Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2011 July 30: South)

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Updated on July 30, 2011
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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 P1 ( Garradd )

Now it is 8.1 mag (July 27, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps so bright as 6-8 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012, and will be observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until October when it brightens up to 6.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  21 43.14   11 35.7   1.570   2.474   145    7.8   1:16 (180, 43)  
Aug.  6  21 19.17   13 53.6   1.481   2.408   148    7.6   0:25 (180, 41)  

* 27P/Crommelin

It has returned after 27-year blank since 1984. It brightened very rapidly, and became very bright as 9.1 mag (July 10, Tsutomu Seki). However, it is not observable now. It will never be observable again in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   7  4.74   21 13.3   1.602   0.753    21   10.6   5:29 (245, -2)  
Aug.  6   7 42.46   16 39.4   1.631   0.749    19   10.6   5:24 (251, -2)  

* 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 9.5 mag, brightening rapidly (July 30, Michael Mattiazzo). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until early September when it becomes 7 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable for a while. 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)  
July 30  11 22.25    2 46.4   1.537   1.070    43   11.2  18:43 (112, 24)  
Aug.  6  11 35.26    1 24.4   1.447   0.947    40   10.6  18:47 (108, 22)  

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova

Now it is very bright as 11.3 mag (July 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will approach to the earth down to 0.06 A.U. and brighten up to 7-8 mag in mid August. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until early August when it brightens up to 10 mag. Then it goes away to the southern sky and becomes unobservable temporarily But it appears in the morning sky again at 7 mag in mid September, then it keeps observable while fading gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable until mid August when it brightens up to 8 mag. But after that, it is not observable until winter when it becomes fainter than 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  21 59.90  -27 23.8   0.244   1.246   158   13.3   1:32 (180, 82)  
Aug.  6  22 16.97  -36 53.4   0.146   1.148   154   11.4   1:20 (  0, 89)  

* C/2011 M1 ( LINEAR )

It will approach to the sun down to 0.9 A.U. in early September. It will keep 12 mag in summer and autumn. Now it is 12.8 mag and visible visually (July 6, Jakub Cerny). But it is diffuse, and the central part is extremely faint as 18 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until winter, although it becomes very low from mid August to late September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   6  0.38   73  9.2   1.268   1.139    58   12.6   5:29 (196,-26)  
Aug.  6   8  1.69   69 46.4   1.288   1.068    53   12.5   5:24 (204,-31)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

Now it is bright as 10.4 mag (July 27, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will brighten up to 10-11 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until 2012 spring, although it becomes low temporarily in July. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   7 50.35   61 51.2   2.629   2.023    43   13.0   5:29 (213,-30)  
Aug.  6   7 53.85   60 16.8   2.591   2.008    45   12.9   5:24 (214,-27)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

It will be 12-13 mag in June and July. However, it is not observable at all due to the bad condition in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   9 18.26   20 27.5   2.410   1.423    10   13.0  18:43 (108,-10)  
Aug.  6   9 41.85   18 55.9   2.433   1.443     9   13.2  18:47 (105,-11)  

* 213P/2009 B3 ( Van Ness )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in a major outburst in 2005. Now it is very bright as 12.0 mag and visible visually (July 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable in an excellent condition from summer to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  23 20.49    1 50.4   1.309   2.146   134   13.0   2:52 (180, 53)  
Aug.  6  23 18.80    2 39.8   1.269   2.154   141   13.0   2:23 (180, 52)  

* C/2011 L3 ( McNaught )

Very bright and visible visually as 12.8 mag (July 27, Jakub Cerny). It will be observable at 13 mag in good condition in summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition until autumn. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will become low after August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  20 11.14   23 42.4   1.057   1.929   137   13.5  23:37 (180, 31)  
Aug.  6  19 38.29   27 48.7   1.101   1.925   130   13.6  22:37 (180, 27)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 13.1 mag (June 6, Chris Wyatt). It keeps bright as 13-14 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)  
July 30  10 56.89  -75  7.2   5.367   5.573    96   13.5  18:43 ( 18, 40)  
Aug.  6  11  0.96  -74 46.5   5.406   5.562    93   13.5  18:47 ( 18, 39)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Now it is 15.2 mag (June 24, Hidetaka Sato). It brightens up to 12 mag in autumn. But the condition is bad. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is already extremely low, and it will be unobservable in August. After the perihelion passage, it is only observable from December to February in the evening very low sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time, although it keeps locating extremely low. The component B was not detected, fainter than 20 mag (May 14, Hidetaka Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  11  7.81   12 59.7   2.111   1.439    37   13.9  18:43 (118, 15)  
Aug.  6  11 24.33   10 44.4   2.075   1.374    35   13.7  18:47 (113, 14)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 13.2 mag and visible visually (July 5, Jakub Koukal). 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)  
July 30  18 51.81   -7  3.4   4.579   5.499   152   13.9  22:20 (180, 62)  
Aug.  6  18 43.09   -7 30.9   4.620   5.480   144   13.9  21:44 (180, 63)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Already bright and visible visually at 14.5 mag (July 28, Jakub Cerny). It will be observable in good condition at 12 mag in autumn and winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  23 58.71    7  9.3   1.693   2.407   123   14.5   3:30 (180, 48)  
Aug.  6   0  0.96    7 28.8   1.601   2.379   129   14.2   3:05 (180, 47)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is bright as 12.5 mag and visible visually (June 23, Chris Wyatt). It is getting lower in the evening sky. It has been already too low to observe in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable in mid August in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  11  9.10   -0 43.5   6.970   6.259    42   14.2  18:43 (107, 24)  
Aug.  6  11 13.29   -1  9.5   7.039   6.260    37   14.2  18:47 (102, 19)  

