Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Jan. 16: North)

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 Updated on January 17, 2010
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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/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is so bright as 9.5 mag (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps as bright as 9-10 mag for a long time until spring. It will be observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps visible visually for one year until autumn. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  14 14.63   31 54.0   2.224   2.525    96    9.4   5:38 (282, 78)  
Jan. 23  14 26.53   34 51.6   2.204   2.561    99    9.4   5:36 (269, 81)

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is so bright as 9.7 mag (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable bright as 9-10 mag in a good condition for a long time until spring. It keeps observable until autumn when it fades down to 16 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  12 42.54   -2 48.8   1.088   1.641   104   10.2   5:02 (  0, 52)  
Jan. 23  12 56.92   -3 52.1   1.025   1.627   108   10.0   4:48 (  0, 51)

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in summer (Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 10.2 mag (Dec. 11, Carlos Labordena). Now it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in late February, then it keeps observable for a long time. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it is only observable in the low sky in spring, then it will never be observable again. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  19 47.41  -19 31.8   4.618   3.635     1   10.6   5:38 (282,-17)  
Jan. 23  19 51.76  -20  9.8   4.645   3.669     6   10.7   5:36 (286,-13)

* 88P/Howell

It reached up to 8.4 mag in October (Oct. 20, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 10.5 mag still now (Jan. 11, Carlos Labordena). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the low sky until February when it fades down to 13.5 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  22 30.05  -12 23.6   2.346   1.700    39   11.6  18:40 ( 60, 18)  
Jan. 23  22 48.65  -10 25.6   2.425   1.742    36   12.0  18:46 ( 65, 16)

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is bright as 11.5 mag (Jan. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   5 42.34   11  1.1   1.084   1.987   147   12.1  21:59 (  0, 66)  
Jan. 23   5 41.54   11 56.8   1.126   1.991   141   12.2  21:31 (  0, 67)

* 169P/NEAT

It was very bright visually as 9.2 mag (Nov. 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez) and 11.6 mag (Dec. 7, Chris Wyatt) until around the perihelion passage. However, now it is so faint as 16.3 mag (Jan. 5, Hidetaka Sato), and looks almost completely stellar with no coma. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the excellent condition after January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But it will appear in the morning sky in late January, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  10 24.82  -53 47.0   0.198   1.031    98   12.6   2:47 (  0,  0)  
Jan. 23   9 33.01  -36  4.4   0.226   1.120   121   13.6   1:27 (  0, 18)

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

It is expected to reach up to 10 mag and to be observable in good condition in spring. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky at 13 mag in late January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  17 59.92  -23 31.7   2.872   2.030    25   13.4   5:38 (300,  1)  
Jan. 23  18  8.68  -21 29.1   2.745   1.965    30   13.1   5:36 (301,  6)

* 217P/2009 F3 ( LINEAR )

An outburst occured on Oct. 13, and it reached up to 8.5 mag on Oct. 15 (Toru Yusa). The central nucleus shined like a bright star, and the dust coma looked like 17P/Holmes in outburst. However, the comet returned to the normal state within a few days. Now it is 13.0 mag (Jan. 15, Carlos Labordena). It will fade out rapidly, and will be fainter than 14 mag in late January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time until spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   5 31.54   12 23.2   1.074   1.967   145   13.4  21:48 (  0, 68)  
Jan. 23   5 31.14   13 53.7   1.174   2.024   139   13.9  21:20 (  0, 69)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outbursts occured repeatedly since September, and it keeps visible visually. It is bright as 12.0 mag still now (Dec. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   9 46.53   11 49.9   5.311   6.188   150   13.6   2:07 (  0, 67)  
Jan. 23   9 43.74   11 58.0   5.263   6.189   158   13.5   1:36 (  0, 67)

* C/2009 O2 ( Catalina )

It is expected to be bright as 9-10 mag in the northern sky in March and April. It must have been observable in the morning sky until mid December. However, few observations have been reported since October. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky at 13.5 mag in late January, then it will brighten rapidly. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in the low sky after the perihelion passage only. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  19 32.86    1 47.8   2.294   1.443    23   14.4   5:38 (267, -2)  
Jan. 23  19 40.52    3 46.8   2.164   1.341    25   14.0   5:36 (268,  3)

* 65P/Gunn

Appearing in the morining sky. It will brighten up to 12-13 mag in summer. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  17 32.81  -23 44.5   3.237   2.456    31   14.0   5:38 (305,  6)  
Jan. 23  17 47.40  -24  8.9   3.184   2.452    35   14.0   5:36 (307,  8)

* 126P/IRAS

Now it is 15.6 mag (Dec. 6, A. Maury, J. B. de Vanssay, F. Mallia, F. Kugel). It will be 14 mag from winter to spring in 2010. But the condition is bad. Now it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until mid January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky at 15 mag in late May in 2010, then it keeps observable while fading gradually after that. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  22  2.61  -24 41.7   2.536   1.762    30   14.2  18:40 ( 56,  4)  
Jan. 23  22 17.06  -21 17.6   2.560   1.746    27   14.2  18:46 ( 61,  3)

