Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2015 Sept. 12: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on September 13, 2015
Last week South Next week

Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.
Azimuth indicates 0 for south, 90 for west, 180 for north, 270 for east.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/2013 US10 ( Catalina )

Now it is bright as 6.3 mag (Sept. 2, Marco Goiato). It is expected to brighten up to 4-5 mag from autumn to winter. It keeps observable in excellent condition until autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps unobservable until late November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  14 58.22  -50 50.8   1.347   1.418    72    6.2  19:38 ( 34,-11)  
Sept.19  14 47.71  -45 44.0   1.446   1.326    62    6.1  19:27 ( 41,-11)  

* 22P/Kopff

Now it is 11.7 mag (Aug. 7, Marco Goiato). It will brighten up to 11 mag autumn. In this apparition, it is observable until the highlight while the comet is brightening.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  14 56.72  -13 57.0   1.926   1.618    57   11.1  19:38 ( 61, 14)  
Sept.19  15 15.08  -15 29.9   1.949   1.601    55   11.0  19:27 ( 60, 14)  

* C/2014 Q2 ( Lovejoy )

It brightened up to 3.7 mag and became a naked eye comet in mid January (Jan. 13, Marek Biely). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 10.6 mag still now (Sept. 11, Maik Meyer). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere, and it will be unobservable in late September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  15 55.14   39 55.0   3.441   3.259    71   11.0  19:38 (112, 53)  
Sept.19  16  2.69   37 29.9   3.556   3.332    69   11.2  19:27 (108, 51)  

* C/2014 Q1 ( PanSTARRS )

It approached to the sun down to 0.3 a.u. on July 6, and brighted up to 3.9 mag (July 6, Thomas Lehmann). Now it is 10.7 mag (Sept. 2, Marco Goiato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until the comet fades out. It will not be observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  13 12.25  -40 13.7   1.978   1.569    51   11.5  19:38 ( 54,-20)  
Sept.19  13 35.04  -42 51.3   2.126   1.689    51   11.9  19:27 ( 51,-20)  

* C/2014 S2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is so bright as 10.6 mag visually (Sept. 9, Neil Norman). It is observable at 10-12 mag from autum to next spring in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   3 10.70   73 32.9   2.042   2.343    94   11.9   3:50 (180, 52)  
Sept.19   3 14.66   78  9.3   1.986   2.308    95   11.8   3:27 (180, 47)  

* C/2015 F4 ( Jacques )

It brightened rapidly up to 10.4 mag from July to August (July 18, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading, but it is bright as 11.5 mag still now (Sept. 8, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere, but it will be getting lower gradually in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  18 47.00   43 58.2   1.168   1.698   102   12.0  19:38 (163, 81)  
Sept.19  18 48.75   44 36.8   1.234   1.724   100   12.2  19:27 (152, 79)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Now it is 11.2 mag (Sept. 8, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps bright as 12 mag from August to October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is getting higher gradually, and it keeps observable in good condition after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps low until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   8 24.61   22 37.6   1.780   1.296    45   12.1   4:14 (260, 27)  
Sept.19   8 48.73   21 37.8   1.787   1.323    46   12.1   4:20 (262, 28)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

It brightened rapidly in mid August. Now it is very bright as 11.2 mag (Aug. 28, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Secondary component is also visible as 14.0 mag (Aug. 28, Michael Jager). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition in the morning sky. It keeps locating extremely low from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   8 32.13   18 22.6   1.185   0.819    42   12.1   4:14 (263, 23)  
Sept.19   8 56.76   15  1.9   1.262   0.869    43   12.6   4:20 (268, 23)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Now it is 14.3 mag (Sept. 6, Sandor Szabo). Finally it began to be visible visually. It will brighten very rapidly after this. It will brighten up to 11 mag from autumn to winter. But it locates low at that time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  15 34.83  -13 58.9   1.670   1.563    66   12.5  19:38 ( 54, 21)  
Sept.19  15 51.63  -15 48.9   1.688   1.535    63   12.2  19:27 ( 53, 19)  

* C/2013 X1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.7 mag (Aug. 26, Hiroshi Abe). It will pass close to the earth from spring to summer in 2016, and it is expected to be observable at 6-7 mag in good condition. In the Northern Hemispehre, it keeps observable in excellent condition until winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps very low until winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   5 44.17   38 30.2   3.205   3.227    82   13.1   4:14 (253, 64)  
Sept.19   5 41.52   39 18.7   3.002   3.153    89   12.9   4:20 (250, 71)  

