Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2013 Mar. 2: North)

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Updated on March 2, 2013
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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/2011 L4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 2.5 mag (Mar. 1, Michael Mattiazzo). Although it had been brightening as expected until late December, the brightening has got slow down in January. It was expected to be a great comet of -1 mag in spring, however, it will brighten only up to 2 mag at best. But it is very strongly condensed. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the extremely low evening sky in mid March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  23 33.62  -25 15.8   1.105   0.391    20    2.6  19:20 ( 73,-18)  
Mar.  9   0 18.02   -8 10.9   1.105   0.304    15    1.8  19:26 ( 86, -7)  

* C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon )

Brightened much faster than expected, and it became a naked eye bright comet. Now it is so bright as 4.8 mag (Feb. 26, Marco Goiato). It has a long ion tail. However, the brightness evolution has been slow down in February. It will approach to the sun down to 0.73 A.U. on Mar. 24. It was expected to brighten up to 3 mag, but actually, it will be 4.5 mag at best. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable now in the Northern Hemisphere. But it becomes observable again in May, and it keeps observable in good condition after that while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   0  5.05  -50  4.1   1.180   0.857    45    4.9  19:20 ( 46,-25)  
Mar.  9   0  7.98  -41 27.7   1.274   0.794    38    4.7  19:26 ( 57,-27)  

* C/2012 T5 ( Bressi )

Got brighter than expected after the outburst on Jan. 24. It brightened up to 9.2 mag on Feb. 4 (Michael Mattiazzo). However, it suddenly faded down to 10.5 mag and got diffuse on Feb. 5 (Michael Mattiazzo). It approached to the Sun down to 0.3 A.U. on Feb. 24. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in mid March. However, because the comet is small, it could have been disintegrated. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low in early March. But it will be unobservable after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  21 28.24  -15 11.1   0.925   0.368    21    8.0   5:04 (285, -6)  
Mar.  9  21 22.42   -0 42.8   0.985   0.494    28    9.4   4:55 (276,  7)  

* C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 9.0 mag in 2012 autumn (Nov. 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It keeps observable in good condition while fading slowly after this. However, Michael Mattiazzo reported that it was fainter than 12 mag on Feb. 2, much fainter than predicted. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is hardly observable after 2013.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  21 22.13  -40 59.0   2.605   1.939    39    9.2   5:04 (307,-19)  
Mar.  9  21 46.93  -41 44.7   2.589   1.971    42    9.3   4:55 (308,-20)  

* 273P/2012 V4 ( Pons-Gambart )

Long-lost comet for almost 200 years since 1827. Finally re-discovered by Rob Matson from SWAN images of mid November. Now it is 11.0 mag (Feb. 24, Marco Goiato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition while fading after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is only observable in low sky from February to March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  17 49.67   25 58.7   1.311   1.504    80   11.0   5:04 (280, 61)  
Mar.  9  17 29.32   32 39.8   1.251   1.596    89   11.3   4:55 (272, 72)  

* C/2012 L2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is so bright as 10.8 mag (Feb. 28, Sandor Szabo). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until April. It is not observable now in the Southern Hemisphere. It will become observable after April, but it keeps locating low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   2 47.58   35  9.7   1.856   1.778    69   12.3  19:20 (104, 51)  
Mar.  9   3  3.96   31 48.3   1.899   1.730    64   12.3  19:26 (101, 47)  

* C/2011 R1 ( McNaught )

Now it is bright as 11.8 mag (Feb. 7, Alexandre Amorim). It is expected to be observable at 11-13 mag for a long time from 2012 summer to 2013 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  16  4.25  -18 44.0   2.257   2.599    98   12.4   5:04 (354, 36)  
Mar.  9  15 57.63  -16  0.4   2.169   2.646   107   12.4   4:51 (  0, 39)  

