Comet Chasing in May

News

• 2012 C2 (Bruenjes) is a new amateur discovery of February 12, by Fred Bruenjes of Warrensburg, Missouri, USA. Note: this comet has apparently disintegrated.

Comet Visibility in the Eyepiece

This page uses code developed for SkyTools 3 to predict the visibility of a comet in the eyepiece.  Predicting how much aperture is required to see a comet is a very complex task.  Have a look for yourself: a comparison of the predictions below (such as "visible in small telescopes") to the magnitude of each comet shows just how poor an indicator the magnitude alone really is.  When you read below that a particular aperture is required to see a comet you can have a reasonable degree of confidence that the comet can in fact be seen in the eyepiece.

Make your own custom charts and predictions for your location and equipment: software for comet observing

Comet Synopses for May

C/2009 P1 (Garradd): An evening comet visible in small telescopes
This comet begins the month in Lynx at magnitude 8.8. Look for a 4.5' coma. It should fade by about 1.2 magnitudes, moving into Cancer by month's end.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Fairly high in the western sky at ~01:20	High during evening twilight at ~22:00	Fairly high in the western sky during evening twilight at ~23:10	Fairly high in the western sky during evening twilight at ~23:20	Low in the western sky during evening twilight at ~23:10	1-
40o N	High during evening twilight at ~20:30	High during evening twilight at ~20:30	High at ~21:00	Fairly high during evening twilight at ~21:10	Fairly high during evening twilight at ~21:10	1-
Equator	High in moonlight at ~19:10	High during evening twilight at ~19:10	High at ~19:20	High at ~19:20	High during evening twilight at ~19:10	1-
30o S	Fairly high in the northern sky during evening twilight at ~18:50	Fairly high in the northern sky during evening twilight at ~18:40	Fairly high in the northern sky at ~18:40	Fairly high in the northern sky at ~18:40	Fairly high in the northern sky during evening twilight at ~18:30	1-

C/2011 UF305 (LINEAR): A northern hemisphere morning comet visible in a 6-inch (15 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Cepheus at magnitude 11.8. Look for a 1' coma. It should brighten slowly.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	High at ~01:20	High during morning twilight at ~01:30	High during morning twilight at ~00:00	High during evening twilight at ~00:00	High during evening twilight at ~00:00	1-
40o N	High at ~03:10	High during morning twilight at ~03:10	Fairly high at ~00:50	High at ~02:30	Fairly high at ~02:20	1-
Equator	Low in the northern sky at ~04:40	Low in the northern sky during morning twilight at ~05:00	Very low in the northern sky during morning twilight at ~04:50	Not visible	Not visible	1-20
30o S	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible

C/2011 F1 (LINEAR): An evening comet visible in a 10-inch (25 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Draco at magnitude 13.2. Look for a 1' coma. It should brighten slowly, moving into Bootes by month's end.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	High at ~01:20	High in moonlight at ~23:50	High during evening twilight at ~23:50	High during evening twilight at ~23:50	High during evening twilight at ~23:50	1-
40o N	High at ~00:40	High in moonlight at ~00:00	High at ~23:20	High at ~22:50	High at ~23:20	1-
Equator	Fairly high at ~00:40	Fairly high in moonlight at ~00:00	Fairly high at ~23:20	Fairly high at ~22:40	Fairly high at ~22:40	1-
30o S	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Very low in the northern sky at ~22:10	14-

C/2006 S3 (LONEOS): A morning comet visible in a 14-inch (36 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Serpens Cauda at magnitude 13.1. Look for a 1' coma. It should brighten slowly, moving into Ophiuchus by month's end.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Low in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~01:50	Fairly high in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~02:00	Fairly high in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~00:50	Fairly high in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~00:20	Fairly high in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~00:00	1-
40o N	Fairly high at ~03:00	Fairly high in moonlight at ~02:50	Fairly high at ~00:40	Fairly high at ~01:20	Fairly high at ~00:40	1-
Equator	High at ~03:10	High in moonlight at ~02:40	High at ~00:10	High at ~01:20	High at ~00:40	1-
30o S	High at ~03:10	High in moonlight at ~02:30	High at ~23:50	High at ~01:10	High at ~00:40	1-

