Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2010 Dec. 25: South)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on December 31, 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.

103P/Hartley 2 It approached to the earth down to 0.12 A.U. and brightened up to 4.6 mag in October (Oct. 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was very large, double of the full moon, and very bright, visible with naked eyes. Now it is fading, but still bright as 8.4 mag (Dec. 18, Katsumi Yoshimoto). After this, it keeps observable for a long time until 2011 June when it fades down to 17 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 7 24.17 -17 54.3 0.421 1.316 135 8.2 1:12 (180, 73) Jan. 1 7 18.15 -16 56.3 0.466 1.370 139 8.8 0:39 (180, 72) 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) Dec. 25 16 36.16 -20 31.1 2.382 1.522 22 12.4 2:57 (299, -5) Jan. 1 16 59.35 -21 42.4 2.358 1.515 24 12.4 3:03 (298, -2) C/2009 P1 ( Garradd ) Already very bright as 11.5 mag (Nov. 24, 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) Dec. 25 21 57.09 -28 40.4 5.124 4.558 50 13.3 21:02 ( 71, 24) Jan. 1 21 58.90 -27 41.2 5.147 4.493 44 13.2 21:03 ( 68, 18) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Now it is 13.8 mag (Dec. 18, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 11 17.29 -0 36.9 5.957 6.243 102 13.8 2:57 (228, 45) Jan. 1 11 17.48 -0 48.3 5.847 6.244 109 13.8 3:03 (218, 49) P/2010 V1 ( Ikeya-Murakami ) Bright new comet discovered visually by Kaoru Ikeya and Shigeki Murakami. Now it is 13.7 mag (Dec. 18, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). Its envelope similar to 17P/Holmes is getting diffuse rapidly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this in the morning low sky. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere, but it will be getting higher gradually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 14 41.51 -17 32.8 2.185 1.718 49 13.9 2:57 (281, 16) Jan. 1 14 57.89 -19 15.4 2.159 1.744 52 14.5 3:03 (280, 20) (596) Scheila Big asteroid discovered in 1906. It suddenly showed the cometary activity on Dec. 11. Now it is 13.4 mag (Dec. 11, S. Larson), brighter than quiescent phase by 1 mag. The coma extends up to 5 arcmin. It is very bright as 11.5 mag visually (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 9 59.86 29 30.2 2.371 3.089 129 14.0 2:57 (192, 24) Jan. 1 9 58.91 30 22.1 2.293 3.078 136 13.9 3:03 (184, 25) C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina ) Now it is 12.9 mag, much brighter than originally expected and visible visually (Dec. 4, Seiichi Yoshida). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 13-14 ag 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) Dec. 25 20 42.75 40 53.0 2.654 2.549 73 13.9 21:02 (122,-28) Jan. 1 20 58.45 37 56.0 2.724 2.538 68 13.9 21:03 (118,-29) C/2009 K5 ( McNaught ) It brightened up to 7.9 mag in April and May (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. The central part is so faint as 15-16 mag. However, extremely faint large coma extends, and the total brightness is still bright as 12.5 mag (Dec. 5, Uwe Pilz). It keeps observable for a long time until when it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 4 51.45 42 21.5 2.469 3.384 154 14.3 22:35 (180, 13) Jan. 1 4 38.39 40 13.7 2.578 3.455 148 14.5 21:54 (180, 15) C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal ) Now it is 13.8 mag and visible visually (Nov. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition from autumn to next spring. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 6 10.93 -4 29.2 2.069 2.974 152 14.3 23:53 (180, 60) Jan. 1 5 54.81 -6 56.5 2.087 2.965 147 14.3 23:10 (180, 62) 10P/Tempel 2 It has kept bright as 8.5 mag since July until September. Now it is fading, but it is still bright as 12.5 mag (Dec. 4, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will be visible visually until December. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 1 27.63 -6 39.5 1.729 2.189 104 14.5 21:02 (132, 52) Jan. 1 1 34.14 -5 4.3 1.849 2.233 99 14.8 21:03 (127, 47) C/2006 W3 ( Christensen ) It reached up to 7.7 mag in 2009 summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). It is fading now. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. It becomes low also in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, no observations have been reported since October. But it will be getting higher after January. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2011 autumn when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 17 52.32 -49 11.1 6.642 5.775 26 14.9 2:57 (330, 5) Jan. 1 17 56.77 -49 36.4 6.671 5.823 28 15.0 3:03 (327, 8) 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 not observable in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It must be bright, however, no observations have been reported since early July. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 15 45.87 -57 44.1 6.773 6.093 43 15.0 2:57 (325, 25) Jan. 1 15 52.37 -58 48.4 6.702 6.071 46 15.0 3:03 (324, 28) C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS ) Now it is 14.5 mag and visible visually (Sept. 30, Alan Hale). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012. It will be getting lower gradually in the evening sky after this. It will be unobservable in November in the Southern Hemisphere, or in December in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 20 11.94 -7 19.6 7.058 6.254 32 15.2 21:02 ( 75, -9) Jan. 1 20 13.48 -7 21.3 7.088 6.225 26 15.2 21:03 ( 70,-14) 65P/Gunn It brightened up to 11.5 mag in July (July 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 14.9 mag (Nov. 25, A. Novichonok and D. Chestnov). Fading slowly. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting lower in the evening sky gradually, and will be unobservable in January. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 22 5.62 -21 15.5 3.472 2.994 53 15.2 21:02 ( 79, 22) Jan. 1 22 15.24 -20 11.5 3.568 3.015 48 15.3 21:03 ( 77, 17) 43P/Wolf-Harrington Now it is 15.1 mag (Dec. 18, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). It has a long tail by CCD observations. It keeps observable after this while fading gradually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 12 55.53 -21 55.1 2.359 2.261 72 15.4 2:57 (271, 39) Jan. 1 13 2.84 -23 6.3 2.321 2.309 77 15.5 3:03 (269, 45) C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd ) Now it is 14.5 mag (Nov. 8, K. Hills), much brighter than originally expected. It keeps 16 mag until 2011 spring. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it locates very low in 2011 spring only. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 9 37.70 -69 45.8 2.887 2.884 79 15.5 2:57 (356, 55) Jan. 1 9 0.90 -69 56.8 2.832 2.896 83 15.5 2:22 ( 0, 55) C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring ) Now it is 15.2 mag (Nov. 27, A. Novichonok and D. Chestnov). It will be fading very slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring when it fades down to 17-18 mag. It will not be observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 19 28.18 31 53.6 5.007 4.565 58 15.6 21:02 (106,-38) Jan. 1 19 38.51 32 1.6 5.041 4.574 56 15.6 21:03 (104,-42) 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT ) Now it is 14.0 mag and visible visually (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable at 15 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) Dec. 25 6 38.77 38 42.8 1.257 2.219 163 15.8 0:27 (180, 16) Jan. 1 6 31.24 40 18.2 1.277 2.235 162 15.8 23:47 (180, 15) C/2010 G2 ( Hill ) A small outburst occured and it brightened by 2 mag, up to 16.1 mag, on 2010 Aug. 31 (Bernhard Haeusler). Now it is 15.2 mag (Dec. 22, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten up to 11.5 mag in 2011 autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2011 November. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 16 33.86 22 29.0 3.987 3.466 51 15.9 2:57 (262,-29) Jan. 1 16 41.26 23 41.8 3.868 3.407 55 15.8 3:03 (257,-25) P/2010 WK ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It must have been bright as 16 mag since September, but it was not discovered. It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 5 4.14 45 9.7 0.968 1.902 154 16.2 22:48 (180, 10) Jan. 1 5 2.65 44 41.2 1.014 1.930 150 16.4 22:20 (180, 10) C/2010 A4 ( Siding Spring ) Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 4, D. Chestnov & A. Novichonok). It will be fading slowly after this. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but it will be getting lower gradually after January. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 0 25.00 -64 48.8 3.030 2.851 70 16.5 21:02 ( 28, 51) Jan. 1 0 18.42 -61 7.5 3.111 2.872 66 16.5 21:03 ( 35, 48) 123P/West-Hartley Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 23, G. Muler, R. Naves). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2011 spring when it brightens up to 16 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps locating low. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 5 6.91 38 10.2 1.631 2.576 159 16.9 22:51 (180, 17) Jan. 1 4 59.62 38 27.1 1.633 2.548 153 16.8 22:16 (180, 17) 247P/2010 V3 ( LINEAR ) Asteroid discovered in 2002 was revealed to be a comet. Now it is 16.6 mag (Dec. 26, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in February. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 6 27.26 48 20.7 0.538 1.489 154 16.9 0:15 (180, 7) Jan. 1 6 28.96 50 38.8 0.542 1.485 152 16.9 23:46 (180, 4) C/2009 K3 ( Beshore ) It was observed only during 3 days in 2009 May, then it has been lost. The ephemeris says that it passes the perihelion in 2011 January and it will be observable at 17 mag. But actually, it will not be found. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 7 48.50 -18 37.6 3.178 3.904 131 16.9 1:37 (180, 74) Jan. 1 7 33.06 -18 54.1 3.131 3.902 136 16.9 0:54 (180, 74) C/2008 S3 ( Boattini ) Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 27, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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) Dec. 25 0 57.59 15 47.9 7.749 8.080 106 17.0 21:02 (141, 29) Jan. 1 0 55.26 15 31.7 7.869 8.075 98 17.1 21:03 (134, 25) C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 28, A. Novichonok and D. Chestnov). It is expected to be 15 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere, but not observable in the Southern Hemisphere now. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 1 49.09 59 1.6 7.844 8.410 122 17.2 21:02 (169, -6) Jan. 1 1 43.77 58 22.7 7.881 8.378 117 17.2 21:03 (164, -7) 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic ) Now it is 17.4 mag (Dec. 9, Tzec Maun observatory). It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. At the discovery in 1999, it became brightest one year after the perihelion passage. At this time, it became brightest three months after the perihelion passage, then it is fading. It keeps observable in good condition at 18 mag until may. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 10 35.61 6 49.4 3.066 3.593 114 17.3 2:57 (210, 44) Jan. 1 10 35.73 6 41.3 2.990 3.609 122 17.3 3:03 (199, 47) 2008 YB3 Large Centaur-type asteroid. It keeps observable at 17-18 mag for a long time until 2013. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 8 5.51 -18 1.8 5.814 6.493 130 17.4 1:53 (180, 73) Jan. 1 8 0.65 -17 34.7 5.757 6.492 135 17.3 1:21 (180, 73) C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch ) Now it is 17.3 mag (Oct. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is fading slowly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2011 summer. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 17 9.31 43 46.0 5.471 5.196 68 17.4 2:57 (240,-44) Jan. 1 17 14.61 43 24.7 5.477 5.216 69 17.5 3:03 (239,-39) 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2 Now it is 18.1 mag (Dec. 13, Tzec Maun Observatory). It was observed at 18 mag in winter between 2009 and 2010. It will be observable again at 18 mag in good condition from winter to spring in 2011. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 10 58.72 9 36.4 2.970 3.442 110 17.6 2:57 (215, 39) Jan. 1 11 0.27 9 38.9 2.879 3.445 117 17.5 3:03 (206, 42) C/2005 L3 ( McNaught ) It had been bright as 13-14 mag for a long time from 2007 to 2009. Now it is fading, but it is 15.3 mag still now (Dec. 10, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok), much brighter than predicted. It keeps observable at 16-17 mag in good condition until next spring. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 11 57.45 37 11.9 8.932 9.264 106 17.6 2:57 (213, 8) Jan. 1 11 55.47 37 44.1 8.870 9.299 113 17.6 3:03 (206, 11) 241P/2010 P2 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 17.3 mag (Dec. 14, Catalina Sky Survey). It has already passed the perihelion, however, it tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until the end of 2010. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Dec. 25 9 18.61 19 14.2 1.621 2.432 136 17.8 2:57 (183, 36) Jan. 1 9 13.51 18 33.4 1.600 2.470 144 17.9 2:34 (180, 36)