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It brightened up to 11-12 mag in 2012. Now it is 13.3 mag (Feb. 2, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
Mar.  2  15 18.45  -17 11.6   5.259   5.669   109   12.9   4:40 (  0, 38)  
Mar.  9  15 13.13  -17  0.7   5.158   5.691   117   12.9   4:07 (  0, 38)  

* 246P/2010 V2 ( NEAT )

It brightened rapidly, and reached up to 12 mag in 2012. Appearing in the mornig sky again. 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. By the way, Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it is extremely bright as 9.6 mag on Jan. 20.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  18 42.89  -23 57.1   3.222   2.885    61   13.5   5:04 (317, 17)  
Mar.  9  18 53.09  -24 11.2   3.140   2.888    66   13.5   4:55 (319, 18)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 13.3 mag (Nov. 15, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Mar.  2  21 11.66   29 32.1   6.600   5.927    43   13.7   5:04 (249, 22)  
Mar.  9  21 13.92   29 37.5   6.579   5.922    45   13.7   4:55 (250, 26)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Carlos Labordena reported it is extremely bright as 11.4 mag on Feb. 6. However, it is extremely diffuse.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  14 11.27  -23 59.9   5.645   6.228   122   13.7   3:33 (  0, 31)  
Mar.  9  14 10.01  -24  5.4   5.553   6.227   129   13.7   3:04 (  0, 31)  

* 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 bright as 15.2 mag still now (Feb. 2, Jakub Cerny).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   8 31.01  -10 10.7   4.393   5.200   140   13.9  21:49 (  0, 45)  
Mar.  9   8 25.40   -9 49.7   4.516   5.263   134   14.0  21:16 (  0, 45)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Now it is 13.6 mag (Feb. 17, Todd Augustyniak). It is fainter than originally predicted by 1 mag. It will brighten up to 14 mag until 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)  
Mar.  2   9 53.01   32  5.5   1.061   1.990   151   14.1  23:11 (  0, 87)  
Mar.  9   9 47.12   30 18.2   1.071   1.977   146   14.0  22:37 (  0, 85)  

* C/2012 K5 ( LINEAR )

It approached to the earth down to 0.3 A.U. and brightened up to 7-8 mag from late December to early January. However, it will go away from the earth and fade out rapidly after this. It has already faded down to 13.8 mag (Feb. 28, Sandor Szabo). It is observable in good condition also in the Southern Hemisphere after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   4 12.55  -16 20.9   1.741   1.827    78   14.1  19:20 ( 31, 33)  
Mar.  9   4 17.36  -16 51.8   1.915   1.904    74   14.5  19:26 ( 38, 29)  

* 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 14.3 mag (Feb. 28, Sandor Szabo). It will be observable also in the Southern Hemisphere from early December to early March, although it locates low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  10 29.48   43 42.9   3.543   4.378   143   14.2  23:47 (180, 81)  
Mar.  9  10 17.64   45 18.3   3.558   4.340   137   14.1  23:07 (180, 80)  

* (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. It is not observable now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  22  6.52  -22 33.8   3.645   2.724    18   14.4   5:04 (286,-17)  
Mar.  9  22 18.78  -21 40.0   3.629   2.736    22   14.4   4:55 (286,-16)  

* C/2009 F4 ( McNaught )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Feb. 3, Jakub Cerny). It will be fading slowly after this. But it keeps 15 mag in 2013. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It becomes observable in the extremely low sky from January to February in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   3  0.26  -37 16.0   6.652   6.275    63   14.6  19:20 ( 35,  7)  
Mar.  9   3  2.67  -35 54.3   6.731   6.299    60   14.6  19:26 ( 40,  4)  

* C/2012 J1 ( Catalina )

Now it is bright and visible visually at 12.9 mag (Jan. 3, Chris Wyatt). It keeps 12-14 mag until February. It keeps observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low, and will be unobservable soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   1 49.14   17 27.5   3.804   3.263    50   14.8  19:20 ( 90, 32)  
Mar.  9   1 59.77   17 29.3   3.895   3.281    45   14.9  19:26 ( 93, 27)  

