C/2009 E1 Itagaki

The first new amateur comet discovery of 2009. C/2009 E1 Itagaki can be found very close to the Sun in the evening sky in bright twilight above the head of Cetus within Aries. Good telescopes or large aperture binoculars should catch the fuzzy glow as it moves N each evening. Currently the comet is mag +9.5, Dia: 4.5', D.D: 3 (J. J Gonzalez). Congratulations to Mr K. Itagaki!

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

C/2007 N3 Lulin

C/2007 N3 Lulin is now visible as a well placed evening object in the constellation of Gemini. Recent magnitude estimates place the comet between mag +7.5 and +8.0 with a large coma and moderate condensation. The comet is still a beautiful green object, which is also the colour of the anti-tail, which is the comet's most striking feature. Lulin is expected to fade rapidly so catch it now while you can.

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

144P/ Kushida

144P/Kushida is currently much brighter than expected. It can be found high in the evening sky at a good elongation from the Sun within Taurus 'The Celestial Bull' to the S and E of the Pleiades cluster. Kushida spends January and February within the same constellation and passes S of Zeta Tauri near month's end. Recent observations place the comet between magnitude +8.8 and +9.0 with a very diffuse coma (D.C: 2-3) exceeding 10' in diameter. Despite this bright magnitude the comet is a difficult object due to it's diffuse nature and low surface brightness. Observers will need a crisp dark sky and sufficient dark adaption to see it. Use averted vision and a low power wide field instrument. Several observers I know have suspected seeing the comet in 10x50mm binoculars. Kushida reaches perihelion in January but no one knows for sure what it will do. It may brighten further so keep watching.

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

210P/2008 X4 (Christensen)

First return of a bright new periodic comet discovered by SOHO spacecraft in 2003. Now it was re-discovered by STEREO-B spacecraft. It must have been brightening very rapidly in the evening sky from September to early December. But it was not observed on the ground. Now it is too close to the sun, and not observable. But it was 6-7 mag on Dec. 24 in the SOHO images, brightening as expected (Michael Mattiazzo). It will appear in the morning sky at 8 mag in early January. Then it keeps observable in good condition while fading gradually. The comet spends January close to the Sun in S. Ophiuchus then enters Serpens Caput in February. During March and April it moves into Virgo. During late February-early March it may be possible to observe Christensen and Lulin at the same time however the comet is expected to fade rapidly. Catch it while you can!

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

C/2008 A1 McNaught

C/2008 A1 McNaught is now fading after putting on a fairly decent show in late 2008. At the time of writing it is currently visible as both and evening and morning object although the morning sky is now favoured for observation. McNaught spends January in Cygnus, passing near Lyra is it continues on its northernly trek through the Milky Way. It actually spends January, February, and part of March within Cygnus and passes close to Deneb on February 20-22nd. During late March and April it can be found in Cepheus. It is already a circumpolar object. Current observations place the comet at magnitude +10.0. It should fade gradually and remain well placed for viewing. It may well sport at least one very faint tail with a coma 4-5' in diameter. Large aperture instruments will give the best views.

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

C/2006 W3 Christensen

C/2006 W3 Christensen is a well condensed small comet which is very easy to see. Already magnitude +10.0 and brightening it is well worth hunting down. The comet is will peak at magnitude +8.0 during the Summer months of 2009. It spends January passing through the rich star fields of Lacerta 'The Celestial Lizard'. After January it moves into N. Pegasus where it stays for several months. It should be visible in large binoculars but it is a small object only 3'-4' in diameter at best.

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

C/2006 OF2 Broughtan

C/2006 OF2 Broughtan is another well condensed small comet which is circumpolar for northern hemisphere observers. It spends January in Lynx then moves S into Auriga. By late March it can be found between Auriga and Gemini within the Milky Way far above M37 then enters the main body of 'The Twins' by May. During June it will pass very close to Pollux. The comet is currently magnitude +9.8 but is not expected to brighten any further. It should slowly fade and remain within visual range over the next few months.

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

C/2008 T2 (Cardinal)

Now it is 14.4 mag, and visible visually (Nov. 30, Alan Hale). It locates near by Polaris until December, and observable all night. It will brighten gradually after this, and reach to 9-10 mag in 2009 June. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until May when it becomes brightest. But it will never be observable again after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2009 April. But after that, it will be observable while fading gradually. In late January it moves S from Cepheus through E. Cassiopeia, enters S. Camelopardalis in late February and moves into Perseus and Auriga during March.

Ephemerides , Finder Chart

Summary

Make sure to check out the 'Sky Events' page as I regularly feature one or more of the current comets in more detail with images, sketches, and visual reports from myself and other readers.

A special thanks goes to Gregory from skyhound for the use of his excellent comet finder charts! and to Seiichi Yoshida for his regular updates.

Happy comet observing.

Martin McKenna

Observing Adventures With Great Comet Mc Naught

C/2006 P1 Mc Naught Gallery

Other Comet Observing / Hunting Links

Chasing Tails - The 1000 Hour Journey

An Observing Guide To Comets

Visual Comet Hunting

Comet Hunting - Avoiding the Surveys

List Of Comets Observed

My Comet Hunting Statistics

Comet Sketches

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