Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 Mar. 5: North)

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Updated on March 8, 2011
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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/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Already very bright, much brighter than expected, as 10.5 mag (Jan. 3, Alexandre Amorim). Not observable now. 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 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)  
Mar.  5  22 29.26  -18 37.1   4.850   3.898    14   12.4   5:01 (280,-18)  
Mar. 12  22 33.25  -17 35.2   4.756   3.831    19   12.3   4:52 (281,-15)  

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 14.5 mag (Mar. 4, A. Novichonok and D. Chestnov). It will be fading after this. The condition in this apparition is bad. It will be getting higher gradually after this in the Southern Hemisphere, however, it keeps extremely low until May in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  20 28.04  -23  8.8   2.216   1.596    40   12.8   5:01 (300,  2)  
Mar. 12  20 48.84  -22 26.3   2.204   1.619    42   12.9   4:52 (300,  2)  

* C/2011 C1 ( McNaught )

Now it is so bright as 13.1 mag (Mar. 6, Hidetaka Sato). Diffuse object, with a large coma of 3 arcmin. It can be visible visually. Tiny comet. But it will approach to the sun down to 0.9 A.U. and brighten up to 11-12 mag. It keeps observable until it fades out, although it keeps locating somewhat low in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  18  0.73  -15  7.0   0.971   1.180    73   13.2   5:01 (323, 31)  
Mar. 12  18 45.45  -12 41.7   0.930   1.104    69   12.8   4:52 (315, 30)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 13.5 mag (Mar. 1, Carlos Labordena). Not very bright, but visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  10 59.73   -0 13.9   5.264   6.250   173   13.6   0:12 (  0, 55)  
Mar. 12  10 56.63    0  1.1   5.266   6.250   171   13.6  23:37 (  0, 55)  

* (596) Scheila

Big asteroid discovered in 1906. It suddenly showed the cometary activity on Dec. 11, probably due to an impact of a small object. It was very bright as 11.5 mag visually (Dec. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It had a dust coma still on Jan. 9 (Joseph Brimacombe). Now it is stellar at 13.6 mag (Feb. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5   9 11.10   36 30.7   2.145   2.980   140   13.7  22:19 (180, 89)  
Mar. 12   9  6.59   36 26.8   2.191   2.968   134   13.8  21:47 (180, 89)  

* 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 11.7 mag (Mar. 1, Carlos Labordena). After this, it keeps observable for a long time until June when it fades down to 17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5   7 19.69   -0 30.1   1.175   1.919   124   13.7  20:29 (  0, 55)  
Mar. 12   7 26.10    0 47.3   1.289   1.981   119   14.0  20:08 (  0, 56)  

* 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 15.5 mag (Feb. 5, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It will brighten up to 11.5 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  17 54.36   45 57.0   2.796   2.890    85   14.3   5:01 (236, 64)  
Mar. 12  18  3.11   49 51.5   2.709   2.835    86   14.2   4:52 (226, 64)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 13.3 mag, much brighter than originally expected and visible visually (Jan. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable until spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, the altitude will be lower than 10 degree from February to April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  22 41.10   22  1.4   3.373   2.549    28   14.4   5:01 (245,  3)  
Mar. 12  22 49.70   21  5.6   3.414   2.561    26   14.5   4:52 (247,  4)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.4 mag (Feb. 27, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Mar.  5  16 37.91  -70 44.3   5.873   5.886    85   14.5   5:01 (356,-16)  
Mar. 12  16 39.02  -72 16.7   5.779   5.867    90   14.5   4:52 (357,-17)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It is already bright as 14.5 mag and visible visually (Sept. 30, Alan Hale). It is appearing in the morning sky in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be observable in late March also 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)  
Mar.  5  20 28.80   -6 21.9   6.730   5.976    37   15.0   5:01 (287, 13)  
Mar. 12  20 29.78   -6 10.1   6.623   5.950    44   14.9   4:52 (290, 16)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