* C/2012 S1 ( ISON )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Feb. 2, Uwe Pilz). Already visible visually. 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. 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   6 50.22   31 31.5   4.041   4.605   119   15.2  20:09 (  0, 86)  
Mar.  9   6 45.68   31 20.7   4.071   4.525   111   15.1  19:37 (  0, 86)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 10, Hiroshi Abe). It keeps bright as 13-14 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  14 51.91  -11  7.8   2.992   3.558   117   15.3   4:13 (  0, 44)  
Mar.  9  14 52.38  -11 10.7   2.888   3.543   124   15.2   3:46 (  0, 44)  

* 262P/2012 K7 ( McNaught-Russell )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 1994. It brightened rapidly and reached up to 10.6 mag (Dec. 13, Katsumi Yoshimoto). Now it is fading, but it is bright as 11.5 mag still now (Feb. 10, Uwe Pilz). It has a large diffuse coma. It keeps locating high for a while, but it will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   3 48.57   -4 33.4   1.715   1.726    73   15.4  19:20 ( 45, 40)  
Mar.  9   4  6.96   -3 50.8   1.818   1.785    72   15.8  19:26 ( 49, 38)  

* C/2012 V2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Jan. 23, W. Hasubick). It will brighten up to 12 mag from summer to autumn in 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until spring when the comet brightens up to 15 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps unobservable until August. Then it keeps observable while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   1  2.06   47 32.4   2.975   2.657    61   15.6  19:20 (128, 35)  
Mar.  9   1 19.28   46 27.6   2.977   2.587    57   15.5  19:26 (127, 32)  

* C/2012 L1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is visible visually at 13.7 mag (Dec. 23, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 15 mag until March. 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)  
Mar.  2   4  4.29   35 12.1   2.263   2.386    84   15.5  19:20 ( 99, 66)  
Mar.  9   4 12.00   32 13.4   2.400   2.412    78   15.7  19:26 ( 95, 60)  

* C/2012 K6 ( McNaught )

Now it is 15.8 mag, brighter than expected (Feb. 4, Hidetaka Sato). It reaches up to 15 mag from spring to summer. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  16 40.44  -49 31.9   3.357   3.437    86   15.7   5:04 (351,  4)  
Mar.  9  16 32.84  -49 31.3   3.213   3.423    93   15.6   4:55 (355,  5)  

* 125P/Spacewatch

Now it is 17.5 mag (Jan. 17, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 16 mag in the morning sky from February to April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  18 52.76  -14 20.8   1.787   1.531    58   15.9   5:04 (309, 23)  
Mar.  9  19 13.56  -13 41.8   1.757   1.538    60   15.9   4:55 (308, 23)  

* C/2012 K1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Jan. 6, J. F. Hernandez). It is expected to brighten up to 5-6 mag in 2014 autumn. In 2013, it keeps observable in good condition until autumn when it brigthens up to 13-14 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  17 33.37   11 26.7   6.517   6.441    81   16.2   5:04 (307, 56)  
Mar.  9  17 33.56   12  8.1   6.354   6.380    87   16.1   4:55 (312, 59)  

* C/2011 O1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Jan. 16, Jakub Cerny). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition for a long time until 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.  2   1 55.42  -61 20.6   4.585   4.242    63   16.1  19:20 ( 26,-18)  
Mar.  9   2  9.80  -59 36.3   4.605   4.266    64   16.1  19:26 ( 29,-19)  

* C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )

It brightened much faster than expected, and reached up to 10.0 mag in summer (Aug. 9, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading, but it is bright as 13.3 ma still now (Feb. 2, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable in good condition for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   6 40.79    5 17.1   2.712   3.293   117   16.3  19:59 (  0, 60)  
Mar.  9   6 36.55    4 34.9   2.876   3.349   110   16.6  19:27 (  0, 60)  

