Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 Jan. 20: North)

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Updated on January 22, 2018
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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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* 185P/Petriew

Now it is 12.8 mag (Jan. 16, Vance Petriew). It will 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)  
Jan. 20  22 48.77   -5 59.7   1.411   0.941    41   11.4  18:44 ( 65, 22)  
Jan. 27  23 21.30   -4 20.1   1.377   0.934    42   11.2  18:50 ( 67, 23)  

* C/2017 T1 ( Heinze )

Now it is very bright as 10.1 mag (Jan. 17, Maik Meyer). It will go far away from Earth after this. But it will approach to Sun down to 0.58 a.u. on Feb. 21. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower rapidly after this, and it will be extremely low in February. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  22 20.07   39  5.2   0.495   0.912    66   11.2  18:44 (115, 38)  
Jan. 27  22  2.49   31 53.5   0.669   0.808    54   11.4  18:50 (112, 26)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 11.0 mag (Jan. 19, Sandor Szabo). It will stay bright as 11 mag for a long time until spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until 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)  
Jan. 20   4  6.13   19 43.8   2.182   2.848   123   11.2  20:07 (  0, 75)  
Jan. 27   4  2.04   21 43.0   2.245   2.819   116   11.3  19:36 (  0, 77)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

It brightened up to 9.2 mag from November to December (Nov. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.5 mag still now (Jan. 17, Chris Wyatt). It stays observable in good condition until summer when it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  13 54.01    2  3.3   1.147   1.560    93   11.6   5:37 (351, 57)  
Jan. 27  14  5.30    1 47.5   1.126   1.595    97   11.8   5:35 (357, 57)  

* (3200) Phaethon

It approached to Earth down to 0.07 a.u. in mid December, and it brightened up to 10.4 mag (Dec. 15, Thomas Lehmann). It approaches to Sun down to 0.14 a.u. on Jan. 25, but it is not observable.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  19 48.01  -27  9.7   0.760   0.256     8   18.6   5:37 (291,-18)  
Jan. 27  20 15.01  -19 43.8   1.109   0.157     5   11.9   5:35 (285,-14)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.1 mag (Jan. 17, 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 October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  15 47.25   59 19.9   3.004   3.248    95   13.1   5:37 (211, 57)  
Jan. 27  15 46.21   62  8.4   2.911   3.209    98   12.9   5:35 (204, 58)  

* C/2017 O1 ( ASASSN )

It brightened up to 8.1 mag in autumn (Oct. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 14.2 mag (Jan. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   2 40.57   84 28.1   1.425   2.000   110   13.1  18:48 (180, 41)  
Jan. 27   3 39.36   83 27.3   1.502   2.062   110   13.4  19:19 (180, 42)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

It brightened up to 7.1 mag from May to June in 2017 (June 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.9 mag (Jan. 17, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this. However, it will be extremely low from January to March. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  21 52.91  -52 24.8   3.916   3.201    38   13.5  18:44 ( 38,-17)  
Jan. 27  22  9.71  -51 32.9   3.990   3.267    37   13.6  18:50 ( 40,-19)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.1 mag (Dec. 13, Kunihiro Shima). 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 will appear in the morning sky in late February, then it will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  18 36.33    5 33.3   3.924   3.158    34   13.7   5:37 (274, 15)  
Jan. 27  18 43.20    4 43.0   3.843   3.105    36   13.6   5:35 (277, 18)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 16.7 mag (Jan. 19, Jean-Francois Soulier).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  21 48.88  -10 33.3   6.664   5.798    26   13.8  18:44 ( 72,  7)  
Jan. 27  21 54.13  -10  2.3   6.708   5.797    20   13.9  18:50 ( 76,  2)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 13.8 mag (Jan. 17, Chris Wyatt). It stays 14 mag for a while. It stays observable in the evening sky until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   2  8.57  -30 40.0   1.933   2.013    80   14.2  18:44 (  8, 24)  
Jan. 27   2 17.26  -25 45.1   1.987   2.024    77   14.3  18:50 ( 15, 28)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.9 mag (Dec. 13, Kunihiro Shima). 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  16 36.55   26 49.0   3.970   3.739    69   14.3   5:37 (269, 50)  
Jan. 27  16 37.03   28 32.2   3.874   3.735    74   14.2   5:35 (270, 56)  