* C/2015 P3 ( SWAN )

New bright comet. Now it is 11.6 mag (Aug. 18, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the evening sky until the comet becomes fainter than 18 mag in winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  14 30.69  -38 55.6   1.191   1.143    61   13.0  19:38 ( 46, -7)  
Sept.19  14 56.11  -44 55.1   1.311   1.241    63   13.5  19:27 ( 40,-10)  

* 19P/Borrelly

It brightened up to 12.8 mag until March (Mar. 21, Michael Mattiazzo). It must have brightened up to 10.5 mag in May and June, but it was not observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is appearing in the morning sky. It keeps observable after this while the comet will be fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  10 26.98   28 58.7   2.629   1.796    27   13.3   4:14 (239,  7)  
Sept.19  10 46.23   28  6.3   2.649   1.844    29   13.5   4:20 (242,  9)  

* 88P/Howell

It is fading, but bright as 11.7 mag still now (Sept. 8, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable in good condition until winter when the comet becomes fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   2 56.00   12 44.7   1.375   2.104   123   13.5   3:35 (  0, 68)  
Sept.19   2 53.42   12 38.4   1.355   2.150   130   13.8   3:05 (  0, 68)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is so faint as 17.2 mag (Sept. 4, Jean-Francois Soulier).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  17 19.47  -29 31.1   5.882   6.009    92   13.7  19:38 ( 24, 21)  
Sept.19  17 21.79  -29 22.6   5.990   6.007    86   13.7  19:27 ( 27, 20)  

* C/2012 F3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Sept. 6, Sandor Szabo). In 2015, it keeps 13-14 mag and will be observable in good condition for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  19 13.13  -13  2.8   3.159   3.751   118   13.7  19:49 (  0, 42)  
Sept.19  19 15.99  -13 26.0   3.270   3.776   112   13.8  19:27 (  1, 42)  

* C/2015 G2 ( MASTER )

It brightened up to 6.0 mag in mid May (May 14, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has faded down to 9.0 mag in late June (June 21, Marco Goiato). It is appearing in the morning sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   8 41.49   18 47.0   2.699   2.047    40   13.8   4:14 (262, 21)  
Sept.19   8 42.10   19 38.6   2.681   2.140    47   13.9   4:20 (265, 29)  

* C/2014 W2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.4 mag and visible visually (Sept. 6, Sandor Szabo). It keeps 13 mag for a long time from 2015 autumn to 2016 summer. In the Northern Hemispehre, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time. It keeps unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   6 38.80   56 22.8   3.363   3.256    75   14.5   4:14 (221, 53)  
Sept.19   6 49.89   58 44.8   3.236   3.217    79   14.3   4:20 (215, 55)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 14.1 mag and visible visually (Aug. 21, Uwe Pilz). Distant object, but it keeps observable at 14-15 mag for a long time from 2015 to 2016.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  21 11.75   -4 18.1   4.343   5.227   148   14.4  21:47 (  0, 51)  
Sept.19  21 10.53   -4 49.4   4.384   5.209   141   14.4  21:18 (  0, 50)  

* C/2014 A4 ( SONEAR )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Aug. 26, D. Buczynski). It will brighten up to 14 mag from 2015 to 2016. It keeps observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   2 41.16   13 17.5   3.501   4.181   126   14.4   3:20 (  0, 68)  
Sept.19   2 31.71   13 44.2   3.405   4.182   135   14.4   2:43 (  0, 69)  

* 318P/2014 M6 ( McNaught-Hartley )

First return of a periodic comet discovered in 1994. Now it is 15.4 mag (Aug. 27, Mitsunori Tsumura). It will brighten up to 15 mag from summer to autumn, and will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  22 43.31  -35 10.4   1.562   2.475   148   14.9  23:18 (  0, 20)  
Sept.19  22 39.06  -34 25.4   1.582   2.467   144   14.9  22:47 (  0, 21)  

* C/2014 N3 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 14.9 mag (Aug. 26, D. Buczynski). It keeps 15 mag for a long time from 2014 to 2015. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   2 11.00   40 46.4   3.598   4.193   120   15.0   2:50 (180, 84)  
Sept.19   2  4.98   42  7.8   3.550   4.216   125   15.0   2:16 (180, 83)  

