Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 July 15: North)

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Updated on July 16, 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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* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 8.5 mag (July 11, Chris Wyatt). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  14 14.45  -21  7.5   1.106   1.695   105    8.3  20:57 ( 35, 25)  
July 22  14 18.17  -25 55.4   1.201   1.721   101    8.5  20:51 ( 36, 19)  

* C/2015 ER61 ( PanSTARRS )

Outburst occured on Apr. 4, and it brightened by 2 mag, up to 6.2 mag (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 9.6 mag still now (July 5, Chris Wyatt). It stays observable for a long time after this. But it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere. A fragment of 15 mag was detected in mid June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 58.40   21 14.2   1.623   1.494    64    9.3   3:14 (266, 33)  
July 22   3 11.71   21 56.7   1.645   1.572    67    9.5   3:21 (268, 38)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is bright as 10.1 mag (July 2, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is 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)  
July 15  16 36.02  -35 44.7   0.683   1.593   138   10.4  21:03 (  0, 19)  
July 22  16 43.35  -36 29.1   0.722   1.600   133   10.5  20:51 (  2, 18)  

* 217P/LINEAR

Now it is bright as 12.2 mag (July 5, Chris Wyatt). It stays 12 mag until September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays at the same altitude in the morning sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   3 41.55    9 17.5   1.430   1.236    57   12.1   3:14 (271, 18)  
July 22   4  7.96   10 12.5   1.431   1.237    57   12.0   3:21 (272, 21)  

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

Now it is 14.7 mag (July 5, Chris Wyatt). It will brighten up to 12-13 mag and will be observable in good condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  23 31.97   14 48.5   2.215   2.760   111   13.0   3:14 (329, 67)  
July 22  23 15.62   13 52.8   2.071   2.748   122   12.8   3:18 (  0, 69)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is bright as 13.3 mag (July 5, Chris Wyatt).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  21 35.02  -13 28.5   4.923   5.832   150   13.2   2:05 (  0, 42)  
July 22  21 32.28  -13 35.4   4.875   5.830   158   13.2   1:34 (  0, 41)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher gradually in the morning sky after this. Then it will be observable at 11 mag for a long time from 2017 autumn to 2018 winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   4 46.46   -5 58.5   4.575   3.999    50   13.3   3:14 (275, -4)  
July 22   4 52.74   -5 28.5   4.462   3.949    53   13.2   3:21 (278,  2)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   7 41.81   13 14.9   2.545   1.546     8   13.5  20:57 (128,-24)  
July 22   8  1.54   12  6.0   2.606   1.607     8   13.9   3:21 (234,-24)  

* 213P/Van Ness

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (July 5, Chris Wyatt). It was expected to brighten up to 12 mag in summer. But actually, it is fainter than expected. 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)  
July 15  19  3.78  -30 46.9   1.054   2.059   168   13.9  23:29 (  0, 24)  
July 22  18 58.12  -29 57.0   1.055   2.045   162   13.8  22:56 (  0, 25)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 15.6 mag (June 4, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will brighten up to 14 mag from summer to winter, and it will be observable in excellent condition. It is not observable at all after this in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   0 42.57   47 36.3   3.223   3.257    82   14.2   3:14 (231, 65)  
July 22   0 40.92   50 35.3   3.138   3.245    86   14.1   3:21 (217, 68)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 14.1 mag (June 30, Chris Wyatt). It stays 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)  
July 15  15 42.74  -22 28.1   2.233   2.948   126   14.2  20:57 ( 13, 31)  
July 22  15 43.40  -22 43.2   2.305   2.943   119   14.2  20:51 ( 18, 30)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (June 30, Chris Wyatt). It will be observable at 14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  17  6.42   23 37.1   3.574   4.200   121   14.4  21:32 (  0, 79)  
July 22  16 55.68   23 41.3   3.622   4.172   116   14.4  20:53 (  0, 79)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.7 mag (July 4, J. Gonzalez). 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)  
July 15  17 40.22   50 57.7   4.337   4.672   103   14.9  22:05 (180, 74)  
July 22  17 31.71   49 37.1   4.292   4.615   102   14.8  21:29 (180, 76)  

* C/2017 D2 ( Barros )

Now it is 16.8 mag (July 6, CAO, San Pedro de Atacama). It will brighten up to 15.5 mag in summer. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting higher gradually in the morning sky also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  22  0.78  -34 12.0   1.577   2.486   146   15.4   2:30 (  0, 21)  
July 22  21 55.26  -33  1.5   1.542   2.487   152   15.4   1:57 (  0, 22)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Mar. 6, Kunihiro Shima). It is appearing in the morning sky. It stays observable at 15.5 mag unil the end of 2017.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   3 17.82    4 49.1   6.070   5.712    64   15.5   3:14 (279, 21)  
July 22   3 22.00    4 44.1   5.998   5.737    70   15.5   3:21 (284, 27)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

