Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 Sept. 29: South)

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Updated on October 4, 2018
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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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* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is very bright as 7.9 mag (Sept. 24, Willian Souza). It stays bright as 7 mag until September. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition. It will be getting higher gradually after this also in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   6 47.41    2 45.2   0.444   1.048    83    7.3   4:15 (224, 42)  
Oct.  6   7  1.05   -6 13.3   0.484   1.078    85    7.7   4:04 (231, 50)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 7.7 mag in June (June 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 10.2 mag (Oct. 1, Chris Wyatt). It stays bright as 9-10 mag for a while. 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 not observable for a long time until autumn in 2019 when the comet fades out down to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  14 26.32  -61 32.3   2.540   2.284    63    9.9  19:26 ( 34, 34)  
Oct.  6  14 29.34  -62 42.2   2.621   2.305    60   10.0  19:32 ( 32, 30)  

* 38P/Stephan-Oterma

Now it is 11.2 mag (Oct. 3, Paul Camilleri). It will brighten up to 9 mag until winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until it fades out. In the Southern Hemispehre, it is observable in good condition until autumn, but it will be low in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   5 50.98   11 35.9   1.220   1.678    97   10.6   4:15 (202, 41)  
Oct.  6   6  8.19   12 50.6   1.149   1.652   100   10.3   4:04 (201, 40)  

* 46P/Wirtanen

Now it is bright as 10.9 mag (Oct. 1, Chris Wyatt). It will approach to Earth down to 0.08 a.u. in December, and it is expected to brighten up to 3 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition until mid December when it brightens up to 3 mag. But it becomes unobservable after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   1 52.90  -25 36.1   0.496   1.434   144   11.5   1:24 (180, 80)  
Oct.  6   1 55.61  -27 41.1   0.440   1.378   143   10.8   0:59 (180, 82)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

Outburst occured on Aug. 14. Now it is very bright as 11.4 mag (Oct. 3, Paul Camilleri). 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)  
Sept.29   0 27.97   30 48.5   0.498   1.458   151   12.0  23:55 (180, 24)  
Oct.  6   0 29.99   32 53.4   0.475   1.436   151   11.9  23:30 (180, 22)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.1 mag (Sept. 5, Thomas Lehmann). It will be fading slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays low until October. But it will be observable in good condition after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer in 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  12 17.88   47 30.0   3.551   3.002    49   12.0   4:15 (234,-40)  
Oct.  6  12 36.06   46 36.8   3.557   3.038    51   12.0   4:04 (235,-40)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.5 mag (Sept. 21, Paul Camilleri). It stays 12 mag for a long time until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   9  0.55   12 23.0   3.283   2.776    51   12.3   4:15 (244, 13)  
Oct.  6   9  1.05   10 23.1   3.195   2.797    57   12.3   4:04 (243, 17)  

* C/2017 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened rapidly in outburst up to 6.9 mag (July 19, Maik Meyer). Then it faded down to 9.3 mag (Aug. 2, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It approached to Sun down to 0.2 a.u. in August, and it was expected to brighten up to 3 mag. However, it must have been already disintegrated. Now it is not observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky in late October. But it will be too faint to observe.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  12  7.77   14 55.0   2.116   1.198    17   12.4   4:15 (269,-25)  
Oct.  6  12 21.04   16 15.4   2.209   1.336    22   13.0   4:04 (267,-25)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 8.7 mag in July (July 18, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 12.3 mag (Aug. 29, Chris Wyatt). It will be unobservable soon even in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  13 24.84  -28 41.8   2.285   1.512    30   12.6  19:26 ( 62, 10)  
Oct.  6  13 44.27  -27 58.6   2.432   1.605    26   13.0  19:32 ( 61,  7)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outburst occured on Sept. 20. Now it is bright as 11.6 mag (Oct. 1, Paul Camilleri).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  22 53.21    0  1.9   4.830   5.772   158   13.1  22:20 (180, 55)  
Oct.  6  22 50.66   -0 13.0   4.878   5.771   150   13.2  21:50 (180, 55)  

* 48P/Johnson

Now it is bright as 12.6 mag (Oct. 3, Paul Camilleri). It stays at 12-13 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)  
Sept.29  22 28.13  -28 43.7   1.175   2.040   139   13.2  21:56 (180, 84)  
Oct.  6  22 29.10  -28 24.7   1.233   2.051   133   13.4  21:29 (180, 83)  

