Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 Mar. 10: South)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on March 10, 2012
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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.

C/2009 P1 ( Garradd ) Now it is 6.3 mag (Mar. 4, Carlos Labordena). 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) Mar. 10 13 22.56 70 35.7 1.275 1.873 110 6.6 2:16 (180,-15) Mar. 17 11 35.37 69 16.1 1.317 1.926 112 6.8 23:45 (180,-14) 21P/Giacobini-Zinner Now it is very bright as 9.5 mag (Feb. 11, Katsumi Yoshimoto). 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) Mar. 10 1 3.42 -1 9.7 1.910 1.100 25 10.9 19:50 ( 89, 1) Mar. 17 1 32.26 -0 31.1 1.943 1.138 26 11.2 19:40 ( 92, 3) C/2012 C2 ( Bruenjes ) New comet discovered on Feb. 11. It was very bright as 10.6 mag (Feb. 12, A. Novichonok, V. Gerke). However, the comet is getting diffuse and fading rapidly after Feb. 20. It was still visible visually at 12.5 mag on Feb. 21 (Alan Hale). But it became completely invisible on Feb. 27 (Hidetaka Sato). The nuclear magnitude is fainter than 19 mag. It will approach to the sun down to 0.8 A.U. in mid March, but maybe it has been already disintegrated. It is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable soon also in the Northern Hemisphere. The comet has approached to the earth down to 0.2 A.U. in late January. Then it must have located in excellent position, but it has not been discovered. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 1 3.86 15 23.9 1.451 0.803 31 11.9 19:50 (103, -9) Mar. 17 0 56.68 14 46.3 1.614 0.805 23 12.1 19:40 ( 99,-13) 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) Mar. 10 23 6.42 17 58.0 2.408 1.537 22 12.5 4:29 (267,-27) Mar. 17 23 27.60 21 3.6 2.455 1.587 22 12.7 4:35 (262,-26) 78P/Gehrels 2 Now it is 11.8 mag (Feb. 25, Jakub Cerny). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 11-12 mag in good condition until March, but it will be unobservable in April. It is already low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 2 48.68 13 0.8 2.482 2.063 54 12.9 19:50 (116, 13) Mar. 17 3 4.00 13 59.6 2.553 2.076 50 13.0 19:40 (117, 12) (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) Mar. 10 16 43.50 -15 27.5 2.119 2.465 98 13.6 4:29 (220, 66) Mar. 17 16 49.42 -15 53.8 2.029 2.461 103 13.5 4:35 (204, 69) C/2009 F4 ( McNaught ) Now it is bright as 13.5 mag and visible visually (Jan. 20, 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) Mar. 10 2 29.53 -68 21.9 5.712 5.478 71 13.5 19:50 ( 27, 40) Mar. 17 2 39.17 -66 43.4 5.711 5.483 71 13.5 19:40 ( 29, 39) C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR ) It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. Now it is 14.1 mag and visible visually (Feb. 22, Sandor Szabo). 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) Mar. 10 15 43.58 52 3.8 3.531 3.955 108 13.7 4:29 (181, 3) Mar. 17 15 42.93 53 5.6 3.449 3.892 109 13.6 4:04 (180, 2) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Small outburst occured on Feb. 17 (Richard Miles). Now it is visible visually at 14.4 mag (Feb. 22, Sandor Szabo). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 12 30.24 -13 14.5 5.341 6.260 155 13.6 1:19 (180, 68) Mar. 17 12 27.33 -13 3.3 5.303 6.260 162 13.6 0:49 (180, 68) 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 is appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere, but it locates extremely low. 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) Mar. 10 22 11.24 -17 46.8 2.644 1.763 22 13.7 4:29 (289, 4) Mar. 17 22 29.00 -16 18.0 2.651 1.793 24 13.8 4:35 (285, 6) C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS ) Now it is bright as 13.3 mag (Mar. 5, F. Kugel). 