Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 Apr. 14: North)

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Updated on April 18, 2012
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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 )

Now it is 7.0 mag (Apr. 13, Vyacheslav Ivanov). 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 observable in the evening low sky from April to June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   9  1.73   48  1.0   1.780   2.158    97    8.0  20:00 (158, 76)  
Apr. 21   8 54.40   43 29.4   1.943   2.221    92    8.3  20:07 (126, 74)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

It brightened up to 9 mag in January and February in the evening low sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the evening extremely low sky in April and May. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   3 18.96    1 44.6   2.137   1.339    28   12.7  20:00 ( 93, -1)  
Apr. 21   3 43.26    2  9.2   2.199   1.398    28   13.1  20:07 ( 95, -3)  

* (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)  
Apr. 14  17  1.42  -17 41.9   1.700   2.450   128   13.0   3:32 (  0, 37)  
Apr. 21  17  0.98  -18 12.3   1.632   2.448   134   12.8   3:04 (  0, 37)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. It is already so bright as 11.7 mag and visible visually (Mar. 28, 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)  
Apr. 14  15 24.97   56 19.2   3.171   3.639   110   13.1   1:56 (180, 69)  
Apr. 21  15 16.83   56 41.6   3.114   3.576   109   13.0   1:20 (180, 68)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is 12.2 mag (Mar. 25, Jakub Koukal). It is already low in the evening. It will be unobservable at the end of April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   4  6.71   17 12.9   2.831   2.144    38   13.4  20:00 ( 99, 17)  
Apr. 21   4 22.59   17 48.8   2.897   2.164    35   13.5  20:07 (103, 13)  

* C/2011 Q2 ( McNaught )

Now it is very bright at 12.5 mag (Apr. 1, Michael Jager). In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low in the morning until June. It will be observable at high location after summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   0 50.88   31 25.6   2.694   1.822    23   13.5   4:01 (233,  3)  
Apr. 21   1 11.13   33 28.9   2.762   1.888    23   13.7   3:50 (231,  4)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 12.8 mag and visible visually (Mar. 14, John Drummond). 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)  
Apr. 14   3 15.54  -60 50.3   5.713   5.508    73   13.5  20:00 ( 35,-32)  
Apr. 21   3 24.13  -59 34.3   5.714   5.516    73   13.6  20:07 ( 37,-35)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag (Mar. 27, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Apr. 14  17 51.45  -13 27.1   4.612   5.131   115   13.6   4:01 (353, 41)  
Apr. 21  17 44.59  -13 20.4   4.497   5.131   124   13.6   3:48 (  0, 42)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is visible visually at 13.6 mag (Mar. 22, Carlos Labordena).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14  12 15.26  -11 58.0   5.299   6.258   161   13.6  22:43 (  0, 43)  
Apr. 21  12 12.61  -11 39.5   5.335   6.258   154   13.6  22:13 (  0, 43)  

* C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )

It brightened much faster than expected. It is so bright as 13.1 mag and visible visually (Mar. 26, Jakub Cerny). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 13-14 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)  
Apr. 14  20 59.31   59  2.1   2.572   2.430    70   13.8   4:01 (218, 49)  
Apr. 21  21 12.79   63 47.4   2.524   2.393    70   13.7   3:50 (211, 48)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.3 mag (Mar 13, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Apr. 14   1 46.82  -32 38.8   3.670   3.004    42   14.1  20:00 ( 73,-38)  
Apr. 21   1 53.92  -33  8.7   3.573   2.950    45   14.0   3:50 (285,-42)  

* C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to be a great comet of -1 mag in 2013 spring. It is already bright and visible visually at 14.3 mag (Mar. 30, Alan Hale). Brightening faster than originally expected. 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)  
Apr. 14  16 53.01  -25  4.1   4.275   4.973   129   14.1   3:24 (  0, 30)  
Apr. 21  16 48.78  -25 16.6   4.114   4.898   137   14.0   2:52 (  0, 30)  

* 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 got diffuse and faded 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 must have been disintegrated before the perihelion. It is not observable now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   0 34.06   12 14.0   1.948   1.005    14   14.0   4:01 (251, -6)  
Apr. 21   0 29.20   11 37.6   1.959   1.085    21   14.5   3:50 (254, -2)  

