Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 July 21: South)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on July 25, 2012
Last week North Next week

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.

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

* 96P/Machholz 1

It approached to the sun down to 0.12 A.U. on July 14. Now, it is appearing in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere. Now it is very bright as 7.8 mag (July 22, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable while fading rapidly in the evening low sky after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is unobservable temporarily now. But it will be observable in good condition again in the evening sky after August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   9  0.95   30 29.7   1.003   0.291    16    6.3  18:39 (119,-12)  
July 28  10 33.09   29 14.3   0.907   0.505    29    8.9  18:43 (126,  0)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is so bright as 11.0 mag (July 20, Marco Goiato). It is expected to be bright as 9 mag from 2012 to 2013. 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)  
July 21  14  5.71   36 32.1   2.783   2.768    78   11.1  18:39 (173, 18)  
July 28  14  8.69   33 39.2   2.782   2.709    75   11.0  18:43 (167, 20)  

* C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )

It kept as bright as 6-7 mag for a long time from 2011 summer to 2012 spring. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again at 12.5 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   9 25.94   14 43.3   4.019   3.089    20   11.4  18:39 (109,  1)  
July 28   9 30.31   13 24.5   4.125   3.158    15   11.5  18:43 (104, -3)  

* 185P/Petriew

Brightening rapidly. It is very bright as 11.3 mag visually (July 21, Marco Goiato). It has a large coma. It is expected to reach up to 10 mag in August. It keeps observable in the morning sky all through this apparition, although it locates somewhat low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   3 57.33   26 55.6   1.099   0.995    55   12.2   5:33 (214, 19)  
July 28   4 37.95   26 29.5   1.113   0.964    53   11.7   5:30 (218, 17)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is so bright as 11.3 mag (July 21, Marco Goiato). 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)  
July 21   5 12.34  -62 47.8   2.111   2.339    89   11.8   5:33 (327, 46)  
July 28   5 57.49  -66 34.0   2.064   2.303    90   11.7   5:30 (331, 43)  

* C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to be a great comet of -1 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 11.9 mag (July 17, Carlos Labordena). 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)  
July 21  15 11.86  -25  3.3   3.356   3.878   113   12.5  19:13 (180, 80)  
July 28  15  7.37  -24 58.4   3.386   3.794   106   12.4  18:43 (179, 80)  

* C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )

It brightened much faster than expected. Now it is so bright as 10.7 mag (July 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 11-13 mag in good condition until early 2013. Although it becomes extremely low in August, it will be getting higher again in the morning sky after September. 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)  
July 21   9 17.64   58 35.9   2.807   2.138    40   12.7  18:39 (146,-24)  
July 28   9 25.53   55 41.5   2.843   2.139    38   12.7  18:43 (141,-26)  

* (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. Now it is 11.9 mag (May 29, Marco Goiato). It has already turned to be stellar.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  16  3.41  -25 34.1   1.731   2.461   125   13.0  20:05 (180, 81)  
July 28  16  4.88  -26  5.6   1.807   2.465   118   13.2  19:39 (180, 81)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 12.8 mag (June 15, Sandor Szabo). 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 21   4 50.18  -52 30.5   5.668   5.653    84   13.7   5:33 (312, 51)  
July 28   4 53.78  -52 41.5   5.655   5.667    85   13.7   5:30 (313, 54)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

Now it is so bright as 11.4 mag (July 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 12-14 mag and observable in good condition until September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  15 41.99  -12  4.7   4.637   5.182   117   13.7  19:43 (180, 67)  
July 28  15 35.98  -12  7.2   4.765   5.190   109   13.8  19:10 (180, 67)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 13.2 mag (July 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is expected to be 13 mag and will be observable in good condition in 2013. It keeps observable for a long time 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)  
July 21  22 46.18   57  8.3   6.102   6.275    95   13.9   2:51 (180, -2)  
July 28  22 36.23   57 18.1   6.014   6.259    99   13.8   2:14 (180, -2)  

* 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 was not observable around the perihelion passage. But it is appearing in the morning sky now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   5 42.19   13 54.1   2.554   1.804    34   13.9   5:33 (243, 13)  
July 28   5 58.50   13 44.3   2.566   1.853    36   14.1   5:30 (242, 14)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 13.3 mag (July 11, Jakub Cerny). It still locates high and will be observable until early September in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  12 16.67  -10 38.5   6.531   6.253    69   14.0  18:39 (119, 50)  
July 28  12 19.88  -10 52.9   6.630   6.253    64   14.1  18:43 (112, 45)  

