Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) on Mar 28, 2013
Image of comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS), obtained at 20h47UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope and CCD. Exposure time was 60s.
Copyright © 2013 H. Mikuž, OCV.

Welcome to COBS!

Between 1989-1997 an intensive comet photometry program at Crni Vrh Observatory resulted in contribution of hundreds of CCD observations to the ICQ database and IAU Circulars. This also created a need for an observation database. The first version was created in 2002 and was used by Slovenian comet observers, The database currently contains 35 visually observed comets during the period 2002-2008. The best observed comets, with complete light-curves collected have been C/2002 C1 (Ikeya-Zhang), C/2002 V1 (NEAT), C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) and C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) as well as outburst of comet 17P/Holmes in late 2007.

The new online Comet Observation Database (COBS) is unique service, offering comet observers to submit, display and analyse comet data in a single location. It is maintained by the Crni Vrh Observatory and is opened to comet observers worldwide. Registered observers may now submit the observations using a simple web-based form which will store their observations into an SQL database and display them in ICQ format. Furthermore the users will be able to create light-curve graphs of a selected comets and see all the observations. We encourage comet observers worldwide to submit their observations and contribute to the COBS database.

Observers are reminded that the ultimate address which is collecting and storing comet data is International Comet Quarterly.

Light-curve of Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) (Jun 12, 2013).

Recent observations

Type  Comet name  Obs date       Mag     Dia   DC  Tail     Observer
  C      2012F6   2013 06 16.95   8.6     5.3  5            PAR03
  C      2013G1   2013 06 16.66  17.9     0.2               HILaa
  C    29         2013 06 16.61  12.5     0.5               HILaa
  C      2012C1   2013 06 15.80  16.8     0.2               HILaa
  C    29         2013 06 15.43  12.5     0.4               HILaa
  V    29         2013 06 15.08  12.2     0.5  7/           GOI  
  C    29         2013 06 14.63  12.6     0.4               HILaa
  C    29         2013 06 10.64  13.9     0.5               HILaa
  C      2012F6   2013 06 10.00   8.2     5.1  5            PAR03
  C      2011L4   2013 06 09.99   9.7     5.1  5            PAR03
  C      2013E2   2013 06 09.85  13.3     0.3               HILaa
  C   246         2013 06 09.80  14.5     0.4               HILaa
  C   117         2013 06 09.62  14.5     0.4               HILaa
  C      2012K1   2013 06 09.60  14.7     0.4               HILaa
  C      2013G7   2013 06 08.63  17.6     0.2               HILaa

Comet Observing Planner

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Current comet magnitudes (June 1) 

Comet                     Magnitude   Trend    Observable     When visible
Lemmon (2012 F6)               7.5    fade     50 N to 40 S   best morning
PanSTARRS (2011 L4)            9      fade     50 N to 10 N   all night
LINEAR (2012 L2)              10      steady   30 S to 70 S   early evening
LINEAR (2011 F1)              11 ?    steady    5 S to 90 S   morning
LONEOS (2006 S3)              11      fade     45 N to 70 S   best evening
63P/Wild                      11      steady   45 N to 55 S   evening
246P/NEAT                     12      steady ? 40 N to 90 S   best morning
Iwamoto (2013 E2)             12.5    fade     35 N to 45 S   dawn
ISON (2012 S1)                13      bright   Poor elongation
McNaught (2011 R1)            13      fade     50 N to 40 S   best evening
LINEAR (2012 A2)              13      fade     Poor elongation
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann      13 ?    varies   40 N to 80 S   best evening
Garradd (2009 P1)             13.5 ?  fade     15 N to 65 S   evening
LINEAR (2010 S1)              13.5    steady   50 N to 25 S   best morning
PanSTARRS (2012 K1)           13.5    bright   50 N to 40 S   all night
2P/Encke                      15 ?    bright   15 N to 30 S   dawn

List of comets maintained by Jonathan Shanklin at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds.

Latest news

Jun. 12, 2013

New Comet: C/2013 L2 (CATALINA)

Cbet nr. 3548, issued on 2013, June 09, announces the discovery of an apparently asteroidal object (discovery magnitude ~19.6) by R. A. Kowalski on CCD images obtained with the Catalina Sky Survey 0.68-m Schmidt telescopeon June 02. After posting on the Minor Planet Centers NEOCP webpage, this apparently asteroidal object as been found to show cometary features by by astrometric observers elsewhere. The new comet has been designated C/2013 L2 (CATALINA).

more...
May. 23, 2013

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) - Update

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) was discovered on September 21, 2012 by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok on CCD images obtained with a 0.4-m f/3 Santel reflector of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON) near Kislovodsk, Russia.

more...
Apr. 26, 2013

Hubble Captures Comet ISON

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) was photographed on April 10, when the comet was slightly closer than Jupiters orbit at a distance of 386 million miles from the Sun (394 million miles from Earth).

more...
Apr. 22, 2013

New Comet: C/2013 G9 (TENAGRA)

Cbet nr. 3478, issued on 2013, April 19, announces the discovery of a apparently asteroidal object (discovery magnitude ~19.6) by M. Schwartz and P. R. Holvorcem on CCD images obtained with the Tenagra II 0.41-m f/3.75 astrograph located near Nogales, AZ, U.S.A.

more...
Apr. 18, 2013

New Comet: C/2013 G7 (McNAUGHT)

Cbet nr. 3476, issued on 2013, April 16, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude ~18) by R. H. McNaught on CCD images obtained with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on april 13.6. The new comet has been designated C/2013 G7 (McNAUGHT).

more...