Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 Feb. 25: North)

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Updated on February 27, 2017
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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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* 2P/Encke

Now it is very bright as 7.9 mag (Feb. 21, Osamu Miyazaki). It will pass the perihelion on Mar. 10. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until late February. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in late March at 8 mag, then it stays observable while the comet will be fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   0  8.58    7  1.0   0.899   0.480    28    7.8  19:15 ( 91, 11)  
Mar.  4   0  3.19    3 45.2   0.751   0.374    19    6.7  19:21 ( 94,  0)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

Now it is 10.2 mag (Feb. 24, Piotr Guzik). Brightening rapidly. It will approach to the earth down to 0.14 a.u. from March to April. It is expected to brighten up to 5-6 mag. It may brighten furthermore in outburst. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will not be observable for about one month around the highlight. But it stays observable in good condition except for that period.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   9 40.23   24 24.6   0.240   1.218   160   10.1  23:19 (  0, 80)  
Mar.  4   9 48.68   31 15.0   0.205   1.174   150    8.9  23:00 (  0, 87)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 10.3 mag (Feb. 24, Piotr Guzik). It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in summer. Recently it is fainter than predicted. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until the highlight while the comet will be brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  16 12.06   45 51.1   1.752   2.158   100    9.3   5:10 (213, 77)  
Mar.  4  16 19.98   46 17.4   1.668   2.102   101    9.0   5:02 (205, 77)  

* C/2015 ER61 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 10.9 mag (Feb. 23, Chris Wyatt). It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in spring. But recently it is fainter than predicted. It locates somewhat low at the high light.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  17 49.30  -23 46.4   1.644   1.582    68    9.6   5:10 (325, 23)  
Mar.  4  18 17.82  -23 17.2   1.535   1.504    69    9.2   5:02 (323, 22)  

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova

It approached to the earth down to 0.08 a.u. in mid February, and brightened up to 6.5 mag (Feb. 10, Danil Sidorko). Now it is fading rapidly. Now it is 8.4 mag (Feb. 24, Piotr Guzik). It will be fainter than 10 mag in late February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  11 37.41   28 32.7   0.200   1.175   155    9.6   1:21 (  0, 84)  
Mar.  4  11  2.86   25 33.6   0.293   1.272   160   10.9   0:18 (  0, 81)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Bright new fragment BT was discovered on Feb. 10. Now the fragment BT is very bright as 11.9 mag (Feb. 23, Chris Wyatt). The primary component is 13.4 mag (Jan. 28, Piotr Guzik). It will be unobservable soon in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  19 22.47  -21  9.9   1.380   1.013    47   11.9   5:10 (306, 11)  
Mar.  4  19 59.68  -20 56.4   1.385   0.990    45   11.9   5:02 (303,  8)  

* C/2016 VZ18 ( PanSTARRS )

Brightening very rapidly. Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (Feb. 25, Alan Hale). Small comet, but it approaches to the sun down to 0.9 a.u., and to the earth down to 0.5 a.u., and it will brighten up to 12.5 mag in March. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable only until mid February. Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it is very bright as 10.7 mag on Feb. 24.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 18.38   25 53.8   0.654   0.929    65   13.3  19:15 ( 93, 47)  
Mar.  4   2 30.23   33 55.1   0.615   0.912    64   12.8  19:21 (106, 46)  

* C/2016 U1 ( NEOWISE )

It brightened rapidly up to 6.8 mag (Jan. 6, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It approached to the sun down to 0.3 a.u. on Jan. 14. Michael Mattiazzo reported that the comet was visible in the SWAN images from Jan. 19 to Jan. 29 while it faded from 5 mag to 7 mag. It is not observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is appearing in the extremely low sky in the evening.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  23 23.18  -30 29.1   1.921   1.098    24   12.8  19:15 ( 66,-19)  
Mar.  4  23 49.98  -28 44.6   2.054   1.232    25   13.5  19:21 ( 68,-19)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. The condition of this apparition is worst. It will brighten up to 10 mag in spring, but not observable at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  22 43.98   -1 17.2   2.267   1.296     8   13.7  19:15 ( 97,-11)  
Mar.  4  23  7.83    0 32.9   2.223   1.246     7   13.3  19:21 (100,-12)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  20 55.30  -18 10.4   6.743   5.863    25   13.9   5:10 (290, -4)  
Mar.  4  21  0.65  -17 44.2   6.690   5.861    30   13.9   5:02 (291, -1)  

