Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 Dec. 9: South)

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Updated on December 9, 2017
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.
Azimuth indicates 0 for south, 90 for west, 180 for north, 270 for east.

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* C/2017 O1 ( ASASSN )

Now it is bright as 10.0 mag (Dec. 5, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable all night in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again after this. It started fading before the peirhelion passage.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   0 42.98   86 44.9   1.021   1.683   114   10.1  20:51 (179,-32)  
Dec. 16  23 44.68   86 25.5   1.083   1.729   113   10.4  20:57 (177,-32)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Now it is very bright as 11.7 mag (Dec. 8, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will approach to Earth down to 0.07 a.u. in mid December, and it will brighten up to 10 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until mid December. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   5 50.53   43 20.6   0.163   1.137   157   11.6   0:46 (180, 12)  
Dec. 16   1 24.67   35 36.6   0.071   1.027   125   10.5  20:57 (157, 19)  

* 24P/Schaumasse

Now it is 11.2 mag (Dec. 4, Thomas Lehmann). It stays 11 mag until December. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates very low for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  13 31.27    0 53.5   1.471   1.241    56   11.1   2:53 (265,  6)  
Dec. 16  13 53.94   -1  0.9   1.479   1.265    57   11.4   2:53 (265,  8)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

Now it is very bright as 10.8 mag (Dec. 5, Thomas Lehmann). It stays 10 mag until winter. It is 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)  
Dec.  9  12 15.17    7  2.6   1.265   1.408    76   11.3   2:53 (248, 18)  
Dec. 16  12 34.78    5 51.8   1.245   1.424    78   11.4   2:53 (247, 20)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.2 mag (Dec. 7, Chris Wyatt). It will stay bright as 11 mag for a long time from winter to next spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until next February. In the Northern Hemispehre, it stays observable for a long time after this until the comet fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   4 53.59    7 38.5   2.089   3.050   164   11.4  23:39 (180, 47)  
Dec. 16   4 44.35    9 30.5   2.062   3.013   161   11.4  23:02 (180, 45)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

It brightened up to 7.1 mag from May to June (June 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.5 mag (Dec. 7, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  19 56.20  -56 29.9   3.394   2.803    46   12.7  20:51 ( 39, 28)  
Dec. 16  20 17.48  -56  2.0   3.490   2.869    44   12.8  20:57 ( 38, 26)  

* C/2017 T1 ( Heinze )

Now it is 14.9 mag (Dec. 1, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will approach to Earth down to 0.2 a.u., and to Sun down to 0.6 a.u., and it is expected to brighten up to 10-11 mag from winter to spring. In the Northern Hemisphre, it stays observable in good condition until January, but it will be extremely low after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable from January to mid March, 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)  
Dec.  9   8 56.52    1  2.2   0.837   1.575   119   14.1   2:53 (202, 52)  
Dec. 16   8 52.58    5 22.0   0.632   1.466   128   13.2   2:53 (188, 50)  

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly from July to August. Now it is very bright as 14.2 mag (Nov. 8, Chris Wyatt). It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It stays low for a while in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  23 59.32  -25 23.7   2.210   2.453    92   13.4  20:51 (102, 62)  
Dec. 16   0  4.07  -23 27.4   2.266   2.428    87   13.3  20:57 ( 99, 55)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is visible visually at 13.4 mag (Nov. 14, Sandor Szabo).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  21 21.07  -13  7.6   6.206   5.805    61   13.7  20:51 ( 90, 23)  
Dec. 16  21 25.09  -12 46.2   6.302   5.804    55   13.7  20:57 ( 86, 17)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.0 mag (Nov. 28, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 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)  
Dec.  9  15 29.57   48 55.8   3.631   3.502    74   13.9   2:53 (232,-39)  
Dec. 16  15 33.78   49 56.9   3.527   3.458    77   13.8   2:53 (230,-35)  

* 185P/Petriew

It will brighten very rapidly, and brighten up to 11 mag from January to February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time in the evening sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low at the highlight.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  20  3.46  -11 51.1   1.660   1.177    44   14.4  20:51 ( 80,  7)  
Dec. 16  20 27.11  -11 23.4   1.620   1.121    42   13.9  20:57 ( 80,  5)  

