Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Jan. 1: North)

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Updated on December 31, 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

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)  
Jan.  1   7 18.15  -16 56.3   0.466   1.370   139    8.8   0:39 (  0, 38)  
Jan.  8   7 12.70  -15 28.3   0.517   1.427   142    9.3   0:06 (  0, 39)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  16 59.35  -21 42.4   2.358   1.515    24   12.4   5:37 (299,  3)  
Jan.  8  17 22.91  -22 41.9   2.335   1.511    25   12.3   5:38 (300,  3)  

* 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. It will be unobservable soon. It will appear in the morning sky in late March in the Southern Hemisphere, or in late April in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  1  21 58.90  -27 41.2   5.147   4.493    44   13.2  18:29 ( 43, 13)  
Jan.  8  22  1.18  -26 41.7   5.161   4.427    37   13.2  18:34 ( 48,  9)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  11 17.48   -0 48.3   5.847   6.244   109   13.8   4:37 (  0, 54)  
Jan.  8  11 17.17   -0 56.6   5.743   6.244   116   13.8   4:09 (  0, 54)  

* (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)  
Jan.  1   9 58.91   30 22.1   2.293   3.078   136   13.9   3:19 (  0, 85)  
Jan.  8   9 56.67   31 18.1   2.225   3.068   142   13.8   2:49 (  0, 86)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  20 58.45   37 56.0   2.724   2.538    68   13.9  18:29 (113, 40)  
Jan.  8  21 12.94   35 14.8   2.801   2.531    64   14.0  18:34 (111, 36)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   5 54.81   -6 56.5   2.087   2.965   147   14.3  23:10 (  0, 48)  
Jan.  8   5 39.29   -9  6.1   2.128   2.957   140   14.4  22:27 (  0, 46)  

* 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 16-17 mag. However, extremely faint large coma extends, and the total brightness is still bright as 14.3 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). 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)  
Jan.  1   4 38.39   40 13.7   2.578   3.455   148   14.5  21:54 (180, 85)  
Jan.  8   4 27.94   38  8.9   2.705   3.525   141   14.7  21:17 (180, 87)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  14 57.89  -19 15.4   2.159   1.744    52   14.5   5:37 (318, 24)  
Jan.  8  15 13.93  -20 51.2   2.132   1.772    55   15.1   5:38 (322, 24)  

* 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 13.2 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). It may be visible visually in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  1   1 34.14   -5  4.3   1.849   2.233    99   14.8  18:52 (  0, 50)  
Jan.  8   1 41.26   -3 30.9   1.972   2.277    94   15.1  18:34 (  1, 52)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  1  15 52.37  -58 48.4   6.702   6.071    46   15.0   5:37 (335,-14)  
Jan.  8  15 58.80  -59 55.8   6.624   6.049    50   14.9   5:38 (337,-13)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  17 56.77  -49 36.4   6.671   5.823    28   15.0   5:37 (316,-23)  
Jan.  8  18  1.11  -50  4.2   6.689   5.871    31   15.1   5:38 (318,-20)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It is already bright as 14.5 mag and visible visually (Sept. 30, Alan Hale). Now it is unobservable. But it will appear in the morning sky in late February in the Northern Hemisphere, or in late March in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  1  20 13.48   -7 21.3   7.088   6.225    26   15.2  18:29 ( 75,  8)  
Jan.  8  20 15.18   -7 20.9   7.105   6.197    20   15.2  18:34 ( 80,  2)  