* (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 13.8 mag (Apr. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is getting lower in the evening sky, and will be unobservable in August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  11  1.13   18 25.4   3.510   2.735    34   14.5  18:43 (121, 10)  
Aug.  6  11 11.63   17  7.1   3.544   2.724    30   14.5  18:47 (116,  7)  

* 48P/Johnson

It brightened rapidly and reached up to 14.9 mag now (July 23, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition from July to October. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  20 28.39  -22 28.4   1.326   2.339   175   15.1   0:01 (180, 77)  
Aug.  6  20 23.97  -23 39.1   1.328   2.331   168   15.0  23:25 (180, 79)  

* C/2009 Y1 ( Catalina )

Now it is fading slowly, but still bright and visible visually as 13.8 mag (July 12, Jakub Cerny). It will keep 14-15 mag until mid September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  23 38.62   -4  9.6   2.391   3.171   132   15.1   3:11 (180, 59)  
Aug.  6  23 31.00   -7 11.6   2.350   3.214   142   15.2   2:36 (180, 62)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 14.8 mag and visible visually (July 5, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
July 30  13 39.12   16 18.0   2.945   2.803    71   15.3  18:43 (152, 34)  
Aug.  6  13 46.75   14 44.8   2.975   2.762    68   15.3  18:47 (145, 33)  

* 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 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)  
July 30  16  8.31  -50 28.5   2.507   3.128   119   15.4  19:37 (  0, 74)  
Aug.  6  15 58.21  -50 56.4   2.555   3.079   111   15.4  19:00 (  0, 74)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Brightening rapidly. Now it is 15.0 mag (July 18, Hidetaka Sato). It was observed as bright as 14.0 mag visually (June 27, Jakub Koukal). It is expected to be 13 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time after this. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   1 59.48   62 12.4   7.618   7.465    77   15.5   5:29 (180, -7)  
Aug.  6   1 55.03   62 56.5   7.504   7.437    82   15.4   4:59 (180, -8)  

* 174P/(60558) 2000 EC98 ( Echeclus )

It has brightened in outburst up to 14 mag in 2006 January. Another outburst occured in late May, and brightened up to 14.3 mag (June 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is still bright as 14.5 mag (June 27, Jakub Koukal). It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this, and will be unobservable in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  16  1.97  -16  8.5   7.875   8.358   115   15.5  19:31 (180, 71)  
Aug.  6  16  1.81  -16 11.2   7.961   8.339   108   15.6  19:04 (180, 71)  

* 130P/McNaught-Hughes

Now it is 14.7 mag (July 27, Rolando Ligustri). Brighter than originally predicted. It will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  23 21.72  -15 42.5   1.233   2.115   140   15.6   2:54 (180, 71)  
Aug.  6  23 21.75  -16 24.0   1.201   2.122   146   15.6   2:26 (180, 71)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is 17.1 mag (June 24, J. F. Hernandez). It will brighten up to 13 mag in next winter. But the condition of this apparition is bad, and it will not be observable around the perihelion passage. It will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be observable until September when it brightens up to 15 mag in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  11 50.81    6 31.7   2.536   2.023    49   16.0  18:43 (121, 27)  
Aug.  6  12  2.86    4 48.3   2.554   1.986    45   15.9  18:47 (115, 25)  

* C/2008 FK75 ( Lemmon-Siding Spring )

Now it is 15.9 mag (June 27, P. Dupouy). 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)  
July 30  22 54.89   53  1.6   4.815   5.126   102   16.0   2:27 (180,  2)  
Aug.  6  22 52.65   53  9.6   4.780   5.152   106   16.0   1:57 (180,  2)  

* C/2010 B1 ( Cardinal )