* 315P/2013 V6 ( LONEOS )

Now it is 13.7 mag (Jan. 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It stays low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  12  0.08   31 38.7   1.597   2.502   149   14.2   1:42 (  0, 87)  
Mar.  4  11 55.68   32  8.1   1.602   2.516   151   14.2   1:10 (  0, 87)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is 16.1 mag (Feb. 23, Thomas Lehmann). It will brighten up to 10 mag in summer, and 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)  
Feb. 25  15 31.32  -11 30.5   1.486   1.961   102   14.6   5:10 (359, 43)  
Mar.  4  15 42.06  -12 16.9   1.385   1.926   107   14.3   4:55 (  0, 43)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 14.4 mag (Jan. 14, Thomas Lehmann). It will be observable at 11 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. Now it is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it stays low for a while in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 53.18  -26 12.1   5.394   5.035    63   14.7  19:15 ( 38, 18)  
Mar.  4   2 56.28  -24 48.2   5.411   4.983    59   14.6  19:21 ( 45, 15)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 15.7 mag (Jan. 4, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It will brighten up to 14 mag from spring to summer. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. The perihelion distance increased from 2.4 a.u. to 2.9 a.u. in this apparition. So it will not be bright as before.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  16 13.58  -18 29.1   2.942   3.128    91   15.1   5:10 (347, 35)  
Mar.  4  16 18.84  -18 50.7   2.832   3.116    97   15.0   5:02 (351, 36)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 14.3 mag (Dec. 31, Jakub Cerny). It will be unobservable in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   1 19.49   -1 22.7   5.959   5.269    42   15.1  19:15 ( 73, 20)  
Mar.  4   1 25.32   -0 52.3   6.046   5.288    37   15.1  19:21 ( 78, 15)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Now it is 15.3 mag (Jan. 31, Alexander Baransky). It stays 15 mag until spring. But it is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting lower gradually after this also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   1 19.08   18  8.9   2.170   1.701    49   15.1  19:15 ( 91, 31)  
Mar.  4   1 38.06   19 58.0   2.209   1.700    47   15.2  19:21 ( 95, 29)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Nov. 3, Kunihiro Shima). It will be observable at 13 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. It is appearing in the morning sky again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  19  9.29   -0  7.7   5.417   4.860    51   15.3   5:10 (292, 28)  
Mar.  4  19 10.63    0 51.6   5.285   4.823    57   15.2   5:02 (295, 32)  

* C/2015 VL62 ( Lemmon-Yeung-PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Jan. 31, Alexander Baransky). It will brighten up to 12-13 mag and will be observable in good condition in summer. It ia already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable soon also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will appear in the morning sky in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   0  9.03   13 21.1   4.101   3.314    32   15.3  19:15 ( 97, 14)  
Mar.  4   0 10.18   13 17.9   4.131   3.274    26   15.3  19:21 (101,  8)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It brightened up to 11 mag from spring to summer in 2016. It is appearing in the morning sky again. It will be observable at 16-17 mag in good condition from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  19 19.02  -20 19.1   3.096   2.540    47   15.7   5:10 (306, 12)  
Mar.  4  19 29.78  -19 57.6   3.065   2.582    52   15.8   5:02 (307, 14)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.6 mag (Jan. 9, J. L. Martin). It stays observable at 16 mag in good condition until spring. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   6 43.26   27 44.7   3.084   3.719   123   15.9  20:22 (  0, 83)  
Mar.  4   6 43.24   27 43.6   3.167   3.712   116   15.9  19:54 (  0, 83)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Jan. 26, Alexander Baransky). It stays 16-17 mag for a long time from 2016 to 2019. It stays near by the equator.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   9  9.57    3 42.8   8.691   9.620   158   15.9  22:47 (  0, 59)  
Mar.  4   9  8.20    4  2.7   8.726   9.616   152   15.9  22:19 (  0, 59)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington

It brightened up to 11-12 mag from summer to autumn. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 13.6 mag still now (Jan. 24, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  12 19.05  -27 34.7   1.544   2.351   135   16.0   2:01 (  0, 27)  
Mar.  4  12 12.72  -27 12.6   1.540   2.399   141   16.2   1:27 (  0, 28)  

* C/2016 B1 ( NEOWISE )

It was observed at 16 mag from spring to summer in 2016. It will be observable at 16 mag also in 2017 from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  17 52.93   -3 27.6   3.513   3.301    69   16.1   5:10 (311, 39)  
Mar.  4  17 59.87   -1 48.6   3.440   3.317    74   16.1   5:02 (313, 42)  

* C/2014 W2 ( PanSTARRS )

It stayed bright 12 mag for a long time from autum in 2015 to summer in 2016. Now it is fading. It has already faded dwon to 15.6 mag (Jan. 6, Hiroshi Abe).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  17 24.00   -6 32.5   4.529   4.401    76   16.3   5:10 (321, 40)  
Mar.  4  17 24.84   -6 55.1   4.466   4.451    82   16.3   5:02 (327, 42)  

* 144P/Kushida

It brightened up to 11-12 mag in autumn. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 13.9 mag still now (Jan. 24, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13 55.03  -16 49.1   1.641   2.339   123   16.3   3:36 (  0, 38)  
Mar.  4  13 52.77  -16 40.3   1.617   2.388   131   16.5   3:06 (  0, 38)  

* 213P/Van Ness

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. It will brighten up to 12 mag in summer. It 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)  
Feb. 25  17 36.16  -32 32.6   2.647   2.518    71   16.6   5:10 (333, 16)  
Mar.  4  17 48.76  -32 47.9   2.537   2.490    75   16.4   5:02 (334, 17)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Jan. 6, D. Buczynski). It is expected to brighten up to 9 mag in summer in 2018. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until 2018 summer while the comet will be brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is hardly observable in 2017, but it will be observable in good condition in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18 58.96   45 55.5   6.016   5.801    72   16.5   5:10 (238, 50)  
Mar.  4  19  2.82   46 22.9   5.934   5.746    74   16.5   5:02 (237, 52)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 26, Alexander Baransky). It stays 16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   8 45.62   -2  5.3   4.809   5.696   151   16.5  22:23 (  0, 53)  
Mar.  4   8 39.89   -0 45.1   4.840   5.678   144   16.5  21:50 (  0, 54)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 29, Sandor Szabo). It will brighten up to 15 mag and will be observable in good condition from autum to winter in 2017. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time while the comet will be brightening. It is not observable until summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   1 54.35   38 12.8   5.218   4.912    66   16.5  19:15 (111, 46)  
Mar.  4   1 56.06   37 18.8   5.300   4.884    60   16.5  19:21 (112, 40)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 26, A. Diepvens). It stays 16.5 mag from 2016 to 2017. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18 37.32   43 26.4   6.452   6.266    74   16.6   5:10 (242, 53)  
Mar.  4  18 42.36   44 47.9   6.422   6.271    76   16.6   5:02 (240, 56)  

* C/2013 US10 ( Catalina )

It brightened up to 6 mag from autumn in 2015 to early 2016. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.0 mag (Jan. 1, Yuji Ohshima). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable after this in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 55.82   45  8.3   6.002   5.913    80   16.6  19:15 (121, 58)  
Mar.  4   2 57.62   44 38.5   6.176   5.978    73   16.7  19:21 (120, 52)  

* C/2015 TQ209 ( LINEAR )

It has not been observed since last April. Now it is fading. But it must be bright as 17 mag still now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  16 57.17  -20 28.4   2.775   2.797    81   16.7   5:10 (336, 31)  
Mar.  4  17  2.22  -20 13.4   2.746   2.869    86   16.8   5:02 (339, 32)  

