Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2016 Jan. 2: North)

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 Updated on January 4, 2016
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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.

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* C/2013 US10 ( Catalina )

Now it is 6.4 mag (Jan. 1, Neil Norman). It was expected to brighten up to 4-5 mag from autumn to winter. But actually, it is 6 mag at best. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is hardly observable after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14 13.47   20  4.3   0.880   1.192    79    5.4   5:37 (294, 61)  
Jan.  9  14  7.37   34 13.1   0.775   1.281    92    5.3   5:38 (269, 74)

* C/2014 S2 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is so bright as 8.8 mag (Dec. 29, Neil Norman). It is observable at 9-10 mag until 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)  
Jan.  2  16 56.36   61 58.2   1.914   2.118    87    8.9   5:37 (215, 40)  
Jan.  9  16 56.48   62 17.0   1.906   2.131    89    8.9   5:38 (214, 44)

* C/2013 X1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is so bright as 9.2 mag (Dec. 30, Marek Biely). It will pass close to the earth from spring to summer, and it is expected to be observable at 5-6 mag in good condition. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemispehre. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable from mid January until early April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   0  4.71   21 20.2   1.811   2.048    89    9.2  18:29 ( 53, 69)  
Jan.  9  23 55.31   18 26.0   1.912   1.977    79    9.1  18:34 ( 64, 60)

* 10P/Tempel 2

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is bright as 9.2 mag (Nov. 30, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 11-13 mag until February. But it keeps very low. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  21 43.22  -20 34.6   2.107   1.507    40   12.0  18:29 ( 51, 15)  
Jan.  9  22  6.19  -18 59.5   2.159   1.533    39   12.2  18:34 ( 53, 15)

* C/2014 W2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 12.2 mag (Dec. 19, Uwe Pilz). It keeps 12 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)  
Jan.  2  19 27.86   72 27.3   2.488   2.765    95   12.2  18:29 (159, 34)  
Jan.  9  19 41.51   70 25.0   2.518   2.747    92   12.1  18:34 (157, 32)

* 22P/Kopff

Now it is bright as 9.7 mag (Nov. 30, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable soon also in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  20 46.38  -19 18.3   2.509   1.705    28   12.2  18:29 ( 61,  7)  
Jan.  9  21  6.86  -18  5.4   2.564   1.734    25   12.4  18:34 ( 64,  5)

* C/2015 X8 ( NEOWISE )

New bright comet. Now it is 12.8 mag (Dec. 19, Michael Jager). It looks diffuse visually. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps 13 mag within December, but it will be fading rapidly after January. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  10 53.95   66  8.1   0.827   1.587   122   12.8   4:14 (180, 59)  
Jan.  9   8  2.00   75  0.3   0.864   1.653   126   13.1   1:04 (180, 50)

* C/2014 Q2 ( Lovejoy )

It brightened up to 3.7 mag and became a naked eye comet in mid January in 2015 (Jan. 13, Marek Biely). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.5 mag still now (Dec. 9, Thomas Lehmann). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. It is not observable until March in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  17 51.38   20  7.9   5.027   4.390    45   13.3   5:37 (257, 17)  
Jan.  9  17 57.26   20  0.7   5.076   4.458    46   13.4   5:38 (260, 22)

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is 13.2 mag (Dec. 29, Chris Wyatt). It will brighten up to 11 mag from spring to summer. 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)  
Jan.  2   5 22.02   19 14.6   1.480   2.427   159   13.7  22:35 (  0, 74)  
Jan.  9   5 15.18   19 18.1   1.476   2.385   151   13.5  22:01 (  0, 74)

* 116P/Wild 4

Now it is 14.3 mag (Dec. 8, Yuji Ohshima). It will 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)  
Jan.  2  14 12.04  -12 40.7   2.401   2.188    65   13.9   5:37 (326, 35)  
Jan.  9  14 24.45  -13 51.6   2.327   2.187    69   13.8   5:38 (331, 36)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Now it is 13.3 mag (Dec. 8, Hiroshi Abe). It will be fading slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition. It will be getting higher gradually after this also in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  12 18.49    7 23.9   1.620   2.028    99   13.9   5:35 (  0, 62)  
Jan.  9  12 21.88    7 22.8   1.589   2.082   105   14.0   5:11 (  0, 62)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It is not observable now. It will appear in the morning sky in February. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  18 39.15  -27 41.1   6.955   5.976     5   14.0   5:37 (291,-19)  
Jan.  9  18 45.47  -27 32.0   6.943   5.974     9   14.0   5:38 (294,-15)