* P/2012 NJ ( La Sagra )

Looks almost asteroidal. But it has a very faint tail. Bright as 14.6 mag (July 13, La Sagra Sky Survey). It keeps 14.5-15 mag until mid August. It moves northwards rapidly and keeps observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be extremely low after August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  22 56.61   23 28.9   0.581   1.393   118   14.1   3:03 (180, 32)  
July 28  21 57.50   33 59.1   0.596   1.431   123   14.1   1:37 (180, 21)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

Now it is so bright as 11.6 mag (June 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
July 21  13 11.47    4 27.8   3.127   3.055    76   14.4  18:39 (149, 46)  
July 28  13 17.36    3 13.5   3.204   3.043    71   14.4  18:43 (140, 44)  

* C/2012 CH17 ( MOSS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (July 19, Hidetaka Sato). It was expected to brighten up to 13.5 mag from summer to autumn. But actually, it is much fainter than expected. Sato reported the nuclear magnitude is fainter than 19 mag. Maybe the comet has been disintegrated, and will disappear soon. It keeps observable for a long time until December, but it keeps locating low in the evening after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  12 14.25   23 42.5   1.947   1.651    57   14.6  18:39 (145, 23)  
July 28  12 29.43   21 35.6   1.921   1.591    55   14.4  18:43 (140, 22)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

It kept as bright as 11-12 mag for a long time from 2011 autumn to 2012 spring. It is not observable now. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 15 mag in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   7 37.91   17  4.3   3.511   2.505     6   14.5   5:33 (257,-11)  
July 28   7 51.12   16 27.4   3.531   2.535     9   14.6   5:30 (256, -9)  

* 260P/2012 K2 ( McNaught )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2005. It was recovered as bright as predicted. Now it is 15.7 mag (July 1, Jakub Cerny). It is expected to brighten up to 13 mag from summer to autumn, and will be observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   0 53.43   -3 21.1   0.974   1.603   107   14.8   4:57 (180, 58)  
July 28   1  5.65   -0 29.6   0.909   1.578   110   14.6   4:42 (180, 55)  

* C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.9 mag (June 2, K. Hills). 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)  
July 21  19 16.51  -80 39.8   3.295   3.899   119   15.0  23:16 (  0, 44)  
July 28  18 41.46  -81 34.3   3.336   3.895   116   15.0  22:14 (  0, 43)  

* C/2011 U3 ( PanSTARRS )

It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag from May to July. But actually, it has not been observed since late January. Michael Mattiazzo reported it was not detected, fainter than 17.0 mag, on June 10. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher gradually after this. It will be hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  11 57.33  -21 34.6   1.230   1.318    71   15.1  18:39 (101, 53)  
July 28  12 21.05  -16 54.1   1.414   1.384    67   15.7  18:43 (105, 49)  

* C/2012 J1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.8 mag (June 10, K. Hills). It keeps observable in good condition at 14-15 mag for a long time until winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  23 45.63   36 55.4   3.070   3.431   102   15.3   3:50 (180, 18)  
July 28  23 48.34   37 46.9   2.974   3.406   106   15.2   3:25 (180, 17)  

* C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 15.8 mag (June 30, 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)  
July 21  23 17.62  -21  5.9   2.534   3.327   134   15.3   3:22 (180, 76)  
July 28  23 16.67  -22 17.4   2.527   3.377   140   15.4   2:54 (180, 77)  

* 189P/NEAT

It has brightened rapidly, and it reached up to 15.0 mag (July 8, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Now it is approaching to the earth down to 0.17 A.U., and moving northwards very quickly. Now it is observable in excellent condition. It keeps observable in good condition after this in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps excellent condition until July. It keeps observable also after that, but locates somewhat low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  19  1.07   12 57.9   0.194   1.177   143   15.6  23:03 (180, 41)  
July 28  19 10.90   23 12.6   0.224   1.181   133   16.0  22:45 (180, 31)  

* C/2012 K5 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.5 mag (June 14, L. Arnold). It is expected to approach to the earth and to be observable at 9-10 mag in good condition in winter. The condition is good in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere, and will be unobservable after summer. But it will become observable in good condition after 2013 January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  16 55.35   47 57.3   1.839   2.248    99   15.8  20:55 (180,  7)  
July 28  16 31.54   48 21.7   1.841   2.168    94   15.7  20:04 (180,  7)  

