Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 May 5: North)

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 Updated on May 8, 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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* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 10.5 mag (May 3, Seiichi Yoshida). It is expected to brighten up to 9 mag in summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until the comet will fade out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until June. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  19 41.17  -10 43.1   1.961   2.475   108   10.4   3:31 (333, 41)  
May  12  19 38.24  -13 25.8   1.815   2.440   116   10.2   3:22 (341, 40)

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.2 mag (May 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays bright as 11 mag for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable for a long time after this. In the Northern Hemispehre, it stays observable for a long time until the comet fades out. But it will be getting lower gradually after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   5 22.81   44 11.1   3.245   2.603    43   11.0  20:23 (128, 25)  
May  12   5 36.75   45 26.1   3.289   2.602    40   11.1  20:31 (131, 22)

* 66P/du Toit

It brightened rapidly as expected. Now it is very bright as 10.8 mag (Apr. 20, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It stays at 11-12 mag until June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable from April to June when the comet becomes brightest. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  22  3.17  -38 20.5   0.905   1.304    85   11.9   3:31 (320,  1)  
May  12  22 36.86  -36 44.9   0.898   1.294    85   11.8   3:22 (316,  0)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.9 mag (May 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays 12 mag for a long time until spring in 2019. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time, although it becomes unobservable temporarily from mid June to August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until September. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   7 47.88   57 11.4   2.986   2.780    68   12.1  20:23 (139, 49)  
May  12   7 48.77   54  4.3   3.068   2.761    63   12.1  20:31 (134, 45)

* 169P/NEAT

The condition of this apparition is worst. It brightens up to 12.5 mag from April to May. But it is not observable at all. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   2 57.53   13 19.2   1.615   0.613     3   12.6  20:23 (122,-18)  
May  12   3 43.21   15 24.4   1.637   0.649     7   13.1  20:31 (122,-15)

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.4 mag (Apr. 8, Alexander Baransky). It will brighten up to 9 mag in summer. However, it is hardly observable when it is bright. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late December. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable from July to September, but it locates in extremely low. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   2 44.08   28 25.2   2.526   1.556    12   12.9   3:31 (226, -8)  
May  12   2 59.69   26 44.8   2.450   1.463     9   12.6   3:22 (228, -9)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is very bright as 12.2 mag (May 4, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be observable at 12-13 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)  
May   5  13 43.87   56 58.5   3.389   3.789   105   13.0  22:49 (180, 68)  
May  12  13 20.99   56 42.5   3.466   3.800   101   13.1  21:59 (180, 68)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is faint as 16.5 mag (May 5, Jean-Francois Soulier). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  23  3.24   -2  2.1   6.253   5.784    58   13.7   3:31 (283, 15)  
May  12  23  6.77   -1 31.6   6.157   5.784    63   13.7   3:22 (285, 18)

* 48P/Johnson

Now it is 14.8 mag (Apr. 26, Catalina Sky Survey). It will brighten rapidly after this, and it will brighten up to 11 mag from summer to autumn. 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)  
May   5  21 10.99  -15 35.3   1.921   2.150    88   14.0   3:31 (314, 25)  
May  12  21 22.75  -15 19.5   1.829   2.131    92   13.7   3:22 (315, 27)

* 37P/Forbes

Now it is bright as 12.6 mag (Apr. 16, Chris Wyatt). It will be observable at 13-14 mag in good condition from spring to summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  21 50.88  -18 17.4   1.432   1.610    80   13.9   3:31 (308, 17)  
May  12  22  7.43  -16 17.8   1.387   1.612    82   13.9   3:22 (307, 19)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is 16.4 mag (Apr. 22, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten rapidly, and brighten up to 7 mag from August to September. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable from July to August. But it will be observable in good condition before and after tha. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  19 47.55   20 14.0   1.517   1.932    97   14.9   3:31 (302, 66)  
May  12  19 58.14   23 20.0   1.416   1.868    99   14.5   3:22 (299, 69)

* 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 15.7 mag (Apr. 14, B. Lutkenhoner, G. Gasparovic, Y. Chen). 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)  
May   5   1  3.45  -43  0.9   4.540   4.192    63   14.9   3:31 (304,-30)  
May  12   1 12.22  -42 57.9   4.547   4.257    67   15.0   3:22 (304,-28)