* C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.8 mag (Jan. 9, A. Novichonok). It keeps 15-16 mag until February. 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 10.4 mag visually on Nov. 6.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   0 59.47   46 50.5   4.069   3.694    61   16.4  19:20 (127, 34)  
Mar.  9   1  5.78   45 34.7   4.181   3.712    55   16.5  19:26 (127, 29)  

* P/2012 B1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Jan. 18, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be observable at 17 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  12 16.10    5 16.4   2.968   3.909   158   16.6   1:38 (  0, 60)  
Mar.  9  12 12.81    5 33.0   2.930   3.901   166   16.5   1:07 (  0, 60)  

* C/2012 Y3 ( McNaught )

New bright comet discovered at 15 mag in late December. Now it is 15.8 mag (Feb. 4, Hidetaka Sato). It must have been bright as 13-14 mag and observable in good condition from spring to autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. But it was not discovered. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April, and keeps observable in good condition. It will be observable also in the Northern Hemisphere after this in the evening sky while fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   5 21.63  -26 33.3   2.609   2.846    93   16.6  19:20 ( 10, 28)  
Mar.  9   5 26.29  -23 18.0   2.727   2.906    90   16.8  19:26 ( 18, 30)  

* 175P/Hergenrother

Now it is 16.2 mag (Feb. 18, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It keeps observable in good condition at 17 mag from January to June. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   8 56.81   21 25.1   1.142   2.056   148   16.9  22:15 (  0, 76)  
Mar.  9   8 54.82   21 55.2   1.166   2.039   141   16.9  21:46 (  0, 77)  

* 98P/Takamizawa

Not observed yet in this apparition. But it must have already brightened up to 18 mag. It will brighten up to 14 mag and will be observable in excellent condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  15  2.90   -1 56.0   1.605   2.232   116   17.5   4:24 (  0, 53)  
Mar.  9  15  8.98   -1 32.6   1.500   2.192   121   17.2   4:02 (  0, 53)  

* C/2012 X1 ( LINEAR )

It is expected to brighten up to 11 mag and become observable in excellent condition in 2014 spring. Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 18, Catalina Sky Survey). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until early summer. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   8 49.21   39 55.0   3.671   4.452   137   17.3  22:07 (180, 85)  
Mar.  9   8 44.20   40 20.8   3.678   4.388   130   17.3  21:35 (180, 85)  

* C/2010 R1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 19, K. Hills). It brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2012. It will be observable in good condition again at 17.5 mag in 2013 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  13 54.54    4 49.2   5.257   5.992   134   17.4   3:16 (  0, 60)  
Mar.  9  13 48.03    5 27.5   5.192   6.010   142   17.4   2:42 (  0, 60)  

* 274P/2012 WX32 ( Tombaugh-Tenagra )

It was identified with an old comet discovered in 1931 by Tombaugh. It was unusually bright as 12.5 mag in 1931. Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 8, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It keeps 17.5 mag until March, and keeps observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   6 45.97   36 47.5   1.825   2.442   117   17.7  20:05 (180, 88)  
Mar.  9   6 50.60   36 44.8   1.901   2.444   111   17.8  19:42 (180, 88)  

* 244P/2010 Q1 ( Scotti )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Jan. 11, V. Gerke, S. Plaksa, A. Novichonok). It reached up to 17 mag in last winter between 2011 and 2012. It will be observable in good condition again at 17.5 mag in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2   9 10.10   17 58.9   3.298   4.206   153   17.8  22:28 (  0, 73)  
Mar.  9   9  7.07   18  8.2   3.360   4.215   145   17.9  21:58 (  0, 73)  

* 91P/Russell 3

It was observed around 20 mag in 2012 spring. But it has not been observed recently. It will be observable at 17.5 mag from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  17 35.98  -24 33.2   2.658   2.617    76   18.0   5:04 (332, 25)  
Mar.  9  17 45.80  -24 12.3   2.570   2.617    81   17.9   4:55 (334, 26)  

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