Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 Jan. 21: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on January 22, 2012
Last week South Next week

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

Now it is 6.7 mag (Jan. 18, Uwe Pilz). It keeps bright as 7 mag and observable in excellent condition until April. Then it will be fading and will be unobservable in June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. It will be observable in the evening low sky from April to June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  17 25.56   34 47.0   1.696   1.599    67    6.5   5:37 (253, 44)  
Jan. 28  17 21.12   38 42.8   1.602   1.625    73    6.4   5:34 (250, 50)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is very bright as 8.8 mag (Jan. 10, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will keep 10 mag until March, but it will be too low to observe. It is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  21 31.47   -4 33.1   1.879   1.076    25   10.7  18:44 ( 79,  7)  
Jan. 28  22  1.38   -4 17.8   1.863   1.052    24   10.5  18:50 ( 80,  7)  

* C/2011 W3 ( Lovejoy )

New Kreutz sungrazer comet discovered on the ground after 41-year blank since Comet C/1970 K1 (White-Ortiz-Bolelli). It approached nearly to the surface of the Sun on Dec. 16, and reached -4 mag or brighter at best. Then it appeared in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere, and it became a great comet with a bright long tail of 30-40 degrees. Now it is 9.6 mag (Jan. 16, David Seargent). However, the nucleus of the comet is not visible at all, fainter than 19 mag (Jan. 2, Robert McNaught). Probably the comet itself has already disappeared and only the remnant is visible. The tail became extremely faint, but the very long tail of 30-40 degrees is detectable by photos still now with an excellent sky condition. It will appear soon also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   4 35.47  -54 50.7   0.633   1.192    92   11.2  20:35 (  0,  1)  
Jan. 28   4 40.57  -41 48.0   0.778   1.342    98   12.4  20:12 (  0, 14)  

* C/2011 Q2 ( McNaught )

It was observed as bright as 13.9 mag in 2011 autumn (Oct. 19, Hidetaka Sato). It is not observable now. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable again in 2012 summer, when it will be fainter than 15 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  20 36.09   -6 13.2   2.273   1.350    15   11.8  18:44 ( 86, -5)  
Jan. 28  20 57.77   -2 47.4   2.271   1.355    16   11.8  18:50 ( 91, -5)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is very bright as 10.8 mag (Jan. 1, Marco Goiato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 11-12 mag in good condition until March, but it will be unobservable in April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be low in the evening sky after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   1  9.22    5 25.9   1.971   2.010    77   12.3  18:44 ( 42, 53)  
Jan. 28   1 22.33    6 29.9   2.044   2.012    74   12.4  18:50 ( 50, 51)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 17.1 mag in late June in 2011 (June 24, J. F. Hernandez). The condition of this apparition is bad, and it is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear in the morning sky at 14 mag in pril in the Southern Hemisphere. It will not be observable until June in the Northern Hemisphere, when the comet will be 15.5 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  19 46.18  -25 49.7   2.575   1.606     7   13.2   5:37 (290,-16)  
Jan. 28  20  8.98  -25  5.4   2.584   1.622     9   13.2   5:34 (290,-16)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 13.9 mag (Jan. 16, Hidetaka Sato). 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)  
Jan. 21   1  8.06  -80 47.0   5.753   5.457    67   13.5  18:44 (  4,-26)  
Jan. 28   1 22.69  -78 58.7   5.745   5.458    68   13.5  18:50 (  6,-25)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

It reached up to 9.7 mag with a large bright coma in autumn (Oct. 29, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after this. However, an outburst occured and a bright stellar nucleus is visible (Jan. 2, Alfons Diepvens). It is very bright still now as 10.8 mag (Jan. 20, Marco Goiato). It keeps high for a while, but it will be getting lower after February. It will be unobservable in late March in the Northern Hemisphere, or late April in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   2 52.71   -1 51.2   2.233   2.585    99   13.7  18:52 (  0, 53)  
Jan. 28   2 51.77   -3  8.3   2.409   2.636    92   13.9  18:50 ( 11, 51)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

It brightened up to 14.1 mag in August and September (Aug. 11, Artyom Novichonok and Vladimir Gerke). Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky at 14 mag at the end of February. Then it will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere while fading gradually. It will locate somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2011, some visual observers reported it was very bright as 10-12 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  19 11.54  -14 41.6   3.317   2.379    14   13.8   5:37 (285, -4)  
Jan. 28  19 27.21  -14 53.7   3.314   2.394    17   13.8   5:34 (287, -2)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is bright as 14.2 mag (Jan. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Strongly condensed, and it seems to be soon after an outburst.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  12 40.52  -13  0.5   5.925   6.261   105   13.8   4:42 (  0, 42)  
Jan. 28  12 40.45  -13 12.7   5.817   6.261   112   13.8   4:15 (  0, 42)  