It approached to Earth down to 0.14 a.u. from late March to early April, and it brightened up to 6.0 mag (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 11.2 mag still now (June 30, Chris Wyatt). It stays observable in good condition after this until the comet fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  18  9.68   -8 58.7   0.602   1.584   155   15.5  22:36 (  0, 46)  
July 22  18 10.20  -11 19.0   0.680   1.644   150   16.3  22:09 (  0, 44)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.9 mag (July 5, M. Morales). It is expected to brighten up to 11-12 mag from 2018 to 2019. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2018 October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  15 47.30   60 45.5   4.485   4.523    85   15.6  20:57 (168, 63)  
July 22  15 34.70   59 59.4   4.481   4.472    82   15.5  20:51 (159, 62)  

* 352P/2017 L1 ( Skiff )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2000. Now it is 17.8 mag (June 16, Kunihiro Shima). It will brighten rapidly, and it is expected to be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from July to September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   1  4.74  -11 44.0   2.135   2.544   101   15.8   3:14 (318, 33)  
July 22   1  9.62  -11  7.1   2.063   2.549   106   15.8   3:21 (325, 37)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.0 mag (June 16, Kunihiro Shima). It stays observable at 16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. It is getting higher gradually in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 45.03   31  8.0   4.792   4.458    64   15.9   3:14 (256, 40)  
July 22   2 44.55   30 51.7   4.657   4.442    71   15.8   3:21 (260, 47)  

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.8 mag (June 29, K. Hills). It stays 16 mag for a long time until summer in 2018. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until autumn. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  16 44.34  -35  7.6   2.326   3.173   140   15.8  21:11 (  0, 20)  
July 22  16 43.20  -34 18.3   2.349   3.137   133   15.8  20:51 (  2, 21)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

Now it is 16.6 mag (June 15, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was observed at 17 mag in 2016. In 2017, it will be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   1 26.30   10 35.7   2.661   2.825    88   16.0   3:14 (294, 46)  
July 22   1 31.49   11 35.6   2.575   2.829    93   15.9   3:21 (300, 52)  

* C/2017 E1 ( Borisov )

It brightened up to 11 mag from March to April. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.7 mag still now (May 26, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time, but it stays low. It will be getting higher slowly also in the Northern Hemisphere, but it stays extremely low for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   3 38.51    8  3.8   2.136   1.831    58   16.1   3:14 (273, 18)  
July 22   3 48.85    7 56.1   2.155   1.921    63   16.4   3:21 (277, 23)  

* P/2017 M2 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

Now it is 19.1 mag (June 22, Erwin Schwab, Pablo Ruiz). Return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2004. It will be observable in excellent condition in autumn. It is expected to brighten up to 14 mag, if the comet is as bright as when it was discovered.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   1 18.43   -5 51.2   1.498   1.903    96   16.5   3:14 (311, 36)  
July 22   1 30.75   -4 53.0   1.415   1.877    99   16.2   3:21 (316, 40)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 17.0 mag (May 29, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will brighten up to 14.5 mag in winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until spring in 2018. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable until 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   0 53.66  -69 21.2   2.273   2.841   113   16.3   3:14 (349,-17)  
July 22   1 14.76  -71  9.4   2.225   2.787   113   16.2   3:21 (351,-18)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.1 mag (June 25, Catalina Sky Survey). It stays 16 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)  
July 15  18 13.84   66  3.7   6.320   6.418    90   16.4  22:38 (180, 59)  
July 22  18  7.39   66  7.2   6.336   6.429    90   16.4  22:05 (180, 59)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It brightened up to 11 mag from spring to summer in 2016. Now it is 16.3 mag (June 1, Alexander Baransky). It stays observable for a long time after this, but it will be fainter than 18 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  20  3.74  -18 50.9   2.312   3.323   173   16.5   0:34 (  0, 36)  
July 22  19 57.42  -19 13.9   2.344   3.359   177   16.6   0:00 (  0, 36)  

* (457175) 2008 GO98

Hilda-type minor planet, but the cometary activity was detected on July 3. Now it is bright as 16.5 mag (July 3, G. J. Leonard).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  21 23.90    3 51.0   2.430   3.303   143   16.6   1:53 (  0, 59)  
July 22  21 20.28    3 36.6   2.402   3.319   149   16.6   1:22 (  0, 59)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