* 322P/SOHO

It passed the perihelion on Sept. 4, and it was detected on the SOHO images. It is not observable from the ground because it locates too close to the Sun.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  11 35.34    2 13.3   1.377   0.383     4   15.2  19:38 (104,-16)  
Sept.19  12  8.69   -2 23.6   1.581   0.600     7   17.6  19:27 ( 98,-15)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It is not observable now. It will be observable after mid October in the Northern Hemisphere, or after December in the Southern Hemisphere. It is expected to brighten up to 13 mag from winter to spring. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  10 40.40   10 26.1   3.325   2.346    11   15.4   4:14 (252, -7)  
Sept.19  10 53.77    9  1.6   3.289   2.329    14   15.3   4:20 (256, -4)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach

Now it is 16.3 mag (Aug. 24, S. Shurpakov). It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   2 30.79    9  9.8   1.326   2.120   130   15.4   3:09 (  0, 64)  
Sept.19   2 33.21    8 43.6   1.272   2.116   136   15.3   2:44 (  0, 64)  

* C/2013 V4 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Aug. 5, Ken-ichi Kadota). It keeps 15-16 mag for a long time until 2016. It keeps observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   5 30.33   57 35.9   5.185   5.189    84   15.7   4:14 (211, 60)  
Sept.19   5 33.72   59  4.6   5.093   5.187    89   15.7   4:20 (204, 62)  

* C/2012 K1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 6.9 mag in 2014 autumn (Oct. 17, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Aug. 22, K. Hills). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until the comet fades out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until winter, but it locates somewhat low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  23 36.34  -28 15.6   4.001   4.936   155   15.7   0:16 (  0, 27)  
Sept.19  23 27.00  -28 41.8   4.089   5.004   152   15.9  23:34 (  0, 26)  

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte

Now it is 14.6 mag and visible visually (July 12, Jakub Cerny). It keeps observable in good condition for a while. But it will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   0 24.92    3 49.6   1.024   2.004   161   15.8   1:04 (  0, 59)  
Sept.19   0 20.20    3  2.2   1.038   2.035   169   16.0   0:32 (  0, 58)  

* 230P/LINEAR

Now it is 17.1mag (Aug. 27, A. Maury, J.-G. Bosch, J.-F. Soulier, T. Noel). It is expected to brighten rapidly, and to be observable at 14.5 mag in good condition in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   3 49.35   -5 59.4   0.966   1.642   112   16.1   4:14 (355, 49)  
Sept.19   4  3.38   -6 36.4   0.905   1.613   115   15.9   4:14 (  0, 48)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

It brightened up to 13 mag in 2014. Now it is 16.3 mag (Aug. 27, A. Maury, J.-G. Bosch, J.-F. Soulier, T. Noel). It will be fading slowly after this. It is observable at 16 mag in excellent condition from summer to winter in 2015.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   1 35.91    1 30.2   3.005   3.875   145   16.0   2:15 (  0, 57)  
Sept.19   1 32.58    1 10.5   2.971   3.890   152   16.0   1:44 (  0, 56)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2

It brightened up to 16.4 mag in 2014 (Nov. 14, J. F. Hernandez). Now it is 17.2 mag (Aug. 27, D. Buczynski). It will be observable at 16 mag again from summer to autumn in 2015. However, it is fainter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   4 17.29   27 42.5   2.072   2.476   101   16.1   4:14 (306, 79)  
Sept.19   4 21.65   28  0.6   2.014   2.501   107   16.1   4:20 (338, 83)  

* C/2010 S1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.1 mag (July 13, Yuji Ohshima). It is observable at 15-16 mag in good condition until autumn. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  17 35.92  -26  2.1   8.103   8.267    95   16.3  19:38 ( 21, 26)  
Sept.19  17 35.00  -26 16.2   8.258   8.299    88   16.4  19:27 ( 25, 24)  

* C/2014 W5 ( Lemmon-PanSTARRS )

No observations have been reported after November in 2014. Current brightness is uncertain. It must keep 16 mag for a long time from 2015 autumn to 2016 summer. It keeps observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   2 55.67  -19 11.7   2.347   3.039   125   16.7   3:34 (  0, 36)  
Sept.19   2 43.05  -22 51.7   2.239   3.002   131   16.5   2:54 (  0, 32)  

* 174P/(60558) 2000 EC98 ( Echeclus )