* (596) Scheila

Big asteroid discovered in 1906. It suddenly showed the cometary activity on Dec. 11, 2010, probably due to an impact of a small object. It was very bright as 11.5 mag visually (Dec. 17, 2010, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is 14.1 mag (Jan. 3, Hidetaka Sato). It has already turned to be stellar.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  15 41.62  -11 31.8   2.759   2.501    64   14.1   5:37 (322, 35)  
Jan. 28  15 52.00  -12 13.6   2.672   2.494    69   14.1   5:34 (326, 36)  

* 255P/2011 Y1 ( Levy )

First return of a new comet which brightened up to 9.5 mag in a major outburst in 2006. It was recovered on Dec. 17, but much fainter than expected. However, it looks very diffuse, and the total magnitude is bright as 13.5 mag (Dec. 26, Michael Jager). It will approach to the earth down to 0.24 A.U. in January, and will be observable in excellent condition. It may be visible visually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   2  3.94    2 23.9   0.240   1.011    89   14.1  18:44 ( 17, 56)  
Jan. 28   2 58.39   -5 50.8   0.237   1.024    92   14.3  18:50 (  6, 49)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It was already visible visually at 14.3 mag in 2011 (Oct. 1, Jakub Cerny). Although it has been unobservable for a while, it is appearing in the morning sky now. It keeps 13-14 mag and observable in good condition until September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  18 11.43  -14 14.1   6.014   5.173    28   14.2   5:37 (294,  8)  
Jan. 28  18 12.72  -14 14.3   5.939   5.166    35   14.2   5:34 (298, 13)  

* C/2010 M1 ( Gibbs )

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  22 25.22  -69 32.5   2.753   2.308    53   14.3  18:44 ( 20,-24)  
Jan. 28  23 10.77  -67 53.1   2.722   2.302    54   14.3  18:50 ( 21,-22)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 13.7 mag and visible visually (Jan. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, 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)  
Jan. 21  15 16.88   45 40.5   4.227   4.393    93   14.6   5:37 (233, 68)  
Jan. 28  15 23.17   46 22.5   4.117   4.331    95   14.4   5:34 (228, 71)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 13.6 mag (Nov. 27, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Jan. 21  22 57.09   50 47.7   6.910   6.807    79   14.7  18:44 (130, 47)  
Jan. 28  22 58.74   50  9.2   6.967   6.783    75   14.7  18:50 (129, 42)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

It reached up to 11-12 mag in 2011 autumn. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Jan. 17, A. Diepvens). But it is still bright as 11.2 mag visually (Dec. 23, Carlos Labordena). It keeps observable in good condition until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  12 25.28   15 57.3   1.041   1.749   119   14.9   4:27 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 28  12 29.65   17 58.1   1.030   1.791   125   15.2   4:04 (  0, 73)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

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)  
Jan. 21  18 55.34  -18 31.5   2.297   1.391    17   15.1   5:37 (291, -3)  
Jan. 28  19 17.49  -18  7.9   2.340   1.447    19   15.7   5:34 (291, -2)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It is getting lower in the evening sky. It will be unobservable in late January in the Northern Hemisphere, or in mid March in the Southern Hemisphere. It is expected to be observable at 13 mag for a long time from 2012 summer to 2013 summer. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it is not observable at brightest time in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   1  3.73  -33 41.9   3.982   3.688    65   15.2  18:44 ( 22, 17)  
Jan. 28   1  3.57  -33 24.2   4.013   3.630    60   15.1  18:50 ( 29, 15)  

* 37P/Forbes

It brightened up to 16.6 mag on Oct. 12 (Hidetaka Sato). But it is not observable now. It will keep unobservable until it becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  20 33.47  -19 21.4   2.604   1.628     5   15.3  18:44 ( 75,-13)  
Jan. 28  20 54.08  -17 38.1   2.628   1.647     3   15.4  18:50 ( 79,-15)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

