Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Aug. 7: South)

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Updated on August 11, 2010
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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/2009 R1 ( McNaught )

Brightened rapidly, and it reached to 5 mag in early June (June 5, Yoshimi Nagai). It will approach to the sun down to 0.4 A.U. in July, and it was expected to reach up to 2-3 mag. However, its brightening has stopped after that. It was 4.9 mag in late June (June 24, Carlos Labordena). It was faint as about 6 mag on July 2 (Todd Augustyniak). Now it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky at 9 mag in late Augut. Then it keeps observable while fading rapidly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   9 11.73   -8  3.3   1.766   0.944    24    7.4  18:48 ( 77, -3)  
Aug. 14   9 24.52  -13 59.5   1.850   1.076    28    8.2   5:16 (287,  0)  

* 2P/Encke

It passes the perihelion in August. But the condition of this apparition is bad. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in the evening sky at 9 mag in late August, then it will keep observable while fading rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   9 35.21   13 49.0   1.316   0.336     7    7.6  18:48 ( 99,-10)  
Aug. 14  10 33.23    5 53.3   1.224   0.392    17    7.9  18:53 ( 96,  0)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Brightened rapidly. Now it is so bright as 8.4 mag (Aug. 7, Marco Goiato). It keeps observable bright as 9-10 mag for a long time until autumn. A thin straight dust trail is visible.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   1 13.36  -10 24.3   0.665   1.465   119    9.3   4:12 (180, 65)  
Aug. 14   1 23.73  -11 42.6   0.656   1.484   124    9.4   3:55 (180, 67)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 7.9 mag in April and May (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 10.2 mag (Aug. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable for a long time until when it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be visible visually until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   8  4.97   54 47.8   2.648   1.983    40   11.6   5:23 (220,-26)  
Aug. 14   8  8.78   53 47.5   2.674   2.048    42   11.8   5:16 (219,-23)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 13.2 mag (Aug. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). A bit fainter than expected, but it is already visible visually. This apparition is best condition. It will approach to the earth down to 0.12 A.U. in October, and brighten up to 5 mag. It will be visible with naked eyes. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable all through this apparition until 2011 June when it fades down to 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  22 31.76   26 15.2   0.634   1.516   132   12.3   1:31 (180, 29)  
Aug. 14  22 36.15   29 18.8   0.560   1.457   133   11.7   1:08 (180, 26)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

It brightened up to 15.5 mag in January (Jan. 31, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It is not observable now. The condition of this apparition is bad. It will reach up to 11-12 mag from spring to autumn, but it is not observable.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   7 59.41   14 30.0   2.362   1.418    16   11.9   5:23 (255, -3)  
Aug. 14   8 21.06   12 37.7   2.375   1.443    17   12.1   5:16 (256, -2)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in last summer (Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 11.9 mag (July 7, Marco Goiato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is only observable in the extremely low sky. It will be getting lower gradually, then it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  17 46.48  -47 53.6   4.131   4.829   128   12.5  20:43 (  0, 77)  
Aug. 14  17 37.62  -47 53.2   4.271   4.875   121   12.7  20:06 (  0, 77)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 11.7 mag (Aug. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will keep 12-13 mag until autumn. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  20 50.49  -32 57.2   1.636   2.623   163   12.9  23:46 (180, 88)  
Aug. 14  20 45.25  -33 17.3   1.671   2.639   158   13.0  23:13 (180, 88)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It reached up to 9.2 mag in March (Mar. 20, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.2 mag (Aug. 6, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable in a good condition for a long time. 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)  
Aug.  7  15 11.89  -14 26.4   1.886   2.222    95   13.9  18:48 (154, 68)  
Aug. 14  15 22.02  -15 18.9   2.003   2.262    91   14.1  18:53 (141, 66)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is unobservable. It will appear in the morning sky again in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  10  5.64    8 41.1   7.191   6.224    16   14.2  18:48 ( 99, -2)  
Aug. 14  10 10.47    8 11.2   7.216   6.225    11   14.2  18:53 ( 95, -7)  