* 230P/LINEAR

It keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage. Now it is 13.0 mag and visible visually (Dec. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. But it will be fading after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   5  6.31    9 19.9   0.619   1.559   152   14.6  22:20 (  0, 65)  
Jan.  9   5  7.85   12 32.5   0.661   1.582   147   14.8  21:54 (  0, 68)

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 14.8 mag (Nov. 22, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Jan.  2  21 55.73   -7 19.5   5.602   4.997    47   14.7  18:29 ( 58, 27)  
Jan.  9  22  2.07   -7  3.9   5.669   4.986    42   14.7  18:34 ( 63, 22)

* 249P/LINEAR

Appearing in the evening sky. Now it is bright as 12.0-12.5 mag (Dec. 8, Michael Jager). It tends to brighten very rapidly around the perihelion passage. It will fade out very rapidly after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  22 14.25   -7 35.1   1.040   0.889    52   14.8  18:29 ( 54, 30)  
Jan.  9  23  0.17   -3 46.7   1.091   0.992    56   15.6  18:34 ( 54, 35)

* C/2014 W11 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly in 2015 spring, and reached up to 13.8 mag (May 11, Sandor Szabo). It is bright as 15.5 mag still now (Dec. 20, Jean-Francois Soulier). It keeps 15-16 mag for a while until spring. It is 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)  
Jan.  2  13 46.83  -23 39.2   3.985   3.729    67   15.4   5:37 (338, 28)  
Jan.  9  13 52.88  -24 31.9   3.911   3.750    73   15.4   5:38 (344, 29)

* C/2013 V4 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Dec. 19, Y. Sugiyama). 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)  
Jan.  2   3 16.66   74 42.4   4.643   5.226   121   15.5  20:31 (180, 50)  
Jan.  9   3  4.10   74 27.6   4.693   5.233   118   15.5  19:51 (180, 50)

* 329P/2015 T1 ( LINEAR-Catalina )

First return of a periodic comet discovered in 2003. Now it is 15.1 mag (Dec. 17, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It is brightening very rapidly. It will approach to the earth from autumn to winter, and it will brighten up to 15 mag and observable in excellent condition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   4 35.15   20 52.0   0.764   1.687   149   15.5  21:49 (  0, 76)  
Jan.  9   4 35.60   24  3.1   0.811   1.702   142   15.7  21:22 (  0, 79)

* 19P/Borrelly

Now it is 15.8 mag (Dec. 7, Yuji Ohshima). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable after this while the comet will be fading. It will be getting higher gradually after this also in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14  1.63   20 36.1   2.544   2.597    82   15.6   5:37 (297, 64)  
Jan.  9  14  8.23   21  0.0   2.510   2.646    86   15.7   5:38 (304, 68)

* C/2014 N3 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Dec. 13, 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)  
Jan.  2   0 29.73   45 50.7   4.306   4.634   103   15.8  18:29 (145, 76)  
Jan.  9   0 30.75   45 47.4   4.426   4.666    98   15.9  18:34 (133, 72)

* C/2014 A4 ( SONEAR )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Dec. 8, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fading slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in early January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   0  6.65   15 32.3   4.232   4.296    87   15.9  18:29 ( 43, 65)  
Jan.  9   0  4.37   15 49.8   4.374   4.310    79   16.0  18:34 ( 57, 60)

* 88P/Howell

It brightened up to 8.8 mag in 2015 spring (Apr. 3, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.9 mag (Dec. 15, S. Shurpakov). It keeps observable until March when the comet becomes fainter than 18 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   1 50.24   10 33.3   2.348   2.820   108   16.1  19:05 (  0, 66)  
Jan.  9   1 53.59   11  0.7   2.485   2.862   102   16.3  18:41 (  0, 66)

* 77P/Longmore

Now it is 16.7 mag (Dec. 11, D. Buczynski). It will brighten rapidly after this, and it will be observable at 14-15 mag in good condition from winter to summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  13 15.19    2 58.9   2.385   2.494    84   16.3   5:37 (336, 56)  
Jan.  9  13 22.08    1 48.5   2.281   2.479    89   16.2   5:38 (345, 56)