Now it is bright as 15.6 mag (Jan. 13, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Although it was extremely faint as 20.5 mag at the recovery in 2010 autumn, it brightened rapidly. It will keep 15 mag and observable in good condition for a long time from 2012 to 2013. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere in 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  13 29.78    9 26.9   3.099   3.448   102   16.0   5:31 (  0, 64)  
Jan. 28  13 33.05    9 39.2   2.989   3.431   108   15.9   5:07 (  0, 65)  

* C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Jan. 18, Toshiyuki Takahashi). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 14-15 mag in good condition until early 2013. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late 2012.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  19 15.34   22 22.1   3.607   2.986    44   16.2   5:37 (254, 17)  
Jan. 28  19 22.42   24  0.2   3.525   2.934    46   16.1   5:34 (255, 21)  

* C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to be a great comet of 0 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 13, Toshiyuki Takahashi), brightening well. In 2012, it keeps observable until summer while brightening gradually. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  16 45.44  -22 17.3   6.449   5.828    47   16.7   5:37 (314, 17)  
Jan. 28  16 48.79  -22 31.9   6.287   5.759    53   16.6   5:34 (319, 20)  

* C/2011 Q4 ( SWAN )

It was observed so bright as 9.4 mag in September (Sept. 22, Chris Wyatt). It is still bright as 15.5 mag (Jan. 5, Hidetaka Sato). It will be observable while fading gradually after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, further observations are very hard. Carlos Labordena reported it is very bright as 11.6 mag visually on Dec. 23.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  14  2.91   32 57.7   1.690   2.126   102   16.7   5:37 (289, 84)  
Jan. 28  13 47.95   38 20.7   1.650   2.205   111   17.0   5:22 (180, 87)  

* C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd )

Although it has passed the perihelion in 2010 November, it is uxexpectedly bright as 16.5 mag still now (Jan. 16, J. Nicolas). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. It will keep 16-17 mag for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   5 49.72    9 44.1   4.215   5.050   144   16.9  21:48 (  0, 65)  
Jan. 28   5 43.74   10 40.4   4.335   5.100   137   17.1  21:15 (  0, 66)  

* P/2011 W2 ( Rinner )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari), brighter than the early ephemeris. It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this. It keeps 17 mag until February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   7 33.08    0 15.9   1.422   2.365   158   17.0  23:31 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 28   7 28.33    0 22.3   1.447   2.376   154   17.1  22:59 (  0, 55)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  11 19.65   26  9.9   1.854   2.652   136   17.0   3:22 (  0, 81)  
Jan. 28  11 16.47   27 22.5   1.842   2.693   142   17.1   2:51 (  0, 82)  

* 2008 YB3

Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. Now it is 18.4 mag (Oct. 26, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 18 mag for a long time from 2008 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   7 34.83   14 10.0   5.677   6.648   169   17.1  23:33 (  0, 69)  
Jan. 28   7 29.68   14 56.4   5.707   6.655   163   17.2  23:00 (  0, 70)  

* C/2005 L3 ( McNaught )

It brightened up to 13-14 mag and became visible visually from 2007 to 2009. Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 17.6 mag (Dec. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition until early summer in 2012. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low only.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  10 40.30   38 59.6  10.472  11.269   142   17.1   2:43 (180, 86)  
Jan. 28  10 36.62   39 20.2  10.466  11.305   147   17.1   2:11 (180, 86)  

* 65P/Gunn

It became bright as 12 mag in 2010. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.0 mag (Dec. 23, V. Gerke, A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   1 35.56    4 13.0   4.097   4.104    83   17.2  18:44 ( 31, 55)  
Jan. 28   1 39.02    4 49.2   4.221   4.120    77   17.3  18:50 ( 43, 52)  

* C/2011 G1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It was observed at 17.5 mag in 2011 spring, when the condition was good in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be observable at 17 mag in this winter, when the condition is good in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   7 13.61   41 34.4   1.674   2.602   155   17.3  23:09 (180, 83)  
Jan. 28   6 38.19   42  7.6   1.778   2.646   145   17.5  22:07 (180, 83)  

* C/2011 J2 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to keep 13 mag and observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere for a long time from 2013 to 2014. Now it is 17.9 mag (Dec. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps observable at 17-18 mag in good condition until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  11 27.66   -1 28.8   6.280   6.915   126   17.4   3:30 (  0, 53)  
Jan. 28  11 24.72   -0 51.3   6.139   6.870   134   17.3   2:59 (  0, 54)  