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) Mar. 10 18 11.65 -13 56.5 5.271 5.139 76 13.9 4:29 (248, 50) Mar. 17 18 9.34 -13 51.3 5.137 5.136 84 13.9 4:35 (238, 57) C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs ) It brightened up to 14.1 mag in last August and September (Aug. 11, Artyom Novichonok and Vladimir Gerke). Although it has been unobservable for a while, now it is appearing in the morning sky. After this, 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) Mar. 10 20 54.92 -14 42.7 3.240 2.529 37 14.1 4:29 (276, 18) Mar. 17 21 8.18 -14 33.0 3.217 2.558 41 14.2 4:35 (273, 22) C/2010 G2 ( Hill ) It reached up to 9.7 mag with a large bright coma in last autumn (Oct. 29, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after this. Outburst occured on Jan. 2, but it has been already diffuse and fading. It has already faded down to 12.8 mag (Feb. 20, Sandor Szabo). 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) Mar. 10 3 7.03 -6 56.3 3.398 2.961 56 14.2 19:50 (103, 29) Mar. 17 3 11.68 -7 17.3 3.540 3.017 51 14.4 19:40 (100, 27) 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 August. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 2 11.74 -49 14.2 2.700 2.326 57 14.3 19:50 ( 51, 36) Mar. 17 2 30.89 -45 35.7 2.729 2.339 56 14.4 19:40 ( 56, 36) C/2011 R1 ( McNaught ) Now it is 15.0 mag (Jan. 17, Yasukazu Ikari). It is already unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low now. But it will be getting higher gradually after May. It is expected to be observable at 11-13 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 until 2013 January in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 1 18.58 -31 58.6 3.994 3.283 39 14.7 19:50 ( 65, 20) Mar. 17 1 23.24 -31 55.0 3.952 3.226 37 14.6 19:40 ( 63, 18) C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is visible visually at 14.3 mag (Jan. 20, Sandor Szabo). It is expected to be 13 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher gradually in the morning sky, and keeps observable for a long time. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 23 13.37 48 28.2 7.202 6.646 52 14.6 4:29 (233,-40) Mar. 17 23 16.02 48 31.4 7.215 6.624 50 14.6 4:35 (231,-35) C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 15.0 mag (Feb. 13, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). 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) Mar. 10 20 9.51 38 53.0 2.961 2.640 61 15.3 4:29 (226, -6) Mar. 17 20 18.28 42 20.4 2.869 2.595 64 15.1 4:35 (220, -5) 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT ) Now it is bright as 14.6 mag (Feb. 3, Yasukazu Ikari). 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) Mar. 10 13 33.61 12 27.5 2.457 3.330 146 15.4 2:23 (180, 43) Mar. 17 13 30.41 13 1.8 2.402 3.314 152 15.3 1:52 (180, 42) C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS ) It is expected to be a great comet of 0 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 14.5 mag (Feb. 13, R. Naves, M. Campas), 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) Mar. 10 17 0.79 -23 55.8 5.189 5.337 93 15.8 4:29 (243, 69) Mar. 17 17 0.84 -24 9.7 4.998 5.265 100 15.7 4:35 (226, 75) C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR ) In the Southern Hemisphere, it is appearing int he morning sky. It will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition for a long time until 2013 summer. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 19 38.60 -43 23.6 4.492 4.134 62 15.9 4:29 (299, 44) Mar. 17 19 46.36 -44 39.7 4.376 4.114 68 15.8 4:35 (300, 49) 49P/Arend-Rigaux It reached up to 11-12 mag in 2011 autumn. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.8 mag (Feb. 17, J. Vales). 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) Mar. 10 12 14.24 29 27.9 1.133 2.063 151 16.1 1:04 (180, 26) Mar. 17 12 7.75 30 26.3 1.186 2.110 150 16.3 0:30 (180, 25) 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 16.7 mag (Feb. 4, P. Dupouy). 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) Mar. 10 10 58.87 4 12.8 5.606 6.594 174 16.9 23:44 (180, 51) Mar. 17 10 53.93 5 10.6 5.579 6.549 166 16.9 23:11 (180, 50) C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 16.5 mag (Feb. 4, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). 