Now it is 13.5 mag and visible visually (Feb. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It has a long tail by CCD observations. It keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5   4 32.82  -16 34.3   2.931   2.953    81   15.1  19:22 ( 29, 33)  
Mar. 12   4 31.62  -16 52.6   3.042   2.960    75   15.2  19:28 ( 37, 29)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in 2009 summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading, but still bright as 13.7 mag (Feb. 7, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. 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)  
Mar.  5  18 24.20  -55 27.3   6.472   6.255    73   15.5   5:01 (339, -6)  
Mar. 12  18 24.42  -56 20.5   6.417   6.304    79   15.5   4:52 (342, -6)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Feb. 7, Artyom Novichonok), much brighter than originally expected. It keeps 15 mag until 2011 spring. It keeps observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes observable in the evening low sky only in March and April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5   5 46.07  -42 52.6   2.849   3.080    93   15.7  19:22 (  5, 12)  
Mar. 12   5 43.78  -38 53.5   2.926   3.108    91   15.9  19:28 ( 13, 15)  

* 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)  
Mar.  5  21 10.54   36 30.5   5.261   4.685    50   15.8   5:01 (243, 27)  
Mar. 12  21 20.06   37 17.9   5.272   4.701    50   15.8   4:52 (243, 29)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 15.7 mag (Jan. 23, Toru Yusa). 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)  
Mar.  5   5  6.01   38  6.3   2.022   2.328    94   16.3  19:22 (108, 76)  
Mar. 12   5 15.16   38  1.0   2.083   2.307    89   16.3  19:28 (106, 72)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 21, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable after this while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  13 13.19  -28 19.7   1.960   2.733   132   16.4   2:25 (  0, 27)  
Mar. 12  13  7.78  -28  2.1   1.943   2.779   140   16.5   1:52 (  0, 27)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Mar. 1, P. C. Sherrod). It keeps 15 mag from 2011 summer to 2012 summer. But it is not observable around the perihelion. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere in 2011, and in the Southern Hemisphere in 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  13 41.36   21 45.8   3.027   3.825   138   16.7   2:53 (  0, 77)  
Mar. 12  13 40.31   22 48.7   2.934   3.770   142   16.6   2:24 (  0, 78)  

* C/2009 K5 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 7.9 mag in April and May (May 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.5 mag (Feb. 23, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Mar.  5   4  8.96   27  8.0   4.105   4.078    81   16.6  19:22 ( 82, 62)  
Mar. 12   4 11.36   26 24.4   4.292   4.146    74   16.8  19:28 ( 86, 56)  

* C/2010 X1 ( Elenin )

It will approach to the sun down to 0.5 A.U. in September, and it is expected to brighten up to 6 mag. Now it is 16.6 mag (Mar. 2, J. F. Soulier, J. Soulier). It will be brightening gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until early September when it becomes 7 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes unobservable in August. But after appearing in the morning sky in October, it becomes observable in the excellent condition at midnight.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  11 44.68    0 15.0   2.245   3.220   167   16.8   0:57 (  0, 55)  
Mar. 12  11 37.03    1  1.1   2.140   3.132   176   16.6   0:22 (  0, 56)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 24, Hiroshi Abe). It is expected to be 14 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this, although it becomes low temporarily in spring. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5   1 32.65   53 58.0   8.410   8.094    68   16.7  19:22 (135, 39)  
Mar. 12   1 34.27   53 47.1   8.461   8.063    63   16.7  19:28 (136, 34)  

* 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 still bright as 14.4 mag and visible visually (Feb. 7, Sandor Szabo). It keeps observable at 15-16 mag in good condition until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  11 17.80   42  9.4   8.798   9.618   143   16.8   0:30 (180, 83)  
Mar. 12  11 12.41   42 23.6   8.860   9.654   141   16.8  23:52 (180, 83)  

* 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 has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Mar. 1, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Mar.  5   6 20.24   44 16.2   1.918   2.424   108   16.9  19:30 (180, 81)  
Mar. 12   6 27.52   44  3.5   2.020   2.449   103   17.1  19:28 (160, 80)  