* C/2014 R3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.1 mag (Jan. 9, ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala). It brightened rapidly, and became brighter than originally expected. It stays 17 mag until 2017. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13  7.33   60 53.5   6.829   7.387   120   16.9   2:49 (180, 64)  
Mar.  4  12 57.98   61 14.1   6.836   7.395   120   16.9   2:12 (180, 64)  

* C/2013 V4 ( Catalina )

It brightened up to 15 mag in early 2016. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.3 mag (Dec. 30, Sandor Szabo). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until 2017 autumn when the comet will be fainter than 18 mag. It will never be observable after this in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  15 34.49   70 21.1   6.098   6.402   103   17.0   5:10 (181, 55)  
Mar.  4  15 30.93   70 52.9   6.131   6.431   103   17.0   4:43 (180, 54)  

* C/2015 X7 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 1, Alexander Baransky). It was observed at 17 mag last winter. It will be observable at 17 mag again next winter. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. But it locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  11 16.42   36 28.4   3.235   4.128   150   17.2   0:58 (180, 89)  
Mar.  4  11 12.69   37 56.4   3.279   4.156   148   17.3   0:27 (180, 87)  

* 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 17.1 mag (Jan. 4, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It stays observable in excellent 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)  
Feb. 25   3 44.11   60 20.8   9.383   9.471    92   17.2  19:15 (153, 59)  
Mar.  4   3 46.17   60 10.9   9.455   9.453    86   17.3  19:21 (149, 56)  

* C/2016 T2 ( Matheny )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 30, A. Diepvens). In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 17-18 mag until March. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18  3.81   74  5.8   1.731   2.035    92   17.3   5:10 (194, 47)  
Mar.  4  17 20.81   79  0.5   1.722   2.066    95   17.3   5:02 (186, 45)  

* P/2015 TP200 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Dec. 30, Yuji Ohshima). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   6 42.16   33 25.5   2.855   3.482   122   17.3  20:21 (  0, 88)  
Mar.  4   6 43.74   33  1.7   2.950   3.494   115   17.4  19:55 (  0, 88)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is 18.2 mag (Dec. 6, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It was expected to be observable at 17 mag in good condition in winter. But actually, it is fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  12 46.51    1 11.3   1.844   2.720   145   17.4   2:28 (  0, 56)  
Mar.  4  12 42.84    2  2.8   1.826   2.750   153   17.4   1:57 (  0, 57)  

* 94P/Russell 4

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 25, Alexander Baransky). It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  15  4.23  -11 16.5   1.858   2.377   109   17.5   4:45 (  0, 44)  
Mar.  4  15  7.91  -11 29.6   1.794   2.394   115   17.5   4:21 (  0, 43)  

* C/2017 A3 ( Elenin )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Jan. 8, CAO, San Pedro de Atacama). It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in this winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   5 49.65  -33 36.3   3.559   3.865   100   17.6  19:28 (  0, 22)  
Mar.  4   5 47.07  -30 44.4   3.622   3.869    96   17.7  19:21 (  6, 24)  

* C/2014 S2 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 8-9 mag from winter to spring in 2016. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.1 mag (Dec. 6, T. Ikemura, H. Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  12 57.74  -15 40.7   4.324   5.086   136   17.7   2:39 (  0, 39)  
Mar.  4  12 52.56  -15 55.6   4.308   5.143   143   17.8   2:07 (  0, 39)  

* 56P/Slaughter-Burnham

It brightened up to 14.6 mag from autum to winter (Dec. 2, Kunihiro Shima). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.9 mag (Jan. 31, Alexander Baransky). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   4 29.46   30 30.5   2.769   3.005    94   17.7  19:15 ( 77, 75)  
Mar.  4   4 36.91   30 24.3   2.890   3.033    88   17.9  19:21 ( 83, 70)  

* 330P/2015 U1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 18.9 mag (Dec. 27, K. Hills). It is observable at 18 mag in good condition from January to March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  10 32.54   -8 29.0   2.274   3.231   162   17.9   0:14 (  0, 46)  
Mar.  4  10 27.91   -8 24.0   2.289   3.251   163   17.9  23:38 (  0, 47)  

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