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Apr. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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 locates extremely low until summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  19 19.71   45 10.6   3.868   4.051    93   15.0   3:31 (223, 75)  
May  12  19 11.34   45 47.9   3.768   4.013    96   14.9   3:22 (207, 78)

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Apr. 25, J. Drummond). 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)  
May   5  12 44.87  -68  5.4   3.922   4.569   124   15.3  21:51 (  0,-13)  
May  12  12 32.98  -68  1.9   3.898   4.539   123   15.2  21:12 (  0,-13)

* C/2017 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to approach to Sun down to 0.2 a.u. and brighten up to 3 mag in August. Now it is 16.6 mag (Apr. 22, Thomas Lehmann). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in the morning sky until early August when the comet brightens up to 6 mag. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   0  1.36   54 43.4   2.737   2.228    50   15.7   3:31 (222, 31)  
May  12   0 17.62   55 23.7   2.619   2.118    50   15.3   3:22 (221, 31)

* 65P/Gunn

Appearing in the morning sky. It is observable at 15 mag in 2018, in good 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)  
May   5  22 44.41  -16 57.9   3.300   3.074    68   15.8   3:31 (298,  9)  
May  12  22 52.24  -16 29.4   3.223   3.085    73   15.7   3:22 (299, 11)

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

Appearing in the morning sky. It is fading now. But it stays 16 mag until summer. But actually, it is 18.1 mag (Mar. 23, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato), fainter than this ephemeris. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  18 30.35  -26 28.5   3.012   3.711   127   15.9   3:31 (357, 29)  
May  12  18 16.71  -27  3.8   2.953   3.757   137   15.9   3:00 (  0, 28)

* (3552) Don Quixote

It brightens 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. Its cometary activity was observed on Mar. 26 (M. Mommert, D. Polishook, N. Moskovitz). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   0  0.14  -19 13.0   1.524   1.240    54   16.0   3:31 (289, -7)  
May  12   0 18.63  -14 58.0   1.519   1.241    54   16.0   3:22 (285, -4)

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Fading now. It stays observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable until June in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   0 50.52   -7  5.3   5.182   4.419    36   16.0   3:31 (271,-10)  
May  12   0 53.05   -7 37.9   5.115   4.434    43   16.0   3:22 (274, -7)

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Apr. 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)  
May   5   7  6.28   44 57.9   5.881   5.464    60   16.1  20:23 (122, 43)  
May  12   7  7.72   45  7.3   5.989   5.475    55   16.2  20:31 (124, 37)

* 364P/2018 A2 ( PanSTARRS )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2013. Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 20, Catalina Sky Survey). It will brighten very rapidly after this, up to 11 mag in summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition all through this apparition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the high light from mid June to mid August. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5   8 38.01   31 24.9   0.696   1.120    79   16.9  20:23 ( 95, 57)  
May  12   8 42.11   29  1.4   0.663   1.051    74   16.1  20:31 ( 95, 50)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.0 mag (Apr. 6, Sandor Szabo). It will be fading slowly until summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  11 20.05   12 53.1   2.925   3.553   121   16.2  20:27 (  0, 68)  
May  12  11 20.26   12 34.5   3.013   3.556   114   16.3  20:31 ( 19, 66)

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

It was observed at 16 mag from summer to autumn in 2017. It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition also in 2018. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  23 49.11   10  5.9   3.538   2.894    43   16.4   3:31 (266, 12)  
May  12  23 58.53   11 38.8   3.506   2.922    47   16.4   3:22 (266, 15)

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

It brightened up to 9.2 mag from November to December (Nov. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Apr. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
May   5  13 41.59    5  4.4   1.281   2.229   153   16.5  22:48 (  0, 60)  
May  12  13 37.00    4 34.3   1.362   2.277   147   16.9  22:16 (  0, 59)

* C/2017 S6 ( Catalina )

It brightened up to 15-16 mag in winter. Appearing in the morning sky. It stays observable at 16.5 mag for a while. It will be observable in good condition after this in the Southern Hemisphere. But it stays low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  22 52.42   -6 35.8   2.025   1.795    62   16.6   3:31 (288, 14)  
May  12  22 47.72   -8 46.2   1.906   1.844    70   16.6   3:22 (294, 17)

