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 21, 2014).
Recent observations
Type Comet name Obs date Mag Dia DC Tail Observer
V 2014E2 2014 07 20.36 6.4 5 6 0.5 260 GOI
V 2014E2 2014 07 20.36 6.3 6 4/ GOI
V 2012X1 2014 07 20.06 9.5 4 4 GOI
V 2014E2 2014 07 20.05 6.6 4.5 5 0.6 290 CER01
V 2014E2 2014 07 20.02 6.3 5 6 PAR03
V 2011J2 2014 07 19.94 13.4 0.8 5 CER01
V 2013UQ4 2014 07 19.94 10.3 3.73 2 PAR03
V 2014E2 2014 07 19.94 6.3 5 6 PAR03
V 2013UQ4 2014 07 19.93 10.9 4.8 2 CER01
V 2010S1 2014 07 19.92 13.3 1.1 3 CER01
V 2013UQ4 2014 07 19.92 10.8 2.2 2 HAR11
V 2013UQ4 2014 07 19.92 10.3 3 4 GOI
V 2013UQ4 2014 07 19.90 10.7 4 1/ CER01
V 2013UQ4 2014 07 19.38 10.6 5 3 LIN03
V 2014E2 2014 07 19.06 6.7: 3.8 6 CER01
Comet Observing Planner
Current comet magnitudes (July 16)
Comet Magnitude Trend Observable When visible Jacques (2014 E2) 6 fade 50 N to 35 S early 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 Spacecraft Approaching Twofold Comet
As the European Space Agency's spacecraft Rosetta is slowly approaching its destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the comet is again proving to be full of surprises. New images obtained by OSIRIS, the onboard scientific imaging system, confirm the body's peculiar shape hinted at in earlier pictures. Comet 67P is obviously different from other comets visited so far.
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New Comet: C/2014 N3 (NEOWISE)
Cbet nr. 3921, issued on 2014, July 13, announces the discovery of a comet (~ magnitude 17) by the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (or NEOWISE; formerly the WISE satellite) team on images taken with the NEOWISE satellite on 2014, July 04.5. The new comet has been designated C/2014 N3 (NEOWISE).
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Comet Pan-STARRS Marches Across the Sky
NASA's NEOWISE mission captured a series of pictures of comet C/2012 K1 -- also known as comet Pan-STARRS -- as it swept across our skies in May 2014. The comet is named after the astronomical survey project called the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System in Hawaii, which discovered the icy visitor in May 2012.
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Rosetta's comet target 'releases' plentiful water
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is releasing the Earthly equivalent of two glasses of water into space every second. The observations were made by the Microwave Instrument for Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO), aboard the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft on June 6, 2014. The detection of water vapor has implications not only for cometary science, but also for mission planning, as the Rosetta team prepares the spacecraft to become the first ever to orbit a comet (planned for August), and the first to deploy a lander to its surface (planned for November 11).
more...
Rosetta Closing in on Comet
Less than half the distance between Earth and moon separates Rosetta from its destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The European Space Agency's (ESA) spacecraft will become the first to orbit a comet and land a probe on its nucleus. It is beginning observations and sending science data back to Earth.
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