Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Sept. 4: North)

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Updated on September 6, 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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* 103P/Hartley 2

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 10.4 mag (Sept. 2, Gabor Santa). 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. In the Southern Hemisphere, it becomes unobservable temporarily from late September to mid October. But then it keeps observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  22 54.19   39 26.6   0.369   1.290   133    9.8   0:03 (180, 86)  
Sept.11  23  5.43   43 13.2   0.315   1.240   131    9.1  23:45 (180, 81)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Now it is so bright as 8.7 mag (Aug. 21, Alexandre Amorim). 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)  
Sept. 4   1 39.39  -16  6.5   0.656   1.558   137    9.8   2:48 (  0, 39)  
Sept.11   1 39.45  -17 29.0   0.666   1.588   142    9.9   2:21 (  0, 38)  

* C/2009 R1 ( McNaught )

Appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It approached to the sun down to 0.4 A.U. in July, and was expected to reach up to 2-3 mag. But actually, it brightened only up to 5 mag at best. It will keep observable while fading after this in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  10  0.39  -29  6.1   2.098   1.450    38   10.0   4:07 (287,-28)  
Sept.11  10 11.95  -33 30.8   2.180   1.569    41   10.5   4:13 (294,-26)  

* 2P/Encke

Observable in the evening sky in the Southern Hemisphere. Fading rapidly. It was bright as 7.7 mag on Aug. 17 (Chris Wyatt), but it is 9.8 mag now (Sept. 1, Marco Goiato). It will keep observable while fading rapidly after this in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  13  9.96  -15 32.8   1.123   0.761    41   10.7  19:50 ( 73, -3)  
Sept.11  13 58.77  -20 33.0   1.169   0.885    47   11.8  19:39 ( 64,  0)  

* 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 10.8 mag (Aug. 20, 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. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   8 14.94   51 43.2   2.678   2.250    54   11.7   4:07 (227, 33)  
Sept.11   8 14.91   51 19.1   2.656   2.319    59   11.9   4:13 (229, 38)  

* 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 has not been observable at all around the maximum brightness. It will appear in the morning sky in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   9 21.02    6 33.6   2.421   1.536    22   12.6   4:07 (261, -1)  
Sept.11   9 39.42    4 27.9   2.437   1.572    24   12.8   4:13 (265,  1)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in last summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 12.6 mag (Aug. 7, Marco Goiato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  17 19.88  -47 33.8   4.735   5.015   100   13.1  19:50 ( 14,  5)  
Sept.11  17 16.62  -47 25.6   4.898   5.062    93   13.3  19:39 ( 17,  4)  

* 65P/Gunn

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  20 34.52  -33 19.4   1.842   2.687   139   13.3  21:40 (  0, 22)  
Sept.11  20 33.28  -33  3.3   1.918   2.704   132   13.4  21:12 (  0, 22)  

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Already bright as 12.8 mag and visible visually (Aug. 20, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Sept. 4  23  6.27  -38  0.9   4.678   5.568   149   14.3   0:16 (  0, 17)  
Sept.11  22 57.75  -38 12.4   4.641   5.507   146   14.2  23:35 (  0, 17)  

* 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)  
Sept. 4  10 25.02    6 37.1   7.230   6.229     6   14.3   4:07 (252,-14)  
Sept.11  10 29.82    6  4.8   7.213   6.230    11   14.2   4:13 (257, -8)  

* 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 14.8 mag (Sept. 1, Hidetaka Sato). It will be getting lower in the evening sky, and will be unobservable in November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  15 54.38  -17 41.8   2.363   2.386    78   14.8  19:50 ( 44, 24)  
Sept.11  16  5.67  -18 23.6   2.485   2.427    74   15.0  19:39 ( 45, 23)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Sept. 1, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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)  
Sept. 4  20 43.03   -1 40.3   5.868   6.742   147   15.1  21:48 (  0, 53)  
Sept.11  20 37.21   -2 14.1   5.905   6.710   140   15.1  21:15 (  0, 53)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 14.8 mag, much brighter than originally expected (Aug. 21, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable in good condition from autumn to next spring. It will brighten up to 13 mag and will be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   7 41.22   28 17.8   3.893   3.324    49   15.3   4:07 (255, 31)  
Sept.11   7 44.27   27  1.2   3.764   3.293    55   15.1   4:13 (260, 36)  