* 318P/2014 M6 ( McNaught-Hartley )

First return of a periodic comet discovered in 1994. It brightened up to 13.8 mag from summer to autumn (Sept. 7, Taras Prystavski). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.1 mag (Dec. 11, MASTER-IAC Observatory, Tenerife). It is 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)  
Jan.  2  23 39.58   -9 26.9   2.676   2.531    70   16.2  18:29 ( 31, 40)  
Jan.  9  23 49.07   -7 36.1   2.772   2.548    66   16.3  18:34 ( 39, 39)

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It brightened up to 11-12 mag in 2012. It has already faded down to 17.2 mag (Dec. 19, Yuji Ohshima). It is observable at 16-17 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  11 12.08   -7 15.6  10.361  10.714   108   16.3   4:29 (  0, 48)  
Jan.  9  11 10.07   -7 12.9  10.285  10.752   115   16.3   3:59 (  0, 48)

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 12, J. Lozano). It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in 2017 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until the highlight while the comet will be brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until early 2017. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   7 53.07   62 38.4   5.201   5.976   138   16.3   1:11 (180, 62)  
Jan.  9   7 44.99   63 13.6   5.141   5.916   138   16.3   0:36 (180, 62)

* C/2015 X4 ( Elenin )

New comet. Now it is bright as 16.0 mag (Dec. 17, P. Bacci, L. Tesi, G. Fagioli). It keeps observable in good condition for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   5 44.26   17 20.8   2.477   3.434   164   16.3  22:58 (  0, 72)  
Jan.  9   5 40.55   16 26.1   2.519   3.443   156   16.4  22:27 (  0, 71)

* C/2015 F4 ( Jacques )

It brightened rapidly up to 10.4 mag from July to August (July 18, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.0 mag (Dec. 8, Yasukazu Ikari). It is observable in good condition 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)  
Jan.  2  22 37.64   46 54.7   2.312   2.466    87   16.4  18:29 (124, 59)  
Jan.  9  22 57.87   46 55.2   2.416   2.529    85   16.7  18:34 (124, 56)

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach

It brightened up to 14.5 mag in autumn (Nov. 11, Sandor Szabo). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.7 mag (Dec. 14, L. Elenin). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   2 21.12    5 40.9   1.640   2.227   113   16.4  19:36 (  0, 61)  
Jan.  9   2 26.88    6 28.5   1.730   2.244   108   16.6  19:14 (  0, 62)

* C/2015 YG1 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 20, Michael Jager). It must have been observable at 16-17 mag in good condition from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, but it was not discovered. It will be observable after mid January also in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  12 57.89   35 51.7   1.926   2.325   101   16.6   5:37 (261, 82)  
Jan.  9  12 54.26   35 24.2   1.875   2.361   107   16.6   5:38 (252, 89)

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 15, J. Bel). It will brighten up to 14 mag in 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)  
Jan.  2   0 36.68   -4 34.4   2.217   2.360    85   16.6  18:29 ( 15, 50)  
Jan.  9   0 44.05   -3 37.9   2.277   2.333    80   16.6  18:34 ( 24, 49)

* C/2015 B2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 3, A. Maury, J.-F. Soulier, J.-G. Bosch, T. Noel). It keeps 16.5 mag for a long time in 2016, and it will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 41.32  -63 53.5   3.376   3.567    93   16.7  23:51 (  0, -9)  
Jan.  9   6  9.75  -64 12.6   3.364   3.547    92   16.6  22:53 (  0, -9)

* 204P/LINEAR-NEAT

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 18, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It is observable at 16.5 mag in excellent condition from December to February. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   8 35.51   19 42.2   1.004   1.938   154   16.7   1:53 (  0, 75)  
Jan.  9   8 33.19   20 35.1   0.985   1.945   162   16.7   1:23 (  0, 75)

* C/2015 T4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 13, K. Hills). It keeps 16-17 mag for a long time until 2016 autumn. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   4 20.02  -24  9.6   2.319   2.947   120   16.7  21:33 (  0, 31)  
Jan.  9   4  9.93  -25 25.7   2.357   2.901   114   16.7  20:56 (  0, 30)