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) Mar. 10 11 42.01 61 51.3 3.531 4.145 122 16.9 0:32 (180, -7) Mar. 17 11 22.46 63 30.3 3.556 4.113 117 16.9 23:39 (180, -9) C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 11, P. Dupouy). It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2011 to 2013. In 2012, it keeps observable in good condition until early September. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 16 31.01 1 43.4 5.340 5.644 102 17.2 4:29 (201, 51) Mar. 17 16 26.80 2 22.1 5.218 5.640 110 17.1 4:35 (185, 53) 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 16.1 mag (Feb. 13, Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). 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) Mar. 10 10 12.00 40 32.7 10.740 11.522 140 17.2 22:57 (180, 15) Mar. 17 10 8.13 40 34.1 10.835 11.558 134 17.3 22:26 (180, 14) 60P/Tsuchinshan 2 Now it is 19.6 mag (Feb. 25, Mt. Lemmon Survey), much fainter than this ephemeris. But it is expected to bright rapidly after this, and reach up to 16.5 mag from spring to summer. However, it locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates high now. But it will be getting lower gradually in the evening sky, and will be unobservable in June. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 3 34.63 19 15.5 1.879 1.738 66 17.4 19:50 (129, 17) Mar. 17 3 51.25 19 56.8 1.912 1.714 63 17.3 19:40 (129, 16) C/2012 CH17 ( MOSS ) Now it is 17.8 mag (Feb. 11, C. Rinner, F. Kugel). It will brighten up to 13.5 mag from summer to autumn. It keeps observable for a long time until December. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates high until spring. But after that, it keeps locating low in the evening. In the Southern Henmisphere, it keeps locating low all through the time. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 11 24.21 31 33.7 2.110 3.026 152 17.4 0:14 (180, 24) Mar. 17 11 18.00 32 54.6 2.062 2.952 147 17.3 23:35 (180, 22) C/2011 S2 ( Kowalski ) It is bright as 16.1 mag still now (Jan. 23, Hidetaka Sato). After a small outburst in early December, it keeps its brightness without fading. It will keep 16-17 mag some more time. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemipshere. It keeps locating very low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 15 21.52 -41 46.4 1.710 2.240 109 17.3 4:10 ( 0, 83) Mar. 17 15 19.05 -42 18.0 1.707 2.316 115 17.4 3:40 ( 0, 83) 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 12.0 mag (Jan. 27, Alan Hale). 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 long tail of 2 degrees was detected by photos still in late February with an excellent sky condition (Feb. 21, Lester Barnes). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 5 11.40 -12 38.8 1.928 2.115 86 17.3 19:50 (125, 56) Mar. 17 5 17.51 -10 42.6 2.132 2.230 82 17.9 19:40 (124, 53) 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1 Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 20, A. Diepvens). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 2014. In 2012, it is observable at 17 mag in good condition in spring. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 11 16.02 16 30.1 3.355 4.330 167 17.5 0:06 (180, 39) Mar. 17 11 11.59 16 52.1 3.358 4.316 162 17.5 23:29 (180, 38) 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 is bright as 17.4 mag still now, much brighter than expected (Feb. 20, Artyom Novichonok). 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) Mar. 10 13 40.75 19 44.0 3.135 3.972 142 17.5 2:30 (180, 35) Mar. 17 13 36.56 20 20.0 3.125 3.998 147 17.6 1:58 (180, 35) 105P/Singer Brewster It has not been observed since 2011 March. But it must be already bright as 18 mag. It will brighten up to 17 mag and will be observable in good condition from spring to summer. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 18 9.29 -16 7.6 2.025 2.053 77 17.7 4:29 (250, 52) Mar. 17 18 22.44 -15 29.5 1.957 2.057 81 17.6 4:35 (244, 55) 2008 YB3 Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 4, Catalina Sky Survey). 