It brightened up to 11.5 mag from late March to early April (Mar. 24, Andrew Pearce). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.8 mag (June 30, CAO, San Pedro de Atacama). Bright 12-mag new fragment BT was discovered on Feb. 10, but now it is faint as 18.9 mag (June 2, CAO, San Pedro de Atacama). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this. It is getting observable in the morning sky again also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   2 44.78    5 43.6   1.857   1.824    72   16.7   3:14 (283, 28)  
July 22   2 53.03    6 11.3   1.842   1.887    76   16.9   3:21 (287, 33)  

* 2P/Encke

Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 16.9 mag (June 2, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  21 48.29  -23 38.9   1.157   2.099   149   16.9   2:18 (  0, 31)  
July 22  21 31.73  -24 37.0   1.189   2.170   159   16.9   1:34 (  0, 30)  

* 96P/Machholz 1

Now it is 19.7 mag (Apr. 27, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will pass the perihelion on Oct. 27. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable while the comet will be brightening, until early October when the comet will brighten up to 9 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at all in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  22 16.76  -70 11.2   1.361   2.124   125   17.3   2:47 (  0,-15)  
July 22  21 51.42  -74 49.9   1.285   2.033   123   16.9   1:55 (  0,-20)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

Now it is 18.4 mag (May 31, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will brighten rapidly, up to 15 mag in autumn, and will be observable in good 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)  
July 15   2 50.11   14  8.2   2.089   1.954    68   17.2   3:14 (275, 31)  
July 22   3  4.77   15 43.6   2.018   1.941    70   17.0   3:21 (276, 36)  

* 189P/NEAT

Now it is 17.6 mag (June 30, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). It brightens up to 16.5-17 mag in August, and it will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  15 19.93  -23  5.9   0.360   1.241   121   17.3  20:57 ( 18, 30)  
July 22  15 40.89  -16 42.1   0.362   1.226   117   17.1  20:51 ( 21, 36)  

* C/2016 B1 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 16.7 mag (June 27, Hidetaka Sato). It will fade out after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  17 51.31   27 34.3   3.159   3.828   124   17.2  22:17 (  0, 83)  
July 22  17 48.22   27 35.0   3.231   3.864   121   17.3  21:46 (  0, 83)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (June 26, D. Briggs). It is expected to brighten up to 13-14 mag from 2018 to 2019. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  20 51.72   70 38.1   5.863   5.896    86   17.5   1:21 (180, 54)  
July 22  20 33.24   70 42.1   5.780   5.848    88   17.5   0:35 (180, 54)  

* 130P/McNaught-Hughes

Now it is 17.9 mag (May 27, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It will be brightening slowly until autumn when it becomes 16.5-17 mag. It will be getting lower gradually in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  14 16.52  -12 18.7   1.942   2.394   103   17.6  20:57 ( 40, 33)  
July 22  14 20.54  -12 58.0   1.995   2.361    97   17.5  20:51 ( 44, 30)  

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.4 mag (June 16, Kunihiro Shima). It stays 15 mag from 2018 to 2019, and it will be observable for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. It will be unobservable temporarily from September to October also in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  11 59.94  -26 39.5   6.221   6.124    79   17.5  20:57 ( 56,  1)  
July 22  12  2.02  -26 51.1   6.279   6.082    74   17.5  20:51 ( 58, -2)  

* (944) Hidalgo

Now it is 17.9 mag (June 2, MASTER-OAFA Observatory). It will brighten up to 14 mag from autumn to winter in 2018, and it will be observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2017, it is observable at 17 mag in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15   0 28.34  -41 34.4   3.823   4.375   116   17.6   3:14 (341, 10)  
July 22   0 27.84  -42 14.5   3.719   4.334   121   17.5   3:21 (347, 11)  

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.5 mag (June 30, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It stays extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  12 48.57  -28 10.4   5.835   5.924    90   17.6  20:57 ( 47,  8)  
July 22  12 51.92  -27 23.1   5.943   5.927    84   17.6  20:51 ( 51,  6)  

* 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 17.9 mag (July 3, ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  15 59.17  -15 58.8   4.745   5.434   128   17.7  20:57 ( 10, 38)  
July 22  15 56.07  -16 31.6   4.892   5.487   121   17.8  20:51 ( 17, 37)  

* C/2015 H2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 18.3 mag (June 20, P. Camilleri, H. Williams). It stays observable at 18 mag from spring to summer. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays low for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
July 15  22 27.06  -34 11.6   4.664   5.489   140   17.7   2:56 (  0, 21)  
July 22  22 24.21  -34 15.3   4.637   5.511   146   17.7   2:26 (  0, 21)  

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