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag and visible visually (Aug. 7, Alan Hale). It is expected to keep so bright as 6-8 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012, and to be observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2010, it is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere while brightening slowly. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere, but it keeps observable until the end of 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  23 35.87  -36 14.6   4.982   5.812   141   14.6   2:36 (  0, 89)  
Aug. 14  23 29.44  -36 47.6   4.884   5.751   145   14.5   2:02 (  0, 88)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

It brightened up to 9.5 mag in January (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 14.5 mag (Aug. 9, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It will be also visible visually still now. It will be fainter than 18 mag at the end of 2010. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time, although it will be getting lower gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  14 59.25   49 37.5   4.082   3.965    76   15.0  18:48 (172,  5)  
Aug. 14  15  5.66   48  9.2   4.169   4.021    74   15.2  18:53 (167,  5)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (July 18, Hiroshi Abe). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. In 2010, it is observable at 15-16 mag in good condition from spring to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  21  8.69    0 24.3   5.895   6.872   163   15.1   0:09 (180, 55)  
Aug. 14  21  2.13   -0  4.0   5.861   6.839   163   15.1  23:30 (180, 55)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is very bright as 14.2 mag (July 8, Toni Scarmato). It keeps observable at 14-15 mag for a long time in 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  17 25.28   41 29.6   4.200   4.532   102   15.2  20:22 (180, 14)  
Aug. 14  17 24.93   40 59.7   4.236   4.527   100   15.2  19:54 (180, 14)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.0 mag (June 2, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps bright as 14-15 mag for a long time after this until 2013. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  14 20.88  -47 34.7   6.436   6.596    94   15.2  18:48 ( 46, 69)  
Aug. 14  14 20.92  -47 33.7   6.509   6.569    88   15.2  18:53 ( 52, 64)  

* 126P/IRAS

Now it is 16.5 mag (July 11, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It keeps observable while fading gradually, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   5 32.67   58 54.5   2.818   2.428    57   16.5   5:23 (203,-12)  
Aug. 14   5 54.76   60 21.7   2.814   2.475    60   16.7   5:16 (202,-13)  

* C/2010 J2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.7 mag (June 13, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  19 31.59   -0 33.1   2.513   3.439   151   16.9  22:27 (180, 55)  
Aug. 14  19 16.43   -0  1.3   2.587   3.451   143   16.9  21:44 (180, 55)  

* P/2002 X2 ( NEAT )

Not recovered in this return yet. It will be getting brighter and higher after this. It is expected to be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   4 46.55   11 55.5   2.441   2.177    63   17.1   5:23 (222, 32)  
Aug. 14   4 59.34   12 50.5   2.364   2.166    66   16.9   5:16 (220, 33)  

* 219P/2009 H1 ( LINEAR )

It was observed at 17 mag in summer and autumn in 2009. It will be observable again at 17 mag in good condition in summer and autumn also in 2010.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   2 57.87   22 28.3   2.436   2.569    85   17.1   5:23 (189, 32)  
Aug. 14   3  5.09   22 46.9   2.366   2.586    90   17.1   5:16 (185, 32)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.4 mag (July 11, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2009 to 2012. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   2 27.26   21 16.9   8.113   8.227    92   17.2   5:23 (181, 34)  
Aug. 14   2 24.96   21 19.6   7.980   8.218   100   17.2   4:57 (180, 34)  

* C/2009 UG89 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.4 mag (July 20, Yasukazu Ikari). It keeps observable at 17-18 mag for a long time until 2011 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  18 57.03   12 56.6   3.298   4.093   136   17.3  21:52 (180, 42)  
Aug. 14  18 45.24   12 53.4   3.349   4.077   130   17.3  21:13 (180, 42)  

* 223P/2009 L18 ( Skiff )

Now it is 19.3 mag (July 21, W. Hasubick). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition from autum to winter. But actually, it is much fainter than expected.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   2 27.10   32 19.0   2.210   2.421    89   17.6   5:23 (181, 23)  
Aug. 14   2 33.77   34 27.8   2.134   2.420    93   17.5   5:05 (180, 21)  

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