Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2012 Nov. 3: South)

Japanese version Home page	Updated on November 10, 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.

C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is so bright as 9.3 mag (Oct. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be unobservable soon. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky at 9 mag in 2013 February, then it keeps observable in good condition while fading slowly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is hardly observable after 2013. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 16 8.18 -7 45.5 2.864 2.002 24 9.6 20:05 ( 76, -5) Nov. 10 16 21.05 -10 26.1 2.864 1.967 20 9.5 20:15 ( 71, -8) C/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS ) It is expected to be a great comet of -1 mag in 2013 spring. Now it is 10.1 mag (Oct. 14, Marco Goiato). Brightening faster than originally expected. It will be unobservable soon in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps unobservable for a long time until 2013 March, when the comet will appear as a 0-mag great comet. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 15 39.41 -30 8.4 3.414 2.516 21 10.7 20:05 ( 55, 3) Nov. 10 15 47.29 -30 57.9 3.342 2.414 17 10.4 20:15 ( 50, -1) 168P/Hergenrother It brightened very rapidly. Now it is very bright visually as 9.5 mag (Oct. 18, Marco Goiato). It approaches to the earth down to 0.4 A.U., and it is observable in good condition in September and October. The nuclear split was observed in late October. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 23 39.68 36 33.2 0.574 1.460 135 10.5 20:47 (180, 18) Nov. 10 23 41.38 38 14.0 0.625 1.481 131 11.0 20:22 (180, 17) C/2012 K5 ( LINEAR ) Now it is bright at 11.1 mag (Oct. 13, Carlos Labordena). It is expected to approach to the earth and to be observable at 8 mag in good condition in winter. The condition is good in the Northern Hemisphere. It turns to be in the morning sky after November, and will be getting higher rapidly. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. 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) Nov. 3 14 27.43 40 54.6 1.447 1.214 55 11.4 3:22 (245,-46) Nov. 10 14 24.00 41 25.4 1.326 1.181 59 11.0 3:13 (243,-42) C/2011 R1 ( McNaught ) Now it is bright as 11.4 mag (Oct. 15, Chris Wyatt). It is expected to be observable at 11-13 mag for a long time from 2012 summer to 2013 summer. It is not observable until 2013 January in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be extremely low from October to December. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 14 58.37 -45 18.9 2.877 2.087 30 12.0 20:05 ( 38, 7) Nov. 10 15 8.62 -43 40.4 2.933 2.095 26 12.0 20:15 ( 36, 3) 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 fading. But it is very bright as 12.8 mag still now (Oct. 20, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 10 7.78 -2 40.9 4.397 4.104 66 12.9 3:22 (253, 27) Nov. 10 10 7.03 -3 42.7 4.347 4.170 73 12.9 3:13 (251, 31) C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS ) It brightened up to 11-12 mag in 2012. Now it is not observable. But it will be observable at 12-13 mag in good condition again in 2013. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 15 22.90 -15 7.3 6.318 5.352 11 13.4 20:05 ( 64,-10) Nov. 10 15 24.58 -15 23.4 6.351 5.367 5 13.4 20:15 ( 58,-16) C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR ) It brightened much faster than expected. Now it is so bright as 11.5 mag (Sept. 15, Seiichi Yoshida). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 11-13 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) Nov. 3 10 4.05 28 49.6 2.453 2.455 78 13.5 3:22 (228, 6) Nov. 10 9 59.76 27 28.8 2.368 2.495 85 13.5 3:13 (226, 10) C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 13.3 mag (Sept. 13, Jakub Cerny). It keeps bright at 13-14 mag for a long time until 2014. 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) Nov. 3 20 40.46 42 15.7 5.791 6.064 101 13.6 20:05 (155, 7) Nov. 10 20 39.10 40 42.7 5.852 6.053 96 13.6 20:15 (148, 4) 260P/2012 K2 ( McNaught ) First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 14 mag in 2005. It brightened very rapidly and became much brighter than originally expected. Now it is very bright as 12.2 mag (Oct. 9, Uwe Pilz). It keeps high for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. But the comet will be fading after this. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 1 35.69 42 17.8 0.657 1.596 150 13.7 22:43 (180, 13) Nov. 10 1 31.91 42 40.1 0.695 1.623 148 14.0 22:12 (180, 12) C/2012 CH17 ( MOSS ) The nuclear magnitude got fainter than 19 mag in August, and no observations have been reported since September. Although it was expected to be 13 mag in 2012 autumn, the comet must have been already disintegrated and disappeared. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 17 45.42 -19 58.5 1.899 1.403 45 13.9 20:05 ( 80, 21) Nov. 10 18 12.63 -21 51.7 1.962 1.446 45 14.1 20:15 ( 77, 20) C/2009 F4 ( McNaught ) Now it is bright as 13.1 mag (Sept. 22, Jakub Cerny). 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) Nov. 3 4 9.08 -57 37.6 5.570 5.900 104 13.9 1:20 ( 0, 67) Nov. 10 3 59.55 -57 20.7 5.593 5.919 104 13.9 0:43 ( 0, 68) C/2012 J1 ( Catalina ) Now it is bright and visible visually at 12.8 mag (Oct. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable in good condition at 13-14 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) Nov. 3 23 41.18 30 38.4 2.372 3.176 137 13.9 20:49 (180, 24) Nov. 10 23 43.37 29 1.2 2.408 3.170 133 13.9 20:24 (180, 26) 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT ) It brightened rapidly, and reached up to 12 mag in 2012. It is not observable now. But it will be observable at 12-14 mag in good condition again in 2013. However, it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere in 2013. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 15 24.28 -13 45.2 3.879 2.917 12 14.1 20:05 ( 65,-10) Nov. 10 15 35.58 -14 46.0 3.887 2.912 8 14.1 20:15 ( 60,-14) 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Not observable now. It will appear in the morning sky in late November. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 13 24.19 -17 8.8 7.187 6.243 16 14.2 3:22 (294, -4) Nov. 10 13 29.14 -17 41.1 7.150 6.243 22 14.2 3:13 (293, -1) (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) Nov. 3 18 13.27 -31 28.4 3.032 2.553 52 14.3 20:05 ( 72, 32) Nov. 10 18 26.88 -31 28.8 3.108 2.561 48 14.3 20:15 ( 69, 27) C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon ) Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 15.3 mag, much brighter than origianlly predicted (Oct. 14, Hidetaka Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 5-6 mag in 2013 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable while brightening gradually after this in good condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is only observable until early January when it becomes 10 mag. After 2013 May, it keeps observable in good condition while fading gradually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 11 16.89 -5 6.3 2.989 2.460 49 14.7 3:22 (266, 14) Nov. 10 11 23.08 -7 18.4 2.809 2.368 54 14.4 3:13 (266, 18) C/2012 L2 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 15.9 mag (Oct. 13, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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) Nov. 3 18 48.87 83 44.0 2.479 2.858 102 15.0 20:05 (173,-32) Nov. 10 19 27.16 82 44.0 2.377 2.789 104 14.8 20:15 (172,-31) C/2012 L1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 15.7 mag (Oct. 7, V. Gerke, A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa). 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) Nov. 3 13 48.48 69 31.7 2.208 2.340 84 15.4 3:22 (205,-41) Nov. 10 13 52.37 71 1.1 2.117 2.321 88 15.3 3:13 (203,-39) C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 15.7 mag (Sept. 25, Hiroshi Abe)。It keeps 15-16 mag from autumn to winter. It keeps observable in good condition for a long time until the comet fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable until 2013 summer in the Southern Hemisphere. By the way, Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it extremely bright as 10.7 mag visually on Sept. 6. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 10 13.17 80 25.3 3.214 3.538 100 15.6 3:22 (190,-30) Nov. 10 10 0.48 83 37.3 3.143 3.538 105 15.5 3:13 (186,-31) C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR ) Now it is 14.9 mag (Sept. 14, 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) Nov. 3 18 29.65 -80 43.6 4.169 3.947 70 15.6 20:05 ( 11, 38) Nov. 10 19 1.96 -80 38.5 4.214 3.958 68 15.6 20:15 ( 11, 38) 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 15.8 mag (Oct. 19, Hiroshi Abe). It keeps unobservable until late November in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 11 23.21 17 34.5 5.536 5.067 57 15.8 3:22 (249, -1) Nov. 10 11 25.97 18 9.4 5.384 5.024 63 15.7 3:13 (246, 2) 78P/Gehrels 2 It kept as bright as 11-12 mag for a long time from 2011 autumn to 2012 spring. Now it is 16.4 mag (Sept. 25, Hiroshi Abe). It keeps observable in good condition until next spring while the comet will be fading gradually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 10 12.71 5 3.9 3.215 2.982 67 15.8 3:22 (248, 21) Nov. 10 10 18.90 4 19.5 3.153 3.015 72 15.8 3:13 (246, 24) 262P/2012 K7 ( McNaught-Russell ) First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1994. Now it is 17.0 mag (Yasukazu Ikari). It was expected to brighten rapidly, to reach up to 13.5 mag, and to be observable in good condition from autumn to winter. But actually, it is much fainter than this ephemeris. It will be 15-16 mag at best. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 20 38.48 9 51.8 0.854 1.350 93 16.0 20:05 (137, 35) Nov. 10 21 1.09 7 0.8 0.844 1.323 91 15.8 20:15 (132, 35) C/2012 T5 ( Bressi ) New comet. Now it is 17.5 mag (Oct. 17, A. Knoefel). It approaches to the Sun down to 0.3 A.U. in 2013 February. The ephemeris says it will brighten up to 7 mag. However, because the comet is small, it may be disintegrated. It keeps observable in good condition until February while brightening gradually. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 3 50.57 16 26.5 1.326 2.288 161 16.7 1:02 (180, 38) Nov. 10 3 35.09 13 24.6 1.199 2.183 171 16.3 0:19 (180, 41) 185P/Petriew It brightened rapidly, and reached up to 10 mag from July to August. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 13.6 mag still now (Oct. 16, Gerke, A. Novichonok, S. Plaksa). It keeps observable in the morning sky after this. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 10 18.53 -3 9.7 1.599 1.463 63 16.4 3:22 (256, 25) Nov. 10 10 29.58 -4 54.0 1.605 1.530 67 17.0 3:13 (256, 27) C/2012 S1 ( ISON ) It is expected to be a great comet in 2013 autumn when the comet approaches to the sun down to only 0.01 A.U. It keeps visible with naked eyes from November to January, and can be extremely bright as Venus or more at the highlight. Now it is 17.2 mag (Oct. 12, A. Knoefel). The condition is excellent in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps observable almost all through the period of brightening, at the highlight, and of fading. The condition is not good in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all the latter part of the highlight, and it keeps low all through the period. The orbit is similar to that of Comet Kirch in 1680. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 8 21.47 28 10.1 5.622 5.870 99 16.9 3:22 (210, 20) Nov. 10 8 20.87 28 21.6 5.436 5.799 106 16.8 3:13 (206, 22) 2012 US136 New asteroid with a very small perihelion distance of 0.38 A.U. Now it is 16.5 mag (Oct. 24, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be observable at 17 mag in excellent condition from mid October to mid November in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 19 27.63 29 40.8 0.558 1.084 83 17.1 20:05 (137, 9) Nov. 10 20 11.23 32 47.7 0.697 1.202 89 17.5 20:15 (139, 7) 63P/Wild 1 Now it is 20.5 mag (Sept. 17, O. Burhonov, A. Novichonok). It will brighten very rapidly, and will reach up to 13 mag from winter to spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps locating extremely low for a while. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 9 20.32 37 23.7 2.264 2.474 90 17.6 3:22 (216, 5) Nov. 10 9 31.87 37 9.5 2.150 2.436 94 17.3 3:13 (215, 7) C/2012 C1 ( McNaught ) Now it is 17.2 mag (Sept. 29, K. Hills). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition for a long time from 2012 to 2013. It is not observable at all in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 6 50.43 -68 33.4 4.880 4.893 84 17.3 3:22 (354, 56) Nov. 10 6 37.60 -70 34.7 4.875 4.885 84 17.3 3:13 (359, 54) C/2008 S3 ( Boattini ) Now it is 17.4 mag (Oct. 4, Catalina Sky Survey). 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) Nov. 3 22 18.90 8 4.0 8.094 8.597 117 17.4 20:05 (166, 46) Nov. 10 22 16.49 7 36.4 8.221 8.612 110 17.4 20:15 (153, 44) (3200) Phaethon Now it is 17.4 mag (Sept. 29, Jean-Francois Soulier). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 17.5 mag in excellent condition in October and November. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 2 5.08 41 27.8 1.336 2.265 152 17.4 23:11 (180, 14) Nov. 10 1 46.95 39 18.8 1.364 2.289 152 17.5 22:25 (180, 16) C/2011 A3 ( Gibbs ) Jakub Cerny reported the comet brightened up to 14.5 mag in late July. However, it has already faded down to 16.7 mag (Oct. 5, F. G. Pinilla). It will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere while fading gradually after this. It will locate somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 22 46.05 -29 13.0 3.688 4.127 109 17.6 20:05 (157, 84) Nov. 10 22 47.77 -28 48.3 3.839 4.182 103 17.7 20:15 (119, 78) 65P/Gunn It brightened up to 12 mag in 2010. Now the comet is around the aphelion. But it will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. Now it is 19.4 mag (Oct. 9, Mt. Lemmon Survey), fainter than this ephemeris. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 4 32.89 20 57.7 3.718 4.611 151 17.6 1:44 (180, 34) Nov. 10 4 28.51 20 55.7 3.681 4.619 159 17.6 1:12 (180, 34) C/2012 S4 ( PanSTARRS ) Now it is 17.4 mag (Sept. 29, A. Diepvens). It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time until the end of 2013. The condition is good in the Northern Hemisphere. It is hardly observable in 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere. But it will be observable in good condition in 2013. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 23 50.30 51 39.1 4.002 4.714 131 17.7 20:57 (180, 3) Nov. 10 23 42.31 49 20.3 4.009 4.692 128 17.7 20:22 (180, 6) 261P/2012 K4 ( Larson ) First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2005. Now it is 16.9 mag (Oct. 6, J. F. Hernandez). It will be observable in excellent condition at 17-18 mag until November. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 23 4.32 3 54.8 1.453 2.202 127 17.7 20:12 (180, 51) Nov. 10 23 7.97 3 59.8 1.524 2.208 121 17.9 20:15 (170, 50) 2008 YB3 Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. 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) Nov. 3 8 8.98 32 36.1 6.738 7.029 103 17.9 3:22 (206, 17) Nov. 10 8 7.60 33 19.8 6.635 7.041 110 17.9 3:13 (201, 18) 71P/Clark The condition of this apparition is bad, and it was not observable around the perihelion passage. Now it is 16.5 mag (Oct. 6, Catalina Sky Survey). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 1 17.94 -0 11.1 2.087 3.020 155 17.9 22:25 (180, 55) Nov. 10 1 13.04 -0 13.4 2.169 3.055 148 18.1 21:53 (180, 55) 270P/2012 S5 ( Gehrels ) First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1997 at 17 mag. Now it is 19.2 mag (Sept. 25, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It was expected to keep 17 mag for a long time from 2012 to 2014. But actually, it is fainter than predicted by 2 mag. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 2 4.06 13 17.8 2.923 3.909 172 19.2 23:11 (180, 42) Nov. 10 2 0.50 12 54.2 2.929 3.893 164 19.1 22:40 (180, 42) P/2011 N1 ( ASH ) It was observed at 17 mag in 2011 autumn. It was expected to be observable at 17 mag in good condition again from autumn to winter in 2012. But actually, the comet is 19.4 mag (Sept. 29, G. Hug), much fainter than this ephemeris. Hidetaka Sato reported that it was not detected, fainter than 21.0 mag (Sept. 21). The comet must have faded out very rapidly. Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Best Time(A, h) Nov. 3 6 49.82 29 12.1 2.470 3.084 119 20.3 3:22 (189, 25) Nov. 10 6 49.49 30 32.8 2.408 3.103 126 20.3 3:13 (185, 24)