* C/2009 UG89 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 4, D. Chestnov and A. Novichonok). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition until summer. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  18 13.02   22 16.6   4.114   3.990    75   17.1   5:01 (283, 56)  
Mar. 12  18 10.60   24  4.6   4.026   4.001    81   17.1   4:52 (284, 61)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 17.7 mag (Jan. 30, Tzec Maun Observatory). It was observed around 16 mag in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, it keeps observable at 17 mag from spring to autumn. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  17 27.24  -22 12.6   4.045   4.020    81   17.1   5:01 (334, 28)  
Mar. 12  17 31.52  -22 20.2   3.948   4.029    87   17.1   4:52 (338, 29)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

It has kept bright as 8.5 mag since July until September. Now it is fading. Diffuse object, but the total magnitude is still bright as 15.7 mag (Feb. 22, Tzec Maun Observatory).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5   2 52.06    7 19.0   2.982   2.618    59   17.1  19:22 ( 71, 37)  
Mar. 12   3  1.99    8 25.6   3.102   2.660    55   17.3  19:28 ( 77, 33)  

* 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)  
Mar.  5   5 37.39  -12 11.5   3.675   3.931    97   17.3  19:22 ( 12, 42)  
Mar. 12   5 31.34  -11  6.4   3.803   3.938    90   17.4  19:28 ( 25, 41)  

* 2008 YB3

Large Centaur-type asteroid. Now it is 17.0 mag (Jan. 7, Tzec Maun Observatory). 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)  
Mar.  5   7 19.20   -9 22.3   5.898   6.486   122   17.4  20:28 (  0, 46)  
Mar. 12   7 16.59   -8 14.5   5.981   6.486   116   17.5  19:58 (  0, 47)  

* 203P/2008 R4 ( Korlevic )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 24, La Sagra). 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)  
Mar.  5  10  6.44    8 42.0   2.789   3.760   166   17.5  23:14 (  0, 64)  
Mar. 12  10  2.57    9  2.3   2.835   3.777   158   17.6  22:43 (  0, 64)  

* C/2007 VO53 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 21, 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)  
Mar.  5  17 39.74   44 55.9   5.362   5.413    87   17.6   5:01 (236, 67)  
Mar. 12  17 38.94   45 27.0   5.338   5.437    90   17.6   4:52 (232, 70)  

* 247P/2010 V3 ( LINEAR )

Asteroid discovered in 2002 was revealed to be a comet. Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 27, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag soon. 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)  
Mar.  5   7 48.33   47 52.2   0.866   1.624   121   17.7  20:58 (180, 77)  
Mar. 12   8  2.74   45 55.6   0.930   1.656   118   18.0  20:45 (180, 79)  

* 249P/2011 A4 ( LINEAR )

Now it is stellar at 17.3 mag (Feb. 12, Hidetaka Sato). Tiny periodic comet. It approaches to the sun down to 0.5 A.U. in mid April. But it brightens up to 17 mag only. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the morning sky until mid March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  18 41.11  -28  6.7   0.797   0.974    64   17.8   5:01 (322, 15)  
Mar. 12  19 43.81  -24 47.0   0.775   0.872    57   17.7   4:52 (312, 12)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 24, La Sagra). 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)  
Mar.  5  10 38.18   13 22.7   2.500   3.483   171   17.8  23:46 (  0, 68)  
Mar. 12  10 33.98   13 50.7   2.524   3.488   163   17.8  23:14 (  0, 69)  

* P/2011 A2 ( Scotti )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 16, L. Elenin and A. Novichonok). Diffuse object, but the total magnitude is bright. It keeps 17-18 mag until April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  14 40.77   -9 51.6   0.989   1.739   122   17.9   3:52 (  0, 45)  
Mar. 12  14 43.41  -10 13.4   0.965   1.768   129   17.9   3:27 (  0, 45)  

* C/2010 M1 ( Gibbs )

It is expected to keep 14-15 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 summer. The condition is good in the Southern Hemisphere, and it keeps observable for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in the low sky in 2011 spring. But after that, it is not observable until 2012 August. However, this comet was observed only during two days in 2010 June. So the orbital elements are extremely uncertain.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  5  18 20.44  -23 14.0   4.509   4.259    69   18.1   5:01 (323, 22)  
Mar. 12  18 24.14  -23 58.9   4.343   4.204    75   17.9   4:52 (326, 23)  

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