* 71P/Clark

The condition of this apparition is bad, and it was not observable around the perihelion passage. Now it is 15.7 mag (June 30, Jakub Cerny). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   1 58.73    2 56.3   2.244   2.460    89   16.2   5:33 (192, 51)  
July 28   2  3.33    3 11.8   2.192   2.499    95   16.3   5:30 (184, 52)  

* 152P/Helin-Lawrence

Now it is 15.5 mag (June 8, Catalina Sky Survey). It tends to brighten after the perihelion passage. It keeps observable at 16-17 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)  
July 21  16  4.84  -17 44.8   2.431   3.117   124   16.8  20:07 (180, 73)  
July 28  16  5.84  -18 11.6   2.513   3.118   117   16.9  19:40 (180, 73)  

* C/2010 G2 ( Hill )

It brightened up to 10 mag from autumn to winter in 2011. Now it is appearing in the morning sky again in the Southern Hemisphere. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (June 30, Jakub Cerny). It keeps observable in good condition while fading graudlaly after this. It will be hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   4 51.04  -20 35.5   4.449   4.076    62   16.9   5:33 (266, 44)  
July 28   4 54.93  -22  8.0   4.430   4.136    66   17.0   5:30 (264, 48)  

* 168P/Hergenrother

Hidetaka Sato observed it at 18.4 mag on July 15. It will approach to the earth down to 0.4 A.U., and it is expected to be observable in good condition as bright as 15 mag in September and October. Now it locates very high in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   0 25.64  -23 14.8   0.867   1.627   119   17.3   4:30 (180, 78)  
July 28   0 34.07  -21 15.3   0.791   1.592   123   17.0   4:11 (180, 76)  

* C/2008 S3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 18.1 mag (June 24, K. Hills). It keeps 17 mag for a long time from 2009 to 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  23 25.07   14 23.6   7.850   8.393   119   17.2   3:30 (180, 41)  
July 28  23 21.15   14 15.9   7.763   8.405   126   17.2   2:58 (180, 41)  

* C/2012 L2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.1 mag (June 4, A. Diepvens). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag from winter to spring in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until 2013 April. It is not observable now in the Southern Hemisphere. It will become observable after 2013 April, but it keeps locating low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   0 56.22   79  4.5   4.061   3.887    72   17.4   5:00 (180,-24)  
July 28   1  8.98   80 33.7   3.963   3.819    74   17.3   4:46 (180,-26)  

* C/2012 L1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.2 mag (June 5, A. Diepvens). It will brighten up to 15 mag from autum to winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere, except for 2013 spring, but the comet locates extremely low only.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  15 45.62   78  1.1   2.953   2.865    75   17.4  19:43 (180,-23)  
July 28  15  5.87   77 18.3   2.935   2.819    73   17.3  18:43 (180,-22)  

* C/2012 K6 ( McNaught )

Now it is 17.9 mag (May 30, K. Hills). It will brighten up to 15.5 mag in 2013 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening gradually. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2013 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  18 33.80  -77  7.7   3.731   4.359   122   17.8  22:32 (  0, 48)  
July 28  17 46.96  -76 11.3   3.734   4.320   119   17.7  21:19 (  0, 49)  

* C/2012 L3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.4 mag (June 12, L. Elenin). Now it is brightest. It will be fainter than 18 mag very soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  18 23.71   31 30.7   2.396   3.069   122   17.8  22:23 (180, 24)  
July 28  18  3.92   28 58.8   2.436   3.078   120   17.8  21:36 (180, 26)  

* 262P/2012 K7 ( McNaught-Russell )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1994. It was recovered at 19.8 mag on May 29, as bright as expected (G. Sostero, N. Howes, E. Guido). It will brighten up to 13.5 mag and will be observable in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21  19 55.91   30 25.4   1.370   2.160   129   18.2   0:01 (180, 25)  
July 28  19 48.80   31 23.3   1.306   2.096   128   17.9  23:22 (180, 24)  

* C/2011 Q2 ( McNaught )

It was observed at 12.5 mag on Apr. 1, as bright as expected (Michael Jager). However, it has faded very rapidly. Hidetaka Sato reported that it has been already too faint to catch, fainter than 19.0 mag on June 25. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be high after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 21   4 48.82   45 53.9   3.414   2.818    46   19.1   5:33 (212, -3)  
July 28   5  0.57   46 13.6   3.426   2.891    50   19.3   5:30 (210, -2)  

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

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