* 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. It locates in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low, and will be unobservable in October in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  17 29.01   39  5.1   4.354   4.516    92   15.2  19:50 (111, 75)  
Sept.11  17 32.06   38 22.1   4.396   4.513    90   15.3  19:39 (107, 72)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.8 mag (June 23, 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)  
Sept. 4  14 24.87  -47 49.2   6.719   6.487    72   15.3  19:50 ( 38,-11)  
Sept.11  14 27.34  -48  1.0   6.782   6.461    67   15.3  19:39 ( 39,-13)  

* 9P/Tempel 1

The condition in this apparition is bad. It keeps unobservable for a while. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky at 12.5 mag in February, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until when it fades down to 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  11 40.50    9 22.0   2.931   1.958    12   15.6  19:50 (107, -7)  
Sept.11  11 55.40    7 33.8   2.902   1.920    10   15.4  19:39 (105, -9)  

* C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring )

It brightened up to 9.5 mag in January (Jan. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.8 mag (Sept. 1, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  15 27.31   43 54.1   4.428   4.191    69   15.7  19:50 (118, 52)  
Sept.11  15 35.17   42 34.2   4.513   4.247    68   15.8  19:39 (117, 50)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.1 mag, brighter than expected (Aug. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 15 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable until 2011 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  11 44.90   70 57.3   3.263   2.966    64   16.3  19:50 (159, 28)  
Sept.11  12 14.23   71 27.0   3.165   2.928    67   16.2  19:39 (159, 30)  

* C/2010 A4 ( Siding Spring )

It keeps 16 mag until the end of 2010. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere. It must have been bright, but no observations have been reported since May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   8 26.19  -45 10.6   3.093   2.761    61   16.4   4:07 (312,-19)  
Sept.11   8 28.27  -47 52.4   3.039   2.753    64   16.3   4:13 (318,-16)  

* 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT )

Recovered as bright as expected. Now it is 16.5 mag (Aug. 11, Hidetaka Sato). It is observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   5 37.25   15 35.1   2.127   2.137    76   16.6   4:07 (288, 50)  
Sept.11   5 48.90   16 26.6   2.048   2.132    80   16.5   4:13 (293, 54)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Aug. 6, Yasukazu Ikari). It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2009 to 2012. It is observable in good condition 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)  
Sept. 4   2 15.14   21 14.5   7.608   8.192   122   17.0   3:24 (  0, 76)  
Sept.11   2 10.90   21  7.5   7.500   8.183   129   17.0   2:53 (  0, 76)  

* 126P/IRAS

Now it is 17.1 mag (July 18, Ken-ichi Kadota). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable while fading gradually, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in November. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   7  1.75   63 59.1   2.797   2.620    69   17.0   4:07 (212, 44)  
Sept.11   7 23.72   64 59.7   2.789   2.669    72   17.1   4:13 (210, 45)  

* 219P/2009 H1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 18.0 mag (Aug. 20, Jean-Francois Soulier). It was observed at 17 mag in summer and autumn in 2009. It is observable again at 17 mag in summer and autumn also in 2010. But actually, it is fainter than expected now. It locates in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere, but somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   3 20.89   23  8.7   2.159   2.641   107   17.1   4:07 (336, 77)  
Sept.11   3 23.88   23  4.1   2.094   2.660   113   17.1   4:05 (  0, 78)  

* 223P/2009 L18 ( Skiff )

