True color image of comet C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS), obtained on 2014 May 09 (0h51-1h05UT) with 60cm Deltagraph. Exposure time was 4x40sec in each filter.
Copyright © 2014 H. Mikuz, 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 online observational database. The first version was created in 2002 and was used by Slovenian comet observers. The database contained 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 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 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/2014 E2 (Jacques) (Jul 31, 2014).
Recent observations
Type Comet name Obs date Mag Dia DC Tail Observer
V 2014E2 2014 08 01.07 6.6 5.5 4/ MEY
V 2014E2 2014 07 31.81 6.5 5 4 CAM03
V 2013V5 2014 07 31.80 10.4 2 4 CAM03
V 2013A1 2014 07 31.79 10.3 4 6 CAM03
V 2012X1 2014 07 31.78 10.2 3 5 CAM03
V 2014E2 2014 07 31.08 6.7 & 5.5 4 MEY
C 2013V4 2014 07 30.82 17.0 0.3 HILaa
V 2014E2 2014 07 30.81 6.5 5 5 CAM03
V 2013V5 2014 07 30.80 10.6 2 4 CAM03
V 2013A1 2014 07 30.79 10.4 3.5 4 CAM03
V 2014E2 2014 07 30.79 7.0 4.3 5 WYAab
V 2012X1 2014 07 30.78 10.4 3 5 CAM03
V 2013V5 2014 07 30.78 10.9 1.8 5/ WYAab
C 2013A1 2014 07 30.76 10.1 2.4 HILaa
C 2013US10 2014 07 30.74 15.1 0.3 HILaa
Comet Observing Planner
Current comet magnitudes (July 16)
Comet Magnitude Trend Observable When visible Jacques (2014 E2) 7 steady 55 N to 35 S morning PanSTARRS (2012 K1) 8 bright 25 N to 15 S early evening LINEAR (2012 X1) 9.5 steady 35 N to 90 S best morning Catalina (2013 UQ4) 10 fade 55 N to 20 S all night Siding Spring (2013 A1) 11 bright 20 N to 90 S morning 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 13 ? varies 30 N to 90 S best evening 4P/Faye 13 ? steady Poor elongation PanSTARRS (2012 F3) 13.5 steady 40 N to 60 S evening LONEOS (2006 S3) 13.5 fade 20 N to 65 S evening LINEAR (2011 J2) 13.5 ? fade 55 N to 5 S all night LINEAR (2010 S1) 13.5 fade 55 N to 60 S all night Oukaimeden (2013 V5) 14 ? bright Poor elongation
List of comets maintained by Jonathan Shanklin at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds.
Latest news
Rosetta's Comet: Imaging the Coma
Less than a week before Rosetta's rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, images obtained by OSIRIS, the spacecraft's onboard scientific imaging system, show clear signs of a coma surrounding the comet's nucleus.
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Surface impressions of Rosetta's comet
Surface structures are becoming visible in new images of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko taken by the scientific imaging system OSIRIS onboard the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft. The resolution of these images is now 330 feet (100 meters) per pixel. One of the most striking features is currently found in the comet's neck region. This part of 67P seems to be brighter than the rest of the nucleus.
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NASA Mars Spacecraft Prepare for Close Comet Flyby
NASA is taking steps to protect its Mars orbiters, while preserving opportunities to gather valuable scientific data, as Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring heads toward a close flyby of Mars on Oct. 19. The comet's nucleus will miss Mars by about 82,000 miles (132,000 kilometers), shedding material hurtling at about 35 miles (56 kilometers) per second, relative to Mars and Mars-orbiting spacecraft.
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New Views of the Rosetta Comet
As the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe approaches Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) for an August rendezvous, the comet's core is coming into sharper focus. Today, ESA released a new set of images and a striking 3D model of 67P's nucleus.
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NEOWISE Spots a Comet That Looked Like an Asteroid
Comet C/2013 UQ4 (Catalina) has been observed by NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) spacecraft just one day after passing through its closest approach to the sun. The comet glows brightly in infrared wavelengths, with a dust tail streaking more than 62,000 miles (100,000 kilometers) across the sky. Its spectacular activity is driven by the vaporization of ice that has been preserved from the time of planet formation 4.5 billion years ago.
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