It reached up to 14 mag in 2010 autumn and winter. Now it is fading. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while fading gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   6  3.02  -37 24.0   3.677   3.403    66   16.0   5:29 (292, 41)  
Aug.  6   6  8.87  -39 49.5   3.657   3.437    69   16.0   5:24 (294, 45)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 16.7 mag (June 19, Toshiyuki Takahashi). In the Northern Hemisphere, although it becomes low temporarily in 2011 autumn, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time until 2012 autumn when the comet brightens up to 10 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is hardly observble before the perihelion passage. But it becomes observable in good condition since 2013 after the perihelion passage.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  11 59.70   55  1.3   6.457   5.901    52   16.3  18:43 (154, -9)  
Aug.  6  12  5.77   54  4.0   6.423   5.842    51   16.2  18:47 (151,-11)  

* 65P/Gunn

It became bright as 12 mag in 2010. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.2 mag (July 5, Hidetaka Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   2 15.81    4 28.5   3.449   3.647    93   16.2   5:29 (187, 50)  
Aug.  6   2 18.35    4 32.7   3.368   3.667    99   16.2   5:22 (180, 50)  

* 115P/Maury

Now it is 16.0 mag (July 6, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It will brighten up to 16 mag from summer to autumn, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  16 15.27   -4  6.3   1.481   2.121   115   16.2  19:45 (180, 59)  
Aug.  6  16 20.18   -5  2.7   1.528   2.105   110   16.3  19:22 (180, 60)  

* C/2011 C1 ( McNaught )

It approached to the sun down to 0.88 A.U. in mid April, and it brightened up to 8.6 mag (Apr. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.1 mag by CCD observations (July 29, Hidetaka Sato). However, it is still very bright visually as 11.5 mag (July 12, Jakub Cerny). It will get diffuse and fade out rapidly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   2 42.92   16  5.3   1.756   1.919    83   16.3   5:29 (194, 38)  
Aug.  6   2 47.50   15 37.3   1.755   2.009    88   16.7   5:24 (189, 39)  

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 15.5 mag (July 1, Hidetaka Sato). It will be fading gradually, and will be fainter than 18 mag in September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   0 32.11  -13  4.7   1.641   2.353   122   16.4   4:04 (180, 68)  
Aug.  6   0 30.92  -13 45.2   1.615   2.394   129   16.5   3:35 (180, 69)  

* C/2011 L2 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.6 mag (July 22, Hidetaka Sato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 16-17 mag for a long time from summer to winter. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  21 53.00  -70 57.5   1.501   2.258   126   16.4   1:27 (  0, 54)  
Aug.  6  21  1.77  -76 35.6   1.524   2.216   120   16.4   0:11 (  0, 49)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 17.2 mag (July 18, Hidetaka Sato). It will brighten rapidly, and will be obserbale at 14 mag in good condition in autumn. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   4 45.98    6 33.6   1.997   1.675    56   16.8   5:29 (232, 33)  
Aug.  6   5  6.48    7  8.5   1.927   1.638    58   16.6   5:24 (231, 32)  

* C/2006 W3 ( Christensen )

It reached up to 7.7 mag in 2009 summer (2009 Aug. 13, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.3 mag (June 29, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
July 30  15 29.23  -62 19.6   6.810   7.263   112   16.7  18:59 (  0, 63)  
Aug.  6  15 24.88  -61 42.7   6.941   7.311   107   16.8  18:47 (  5, 63)  

* 37P/Forbes

Now it is 17.4 mag (June 24, J. F. Hernandez). It will brighten up to 15 mag in autumn and winter. But the condition of this apparition is bad. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will be getting lower in the evening sky after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable until September when it brightens up to 16 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  12 19.25  -10 37.0   2.292   2.035    62   17.0  18:43 (111, 44)  
Aug.  6  12 31.22  -11 41.5   2.318   1.996    59   16.8  18:47 (106, 40)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.3 mag (June 26, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   0 55.17   19 12.8   7.688   8.024   105   17.0   4:27 (180, 36)  
Aug.  6   0 51.79   19 11.0   7.575   8.026   113   16.9   3:56 (180, 36)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.5 mag (July 2, J. F. Hernandez). 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)  
July 30  16 52.36  -23 42.7   3.499   4.203   128   17.2  20:21 (180, 79)  
Aug.  6  16 51.69  -23 46.3   3.594   4.212   121   17.3  19:53 (180, 79)  

* C/2011 N2 ( McNaught )

New comet. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable at 18 mag in good condition in July. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30  14 30.31  -34  7.5   2.347   2.705    99   17.7  18:43 ( 93, 81)  
Aug.  6  14 40.04  -32 53.5   2.403   2.682    94   17.7  18:47 ( 94, 76)  

* P/2011 N1

New comet discovered by de la Cueva, et al., Spain. It keeps 17-18 mag until early 2013. It keeps observable in good condition until early 2012 in the Southern Hemisphere, although it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in good condition from 2012 autumn to early 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 30   1 15.03  -40 20.4   3.033   3.610   117   18.0   4:47 (  0, 85)  
Aug.  6   1 17.45  -41 18.4   2.957   3.581   120   17.9   4:21 (  0, 84)  

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