* 65P/Gunn

It brightened up to 11.5 mag in July (July 18, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 15.2 mag (Dec. 28, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). 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)  
Jan.  1  22 15.24  -20 11.5   3.568   3.015    48   15.3  18:29 ( 44, 21)  
Jan.  8  22 24.95  -19  6.4   3.659   3.036    44   15.4  18:34 ( 49, 18)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Dec. 27, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok), 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)  
Jan.  1   9  0.90  -69 56.8   2.832   2.896    83   15.5   2:22 (  0,-15)  
Jan.  8   8 21.65  -69 21.5   2.782   2.911    87   15.5   1:15 (  0,-14)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  13  2.84  -23  6.3   2.321   2.309    77   15.5   5:37 (348, 31)  
Jan.  8  13  9.13  -24 11.9   2.280   2.357    82   15.6   5:38 (354, 31)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  16 41.26   23 41.8   3.868   3.407    55   15.8   5:37 (262, 32)  
Jan.  8  16 48.85   25  7.1   3.745   3.349    59   15.6   5:38 (263, 37)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  19 38.51   32  1.6   5.041   4.574    56   15.6  18:29 (114, 23)  
Jan.  8  19 48.91   32 14.4   5.074   4.584    55   15.6  18:34 (117, 19)  

* 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT )

It reached up to 14.0 mag and became visible visually in December (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps locating high in the Northern Hemisphere after this. But it will be fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  1   6 31.24   40 18.2   1.277   2.235   162   15.8  23:47 (180, 85)  
Jan.  8   6 23.85   41 37.3   1.310   2.252   157   16.0  23:12 (180, 83)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   5  2.65   44 41.2   1.014   1.930   150   16.4  22:20 (180, 80)  
Jan.  8   5  2.83   44  2.6   1.070   1.961   145   16.6  21:52 (180, 81)  

* C/2010 A4 ( Siding Spring )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Dec. 28, D. Chestnov & A. Novichonok). It will be fading slowly after this. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  1   0 18.42  -61  7.5   3.111   2.872    66   16.5  18:29 (  6, -6)  
Jan.  8   0 15.24  -57 35.7   3.198   2.895    63   16.6  18:34 ( 12, -4)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   4 59.62   38 27.1   1.633   2.548   153   16.8  22:16 (180, 87)  
Jan.  8   4 53.36   38 36.2   1.647   2.521   145   16.7  21:42 (180, 86)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   7 33.06  -18 54.1   3.131   3.902   136   16.9   0:54 (  0, 36)  
Jan.  8   7 17.03  -18 55.1   3.108   3.902   138   16.9   0:11 (  0, 36)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   6 28.96   50 38.8   0.542   1.485   152   16.9  23:46 (180, 74)  
Jan.  8   6 31.15   52 22.5   0.554   1.485   148   16.9  23:21 (180, 73)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   0 55.26   15 31.7   7.869   8.075    98   17.1  18:29 ( 12, 70)  
Jan.  8   0 53.42   15 18.3   7.992   8.070    91   17.1  18:34 ( 33, 67)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   1 43.77   58 22.7   7.881   8.378   117   17.2  19:01 (180, 67)  
Jan.  8   1 39.41   57 43.6   7.927   8.346   112   17.2  18:34 (178, 67)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  10 35.73    6 41.3   2.990   3.609   122   17.3   3:55 (  0, 62)  
Jan.  8  10 34.94    6 38.7   2.922   3.625   129   17.3   3:27 (  0, 62)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   8  0.65  -17 34.7   5.757   6.492   135   17.3   1:21 (  0, 37)  
Jan.  8   7 55.53  -17  0.9   5.712   6.491   139   17.3   0:48 (  0, 38)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  11  0.27    9 38.9   2.879   3.445   117   17.5   4:20 (  0, 65)  
Jan.  8  11  0.90    9 47.3   2.795   3.449   124   17.5   3:53 (  0, 65)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1  11 55.47   37 44.1   8.870   9.299   113   17.6   5:15 (180, 87)  
Jan.  8  11 52.98   38 17.7   8.815   9.334   119   17.6   4:45 (180, 87)  

* 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)  
Jan.  1   9 13.51   18 33.4   1.600   2.470   144   17.9   2:34 (  0, 74)  
Jan.  8   9  7.15   17 55.5   1.591   2.508   153   18.1   2:00 (  0, 73)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.