* C/2012 E2 ( SWAN )

New Kreutz sungrazer comet discovered from the spacecraft images. Terry Lovejoy succeeded to catch the comet on the ground on Mar. 10 at 9.2 mag. It appeared in the evening sky in late March, but it was not observed. The comet must have evaporated at the perihelion passage on Mar. 15.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   4 34.88   -2 51.4   1.425   1.054    47   14.0  20:00 ( 78, 12)  
Apr. 21   5  0.90   -2 15.4   1.628   1.214    48   14.9  20:07 ( 80, 10)  

* 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 was 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)  
Apr. 14  23 33.17  -10 21.4   2.657   1.926    35   14.4   4:01 (278, -6)  
Apr. 21  23 47.63   -8 56.0   2.652   1.961    38   14.5   3:50 (277, -5)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Although it has been unobservable for a while, now it is appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 14.3 mag (Mar. 27, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Apr. 14  21 56.27  -13 58.1   3.090   2.695    57   14.4   4:01 (295, 10)  
Apr. 21  22  6.95  -13 54.0   3.051   2.733    62   14.5   3:50 (296, 11)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 13.9 mag (Mar. 26, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Apr. 14  23 25.12   49 31.2   7.170   6.538    47   14.5   4:01 (226, 27)  
Apr. 21  23 26.74   49 56.4   7.135   6.518    48   14.5   3:50 (227, 29)  

* 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)  
Apr. 14   3 32.93  -32  2.3   2.923   2.417    50   14.7  20:00 ( 63,-17)  
Apr. 21   3 45.94  -29  4.2   2.985   2.442    48   14.8  20:07 ( 68,-20)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

Now it is so bright as 12.3 mag and visible visually (Mar. 22, Carlos Labordena). Although it was extremely faint as 20.5 mag at the recovery in 2010 autumn, it brightened rapidly. It will keep 12-14 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)  
Apr. 14  13 11.88   14 35.6   2.310   3.250   155   14.7  23:39 (  0, 70)  
Apr. 21  13  6.93   14 40.1   2.320   3.234   150   14.7  23:06 (  0, 70)  

* (3200) Phaethon

It will pass the perihelion on May 2. But it is not observable when it becomes bright at this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   3 13.73   15 38.6   1.310   0.602    26   15.6  20:00 (105,  5)  
Apr. 21   3 22.10   14 48.0   1.163   0.427    21   14.9  20:07 (108,  0)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

It reached up to 9.7 mag with a large bright coma in last autumn (Oct. 29, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 14.6 mag (Mar. 21, Jakub Cerny). It is already unobservable in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable in late April in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   3 33.19   -8 39.7   4.010   3.247    35   15.2  20:00 ( 83, -5)  
Apr. 21   3 39.03   -9  3.7   4.102   3.306    33   15.4  20:07 ( 86,-11)  

* 58P/Jackson-Neujmin

This comet brightened up to 10 mag in outburst in 1995, however, it became lost after that. The condition of this apparition is bad. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. Maybe it can be recovered after summer when it appears in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   0 50.42    1 59.1   2.338   1.375    12   15.8   4:01 (257,-15)  
Apr. 21   1 13.66    3 39.0   2.339   1.381    13   15.4   3:50 (254,-15)  

* C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Mar. 26, Jakub Cerny). In the Southern Hemisphere, 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)  
Apr. 14  20 15.27  -50 49.8   3.912   4.043    90   15.5   4:01 (335, -3)  
Apr. 21  20 21.69  -52 41.1   3.803   4.027    95   15.4   3:50 (338, -4)  

* C/2012 CH17 ( MOSS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Mar. 15, Yasukazu Ikari). 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)  
Apr. 14  10 54.79   36 16.4   1.987   2.653   121   16.7  21:22 (180, 89)  
Apr. 21  10 51.09   36 31.4   1.988   2.579   114   16.6  20:51 (180, 89)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Now it is 17.6 mag (Mar. 13, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It brightened rapidly as expected. It will reach up to 16.5 mag from spring to summer. However, it locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is 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)  
Apr. 14   5  5.81   21 54.0   2.036   1.644    53   16.8  20:00 ( 96, 31)  
Apr. 21   5 26.07   22  5.4   2.067   1.633    51   16.7  20:07 ( 98, 29)  