* C/2018 N1 ( NEOWISE )

It approached to Earth down to 0.3 a.u., and brightened up to 8.3 mag in July (July 22, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 12.9 mag (Sept. 8, Chris Wyatt). It will be unobservable in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  15  7.13   -7 17.4   2.159   1.563    41   13.6  19:26 ( 94, 18)  
Oct.  6  15  8.24   -6 57.1   2.326   1.620    35   13.9  19:32 ( 89, 11)  

* C/2018 L2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 13.9 mag (Sept. 3, Paul Camilleri). It stays at 14-15 mag for a long time from summer to winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower rapidly after this, then it becomes unobservable after October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time until it fades out. But it stays extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  15 18.68   -4 32.3   2.486   1.906    44   13.8  19:26 ( 98, 19)  
Oct.  6  15 30.65   -3 14.0   2.502   1.868    41   13.7  19:32 ( 96, 14)  

* 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup

It brightens up to 13 mag in October. But it is not observable at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  13  8.29   -7 28.0   2.035   1.083    13   14.6  19:26 ( 77, -5)  
Oct.  6  13 37.26   -8 37.4   2.032   1.084    13   13.8  19:32 ( 75, -6)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is 13.5 mag (Sept. 29, Piotr Guzik). It stays at 12-13 mag for a long time from winter to autumn in 2019. It stays observable in good condition until winter when the comet brightens up to 12-13 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  21 20.01   -7 44.0   1.686   2.488   133   14.0  20:48 (180, 63)  
Oct.  6  21 19.68   -8 12.9   1.724   2.459   126   13.9  20:20 (180, 63)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.0 mag (Sept. 6, Paul Camilleri). It stays 13-14 mag until summer in 2019. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a while. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  16 19.30   11 22.5   3.793   3.419    60   14.2  19:26 (121, 21)  
Oct.  6  16 21.01    9 10.7   3.865   3.400    55   14.3  19:32 (114, 16)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.3 mag (Aug. 17, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be hardly observable after this. It becomes extremely low in September also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  11 54.99   35 27.9   4.953   4.211    38   14.3   4:15 (247,-32)  
Oct.  6  11 56.70   35  5.5   4.934   4.239    41   14.4   4:04 (246,-29)  

* (944) Hidalgo

Now it is 14.2 mag (Sept. 17, Seiichi Yoshida). It will brighten up to 14 mag in winter. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer in 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   6 11.61   57 35.9   1.640   1.967    93   14.7   4:15 (192, -4)  
Oct.  6   6 36.12   60 48.5   1.591   1.958    95   14.6   4:04 (191, -8)  

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Aug. 16, P. Camilleri, H. Williams). 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)  
Sept.29  14 16.61  -66 33.1   4.349   4.072    67   15.0  19:26 ( 28, 34)  
Oct.  6  14 36.13  -67  1.5   4.377   4.056    64   15.0  19:32 ( 27, 32)  

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 13.8 mag (Oct. 3, Paul Camilleri). It will brighten up to 12 mag in autumn in 2019. It stays observable in good condition for a while in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   2 44.57  -46 52.8   4.306   4.906   121   15.1   2:15 (  0, 78)  
Oct.  6   2 36.02  -47  8.6   4.248   4.860   122   15.0   1:39 (  0, 78)  

* 37P/Forbes

It brightened up to 12 mag from spring to summer. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 14.1 mag still now (Sept. 7, Thomas Lehmann).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  23  0.96    5 44.6   1.157   2.126   159   15.7  22:28 (180, 49)  
Oct.  6  22 57.51    5 25.5   1.226   2.165   153   16.0  21:57 (180, 49)  

* 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 16.6 mag (Sept. 3, Slooh.com Chile Observatory, La Dehesa). 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)  
Sept.29   1 38.32  -54 44.1   4.933   5.514   120   16.1   1:09 (  0, 70)  
Oct.  6   1 31.56  -54 50.5   5.014   5.575   119   16.2   0:35 (  0, 70)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 17.3 mag (Sept. 14, A. Diepvens). It will brighten up to 13-14 mag in winter, and it will be observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   8 41.25   29 59.8   2.660   2.350    61   16.3   4:15 (228,  4)  
Oct.  6   8 56.14   29 41.5   2.569   2.328    64   16.2   4:04 (228,  5)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 16.2 mag (Sept. 16, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It is observable 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)  
Sept.29  22 55.12  -20 12.0   2.447   3.348   149   16.2  22:22 (180, 75)  
Oct.  6  22 51.75  -20  9.7   2.515   3.363   142   16.3  21:51 (180, 75)  

