Seiichi Yoshida's Diary of Comet Observations (2012)
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Updated on December 1, 2012 |
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Go to Seiichi Yoshida's Diary of Comet Observations in 2013. |
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2012 Nov. 24 (9 comets) |
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I observed 9 comets visually on Nov. 24 in Kita-karuizawa, Gunma, Japan.
Clear sky with almost no clouds continued all through the night. There was bright Moon in the evening. But the sky condition was excellent in the morning.
I enjoyed the rendezvous of dwarf planet Ceres with open cluster M35.
I also tried to observe C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR ). I found three faint stars of 14.0-14.5 mag around the position. But I could not find the comet, maybe because it located very near by these stars.
C/2009 P1 ( Garradd )
13.0 mag Dia. 1.4' DC 3 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
I could see this comet again after almost 1-year blank. The comet became faint and diffuse, but it is visible visually still now.
C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )
12.9 mag Dia. 1.2' DC 1-2 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
It looks diffuse as before. It became faint, but it is visible visually still now.
C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR )
13.7 mag Dia. 0.7' DC 3-4 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
I could see only a very faint something near limit. Some observers reported it as a large bright comet of 10-11 mag. However, I could not find such a large diffuse comet.
C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon )
11.9 mag Dia. 1.7' DC 5 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
Unexpectedly, well condensed and easy to see.
C/2012 J1 ( Catalina )
fainter than 12.1 mag Dia. 0.7' (40.0-cm reflector 257x)
Not visible due to the strong moon light.
C/2012 K5 ( LINEAR )
9.9 mag Dia. 6' DC 6-7 (40.0-cm reflector 36x)
Amazing! I was surprised that the comet got much brighter than expected. Strongly condensed and easy to see.
168P/Hergenrother
10.8 mag Dia. 2.8' DC 4-5 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
Bright Moon located very near, but the comet was visible. It really became a bright comet.
260P/McNaught
12.7 mag Dia. 1.6' DC 4 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
It keeps bright still now. I could see it well even with bright Moon in the evening.
262P/McNaught-Russell
fainter than 11.7 mag Dia. 1.2' (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
Not visible due to the strong moon light.
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I observed 5 comets visually on Sept. 15 in Kita-karuizawa, Gunma, Japan.
The weather became fine finally after 3 o'clock, and I could have a clear sky until the morning, although a deep fog covered the sky for 15 minutes. I also enojoyed the rendezvous of Venus with Praesepe cluster.
C/2011 UF305 ( LINEAR )
11.5 mag Dia. 2.5' DC 1-2 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
Extremely diffuse with no central condensation. But large and bright.
C/2012 A2 ( LINEAR )
fainter than 12.5 mag Dia. 1.3' (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it is bright as 10.7 mag. So I tried to observe it, but I could not see the comet. Somewhat influenced by a morning dim glow and a 6-mag star in the field.
168P/Hergenrother
12.9 mag Dia. 1.4' DC 6-7 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
Surprising, as already reported! Bright, strongly condensed and easy to see.
185P/Petriew
11.5 mag Dia. 2.4' DC 3 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
Diffuse, but bright.
260P/McNaught
12.4 mag Dia. 2.4' DC 6-7 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
Bright, strongly condensed and easy to see.
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I observed 5 comets visually on Aug. 18 and 19 in Kita-karuizawa, Gunma, Japan.
The weather was fine in daytime, but became cloudy at dawn and dusk. I could have a fine clear sky only in a short time after midnight.
C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )
Aug. 19 13.8 mag Dia. 0.8' DC 6 (40.0-cm reflector 144x)
Compact. Bright, strongly condensed, and easy to see.
It has been locating almost in the same area since last autumn.
C/2011 F1 ( LINEAR )
Aug. 18 10.6 mag Dia. 2.4' DC 3 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
Cloudy, but the small area of the sky was fine around the Big Dipper and Bootes. Somewhat diffuse with weak condensation.
P/2012 NJ ( La Sagra )
Aug. 19 15.0 mag DC 9 (40.0-cm reflector 257x)
Faint star near the limit. Motion was confirmed during 30 minutes.
185P/Petriew
Aug. 19 10.1 mag Dia. 3.6' DC 4 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
11 years passed since my last observation at the discovery in 2001. Bright with somewhat weak condensation.
260P/McNaught
Aug. 19 13.0 mag Dia. 1.6' DC 6 (40.0-cm reflector 75x)
Surprisingly bright, and easy to see. It looks like a 12-mag comet.
7 years passed since my last observation at the discovery in 2005. I remember it was a tiny faint comet at that time. So I was surprised the comet looks very bright now.
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Go to Seiichi Yoshida's Diary of Comet Observations in 2011. |