* 116P/Wild 4

It brightened up to 11 mag in spring and summer in 2009. Appearing in the morninig sky again. It keeps observable after this until autumn when it becomes fainter than 18 mag while fading gradually. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  17 38.42  -25 31.6   3.304   2.507    30   14.6   5:38 (305,  4)  
Jan. 23  17 52.27  -25 41.8   3.278   2.529    34   14.7   5:36 (307,  6)

* P/2009 Q4 ( Boattini )

It has brightened much faster than expected. Now it is so bright as 11.8 mag (Dec. 12, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after January. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time. But it may fade out very rapidly. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  10 39.61   10 12.5   0.581   1.467   137   15.0   2:59 (  0, 65)  
Jan. 23  10 41.23   12 27.4   0.584   1.502   145   15.4   2:33 (  0, 67)

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 13.4 mag, already visible visually (Dec. 24, Marco Goiato). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter and spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   4 49.96   16  0.9   1.221   2.054   137   15.0  21:07 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 23   4 49.43   16 48.6   1.252   2.031   130   15.0  20:39 (  0, 72)

* C/2006 OF2 ( Broughton )

It brightned up to 10 mag from late 2008 to early 2009. Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 16.0 mag (Dec. 1, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in good condition again in winter at 15-16 mag. Then it may be still visible visually. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  10 18.09    3 20.1   4.634   5.424   139   15.3   2:38 (  0, 58)  
Jan. 23  10 14.64    3 15.2   4.621   5.478   147   15.4   2:07 (  0, 58)

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

It had been brightening as expected until Dec. 29 when it was 16.4 mag (Ken-ichi Kadota). However, it was reported bright as 14.2 mag on Jan. 3 (W. Hasubick). Maybe an outburst. The condition of this apparition is bad. It will reach up to 11-12 mag from spring to autumn in 2010, but it is not observable. It will be getting brighter gradually in the evening sky, but it will be too low to observe in January at 15 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  22  5.27    1  4.2   2.859   2.194    39   15.6  18:40 ( 76, 22)  
Jan. 23  22 18.05    1 54.9   2.861   2.145    36   15.4  18:46 ( 80, 18)

* P/2009 T2 ( La Sagra )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is 14.8 mag and visible visually (Dec. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable at 15 mag in good condition in winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   2 38.74   -8  1.0   1.319   1.755    98   15.4  18:57 (  0, 47)  
Jan. 23   2 51.26   -7 59.3   1.381   1.759    94   15.6  18:46 (  2, 47)

* 94P/Russell 4

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 20, J. M. Trigo-Rodriguez). It is expected to brighten rapidly and to be observable at 15 mag in good condition from winter to spring. However, it is a bit fainter than this ephemeris recently. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  10 40.97   18  8.5   1.455   2.296   139   15.6   3:01 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 23  10 40.53   18 42.2   1.397   2.286   146   15.5   2:33 (  0, 74)

* C/2009 U3 ( Hill )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Dec. 27, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be observable at 15.5 mag in the evening sky until spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   0 56.55   40 40.0   1.289   1.675    93   15.8  18:40 (115, 72)  
Jan. 23   0 52.73   42 37.4   1.324   1.625    88   15.7  18:46 (117, 65)

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in 2008 summer (Aug. 4, Marco Goiato). Now it is 15.8 mag (Dec. 18, A. Novichonok, A. Smirnov, S. Plaksa). It keeps observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it became observable again also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will keep 15-16 mag until spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   4 48.55  -34 58.0   4.537   4.951   109   15.7  21:05 (  0, 20)  
Jan. 23   4 43.95  -33 21.3   4.639   5.003   106   15.8  20:33 (  0, 22)

* C/2008 N1 ( Holmes )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 18, Ken-ichi Kadota), a bit fainter than this ephemeris. It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition until spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  15 41.52   21 17.3   3.129   3.010    74   15.8   5:38 (284, 56)  
Jan. 23  15 38.70   21 48.3   3.046   3.038    80   15.7   5:36 (290, 62)

* C/2008 Q3 ( Garradd )

It brightened up to 6.7 mag in June (June 9, Marco Goiato). Now it is 14.6 mag (Dec. 31, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fading after this, and keeps observable until spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  13 34.05   33 23.4   2.678   3.077   104   15.8   5:38 (297, 86)  
Jan. 23  13 27.86   36 46.2   2.639   3.140   111   16.0   5:20 (180, 88)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.6 mag (Dec. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was observed as 15-16 mag in early 2009. In 2010, it will be observable at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  13 48.75   -4 28.9   3.491   3.606    88   15.9   5:38 (348, 50)  
Jan. 23  13 52.72   -4 42.5   3.392   3.610    94   15.8   5:36 (357, 50)

* C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )

It passed near by the earth in late February in 2009, and it reached up to 4.9 mag (Feb. 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 16.2 mag (Dec. 22, R. Garcia). It will be low in the evening sky at 17-18 mag in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   4 53.71   20 39.6   3.970   4.755   138   15.9  21:10 (  0, 76)  
Jan. 23   4 46.78   20 30.6   4.129   4.822   130   16.1  20:36 (  0, 76)

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 13 mag and observed visually from 2007 to 2009. Due to the far distance, it is bright as 15.7 mag still now (Dec. 28, P. C. Sherrod). It will be observable in good condition again until spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  13 23.91   35  5.2   7.258   7.605   107   16.1   5:38 (269, 89)  
Jan. 23  13 21.32   35 55.7   7.200   7.637   112   16.1   5:13 (180, 89)

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Jan. 16, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 15 mag for a long time in 2010. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  17  6.34   11 29.9   5.508   4.960    51   16.2   5:38 (280, 34)  
Jan. 23  17 12.85   12 22.3   5.419   4.937    56   16.1   5:36 (282, 38)

* 157P/Tritton

It brightened up to 11 mag in outburst in 2003. However, it does not seem to be so bright in this apparition. Now it is 16.2 mag (Dec. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable in good condition in winter. But it seems to brighten only up to 16 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   0 55.05   14  8.5   1.157   1.419    82   16.1  18:40 ( 49, 61)  
Jan. 23   1 13.94   15 19.6   1.175   1.398    80   16.1  18:46 ( 56, 60)

* 22P/Kopff

It brightened up to 8.8 mag in May and June (May 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has already faded down to 15.7 mag (Dec. 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in the evening sky for a long time until next spring when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   0 13.36   -3 12.9   2.877   2.639    66   16.4  18:40 ( 45, 41)  
Jan. 23   0 22.77   -2  5.4   3.002   2.680    61   16.7  18:46 ( 52, 38)

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Dec. 18, Ken-ichi Kadota). This comet tends to brighten after the perihelion passage. It will be observable at 16 mag in 2010 and 2011. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   4 19.93   23 25.1   2.446   3.185   131   16.8  20:37 (  0, 78)  
Jan. 23   4 19.93   23 16.7   2.522   3.183   124   16.9  20:09 (  0, 78)

* C/2008 P1 ( Garradd )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 22, Toru Yusa). It had a very long tail in 2009 in spite of the distance. It passed the perihelion in 2009, but it was brighter in 2008. It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  23  8.23   33 30.5   4.384   4.188    72   17.1  18:40 (102, 50)  
Jan. 23  23 12.72   34  9.4   4.485   4.210    67   17.2  18:46 (106, 45)

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

Fading slowly. Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable in good condition until February when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  10  3.12    7 42.3   1.822   2.690   145   17.2   2:23 (  0, 63)  
Jan. 23   9 56.70    7 52.5   1.825   2.743   153   17.4   1:49 (  0, 63)

* 230P/2009 U6 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Dec. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  11 14.68   17 48.0   1.381   2.165   131   17.3   3:34 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 23  11 12.72   19 15.0   1.367   2.209   139   17.3   3:05 (  0, 74)

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 18.0 mag (Dec. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
Jan. 16   2 21.38   17 22.5   8.304   8.581   103   17.4  18:40 (  2, 72)  
Jan. 23   2 19.24   17 16.1   8.415   8.566    95   17.5  18:46 ( 28, 70)

* C/2006 Q1 ( McNaught )

Getting higher again. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  18 12.10   27  5.5   6.476   5.946    53   17.4   5:38 (255, 28)  
Jan. 23  18 18.17   27 37.6   6.498   5.997    55   17.5   5:36 (257, 32)

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 18.4 mag (Dec. 18, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in early 2010 and early 2011. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   5 20.85   20 40.0   2.723   3.575   145   17.7  21:37 (  0, 76)  
Jan. 23   5 18.12   20 46.7   2.780   3.567   137   17.8  21:07 (  0, 76)

* 232P/2009 W1 ( Hill )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Dec. 21, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  10  1.40   33 44.7   2.163   3.045   148   17.8   2:21 (  0, 89)  
Jan. 23   9 57.72   34 29.7   2.139   3.053   153   17.8   1:50 (  0, 89)

* 107P/(4015) Wilson-Harrington

The condition is good in this apparition. It approached to the earth down to 0.38 A.U., and brightened up to 15.9 mag (Nov. 24, A. Sanchez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.3 mag (Jan. 15, Albert Sanchez Caso). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   2 46.58   16 43.0   0.829   1.476   108   18.0  19:05 (  0, 72)  
Jan. 23   3  7.52   17 49.9   0.928   1.535   106   18.3  18:58 (  0, 73)

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )

New periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2004 and 2005. It should be observable at 18 mag also around the aphelion. However, no observations have been reported since 2008 January. It seems to have faded out rapidly. Now it is fainter than 20.4 mag actually (Sept. 16, Leonid Elenin). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   6 34.17   30 49.5   4.025   4.963   160   20.0  22:50 (  0, 86)  
Jan. 23   6 29.64   30 58.2   4.060   4.955   152   20.0  22:18 (  0, 86)

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