* 24P/Schaumasse

Now it is 12.7 mag (Jan. 17, Chris Wyatt). It will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  15 29.31   -8  8.4   1.508   1.459    67   14.3   5:37 (322, 39)  
Jan. 27  15 44.57   -9  4.6   1.506   1.509    71   14.9   5:35 (325, 39)  

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

Brian Skiff found a bright outburst on Dec. 7. It brightened up to 13.2 mag (Dec. 11, Seiichi Yoshida). It stays bright as 14.6 mag still now (Jan. 19, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Jan. 20   2 35.94   11 24.7   7.160   7.404   100   14.7  18:44 (  4, 66)  
Jan. 27   2 36.91   11 32.0   7.292   7.422    93   14.9  18:50 ( 23, 65)  

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly up to 13.8 mag in August (Aug. 22, kunihiro Shima). After that, it is fading gradually. Now it is 15.5 mag (Jan. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 20   0 40.75  -13  6.3   2.544   2.316    65   15.6  18:44 ( 36, 34)  
Jan. 27   0 50.10  -10 58.2   2.597   2.296    61   15.7  18:50 ( 44, 33)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Dec. 28, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
Jan. 20   0 11.03   -2  0.2   4.646   4.276    62   15.6  18:44 ( 52, 39)  
Jan. 27   0 12.04   -2 31.1   4.767   4.280    55   15.7  18:50 ( 59, 33)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Jan. 13, 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)  
Jan. 20  23 15.71   50 59.7   2.868   2.906    82   15.9  18:44 (130, 50)  
Jan. 27  23 28.69   48 59.0   2.863   2.821    77   15.8  18:50 (127, 47)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Jan. 12, 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)  
Jan. 20  10 32.65    4 44.0   8.796   9.585   141   15.9   2:37 (  0, 60)  
Jan. 27  10 31.59    4 59.3   8.732   9.588   148   15.8   2:08 (  0, 60)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Jan. 19, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Jan. 20   8 23.32   37 24.3   4.399   5.345   162   16.0   0:29 (180, 88)  
Jan. 27   8 13.89   38 38.5   4.417   5.350   159   16.0  23:46 (180, 86)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Jan. 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   3 12.89   -0 26.1   6.145   6.474   105   16.1  19:14 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 27   3 13.76   -0  8.0   6.281   6.504    98   16.1  18:50 (  1, 55)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Jan. 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in the northern sky for a long time. 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)  
Jan. 20  20 27.34   64 11.8   3.367   3.416    84   16.1  18:44 (150, 30)  
Jan. 27  20 35.92   65 15.9   3.403   3.440    83   16.1   5:35 (208, 28)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.1 mag (Jan. 15, 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)  
Jan. 20  12  0.82    8 43.5   2.908   3.537   122   16.2   4:05 (  0, 64)  
Jan. 27  12  0.83    8 59.6   2.826   3.536   129   16.1   3:37 (  0, 64)  

* C/2017 S6 ( Catalina )

Mikhail Maslov reported that it looks bright as 13 mag with a large coma by his photo on Dec. 19. However, it is fading more rapidly than predicted after that. It has already faded down to 18.7 mag (Jan. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be getting lower after this, and it will be unobservable in February. It will appear in the morning sky in April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from spring to summer. It will be low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  22 49.62   14 48.1   2.017   1.629    53   16.1  18:44 ( 84, 34)  
Jan. 27  22 49.38   12 27.7   2.136   1.601    45   16.2  18:50 ( 87, 26)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Dec. 25, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
Jan. 20  19 14.07   38 53.9   5.070   4.663    60   16.2   5:37 (238, 25)  
Jan. 27  19 18.47   38 39.5   5.031   4.620    60   16.2   5:35 (241, 28)  

* 37P/Forbes

Now it is 17.4 mag (Dec. 18, Kim Breedlove). It will be observable at 14 mag in good condition from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  16 37.56  -29 10.8   2.408   1.897    48   16.5   5:37 (320, 13)  
Jan. 27  16 58.05  -29 49.1   2.326   1.864    50   16.2   5:35 (321, 13)  