Now it is 17.5 mag (July 25, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It has brightened in outburst up to 14 mag twice, in 2006 January and 2011 May. It is around the perihelion now. It keeps observable at 17 mag for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  23 15.93   -4 14.1   4.850   5.857   179   16.8  23:51 (  0, 51)  
Sept.19  23 13.42   -4 33.5   4.865   5.861   171   17.0  23:21 (  0, 50)  

* C/2011 J2 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Aug. 20, Catalina Sky Survey). It is fading, but it is observable at 17 mag in good condition until late autumn. The fragments B and C are already fainter than 20 mag (June 12, Takaaki Oribe).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  23  5.15    3 56.9   5.403   6.399   170   16.9  23:40 (  0, 59)  
Sept.19  23  0.20    2 55.4   5.458   6.444   168   17.0  23:07 (  0, 58)  

* 151P/Helin

Now it is 18.3 mag (Aug. 18, Jean-Francois Soulier). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  23 39.02   -6 19.2   1.479   2.483   174   17.1   0:18 (  0, 49)  
Sept.19  23 35.97   -6 56.2   1.477   2.479   174   17.0  23:43 (  0, 48)  

* 81P/Wild 2

No observations have been reported after November in 2014. It will brighten up to 11 mag from spring to summer in 2016. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   5 37.93   20 13.6   3.011   3.071    83   17.2   4:14 (291, 59)  
Sept.19   5 44.26   20 11.7   2.875   3.033    89   17.0   4:20 (299, 64)  

* 162P/Siding Spring

Now it is 16.3 mag (Aug. 22, E. Bryssinck). In the Northern Hemisphere, it is getting higher gradually in the morning sky. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   7 53.05   37 57.9   1.697   1.433    57   17.1   4:14 (247, 39)  
Sept.19   8 17.68   38 40.3   1.699   1.474    59   17.2   4:20 (246, 41)  

* P/2003 WC7 ( LINEAR-Catalina )

It has not been recovered yet. But it must be already bright as 17.5 mag. It will approach to the earth from autumn to winter, and it is expected to brighten up to 15 mag and observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   4 10.85   -7 11.2   1.329   1.891   107   17.4   4:14 (347, 47)  
Sept.19   4 21.31   -7  7.2   1.247   1.857   110   17.2   4:20 (356, 48)  

* C/2015 K1 ( MASTER )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Aug. 20, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable in good condition until the comet fades out. In 2014, it must have been observable at 14 mag in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   0 32.40    2 23.2   3.265   4.227   160   17.3   1:11 (  0, 57)  
Sept.19   0 27.45    2 26.9   3.290   4.278   168   17.4   0:39 (  0, 58)  

* 327P/2015 P2 ( Van Ness )

Now it is 18.8 mag (Aug. 10, A. Sodor, K. Sarneczky). It was predicted to be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter, but it is a bit fainter actually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  18 24.02   14 38.7   1.274   1.812   104   17.6  19:38 ( 25, 68)  
Sept.19  18 31.72   11 17.4   1.282   1.778   101   17.5  19:27 ( 26, 64)  

* 51P/Harrington

It brightened up to 15.9 mag in June as predicted (June 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was expected to be observable at 13 mag in good condition from summer to autumn. However, Jean-Gabriel Bosch detected the comet became disintegrating in July. Now it is so faint as 19.3 mag (Aug. 26, W. Hasubick). The fragment D and B are also observed as 19.4 mag (July 28, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring) and 20.9 mag (Aug. 21, Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala) respectively.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   2 22.59    3 12.3   0.871   1.725   133   17.6   3:01 (  0, 58)  
Sept.19   2 25.04    3 15.9   0.847   1.738   139   17.5   2:36 (  0, 58)  

* 319P/2015 G1 ( Catalina-McNaught )

First return of a periodic comet discovered in 2008. It approached to the earth and brightened up to 16 mag from spring to summer (June 2, WISE). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.9 mag (Aug. 13, W. Hasubick).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   3 54.78   -9 19.4   0.799   1.496   111   17.6   4:14 (353, 46)  
Sept.19   3 56.32  -10 10.2   0.807   1.546   116   17.7   4:07 (  0, 45)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

It will brighten up to 14 mag in 2016 summer. But it is not observable at the highlight. It keeps observable until March while the comet will be brightening gradually up to 15-16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   0 52.67   -1 44.1   1.882   2.833   156   17.7   1:32 (  0, 53)  
Sept.19   0 48.82   -2 36.2   1.824   2.802   163   17.6   1:00 (  0, 53)  