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

It will brighten up to 15 mag in winter. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  11  0.82   37 52.2   4.073   3.426    44   16.4   4:15 (239,-23)  
Oct.  6  11  4.51   38 43.6   3.970   3.407    49   16.3   4:04 (237,-22)  

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Sept. 19, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). It is expected to brighten up to 7-8 mag in 2020. In 2018, it will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition from autum to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   3 59.28   -5  0.1   5.830   6.455   124   16.4   3:30 (180, 60)  
Oct.  6   3 57.11   -5 14.3   5.694   6.397   131   16.3   3:00 (180, 60)  

* (3552) Don Quixote

Now it is 16.2 mag (June 17, Jean-Francois Soulier). It stays 16 mag for a while. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition after this until it fades out. It will be unobservable soon in the Southern Hemisphere. 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)  
Sept.29   2 37.69   51 48.5   1.401   2.118   122   16.5   2:09 (180,  3)  
Oct.  6   2 24.76   53 14.5   1.417   2.176   127   16.5   1:29 (180,  2)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 14.7 mag in early 2018 (Jan. 25, Catalina Sky Survey). Now it is fading slowly. Now it is 16.5 mag (Sept. 16, Kunihiro Shima). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until the comet fades out. It is never observable again in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   8 22.28   55 22.8   5.975   5.800    75   16.5   4:15 (208,-12)  
Oct.  6   8 24.01   56 34.0   5.893   5.820    80   16.5   4:04 (206,-11)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Sept. 12, D. Buczynski). It stays 16-17 mag for a long time until 2020. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  10 28.68   67 21.3   8.744   8.492    72   16.9   4:15 (207,-30)  
Oct.  6  10 38.49   67 23.8   8.679   8.488    75   16.8   4:04 (206,-30)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Sept. 18, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). Fading now. It stays observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Southern Hemisphere. It stays low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  23 33.43  -36 43.9   4.064   4.870   139   16.9  23:00 (  0, 88)  
Oct.  6  23 23.47  -37 44.4   4.158   4.898   133   16.9  22:23 (  0, 87)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 17.1 mag (Sept. 16, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   7 28.74   28 49.3   2.390   2.361    76   17.0   4:15 (217, 15)  
Oct.  6   7 40.42   28 22.6   2.314   2.363    80   16.9   4:04 (216, 16)  

* 66P/du Toit

It brightened rapidly, and brightened up to 10.2 mag from May to June (May 22, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.9 mag (Sept. 16, ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala). It stays observable in good condition 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)  
Sept.29   0 22.18  -10 26.4   1.116   2.105   167   16.9  23:49 (180, 65)  
Oct.  6   0 13.39   -9 32.0   1.189   2.167   163   17.5  23:12 (180, 64)  

* A/2017 U7

Asteroid, but it brightened rapidly. Now it is 16.8 mag (Aug. 16, Slooh.com Chile Observatory, La Dehesa).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  23  4.49  -46 16.5   6.161   6.832   128   17.0  22:31 (  0, 79)  
Oct.  6  22 55.73  -46 19.1   6.217   6.816   123   17.0  21:55 (  0, 79)  

* 137P/Shoemaker-Levy 2

Now it is 16.5 mag (Sept. 17, J. Nicolas, C. Rinner, F. Kugel, A. Klotz). It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from August to September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29  21 22.01   -7 14.3   1.223   2.053   134   17.0  20:50 (180, 62)  
Oct.  6  21 24.18   -7 29.9   1.256   2.032   128   17.1  20:25 (180, 62)  

* P/2018 L3 ( NEAT )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2005. Now it is 17.3 mag (Sept. 15, A. Martin, K. Kleemann-Boeker). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in autumn. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   1 58.95   35 43.8   1.206   2.072   139   17.1   1:30 (180, 19)  
Oct.  6   1 58.40   35 25.2   1.177   2.078   145   17.0   1:02 (180, 19)  