* 244P/2010 Q1 ( Scotti )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 18, P. C. Sherrod). It keeps observable at 18 mag for a long time until 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   5  1.99   25 35.8   3.144   3.918   136   17.4  21:01 (  0, 81)  
Jan. 28   5  0.55   25 29.7   3.220   3.918   129   17.4  20:32 (  0, 81)  

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova

It passed very near by the earth, within 0.1 A.U., and brightened up to 8.0 mag in the southern sky (Aug. 14, Willian Souza). After appearing in the morning sky in late September, it brightened up to 6.6 mag (Sept. 25, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.7 mag (Dec. 11, Ken-ichi Kadota).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  14 10.47   -8  4.1   1.705   1.923    86   17.4   5:37 (347, 46)  
Jan. 28  14 12.39   -7 58.0   1.682   2.003    93   17.7   5:34 (356, 47)  

* C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 17, M. Caimmi). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 16-17 mag in good condition for a long time from 2012 to 2013. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  12 51.66   44 14.9   3.827   4.371   117   17.5   4:53 (180, 81)  
Jan. 28  12 48.20   46 51.5   3.730   4.335   122   17.4   4:22 (180, 78)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

It reached up to 15.3 mag in early summer in 2011 (June 19, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.5 mag (Jan. 16, K. Hills). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. I will locate high in the Southern Hemishere, but somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  15 36.95  -16 42.2   2.884   2.612    64   17.5   5:37 (326, 31)  
Jan. 28  15 45.78  -17 32.9   2.825   2.640    69   17.6   5:34 (330, 32)  

* 240P/2010 P1 ( NEAT )

It had been fading after the perihelion passage in 2010 October, but it brightened again in outburst on Apr. 5, 2011. It reached up to 14.7 mag in May (May 28, Hidetaka Sato). It has been unobservable since July. But it is appearing in the morning sky now. Now it is 17.1 mag, much brighter than expected (Dec. 17, Ken-ichi Kadota). It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition after this. It will keep 17 mag for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  13 46.55   15 29.1   3.474   3.779   100   17.7   5:37 (352, 70)  
Jan. 28  13 48.45   15 56.5   3.407   3.807   106   17.8   5:22 (  0, 71)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 5, LINEAR). It keeps observable in good condition at 17-18 mag until March. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   1 44.56   20 58.4   1.443   1.770    91   17.7  18:44 ( 47, 71)  
Jan. 28   1 45.68   19 52.0   1.493   1.706    84   17.8  18:50 ( 60, 65)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 14, K. Hills). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 2014. In 2012, it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  11 38.48   13 23.4   3.731   4.425   129   17.9   3:40 (  0, 68)  
Jan. 28  11 37.04   13 45.8   3.640   4.412   137   17.8   3:11 (  0, 69)  

* C/2011 M1 ( LINEAR )

Extremely diffuse and hardly detected by CCD images. The nucleus is already fainter than 18 mag (Oct. 15, Jean-Francois Soulier). The comet can be already disintegrated. However, Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it so bright as 9.5 mag visually on Sept. 25. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere. No observations have been reported since October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  11  1.88  -50  2.3   1.950   2.335   100   17.9   3:04 (  0,  5)  
Jan. 28  10 43.39  -52 20.6   1.984   2.422   104   18.0   2:19 (  0,  3)  

* P/2010 JC81 ( WISE )

It was revealed to be a comet when appearing in the morning sky in early August. It was visible as 13.8 mag and visible visually (Sept. 4, Sandor Szabo). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.6 mag (Jan. 16, A. Diepvens). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition for a long time until 2012 summer. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in late January. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21  11 59.25   55 37.6   2.643   3.304   124   17.9   4:01 (180, 69)  
Jan. 28  11 53.27   56 30.4   2.663   3.356   127   18.1   3:28 (180, 69)  

* 242P/2010 P3 ( Spahr )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fainter than 18 mag in late January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   2 58.16  -13  9.3   3.760   3.994    96   17.9  18:58 (  0, 42)  
Jan. 28   3  0.45  -12 31.2   3.849   3.991    91   17.9  18:50 (  6, 42)  

* C/2011 L2 ( McNaught )

It had expected to keep 17 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 spring and observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But actually, it has faded down to 20.7 mag (Jan. 16, D. Herald), much fainter than expected by 4 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 21   9 43.93  -73  5.1   2.024   2.180    85   20.3   1:48 (  0,-18)  
Jan. 28   8 58.09  -70 38.5   1.974   2.219    90   20.3   0:34 (  0,-16)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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