* 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)  
Jan. 20  14  4.82  -50 57.5   5.237   5.068    74   16.3   5:37 (355,  4)  
Jan. 27  14  7.80  -52 28.1   5.116   5.032    79   16.3   5:35 (359,  2)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

It brightened up to 14.8 mag from autumn to winter (Nov. 21, Hiroshi Abe). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Jan. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 20   4 58.60   39  6.9   1.470   2.279   135   16.7  21:00 (180, 86)  
Jan. 27   5  0.50   38 40.2   1.559   2.312   129   16.9  20:35 (180, 86)  

* C/2016 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 20   9 53.75  -14 14.3   2.202   2.996   136   16.7   1:58 (  0, 41)  
Jan. 27   9 50.21  -14 58.6   2.193   3.029   141   16.7   1:27 (  0, 40)  

* 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 16.0 mag (Jan. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   7 31.95   17 45.4   1.467   2.444   171   16.7  23:32 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 27   7 25.00   18 42.1   1.541   2.500   163   17.0  22:58 (  0, 74)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 18, 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)  
Jan. 20   5 57.63   76 46.2   8.223   8.773   121   16.8  22:00 (180, 48)  
Jan. 27   5 50.85   76 37.1   8.252   8.762   118   16.8  21:26 (180, 48)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 21, Katsumi Yoshimoto). 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)  
Jan. 20  14 43.48   -7 28.4   2.268   2.292    78   17.0   5:37 (335, 44)  
Jan. 27  14 52.31   -7 45.5   2.214   2.325    83   17.0   5:35 (341, 45)  

* (3552) Don Quixote

It will brighten up to 16 mag in spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable until August, but it will be unobservable after that. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable until June, but it will be observable in good condition after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  16 30.47  -43  2.3   2.273   1.812    50   17.2   5:37 (329,  2)  
Jan. 27  16 57.40  -44 39.0   2.177   1.755    52   17.1   5:35 (330,  1)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1

Now it is 16.8 mag (Jan. 12, 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)  
Jan. 20   5  0.91   35  5.0   2.547   3.331   136   17.1  21:02 (180, 90)  
Jan. 27   5  0.30   34 47.1   2.637   3.352   129   17.2  20:34 (  0, 90)  

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Jan. 18, 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)  
Jan. 20   5 57.26   17 35.4   7.090   7.952   149   17.3  21:58 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 27   5 52.09   17 23.4   7.159   7.948   140   17.3  21:25 (  0, 72)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

It brightened up to 14.9 mag in autumn (Oct. 19, Catalina Sky Survey). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 18.2 mag (Jan. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   1 18.72   19  0.9   2.998   3.086    85   17.3  18:44 ( 55, 66)  
Jan. 27   1 25.40   19 33.1   3.109   3.102    80   17.4  18:50 ( 65, 61)  

* 355P/2017 M2 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

Return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2004. It brightened rapidly up to 14.3 mag (Nov. 15, Catalina Sky Survey). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 18.0 mag (Jan. 12, Kunihiro Shima).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   2 52.28   23 20.2   1.399   1.941   107   17.4  18:54 (  0, 78)  
Jan. 27   3  2.67   24 23.2   1.495   1.970   103   17.7  18:50 ( 15, 79)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

Now it is 18.4 mag (Jan. 15, 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)  
Jan. 20  12  1.48  -14  8.0   2.579   3.098   112   17.5   4:05 (  0, 41)  
Jan. 27  11 59.29  -14 11.1   2.534   3.148   120   17.5   3:36 (  0, 41)  

* 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 16.3 mag (Jan. 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   2 46.27   15 33.6   3.289   3.658   104   17.5  18:48 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 27   2 49.08   15 41.7   3.469   3.733    97   17.8  18:50 ( 19, 70)  

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 20  12 51.32    6 42.0   4.963   5.380   110   17.8   4:55 (  0, 62)  
Jan. 27  12 48.80    7 59.4   4.868   5.401   117   17.8   4:25 (  0, 63)  

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

It was observed at 17 mag in 2017. It will be observable at 18 mag in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  14 57.98  -20 56.1   6.381   6.141    71   17.9   5:37 (337, 31)  
Jan. 27  15  0.53  -20 34.7   6.280   6.155    78   17.9   5:35 (343, 32)  

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