* 50P/Arend

Now it is 17.1 mag (Aug. 23, E. Bryssinck). It was expected to brighten rapidly, and to be observable at 16 mag in good condition from summer to winter. But actually, it is much fainter than predicted.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  23  4.21  -12 37.4   1.319   2.319   171   17.8  23:39 (  0, 43)  
Sept.19  22 56.37  -12  2.2   1.303   2.287   164   17.7  23:03 (  0, 43)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 18.9 mag (Aug. 25, S. Shurpakov). Now it is near the aphelion. It is observable at 17 mag in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   3 54.79   16 35.0   3.931   4.358   108   17.8   4:14 (346, 71)  
Sept.19   3 55.36   16 36.1   3.825   4.350   115   17.7   4:06 (  0, 72)  

* C/2013 G3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Aug. 19, A. Diepvens). It was observed at 17 mag in 2014 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 17.5 mag in excellent condition also in 2015. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  21 52.02   51 21.6   4.041   4.643   121   17.7  22:27 (180, 74)  
Sept.19  21 49.54   50  7.5   4.057   4.676   122   17.7  21:57 (180, 75)  

* 299P/2014 D2 ( Catalina-PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Aug. 8, J. Oey, P. Camilleri, H. Williams). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  17  0.79  -22 16.9   3.186   3.301    87   17.7  19:38 ( 31, 26)  
Sept.19  17  7.29  -22 12.5   3.293   3.312    82   17.8  19:27 ( 33, 25)  

* P/2015 Q2 ( Pimentel )

New comet. It is brightest now. It will be fading rapidly after October. It is observable in excellent condition in the SOuthern Hemisphere. But it will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   1 30.96  -56 51.8   1.080   1.820   121   17.8   2:12 (  0, -1)  
Sept.19   0 14.69  -64 22.2   1.130   1.823   117   17.9   0:31 (  0, -9)  

* C/2014 AA52 ( Catalina )

It brightened up to 15.3 mag in winter (Jan. 17, Taras Prystavski). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Aug. 18, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable in good condition for a while. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  21 24.98   -9 48.3   2.116   3.038   151   17.8  21:59 (  0, 45)  
Sept.19  21 11.61   -9  1.0   2.245   3.095   141   18.0  21:19 (  0, 46)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

It will pass the perihelion in 2019. However, it has not been brightening since the discovery in 2010. Now it is 18.3 mag (Aug. 23, S. Shurpakov). It keeps observable in excellent condition from autumn to next spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   3 53.65   45  1.0  10.906  11.151   101   17.9   4:14 (198, 79)  
Sept.19   3 52.97   45 25.8  10.780  11.126   107   17.9   4:04 (180, 80)  

* 221P/LINEAR

It brightened up to 15.6 mag from spring to summer (July 8, Taras Prystavski). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.8 mag (Aug. 21, B. Haeusler). It will be fainter than 18 mag in September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  17 49.04   -9 12.7   1.410   1.846    98   17.9  19:38 ( 24, 43)  
Sept.19  18  2.73   -9 35.5   1.487   1.866    95   18.1  19:27 ( 25, 42)  

* 220P/McNaught

Now it is 17.8 mag (Aug. 14, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   3 31.46    8 18.4   1.091   1.776   115   17.9   4:10 (  0, 63)  
Sept.19   3 35.27    7 36.6   1.067   1.808   121   18.0   3:46 (  0, 63)  

* 205P/Giacobini

Now it is 19.2 mag (Aug. 26, W. Hasubick). First return of a comet re-discovered after 112-year blank in 2008. It brightened up to 12 mag in 2008. In this apparition, it was expected to brighten up to 15 mag from spring to summer, but it is much fainter than predicted.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12   4 40.54    9 31.1   1.535   1.957    98   18.3   4:14 (326, 61)  
Sept.19   4 46.61    8 26.0   1.503   1.998   103   18.4   4:20 (340, 62)  

* 320P/2015 HC10 ( McNaught )

It was expected to brighten rapidly up to 15 mag in August. But actually, it is so faint as 19.7 mag, much fainter than predicted (Aug. 15, Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.12  18 55.09   -2 51.7   0.193   1.100   114   18.6  19:38 (  1, 52)  
Sept.19  20  3.42    0  4.7   0.223   1.147   124   19.0  20:16 (  0, 55)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.