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

Brian Skiff found a bright outburst on Dec. 7. Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (Dec. 7, Richard Miles). This is the 4th outburst following those in January 2006, May 2011 and August 2016. It stays observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   2 39.10   11 26.3   6.478   7.297   143   14.0  21:26 (180, 43)  
Dec. 16   2 37.55   11 20.6   6.570   7.315   136   14.3  20:57 (180, 44)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.7 mag (Nov. 14, Gabor Santa). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in summer in 2018. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until 2018 summer while the comet will be brightening. However, it will be extremely low from December to January. 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)  
Dec.  9  17 55.20   11 56.1   4.217   3.481    37   14.2  20:51 ( 81,-33)  
Dec. 16  18  1.84   10 40.7   4.189   3.426    34   14.2  20:57 ( 75,-38)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Nov. 14, Artyom Novichonok). It will be observable at 14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be hardly observable after this. It will be extremely low from November to December in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  16 24.20   20 20.3   4.429   3.785    44   14.6   2:53 (272,-40)  
Dec. 16  16 26.86   21  0.5   4.373   3.774    47   14.5   2:53 (268,-35)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

Now it is 15.7 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). It brightened rapidly. It is observable at 15 mag in autumn 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)  
Dec.  9   5 21.63   39 57.6   1.143   2.103   162   15.0   0:12 (180, 15)  
Dec. 16   5 14.85   40 14.7   1.170   2.130   162   15.1  23:33 (180, 15)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 10 mag from spring to summer. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 14.8 mag (Dec. 4, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
Dec.  9  21 48.47  -21 56.6   2.369   2.152    65   15.1  20:51 ( 85, 33)  
Dec. 16  22  2.20  -20 25.7   2.476   2.190    61   15.3  20:57 ( 84, 29)  

* 96P/Machholz 1

It brightened up to 11.6 mag in mid October (Oct. 13, Chris Wyatt). It passed the perihelion on Oct. 27. It will not be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  17 20.83  -14  5.1   2.116   1.157     9   15.1  20:51 ( 53,-22)  
Dec. 16  17 37.25  -14 57.6   2.251   1.286     8   15.8  20:57 ( 49,-24)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.1 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). It stays observable at 15-16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   0 19.71    3 30.7   3.843   4.267   109   15.2  20:51 (142, 44)  
Dec. 16   0 16.08    2 13.8   3.975   4.267   100   15.3  20:57 (131, 40)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Dec. 7, Chris Wyatt). It stays 15 mag until 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)  
Dec.  9   1 29.12  -59 35.3   1.826   2.026    86   15.4  20:51 ( 11, 65)  
Dec. 16   1 33.39  -55 12.4   1.822   2.015    86   15.4  20:57 ( 24, 67)  

* 217P/LINEAR

It brightened up to 12.2 mag in August (Aug. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 15.2 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   8 16.45   11 43.2   1.306   2.103   132   15.5   2:53 (185, 43)  
Dec. 16   8 11.13   12 33.3   1.303   2.160   141   15.6   2:34 (180, 43)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.4 mag (Nov. 23, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be 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)  
Dec.  9  11 43.24    9  1.6   3.500   3.541    84   15.7   2:53 (241, 22)  
Dec. 16  11 48.00    8 45.5   3.397   3.540    90   15.6   2:53 (237, 26)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 14.8 mag (Nov. 14, Gabor Santa). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays 15 mag until winter, and it is 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)  
Dec.  9  19 50.35   62  7.1   3.126   3.298    91   15.7  20:51 (147,-32)  
Dec. 16  19 54.34   61 55.7   3.169   3.314    89   15.7  20:57 (146,-35)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). It stays 17 mag in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   3 17.40   -1 16.8   5.462   6.292   144   15.7  22:04 (180, 56)  
Dec. 16   3 15.59   -1 16.8   5.552   6.322   138   15.7  21:35 (180, 56)  

* C/2017 S6 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). It stays observable at 16 mag for a long time until summer in 2018. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere in 2017, and in the Southern Hemisphere in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  23 38.94   44 25.7   1.283   1.888   111   15.8  20:51 (154,  4)  
Dec. 16  23 18.33   36 58.1   1.375   1.836   100   15.8  20:57 (142,  5)  

* 355P/2017 M2 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

It brightened rapidly. Now it is bright as 14.8 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). Return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2004. It is be observable in excellent condition in autumn. It continues brightening even after the perihelion passage.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   2 15.61   16  3.0   0.926   1.796   140   15.9  21:03 (180, 39)  
Dec. 16   2 17.89   17 21.8   0.989   1.816   133   16.1  20:57 (174, 37)  