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Apr. 9, 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)  
May   5  10 17.64    8 59.1   9.275   9.647   108   16.7  20:23 ( 30, 61)  
May  12  10 18.24    9  6.9   9.389   9.652   102   16.7  20:31 ( 45, 56)

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Apr. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 15 mag in January, 2019. It stays observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemispehre. It is observable only until June in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  10 53.57   33 32.7   3.644   4.032   105   16.9  20:23 ( 73, 85)  
May  12  10 46.31   34  3.6   3.731   3.995    97   16.9  20:31 ( 90, 77)

* C/2018 C2 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Apr. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 16-17 mag from spring to summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  14 59.90   38 44.6   1.228   1.987   125   16.9   0:11 (180, 86)  
May  12  14 55.10   36 44.4   1.212   1.974   125   16.9  23:34 (180, 89)

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. It will brighten rapidly, and it is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. It will be 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)  
May   5  21 59.09  -11 38.0   2.470   2.438    76   17.3   3:31 (302, 20)  
May  12  22  9.30  -10 22.4   2.335   2.384    80   17.0   3:22 (302, 23)

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Apr. 20, Ken-ichi Kadota). 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)  
May   5   7 42.63   84 33.9   4.052   3.869    72   17.1  20:23 (174, 38)  
May  12   8 33.13   82 24.2   4.119   3.905    70   17.2  20:31 (172, 40)

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Apr. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading gradually after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in autumn. 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)  
May   5  22 52.69   68 18.3   7.532   7.143    63   17.1   3:31 (207, 40)  
May  12  23  1.41   69  4.6   7.554   7.166    63   17.2   3:22 (205, 41)

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Apr. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  14 45.11  -10 15.3   5.373   6.377   174   17.2  23:52 (  0, 45)  
May  12  14 41.91   -9 20.2   5.403   6.396   168   17.2  23:21 (  0, 46)

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Apr. 21, Alexander Baransky). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in July. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  11 32.63   25 43.3   5.201   5.728   116   17.3  20:40 (  0, 81)  
May  12  11 28.86   26 14.6   5.335   5.754   109   17.3  20:31 ( 30, 80)

* C/2017 M5 ( TOTAS )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Apr. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition from spring to autumn. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  20 55.82   -0 38.5   5.942   5.993    88   17.3   3:31 (306, 39)  
May  12  20 58.03   -0 10.4   5.837   5.991    93   17.3   3:22 (310, 42)

* 143P/Kowal-Mrkos

Now it is 16.3 mag (Apr. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  12 44.21   -9 53.2   1.611   2.532   149   17.4  21:51 (  0, 45)  
May  12  12 43.10   -9 24.8   1.656   2.532   142   17.5  21:23 (  0, 46)

* C/2014 R3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Apr. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading gradually after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  10 40.32   36 54.2   8.043   8.302   101   17.5  20:23 (106, 83)  
May  12  10 38.24   36 15.9   8.168   8.322    95   17.6  20:31 (100, 75)

* 187P/LINEAR

Now it is 19.3 mag (Apr. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It was predicted to be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from spring to summer. But recently, it is fainter than predicted. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  16 29.37   -7 59.3   2.951   3.881   153   17.6   1:40 (  0, 47)  
May  12  16 25.62   -7 52.7   2.917   3.881   159   17.6   1:09 (  0, 47)

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 17.5 mag (Apr. 21, Catalina Sky Survey). It stays observable at 17-18 mag in good condition for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  14 54.03   -3 46.6   1.821   2.814   167   17.6   0:05 (  0, 51)  
May  12  14 48.30   -3 33.2   1.865   2.850   164   17.8  23:27 (  0, 51)

* 186P/Garradd

Now it is 17.8 mag (Apr. 6, J. Drummond). It stays 18 mag from 2018 to 2020. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  12 23.58  -37  5.3   3.671   4.509   142   17.9  21:30 (  0, 18)  
May  12  12 20.38  -36 35.6   3.707   4.505   137   17.9  21:00 (  0, 18)

* 105P/Singer Brewster

Now it is 16.6 mag (Apr. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 18 mag in good condition in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May   5  12 18.45    0 37.6   1.305   2.174   139   17.9  21:26 (  0, 56)  
May  12  12 18.57    1 12.7   1.340   2.157   132   17.9  20:58 (  0, 56)

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