* P/2015 Q1 ( Scotti )

Brightening very rapidly, and it keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage. Now it is very bright as 15.9 mag (Dec. 16, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   5 54.75  -15 51.5   1.176   2.025   139   16.7  23:08 (  0, 39)  
Jan.  9   5 50.73  -15 19.3   1.224   2.055   136   16.9  22:37 (  0, 40)

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 17, J. Nicolas, C. Rinner, F. Kugel, A. Klotz). It will brighten up to 14 mag in 2017. In 2016, it keeps observable at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  12  5.26   10 19.0   3.672   4.017   103   16.9   5:22 (  0, 65)  
Jan.  9  12  7.07   10 24.8   3.555   4.002   110   16.8   4:56 (  0, 65)

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 18.6 mag (Dec. 17, A. Klotz, F. Kugel, C. Rinner). It will be observable at 11 mag in good condition from spring to summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  12  5.63   13 19.1   2.001   2.440   104   17.2   5:22 (  0, 68)  
Jan.  9  12 12.07   13 19.9   1.879   2.400   109   16.9   5:01 (  0, 68)

* C/2015 G2 ( MASTER )

It brightened up to 6.0 mag in mid May (May 14, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.4 mag (Dec. 7, Yasukazu Ikari). 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)  
Jan.  2   5 55.68   38 29.2   2.493   3.438   161   16.9  23:08 (180, 86)  
Jan.  9   5 38.69   38 33.0   2.612   3.518   153   17.1  22:24 (180, 86)

* 211P/Hill

Now it is 17.0 mag (Dec. 16, Purple Mountain Observatory). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   8 19.09   17 37.7   1.417   2.356   157   17.0   1:37 (  0, 73)  
Jan.  9   8 15.00   19  3.3   1.387   2.354   166   16.9   1:05 (  0, 74)

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

It brightened up to 13 mag in 2014. Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 16, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   0 58.87    1 11.0   3.947   4.121    93   17.1  18:29 (  7, 56)  
Jan.  9   1  1.60    1 43.1   4.070   4.136    86   17.1  18:34 ( 20, 55)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 18, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Jan.  2   3  8.43   15  7.2   3.548   4.225   128   17.3  20:23 (  0, 70)  
Jan.  9   3  7.32   15 12.5   3.629   4.217   120   17.3  19:54 (  0, 70)

* C/2015 GX ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 16, Yasukazu Ikari). It wil be fainter than 18 mag in January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   1 26.36   32 46.3   1.922   2.441   110   17.3  18:41 (  0, 88)  
Jan.  9   1 32.07   29  4.7   2.064   2.486   103   17.5  18:34 ( 29, 83)

* 252P/LINEAR

Now it is 19.6 mag (Dec. 14, K. Hills). It will brighten very rapidly and reach up to 11 mag in March. In this apparition, it keeps observable in excellent condition both brightening and fading period. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable temporarily in mid March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 36.37   -9 41.2   0.467   1.399   147   17.8  23:49 (  0, 45)  
Jan.  9   6 29.18  -12 21.6   0.415   1.340   143   17.4  23:15 (  0, 42)

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 19, Y. Sugiyama). It keeps 17.5 mag for a long time from 2016 to 2019. It keeps locating near by the equator. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   8 11.11   -0 51.6   9.299  10.151   148   17.4   1:28 (  0, 54)  
Jan.  9   8  9.55   -0 44.4   9.246  10.138   153   17.4   0:59 (  0, 54)

* C/2015 W1 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Dec. 17, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from winter to spring in the Northern Hemispehre. It is observable only until mid February in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   8 13.30   17 20.2   1.771   2.712   158   17.6   1:31 (  0, 72)  
Jan.  9   8  1.06   21  7.4   1.696   2.669   169   17.4   0:52 (  0, 76)

* 180P/NEAT

Now it is 18.3 mag (Nov. 15, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14  9.63    3 46.0   2.603   2.493    72   17.5   5:37 (315, 50)  
Jan.  9  14 19.67    3 15.8   2.526   2.496    76   17.5   5:38 (322, 52)