* C/2015 ER61 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 6.2 mag in April (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 13.5 mag (Nov. 14, Sandor Szabo). It stays observable for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   2 47.60   16 21.4   2.324   3.199   147   15.9  21:34 (180, 39)  
Dec. 16   2 44.78   15 59.5   2.464   3.277   139   16.2  21:04 (180, 39)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Nov. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec.  9  10 33.30    3 55.7   9.377   9.570    98   16.0   2:53 (230, 38)  
Dec. 16  10 33.96    3 58.3   9.265   9.572   105   16.0   2:53 (223, 42)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Nov. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   9  6.46   28 50.6   4.697   5.329   125   16.1   2:53 (195, 25)  
Dec. 16   9  1.50   30 14.9   4.605   5.330   133   16.1   2:53 (187, 24)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

Now it is 15.3 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   0 54.78   17 12.6   2.362   3.001   121   16.5  20:51 (160, 35)  
Dec. 16   0 56.44   17 19.1   2.459   3.014   115   16.6  20:57 (151, 32)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 9 mag in 2018 summer. However, it is hardly observable when it is bright. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until March when it brightens up to 14 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable from July to September in 2018, but it locates in extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  22  3.65   64 45.0   3.017   3.399   104   16.7  20:51 (157,-20)  
Dec. 16  22 14.54   62 21.3   2.973   3.319   101   16.6  20:57 (153,-21)  

* C/2016 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 15, Kunihiro Shima). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   9 55.80   -6 25.8   2.435   2.821   102   16.6   2:53 (229, 51)  
Dec. 16   9 58.10   -8  1.4   2.380   2.846   108   16.6   2:53 (222, 56)  

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  13 37.35  -42 35.2   5.916   5.289    46   16.8   2:53 (305, 27)  
Dec. 16  13 42.67  -43 53.1   5.813   5.252    51   16.7   2:53 (304, 31)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 23, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 17 mag in excellent condition from autumn to winter. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   5 24.95   36  1.6   2.249   3.213   165   16.7   0:16 (180, 19)  
Dec. 16   5 19.49   36  3.4   2.265   3.231   166   16.8  23:38 (180, 19)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 2, A. Diepvens). It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition for a while. It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  13 35.16   -3 32.2   2.542   2.114    53   16.8   2:53 (269,  8)  
Dec. 16  13 48.03   -4 26.6   2.503   2.142    57   16.8   2:53 (267, 11)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Nov. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will pass the perihelion in 2019. However, it has not been brightening since the discovery in 2010. It is observable in good conditioin in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   6 47.13   75 41.6   8.235   8.843   125   16.8   1:39 (180,-21)  
Dec. 16   6 39.87   76  7.0   8.209   8.831   126   16.8   1:04 (180,-21)  

* (944) Hidalgo

Now it is 16.6 mag (Sept. 16, P. Camilleri, H. Williams). 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)  
Dec.  9  22 59.33  -33 29.8   3.570   3.482    76   17.1  20:51 ( 79, 52)  
Dec. 16  23  2.18  -31 49.8   3.620   3.438    71   17.1  20:57 ( 78, 45)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

Now it is 17.8 mag (Nov. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading slowly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  11 51.72  -11 14.3   2.885   2.789    74   17.3   2:53 (260, 33)  
Dec. 16  11 55.87  -11 58.3   2.838   2.842    80   17.3   2:53 (257, 38)  

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 24, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 18 mag for a long time until 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9   6 32.46   18 50.0   7.050   7.975   158   17.8   1:23 (180, 36)  
Dec. 16   6 26.60   18 37.7   7.009   7.971   166   17.7   0:49 (180, 36)  

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Nov. 23, H. Nohara). It was observed at 17 mag in former 2017. It will be observable at 18 mag in good condition from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  12 52.65    1  5.9   5.601   5.266    65   18.0   2:53 (259, 14)  
Dec. 16  12 53.82    1 47.1   5.497   5.284    72   17.9   2:53 (254, 19)  

* 1I/2017 U1 ( 'Oumuamua )

Possible first interstellar object in the history. It approached to Sun down to 0.25 a.u. on Sept. 9. Now it is fading rapidly. It was 19.0 mag in mid October (Oct. 14, Catalina Sky Survey). But it has already fade down to 24.3 mag (Nov. 17, W. H. Ryan, E. V. Ryan).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  9  23 19.73    7 34.1   2.042   2.369    96   26.4  20:51 (130, 32)  
Dec. 16  23 22.58    8  1.4   2.306   2.517    90   26.7  20:57 (123, 27)  

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