* C/2011 J2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Mar. 21, Yasukazu Ikari). It is expected to keep 13 mag and observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere for a long time from 2013 to 2014. 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)  
Apr. 14  10 36.11    8 49.8   5.636   6.363   133   16.8  21:04 (  0, 64)  
Apr. 21  10 32.57    9 37.9   5.685   6.317   125   16.8  20:33 (  0, 65)  

* C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Mar. 14, Yasukazu Ikari). 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)  
Apr. 14  16  1.92    5  8.0   4.827   5.627   139   16.9   2:33 (  0, 60)  
Apr. 21  15 53.89    5 48.0   4.766   5.625   145   16.9   1:58 (  0, 61)  

* C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Mar. 19, Hiroshi Abe). 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)  
Apr. 14  10  0.23   66  6.8   3.772   3.993    95   16.9  20:27 (180, 59)  
Apr. 21   9 43.50   65 57.5   3.843   3.965    89   16.9  20:07 (175, 59)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

It reached up to 11-12 mag in 2011 autumn. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Mar. 26, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Apr. 14  11 48.43   30 37.9   1.496   2.301   133   17.1  22:16 (  0, 86)  
Apr. 21  11 46.59   29 58.0   1.594   2.349   127   17.4  21:47 (  0, 85)  

* 105P/Singer Brewster

It has not been observed since 2011 March. But it must be already bright as 17.5 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)  
Apr. 14  19  6.42  -12 14.2   1.697   2.083    97   17.3   4:01 (330, 38)  
Apr. 21  19 14.81  -11 19.2   1.636   2.093   102   17.3   3:50 (332, 39)  

* 152P/Helin-Lawrence

Now it is 17.1 mag (Mar. 20, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok). 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)  
Apr. 14  16 47.26  -15  8.2   2.395   3.151   131   17.4   3:18 (  0, 40)  
Apr. 21  16 46.36  -15 10.2   2.322   3.146   138   17.3   2:50 (  0, 40)  

* 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 16.9 mag (Mar. 19, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok). 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)  
Apr. 14   9 55.51   40 10.6  11.321  11.702   109   17.4  20:23 (180, 85)  
Apr. 21   9 53.24   39 58.7  11.461  11.738   103   17.4  20:07 (152, 84)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 16.6 mag (Mar. 20, M. Jaeger, E. Prosperi, S. Prosperi, W. Vollmann). 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)  
Apr. 14  10 57.11   17 31.0   3.505   4.259   133   17.5  21:25 (  0, 72)  
Apr. 21  10 54.93   17 27.1   3.569   4.245   126   17.5  20:55 (  0, 72)  

* 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)  
Apr. 14   7  1.67   21 50.9   6.840   6.739    80   17.9  20:00 ( 78, 55)  
Apr. 21   7  2.34   22 16.9   6.968   6.748    73   17.9  20:07 ( 85, 48)  

* C/2012 BJ98

Brightening faster than expected. Now it is 17.5 mag (Apr. 12, Michael Jager). It will be getting lower in the evening after this. It keeps observable at 17 mag until mid June in the Northern Hemisphere, or until mid July in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14   8  2.21   21 16.5   2.487   2.746    93   18.0  20:00 ( 61, 66)  
Apr. 21   8  8.18   21  2.5   2.534   2.702    88   17.9  20:07 ( 69, 61)  

* C/2011 S2 ( Kowalski )

It is bright as 17.5 mag still now (Mar. 15, Jakub Cerny). It keeps the brightness after the small outburst in early December. It will keep 17-18 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)  
Apr. 14  14 52.12  -42 12.0   1.751   2.619   142   17.9   1:24 (  0, 13)  
Apr. 21  14 43.15  -41 33.6   1.785   2.694   148   18.1   0:47 (  0, 13)  

* 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 17.2 mag still now, much brighter than expected (Mar. 19, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok). It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition after this. It will keep 18 mag for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 14  13 16.03   21 42.3   3.213   4.103   148   17.9  23:43 (  0, 77)  
Apr. 21  13 10.94   21 42.8   3.268   4.128   144   18.0  23:10 (  0, 77)  

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