* 162P/Siding Spring

Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 13, D. Buczynski). It is observable in good condition 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)  
Jan.  2  11 36.75   47 51.8   1.566   2.210   118   17.5   4:54 (180, 77)  
Jan.  9  11 34.06   49 15.1   1.565   2.260   123   17.5   4:23 (180, 76)

* 194P/LINEAR

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. It is observable at 17 mag in excellent condition until March 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)  
Jan.  2   4 55.63   45 32.6   0.889   1.801   148   17.6  22:10 (180, 79)  
Jan.  9   4 53.16   44 50.2   0.893   1.779   142   17.5  21:40 (180, 80)

* C/2015 TQ209 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Dec. 11, Purple Mountain Observatory). It will brighten up to 13 mag in summer. But it is not observable around the highlight. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable until February when it brightens up to 17 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until April when it brightens up to 16 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   1 52.94   11  5.5   2.923   3.379   109   17.6  19:07 (  0, 66)  
Jan.  9   1 53.50   10 54.8   2.956   3.308   102   17.5  18:40 (  0, 66)

* C/2013 G9 ( Tenagra )

It brightened up to 16 mag in early 2015. Now it is 18.1 mag (Dec. 12, ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala). It is observable at 18 mag from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  10 25.31  -24 28.0   5.545   5.937   108   17.7   3:42 (  0, 30)  
Jan.  9  10 18.78  -24 42.9   5.467   5.959   115   17.6   3:08 (  0, 30)

* 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 17.6 mag (Dec. 3, D. Buczynski). 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)  
Jan.  2   3 13.06   47 34.3  10.084  10.757   131   17.7  20:27 (180, 77)  
Jan.  9   3 11.19   47 26.8  10.136  10.733   125   17.7  19:58 (180, 78)

* 269P/2012 R2 ( Jedicke )

It brightened up to 15.2 mag in early 2015 (Feb. 24, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Now it is 17.5 mag (Dec. 6, Catalina Sky Survey). It will be fainter than 18 mag in April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  11 41.95   -5 41.8   4.359   4.672   102   17.7   4:59 (  0, 49)  
Jan.  9  11 42.86   -5 58.0   4.272   4.690   109   17.7   4:32 (  0, 49)

* C/2015 X7 ( ATLAS )

New comet. Now it is 17.6 mag (Dec. 17, A. Hidas). It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time until 2017 spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 58.16  -28 17.3   3.427   4.113   128   17.8   0:16 (  0, 27)  
Jan.  9   6 53.65  -27 23.8   3.384   4.086   130   17.8  23:39 (  0, 28)

* C/2014 Y1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Nov. 30, Hidetaka Sato). It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag from winter to summer. But it is much fainter actually. It will be 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)  
Jan.  2  14 24.75  -13 20.4   2.526   2.249    62   17.8   5:37 (323, 33)  
Jan.  9  14 37.94  -15  5.3   2.455   2.244    66   17.9   5:38 (328, 34)

* C/2012 K8 ( Lemmon )

It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time since 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 18 mag in good condition also in this winter. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14 29.18   54 59.4   7.125   7.282    95   17.9   5:37 (218, 60)  
Jan.  9  14 28.51   55 48.5   7.086   7.303    98   17.9   5:38 (212, 63)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 19, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable in good condition for a while. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   3 33.28   24  4.9   2.137   2.923   135   17.9  20:47 (  0, 79)  
Jan.  9   3 32.90   23 43.7   2.238   2.953   128   18.1  20:20 (  0, 79)

* 331P/2015 Y2 ( Ikeya-Murakami )

First return of a periodic comet which brightened up to 8 mag in major outburst in 2010. It will be observable in excellent condition from winter to spring. However, now it is so faint as 19.2 mag (Jan. 1, M. Schwartz, P. R. Holvorcem). It will be 18-19 mag at best in this apparition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   9 11.81   36  0.3   0.820   1.726   146   19.4   2:29 (180, 89)  
Jan.  9   9 12.26   36 27.6   0.771   1.701   151   19.2   2:02 (180, 89)

* 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, the comet became disintegrating in July. Now both the main component and fragment D are fainter than 20 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   2 14.55   10 14.4   1.558   2.154   114   21.3  19:29 (  0, 65)  
Jan.  9   2 21.10   11 14.9   1.667   2.192   108   21.5  19:08 (  0, 66)

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