.81  -17 50.3   1.804   2.659   139   17.3   2:47 (180, 73)  
May  25  18 26.40  -17  3.9   1.760   2.667   146   17.2   2:17 (180, 72)  

* 125P/Spacewatch

Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 25, K. Hills). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  21 52.58   -4 40.8   1.467   1.758    88   17.3   5:21 (203, 58)  
May  25  22  2.49   -4  1.5   1.434   1.791    92   17.6   5:25 (193, 58)  

* 184P/Lovas 2

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. But it must have been already brightened up to 17.5 mag. It is expected to be bright as 16 mag and observable in good condition from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 58.92   -5 41.2   1.568   1.604    73   17.5   5:21 (229, 50)  
May  25  23 18.89   -3 27.8   1.496   1.568    74   17.3   5:25 (223, 50)  

* C/2012 C1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Mar. 4, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2012 to 2013, and will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   2 11.72  -61 42.6   4.922   4.903    83   17.4   5:21 (325, 36)  
May  25   2 14.31  -62 15.8   4.876   4.913    86   17.4   5:25 (325, 40)  

* C/2013 K1 ( Christensen )

It approached to the Sun down to 0.94 A.U. on May 30. However, because the comet is very tiny, it brightens only up to 17.5 mag. However, A. Diepvens reported it was so bright as 15.3 mag on May 19.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  23 15.44   17 13.5   0.840   0.967    62   17.5   5:21 (216, 29)  
May  25  23 53.12   12 48.6   0.832   0.948    60   17.4   5:25 (220, 32)  

* C/2013 J2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.6 mag (May 9, Siding Spring Survey). It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from July to September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  21 11.18  -15 55.4   2.082   2.491   101   17.6   5:21 (185, 71)  
May  25  21 18.52  -14 30.5   1.987   2.470   106   17.4   5:08 (180, 69)  

* C/2013 G6 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 16.4 mag (May 5, Hiroshi Abe). It brightens up to 17 mag in May and June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 39.66  -17 54.7   1.262   2.205   151   17.4  21:52 (180, 73)  
May  25  13  4.71  -18 24.2   1.322   2.176   137   17.5  20:50 (180, 73)  

* 197P/LINEAR

It was faint as 18.5 mag on Apr. 10, but brightened in outburst up to 16.1 mag on Apr. 16 (Hidetaka Sato). It has already faded down to 18.5 mag (May 14, Hidetaka Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0 22.22  -20 44.6   1.361   1.271    62   17.4   5:21 (265, 44)  
May  25   0 42.71  -20  3.2   1.385   1.319    64   17.8   5:25 (263, 46)  

* C/2013 G5 ( Catalina )

It will approach to the Sun down to 0.9 A.U., and to the Earth down to 0.4 A.U. in September. Then it is expected to brighten up to 11-12 mag. Now it is 17.7 mag (May 19, J. Linder). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until mid September while brightening rapidly. In the Southern Hemisphre, it keeps locating low for a while. However, it will getting higher after August, and it keeps observable in good condition after that, until the comet fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  14  3.10   52  8.7   1.438   1.965   105   17.7  22:17 (180,  3)  
May  25  13 53.47   52 39.5   1.400   1.877   100   17.5  21:40 (180,  2)  

* 2009 DL26

Peculiar asteroid discovered in 2009. It was observed only during 9 days, then it became lost. In calculation, it passes the perihelion in 2014 July and brightens up to 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  16 24.33  -22  4.1   3.825   4.822   169   17.7   0:43 (180, 77)  
May  25  16 20.83  -21 57.8   3.790   4.801   176   17.5   0:12 (180, 77)  

* C/2013 J3 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 10, Siding Spring Survey). Now it is brightest, and will be fading after this. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  12 44.41  -34 32.8   3.236   4.051   138   17.6  20:59 (180, 89)  
May  25  12 38.40  -31 51.5   3.309   4.062   132   17.7  20:25 (180, 87)  

* C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.8 mag (May 2, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2012. It will be observable in good condition again at 17.5 mag in 2013 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  12 34.28   10  0.1   5.558   6.204   125   17.7  20:49 (180, 45)  
May  25  12 28.88   10  4.6   5.684   6.225   118   17.7  20:16 (180, 45)  

* C/2013 G7 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Apr. 16, Siding Spring Survey). It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is only observable until 2012 July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  14 56.90  -16 12.9   4.263   5.260   169   17.9  23:11 (180, 71)  
May  25  14 48.57  -16 33.7   4.269   5.236   160   17.8  22:35 (180, 72)  

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1998. It is expected to be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from 2013 autumn to early 2014. It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. But it has not been recovered yet.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0 28.24  -19 25.7   3.641   3.270    60   18.0   5:21 (265, 43)  
May  25   0 37.85  -19  2.0   3.534   3.237    64   17.8   5:25 (260, 47)  

* P/2013 G1 ( Kowalski )

Now it is 18.2 mag (Apr. 16, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps 18 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  15 22.95  -16 52.2   2.612   3.621   175   17.9  23:37 (180, 72)  
May  25  15 19.24  -16 29.1   2.610   3.606   167   17.9  23:06 (180, 72)  

* C/2013 H1 ( La Sagra )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Apr. 21, Catalina Sky Survey). It brightens up to 18 mag at best in May and June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  14 52.02   13 23.9   1.732   2.627   145   17.9  23:06 (180, 42)  
May  25  14 48.41   11 55.3   1.751   2.623   141   17.9  22:35 (180, 43)  

* 154P/Brewington

Not observed yet in this apparition. It will brighten very rapidly near the perihelion passage. It is expected to reach up to 10 mag from autumn to winter. In the Northern Hemipshere, it keeps observable in excellent condition until the comet fades out. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition within 2013, but it will not be observable in 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 17.51  -23 46.5   2.469   2.659    89   18.1   5:21 (240, 70)  
May  25  22 25.49  -23  4.8   2.334   2.610    94   17.9   5:25 (226, 74)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

It has been observed at 17 mag for a long time from 2009 to 2012. It is also observable at 18 mag in good condition in 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 27.61    8 17.3   9.275   9.081    75   17.9   5:21 (209, 42)  
May  25  22 26.55    8 26.2   9.177   9.100    82   17.9   5:25 (198, 45)  

* 17P/Holmes

It brightened up to 2 mag by unusual major outburst in 2007. It was observed around aphelion at 22 mag. It will return in 2014. It will be 14 mag at best by normal prediction. Now it is 17.0 mag, a bit brighter than this ephemeris (May 5, iTelescope Observatory).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17 57.73  -48 30.3   2.185   3.029   139   18.5   2:16 (  0, 77)  
May  25  17 52.51  -48 54.1   2.112   2.999   144   18.4   1:44 (  0, 76)  

* 98P/Takamizawa

It was predicted to be already 15-16 mag. But actually, it is 18.1 mag, much fainter than predicted by 3-4 mag (May 5, Catalina Sky Survey). It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag and to be observable in excellent condition in summer. However, it can be fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  15  6.62    3 39.2   0.877   1.846   155   19.0  23:21 (180, 51)  
May  25  15  2.43    3 18.0   0.865   1.818   151   18.9  22:49 (180, 52)  

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