Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2009 Aug. 1: North)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on September 12, 2009
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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.

C/2006 W3 ( Christensen ) Now it is so bright as 8.3 mag (July 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable at 8-10 mag in good condition for a long time until late autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 20 56.46 28 16.9 2.349 3.136 133 8.0 0:20 ( 0, 83) Aug. 8 20 39.29 25 31.3 2.318 3.142 137 8.0 23:29 ( 0, 80) C/2008 Q3 ( Garradd ) It brightened up to 6.7 mag in June (June 9, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading, but still bright as 9.4 mag (July 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until mid August in the evening low sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower after this, and will be too low to observe in late August. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 12 36.58 -2 16.5 2.142 1.866 60 9.1 20:40 ( 77, 14) Aug. 8 12 38.62 -0 30.1 2.306 1.891 53 9.4 20:30 ( 81, 12) C/2008 T2 ( Cardinal ) It brightened up to 8.5 mag in May and June (May 26, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but still bright as 9.4 mag (July 19, Marco Goiato). It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this in the evening sky. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 9 49.08 -28 52.7 1.851 1.419 49 9.3 20:40 ( 75,-34) Aug. 8 10 11.77 -33 6.8 1.880 1.477 51 9.6 20:30 ( 70,-34) 22P/Kopff It brightened up to 8.8 mag in May and June (May 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Large diffuse object. However, it seems to be fading recently. Now it is 10.4 mag (July 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be bright at 9-10 mag for a long time until autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 23 0.09 -10 41.2 0.775 1.715 146 9.7 2:22 ( 0, 44) Aug. 8 22 58.99 -11 31.6 0.776 1.743 153 9.8 1:54 ( 0, 44) C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) It brightened up to 9.8 mag on June 13 (Marco Goiato). Now it is not observable. But it keeps as bright as 10-11 mag for a long time untio 2010 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in early October, then it keeps observable at 10 mag in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will locate extremely low only after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 8 53.67 1 4.9 3.330 2.379 17 9.9 20:40 (114,-28) Aug. 8 9 6.67 1 54.5 3.324 2.355 14 9.9 3:39 (246,-27) C/2009 F6 ( Yi-SWAN ) It was bright as 8-9 mag in April and May. Now it is not observable. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 12 mag in late August, then it will be fading slowly in the low sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time after August. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 7 22.45 12 17.4 2.704 1.790 20 11.2 3:31 (249, -7) Aug. 8 7 30.39 9 27.3 2.722 1.859 25 11.4 3:39 (256, -4) 24P/Schaumasse It reaches up to 11 mag in summer. However, the condition of this apparition is worst. We can not observe it at all. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 8 50.45 22 45.1 2.227 1.219 4 11.6 20:40 (131,-14) Aug. 8 9 18.69 21 15.0 2.220 1.214 5 11.5 20:30 (128,-13) 217P/2009 F3 ( LINEAR ) It has already brightened up to 11.3 mag (July 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable at 10-11 mag in a good condition for a long time from summer to winter. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 1 54.71 -2 58.6 0.651 1.322 102 12.0 3:31 (322, 45) Aug. 8 2 26.44 -2 53.2 0.620 1.291 101 11.7 3:39 (323, 45) C/2009 G1 ( STEREO ) It has been observed bright as 8-9 mag from April to June. Now it is fading, but still bright as 11.0 mag (July 12, Marco Goiato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in a good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 9 14.10 -52 41.5 2.051 1.971 71 12.0 20:40 ( 48,-46) Aug. 8 9 30.13 -51 44.9 2.201 2.050 68 12.3 20:30 ( 49,-46) 88P/Howell It is already bright as 12.7 mag and visible visually (July 19, Marco Goiato). It will be brightening rapidly after this, and will be 10 mag in autumn. It keeps observable for a long time until 2010 February. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be lower than 20 degree after August, then it keeps very low all through the brightest time. It locates a bit higher in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 13 25.91 -9 27.7 1.499 1.572 74 12.5 20:40 ( 63, 19) Aug. 8 13 40.05 -11 9.5 1.515 1.537 71 12.3 20:30 ( 62, 17) 116P/Wild 4 Now it is very bright as 11.9 mag (July 12, Marco Goiato). However, it will be too low to observe soon. It will appear in the morning sky at 15 mag in early 2010. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 11 54.58 0 40.9 2.691 2.177 49 13.1 20:40 ( 85, 7) Aug. 8 12 7.55 -0 51.7 2.748 2.180 46 13.1 20:30 ( 85, 5) C/2007 N3 ( Lulin ) It passed near by the earth in late February, and it reached up to 4.9 mag (Feb. 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has faded down to 11.8 mag (May 17, Carlos Labordena), and became unobservable. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 14 mag in August. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 7 13.59 21 17.3 3.959 3.039 21 13.8 3:31 (244, 0) Aug. 8 7 15.82 21 11.2 3.975 3.114 27 13.9 3:39 (248, 6) 64P/Swift-Gehrels Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 12.8 mag and visible visually (July 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be getting higher gradually while fading slowly after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 6 24.05 27 46.0 2.226 1.492 33 13.8 3:31 (245, 13) Aug. 8 6 46.65 27 11.7 2.236 1.525 35 14.0 3:39 (247, 15) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky in September. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 8 49.17 18 11.0 7.164 6.150 1 14.2 20:40 (128,-17) Aug. 8 8 54.46 17 45.9 7.162 6.151 4 14.2 3:39 (236,-14) C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR ) It brightened up to 11.5 mag in last summer (Aug. 4, Marco Goiato). Although it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. However, no visual observations have been reported since last summer. Recent CCD observations suggest that it is still visible visually around 13-14 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 6 21.28 -37 6.5 4.053 3.734 64 14.3 3:31 (301,-22) Aug. 8 6 26.15 -37 8.5 4.078 3.782 66 14.3 3:39 (304,-17) C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton ) It brightened up to 9.8 mag in winter (Dec. 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It faded down to 12.5 mag in May (May 26, Juan Jose Gonzalez), and became unobservable. Now it is not observable, however, it will be observable in good condition again in winter at 15 mag. Then it may be still visible visually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 9 5.07 18 43.5 5.127 4.117 4 14.3 20:40 (126,-14) Aug. 8 9 12.45 17 49.2 5.184 4.171 1 14.4 20:30 (127,-17) 65P/Gunn Now it is 12.5 mag and visible visually (July 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be getting lower in the evening sky, and will be too low to observe in August. It will brighten up to 12-13 mag in 2010 summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 12 41.11 2 10.0 3.119 2.756 60 14.6 20:40 ( 80, 18) Aug. 8 12 49.48 0 54.1 3.177 2.737 55 14.6 20:30 ( 80, 15) P/2009 L2 ( Yang-Gao ) New bright periodic comet. It is still bright as 13.3 mag and visible visually (July 13, Carlos Labordena). Moving northwards in the Milky Way. In the Northern Hemisphere, the condition becomes good after this. But the comet will fade out rapidly. It will be fainter than 15 mag in August, and fainter than 18 mag in October. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 18 36.33 4 13.3 0.608 1.537 141 14.8 21:56 ( 0, 59) Aug. 8 18 41.62 4 19.1 0.676 1.580 137 15.1 21:33 ( 0, 59) 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko It brightened very rapidly, faster than expected, and reached up to 9.3 mag in spring (Mar. 26, Juan Jose Gonzalez). However, it will never be observable again in this apparition. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 10 4.74 16 48.8 3.051 2.118 19 14.8 20:40 (114, -5) Aug. 8 10 19.15 15 26.6 3.127 2.172 16 15.1 20:30 (114, -7) C/2008 P1 ( Garradd ) Now it is 15.2 mag (June 11, Artyom Novichonok). It keeps observable in good condition at 15 mag until late autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 0 44.36 19 49.0 3.430 3.897 110 15.1 3:31 (331, 73) Aug. 8 0 40.81 21 20.3 3.340 3.899 116 15.0 3:35 ( 0, 76) P/2004 X1 ( LINEAR ) First return of a new bright periodic comet. The condition in this apparition is very good. The comet will pass near by the earth and is expected to reach up to 13-14 mag. Now it locates very low in the Northern Hemisphere, but it keeps observable high until mid August in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable from late August to early September. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears in the morning sky at 15 mag in mid September, then it keeps observable in a good condition. Maybe it becomes visible visually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 13 16.67 -24 47.4 0.330 1.005 78 15.6 20:40 ( 53, 7) Aug. 8 12 56.96 -22 40.3 0.297 0.941 67 15.1 20:30 ( 61, 2) C/2008 N1 ( Holmes ) Now it is 15.9 mag (July 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten up to 15 mag in 2009 and 2010, and will be observable for a long time in good condition. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 16 56.06 55 46.7 2.621 2.842 91 15.1 20:40 (170, 69) Aug. 8 16 32.68 53 11.0 2.666 2.829 88 15.1 20:30 (151, 68) 199P/2008 G2 ( Shoemaker 4 ) It has brightened up to 14 mag in outburst in 2008 August. Now it is bright as 14.3 mag (July 13, H. Sato), brighter than originally expected. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 21 14.74 -39 31.9 2.081 3.044 157 15.2 0:38 ( 0, 16) Aug. 8 21 10.40 -40 29.0 2.104 3.057 155 15.2 0:06 ( 0, 15) (3552) Don Quixote It passes the perihelion in September, and brightens up to 15 mag from summer to autumn. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable now in the Northern Hemisphere. But it will appear in the evening sky at the end of September, and then it will be getting higher while fading. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 12 19.25 -52 43.7 0.930 1.310 84 15.3 20:40 ( 38,-19) Aug. 8 12 44.76 -53 58.1 0.900 1.278 83 15.2 20:30 ( 36,-19) 81P/Wild 2 Although it had been unobservable for a long time, it is appearing in the morning sky now. It must be already bright as 15 mag. It will be observable bright as 9-10 mag in a good condition for a long time from winter to spring. It keeps observable until 2010 autumn when it fades down to 16 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 6 40.77 21 18.0 3.293 2.459 29 15.5 3:31 (248, 6) Aug. 8 6 54.77 21 3.9 3.208 2.418 32 15.3 3:39 (251, 10) P/2009 K1 ( Gibbs ) New periodic comet. It has already passed the perihelion in late June. But unexpectedly, it keeps unusual brightening very rapidly after that. Now it became bright as 15.0 mag (July 30, D. Chestnov). It keeps observable in the evening low sky for a while after this. But it may fade out very rapidly. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 12 40.12 0 15.0 1.575 1.391 60 15.4 20:40 ( 78, 17) Aug. 8 13 3.55 -2 0.1 1.620 1.418 60 15.4 20:30 ( 75, 16) C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught ) It reached to 10.9 mag in 2008 spring (May 11, Marco Goiato). It is fading slowly. Now it is 13.4 mag (June 1, Juan Jose Gonzalez), still visible visually. It keeps bright as 13-14 mag for a long time after this until summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 16 3.33 34 43.8 4.525 4.722 94 15.4 20:40 ( 94, 74) Aug. 8 16 4.49 33 59.5 4.638 4.773 91 15.5 20:30 ( 94, 71) C/2005 L3 ( McNaught ) Now it is 13.4 mag and visible visually (July 18, Jose Carvajal). It had been bright and visible visually around 13 mag from spring to autumn in 2008. It will be visible visually at 14 mag again until summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 13 4.02 33 53.8 7.344 6.884 59 15.6 20:40 (108, 38) Aug. 8 13 3.82 33 22.2 7.448 6.912 54 15.6 20:30 (110, 34) C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS ) Now it is 16.5 mag (July 15, Ken-ichi Kadota), brightening as expected. It will reach up to 12 mag in 2012, and will be observable visually at 12-13 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2013. In 2009, it is observable in good condition at 16 mag from summer to autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be low around its brightest seasons. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 22 36.02 5 36.7 7.907 8.746 143 15.9 1:58 ( 0, 61) Aug. 8 22 31.87 5 21.0 7.811 8.709 150 15.9 1:27 ( 0, 60) 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4 Appearing in the morning sky. It will brighten rapidly after this. It will reach to 12 mag and become visible visually in winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time after this until 2010 spring when it fades out. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 3 56.28 13 6.3 2.470 2.314 69 16.7 3:31 (278, 35) Aug. 8 4 8.83 13 21.8 2.372 2.288 72 16.5 3:39 (282, 39) C/2008 A1 ( McNaught ) It reached to 6.3 mag in 2008 September in the southern sky (Sept. 4, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.9 mag (June 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in the northern sky while fading gradually. 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. 1 8 35.28 83 57.0 4.494 4.183 65 16.6 3:31 (186, 31) Aug. 8 9 17.54 83 34.6 4.541 4.255 67 16.7 20:30 (174, 31) P/2003 A1 ( LINEAR ) Appearing in the morning sky. It has not been recovered yet. But it must have already brightened up to 17 mag. It will be getting higher rapidly after this, and will be observable in good condition at 16 mag in autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 5 8.84 23 24.6 2.440 1.958 50 16.8 3:31 (258, 25) Aug. 8 5 22.29 25 24.8 2.388 1.971 54 16.7 3:39 (259, 30) C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring ) Now it is 16.4 mag (June 12, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will reach to 15 mag in 2010. It keeps observable for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 15 4.13 8 10.3 5.502 5.630 92 16.7 20:40 ( 57, 49) Aug. 8 15 5.28 8 10.2 5.573 5.598 86 16.7 20:30 ( 62, 46) (3200) Phaethon It passed the perihelion in June, but it was not observable, too close to the sun. Although it was predicted to be 13.5 mag, the STEREO spacecraft revealed that it brightened up to 10-11 mag, much brighter than expected. Now it is 15.8 mag (July 17, Michael Jager). It keeps observable at 16-17 mag until late autumn. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 4 38.49 41 0.4 1.166 1.049 56 16.7 3:31 (242, 38) Aug. 8 4 38.91 42 24.5 1.179 1.157 63 16.9 3:39 (242, 45) 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson It brightened up to 15-16 mag in 2008 summer. Now appearing in the morning sky again. It keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition for a long time from summer to winter. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 3 22.41 26 44.7 3.102 2.984 73 17.0 3:31 (268, 48) Aug. 8 3 29.63 27 40.2 3.026 2.997 78 17.0 3:39 (270, 54) 219P/2009 H1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 17.4 mag (June 16, P. Kocher). It will be observable at 17 mag in 2009 summer and 2010 summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 17 21.26 -11 33.8 1.969 2.740 130 17.2 20:40 ( 0, 43) Aug. 8 17 20.74 -11 37.3 2.020 2.719 123 17.2 20:30 ( 6, 43) 107P/(4015) Wilson-Harrington Now it is 17.0 mag (June 26, Charles Bell). The condition is good in this apparition. It will approach to the earth down to 0.38 A.U., and will be observable in good condition at 16.5 mag in November. It keeps observable until that time after this. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 16 1.84 -19 27.4 0.698 1.443 113 17.6 20:40 ( 22, 32) Aug. 8 16 2.45 -19 6.5 0.694 1.385 106 17.6 20:30 ( 27, 31) P/2008 O2 ( McNaught ) It was observed at 17.5 mag in 2008 summer. It is also observable at 17.5 mag in 2009 autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it located somewhat low in 2008, but it becomes observable in good condition in 2009. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 1 11.16 15 14.0 3.407 3.820 106 17.7 3:31 (321, 66) Aug. 8 1 12.07 15 41.7 3.315 3.822 112 17.6 3:39 (341, 70) C/2008 S3 ( Boattini ) It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2010 to 2012. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 3 48.72 20 28.9 9.295 8.986 69 17.9 3:31 (272, 40) Aug. 8 3 48.24 20 33.9 9.158 8.968 76 17.8 3:39 (277, 47) C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch ) It keeps observable at 17-18 mag for a long time until 2011. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 4 19.49 60 27.7 5.662 5.274 62 18.0 3:31 (217, 43) Aug. 8 4 23.94 61 56.9 5.561 5.253 67 17.9 3:39 (214, 47) C/2009 K2 ( Catalina ) It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this. But it will be observable at 17 mag from spring to summer in 2010. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Aug. 1 15 58.50 47 48.0 3.596 3.710 88 18.0 20:40 (136, 70) Aug. 8 16 0.57 45 36.2 3.595 3.679 86 17.9 20:30 (127, 69)