Now it is 19.1 mag (Aug. 25, M. Jaeger, E. Prosperi, W. Vollmann). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition from autum to winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But actually, it is much fainter than expected. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   2 48.14   40 54.9   1.924   2.424   107   17.3   3:57 (180, 84)  
Sept.11   2 50.42   43  1.4   1.863   2.428   112   17.2   3:32 (180, 82)  

* 215P/2009 B5 ( NEAT )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Aug. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). Now it is brightest. It will be fainter than 18 mag in November. It locates in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  20 33.34  -34  0.4   2.409   3.235   138   17.2  21:39 (  0, 21)  
Sept.11  20 31.41  -33 54.0   2.478   3.239   131   17.3  21:10 (  0, 21)  

* C/2010 J2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Aug. 29, F. Garcia). The condition keeps good, but it will be fainter than 18 mag in November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  18 41.06    0 59.3   2.916   3.494   117   17.3  19:50 (  1, 56)  
Sept.11  18 32.83    1 11.0   3.051   3.511   109   17.4  19:39 ( 12, 56)  

* C/2009 UG89 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Sept. 1, F. Garcia). It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time until 2011 summer. It will be getting lower after this and will be unobservable in late autumn. But it will be observable again in 2011. The condition in 2011 will be good in the Northern Hemisphere, but it locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  18 16.63   12  6.8   3.587   4.033   109   17.4  19:50 ( 17, 66)  
Sept.11  18  9.59   11 44.3   3.686   4.020   102   17.4  19:39 ( 30, 64)  

* P/2010 J3 ( McMillan )

It reached up to 16.2 mag in early summer (June 7, P. C. Sherrod). Now it is fading. It keeps observabe in good condition until October when it becomes fainter than 18 mag 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)  
Sept. 4  16 12.31  -16 39.7   2.367   2.457    83   17.6  19:50 ( 41, 27)  
Sept.11  16 22.90  -17 46.2   2.447   2.461    78   17.7  19:39 ( 42, 25)  

* 236P/2010 K1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Aug. 20, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from summer to autumn 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)  
Sept. 4   0 59.86   35 11.2   1.032   1.832   127   17.7   2:09 (180, 90)  
Sept.11   1  2.27   35 35.4   0.993   1.831   132   17.6   1:44 (180, 89)  

* 164P/Christensen

It has not been observed in this apparition yet, but it must have been already bright as 17-18 mag. Now it locates in very good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it will be getting lower after this, and will be unobservable in January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in good condition while fading gradually from 16 mag after 2011 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  20 15.87  -36  6.8   2.076   2.875   134   17.7  21:22 (  0, 19)  
Sept.11  20 12.19  -36 11.6   2.107   2.835   127   17.6  20:51 (  0, 19)  

* P/2010 A5 ( LINEAR )

It reached up to 14.1 mag and became visible visually in May (May 6, Chris Wyatt). But now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.5 mag (Aug. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon. It locates in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  17 30.52  -21 48.8   1.784   2.223   101   17.7  19:50 ( 20, 31)  
Sept.11  17 41.43  -21 42.7   1.901   2.267    97   17.9  19:39 ( 21, 30)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It reached up to 11 mag in 2009 spring. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.0 mag (Aug. 3, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon. It locates in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4  19 14.84  -26 50.6   2.654   3.340   125   17.8  20:21 (  0, 28)  
Sept.11  19 15.16  -26 40.3   2.764   3.365   118   18.0  19:54 (  0, 28)  

* C/2007 G1 ( LINEAR )

It reached up to 11-12 mag from spring to summer in 2008. Now it is fading. It locates already high in the Southern Hemisphere, and it will be getting higher in the Northern Hemisphere, but it will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 4   5 53.03   -9 46.0   6.839   6.668    76   17.9   4:07 (309, 29)  
Sept.11   5 53.59   -9 57.9   6.792   6.719    81   17.9   4:13 (317, 34)  

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