* P/2018 P1 ( Hill )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 17.5 mag in 2010. Now it is 18.1 mag (Sept. 9, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It is expected to brighten up to 16.5 mag from November to December. It is observable in excellent 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)  
Sept.29   5 29.96   24 41.2   1.487   1.963   102   17.3   4:15 (192, 29)  
Oct.  6   5 40.52   25 37.3   1.420   1.959   106   17.2   4:04 (190, 29)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 18.0 mag (Sept. 10, iTelescope Observatory, Mayhill). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in winter. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   9 16.86   21 35.0   2.512   2.032    50   17.3   4:15 (240,  4)  
Oct.  6   9 31.29   21 14.2   2.484   2.067    54   17.3   4:04 (240,  5)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Sept. 14, A. Diepvens). It will be fading gradually after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in winter. 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)  
Sept.29  22 50.15   76 49.6   7.350   7.660   104   17.3  22:17 (180,-22)  
Oct.  6  22 44.75   76 16.2   7.339   7.687   106   17.3  21:44 (180,-21)  

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly up to 13.8 mag in last August (Aug. 22, 2017, Kunihiro Shima). Now it is 16.8 mag (Aug. 18, Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition after this. It will be observable also in the Southern Hemisphere in December, but it stays low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   9 17.67   28 51.3   2.831   2.378    53   17.3   4:15 (235, -1)  
Oct.  6   9 31.48   28 47.6   2.785   2.402    57   17.3   4:04 (234,  0)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Now it is 17.3 mag (Sept. 18, Catalina Sky Survey). It will brighten very rapidly after this. It will brighten up to 14.5 mag from January to February, and it is expected to be observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   7 49.94   21 17.8   1.843   1.773    70   17.6   4:15 (225, 19)  
Oct.  6   8  8.61   20 12.1   1.765   1.747    72   17.3   4:04 (226, 19)  

* 364P/2018 A2 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened rapidly up to 11.1 mag (July 13, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.4 mag (Sept. 16, Kunihiro Shima). It will be fainter than 18 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   0  5.84  -23 55.7   0.644   1.604   153   17.4  23:32 (180, 79)  
Oct.  6  23 55.15  -21 46.8   0.732   1.677   150   17.8  22:54 (180, 77)  

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Sept. 11, D. Buczynski). It was observed at 16 mag from summer to autumn in 2017. It will be observable at 17 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)  
Sept.29   0 55.54   30  0.7   2.774   3.683   150   17.4   0:27 (180, 25)  
Oct.  6   0 51.18   29 45.6   2.796   3.727   155   17.5  23:50 (180, 25)  

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

It was observed at 17 mag in last winter. It will be observable in good condition at 17.5 mag also in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   5 45.92   10  0.6   7.766   7.982    98   17.5   4:15 (201, 43)  
Oct.  6   5 43.53    9 33.9   7.652   7.987   106   17.5   4:04 (195, 44)  

* P/2018 P3 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is 17.3 mag (Sept. 16, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It will be fading after October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   0  2.46  -18 40.1   0.787   1.759   158   17.5  23:29 (180, 74)  
Oct.  6  23 58.30  -18  0.8   0.802   1.757   154   17.5  22:58 (180, 73)  

* P/2018 R1 ( LINEAR-Skiff )

Return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 17 mag in 2001. It was missed at the last return in 2010. Now it is 19.1 mag (Sept. 8, E. Schwab, D. Abreu). It was predicted to brighten up to 17.5 mag from September to November. But actually, it is a bit fainter than predicted.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   2  2.67  -13 49.2   1.266   2.192   150   17.5   1:34 (180, 69)  
Oct.  6   1 58.15  -13 41.6   1.247   2.191   154   17.5   1:02 (180, 69)  

* 171P/Spahr

Now it is 19.7 mag (Sept. 18, R. Fichtl). It will brighten rapidly. It is expected to be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   4 45.07   -6 38.7   1.393   2.013   113   17.8   4:15 (180, 62)  
Oct.  6   4 51.15   -7  2.0   1.313   1.985   117   17.5   3:54 (180, 62)  

* 361P/2017 S4 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Sept. 13, iTelescope Observatory, Mayhill). It was observed at 18 mag in last winter. It will be observable in good condition at 17.5 mag also in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   6 58.85   10 26.1   2.825   2.845    80   17.8   4:15 (221, 35)  
Oct.  6   7  5.87    9 38.4   2.747   2.855    85   17.8   4:04 (219, 37)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Aug. 23, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It stays 17 mag in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.29   5 14.09    3 30.9   7.297   7.645   106   17.8   4:15 (192, 51)  
Oct.  6   5 14.12    3 12.8   7.232   7.679   113   17.8   4:04 (185, 52)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.