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) Mar. 10 7 6.29 19 11.7 6.205 6.699 115 17.6 19:52 (180, 36) Mar. 17 7 4.22 19 47.7 6.325 6.707 108 17.7 19:40 (175, 35) P/2011 W2 ( Rinner ) Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 13, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in late March. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 7 23.19 3 10.8 1.807 2.463 120 17.7 20:09 (180, 52) Mar. 17 7 26.81 3 42.1 1.893 2.481 114 17.8 19:46 (180, 51) 164P/Christensen Now it is 16.0 mag (Feb. 13, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). It became brightest after the perihelion passage as predicted. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fading after this. But it may be brighter than this ephemeris. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 10 40.41 32 21.6 2.030 2.933 150 17.7 23:25 (180, 23) Mar. 17 10 34.82 32 29.8 2.106 2.972 144 17.9 22:52 (180, 23) 244P/2010 Q1 ( Scotti ) Now it is 17.5 mag (Feb. 10, P. Dupouy). 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) Mar. 10 5 11.27 25 16.3 3.807 3.923 89 17.8 19:50 (152, 24) Mar. 17 5 15.91 25 17.2 3.912 3.924 83 17.8 19:40 (149, 23) 152P/Helin-Lawrence It has not been observed since 2011 April. But it must be already bright as 18 mag. It tends to brighten after the perihelion passage. It keeps observable at 17 mag from 2012 to 2013. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 16 36.38 -14 49.7 2.859 3.184 99 17.9 4:29 (216, 66) Mar. 17 16 40.47 -14 55.8 2.757 3.176 105 17.8 4:35 (198, 69) C/2010 FB87 ( WISE-Garradd ) Although it has passed the perihelion in 2010 November, it is uxexpectedly bright as 16.9 mag still now (Feb. 11, P. Dupouy). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. It will keep 17 mag for a while after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 5 25.32 15 38.1 5.275 5.400 91 17.8 19:50 (151, 34) Mar. 17 5 24.96 16 20.1 5.447 5.450 84 18.0 19:40 (147, 32) 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 (Feb. 20, P. Dupouy). 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) Mar. 10 16 22.02 -21 43.3 2.432 2.816 102 17.9 4:29 (218, 74) Mar. 17 16 24.44 -22 18.6 2.368 2.847 108 17.9 4:35 (190, 77) C/2011 Q4 ( SWAN ) It was observed so bright as 9.4 mag in September (Sept. 22, Chris Wyatt). It has got diffuse and faded rapidly. It has already faded down to 18 mag (Feb. 14, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok, D. Chestnov). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Sandor Szabo reported it was visible visually at 15.4 mag on Feb. 22. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 10 25.82 58 34.4 1.987 2.677 124 19.0 23:08 (180, -4) Mar. 17 9 52.20 58 4.2 2.133 2.755 118 19.4 22:08 (180, -3) 255P/2011 Y1 ( Levy ) First return of a new comet which brightened up to 9.5 mag in a major outburst in 2006. The condition is excellent. It keeps very close from the earth. It brightened up to 13.5 mag in late December (Dec. 26, Michael Jager). But it looks extremely diffuse. It was bright as 16.3 mag still on Feb. 12 (Mitsunori Tsumura). It will keep close to the earth and observable in good condition in the evening sky for a while after this. However, it can have already faded rapidly. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 7 17.56 -25 6.2 0.462 1.254 113 19.3 20:05 (180, 80) Mar. 17 7 43.47 -24 32.2 0.524 1.309 115 20.3 20:03 (180, 80) 257P/2012 A3 ( SOHO ) A comet discovered from the SOHO spacecraft images in 2003 was rediscovered from the STEREO spacecraft images. It was bright as 15.3 mag still in mid February (Feb. 19, Mitsunori Tsumura). However, the comet has already faded rapidly. It is not detected at all, fainter than 18.5 mag now (Mar. 5, Hidetaka Sato). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 3 40.16 7 47.7 0.809 0.987 65 19.9 19:50 (122, 26) Mar. 17 4 28.68 10 50.4 0.855 1.079 70 21.0 19:40 (131, 29) 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 20.3 mag (Jan. 28, D. Herald), much fainter than expected by 4 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Mar. 10 7 14.51 -40 32.9 2.000 2.495 108 20.7 20:00 ( 0, 85) Mar. 17 7 12.95 -35 5.2 2.078 2.546 106 20.9 19:40 ( 97, 88)