246P/NEAT: An evening comet visible in a 14-inch (36 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Coma Berenices at magnitude 13.2. Look for a 1' coma. It should fade slowly, moving into Virgo by month's end.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Fairly high at ~01:20	High during evening twilight at ~22:20	High during evening twilight at ~23:20	Fairly high during evening twilight at ~23:40	Fairly high during evening twilight at ~23:50	1-
40o N	High at ~00:40	High in moonlight at ~21:50	High at ~21:30	High at ~21:20	High at ~23:20	1-
Equator	High at ~23:50	High in moonlight at ~22:00	High at ~21:30	High at ~21:00	High at ~22:30	1-
30o S	High at ~23:10	High in moonlight at ~22:00	High at ~21:30	High at ~21:00	High at ~22:00	1-

C/2010 S1 (LINEAR): A morning comet visible in a 16-inch (41 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Andromeda at magnitude 13.8. Look for a 40" coma. It should brighten slowly, moving into Cassiopeia by month's end.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Fairly high during morning twilight at ~01:40	Fairly high during morning twilight at ~01:50	Fairly high during morning twilight at ~00:30	Fairly high during morning twilight at ~00:10	Fairly high during morning twilight at ~00:10	1-
40o N	Fairly high at ~03:20	Fairly high during morning twilight at ~03:30	Fairly high in the northern sky at ~00:50	High at ~02:40	High at ~02:40	1-
Equator	Low in the northern sky during morning twilight at ~04:50	Fairly high in the northern sky during morning twilight at ~05:00	Fairly high in the northern sky during morning twilight at ~04:50	Fairly high in the northern sky at ~04:40	Fairly high in the northern sky at ~04:40	1-
30o S	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	25-25, 27-

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann: An evening comet visible in an 18-inch (46 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Virgo at magnitude 12.1. Look for a 2.5' coma. It should fade slowly.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Fairly high in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~22:00	Fairly high in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~21:50	Low in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~22:50	Low in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~23:00	Low in the western sky during evening twilight at ~23:00	1-
40o N	Fairly high in the western sky at ~00:40	Fairly high in moonlight at ~21:00	Fairly high at ~21:10	Fairly high at ~21:10	Fairly high during evening twilight at ~21:10	1-
Equator	High at ~23:50	High in moonlight at ~21:00	High at ~20:40	High at ~20:10	High at ~22:30	1-
30o S	High at ~23:10	High in moonlight at ~21:10	High at ~20:40	High at ~20:10	High at ~22:00	1-

C/2009 F4 (McNaught): A southern hemisphere evening comet visible in an 18-inch (46 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Reticulum at magnitude 12.8. Look for a 1' coma. It should remain constant, moving into Dorado by month's end. The best visibility is early in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible
40o N	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible
Equator	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible	Not visible
30o S	Fairly high in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~18:40	Fairly high in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~18:30	Fairly high in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~18:40	Fairly high in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~18:30	Fairly high in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~05:20	1-

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS): A morning comet visible in an 18-inch (46 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Scorpius at magnitude 13.6. Look for a 3.5' coma. It should brighten by about 0.6 magnitudes by month's end. The best visibility is late in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere.  FINDER CHART

Latitude	Visibility April 28	Visibility May 5	Visibility May 12	Visibility May 19	Visibility May 26	Nights Visible
55o N	Very low in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~01:50	Not visible	Very low in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~00:50	Very low in the southern sky during morning twilight at ~00:20	Very low in the southern sky during evening twilight at ~00:00	1-1, 9-
40o N	Fairly high in the southern sky at ~02:10	Fairly high in the southern sky in moonlight at ~01:50	Fairly high in the southern sky at ~00:40	Fairly high in the southern sky at ~00:30	Fairly high in the southern sky at ~23:50	1-
Equator	High at ~02:10	High in moonlight at ~01:50	High at ~00:10	High at ~00:30	High at ~23:50	1-
30o S	High at ~02:10	High in moonlight at ~01:50	High at ~23:50	High at ~00:30	High at ~23:50	1-

Summary Data for This Month's Telescopic Comets

*In solar conjunction and not visible

For the latest news and comet observations see the ICQ/CBAT/MPC: Recent Comet Magnitude Estimates page.  The Astronomical Headlines page of the IAU is also a good source of information, particularly for recent discoveries.

For general information about comets see Gary W. Kronk's Cometography 

Join the Comet Chasing discussion group 

Further reading: see Comet Chasing, Sky & Telescope, April 2005, pg. 83.

Make your own custom charts for your location and telescope/binoculars: software for comet observing
 

Links Skyhound's Guide to Comets Skyhound's Guide to Finding Comets BAA Comet Section Astronomical Headlines (IAU) Cometography

Visit Software or the Skyhound observing page.