Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2019 Feb. 23: North)

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 Updated on February 24, 2019
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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/2018 Y1 ( Iwamoto )

It approached to Earth down to 0.3 a.u. in mid February, and brightened up to 5.5 mag (Feb. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 6.9 mag (Feb. 23, Osamu Miyazaki). In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in excellent condition. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   6 21.16   34 55.8   0.496   1.309   119    7.2  20:04 (180, 90)  
Mar.  2   5 20.91   34 59.7   0.725   1.333   100    8.2  19:19 ( 93, 82)

* 46P/Wirtanen

It approached to Earth down to 0.08 a.u. in mid December, and it brightened up to 3.4 mag (Dec. 14, Seiichi Yoshida). it looked so large as 3 times of Moon. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 8.9 mag still now (Feb. 22, Maik Meyer). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays low for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   9 36.00   47 50.4   0.497   1.411   141    9.7  23:24 (180, 77)  
Mar.  2   9 38.94   45 27.4   0.567   1.467   139   10.5  23:00 (180, 80)

* 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 11.5 mag (Feb. 11, Chris Wyatt). 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 when the comet fades out down to 16 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   3 31.53  -64 54.5   3.216   3.117    75   11.7  19:13 ( 12,-12)  
Mar.  2   3 43.97  -61 39.2   3.266   3.170    75   11.8  19:19 ( 16,-10)

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is 13.5 mag (Jan. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be unobservable temporarily soon. But it will appear in the morning sky again at 13-14 mag in August. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   0 37.88    4 22.4   2.746   2.039    36   12.5  19:13 ( 83, 18)  
Mar.  2   0 53.06    5 43.3   2.781   2.031    33   12.4  19:19 ( 87, 15)

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

It brightened up to 9.0 mag from autumn to winter (Nov. 16, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.4 mag still now (Feb. 23, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Feb. 23   4 57.95   25 27.0   1.419   1.894   102   12.5  19:13 ( 32, 79)  
Mar.  2   5 12.69   25  4.2   1.534   1.945    98   12.9  19:19 ( 47, 76)

* C/2018 L2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 12.2 mag (Feb. 2, Ken Harikae). It will be fading gradually after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time until it fades out. But it stays extremely low. It will never be observable again in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  21 51.72   36  6.6   2.559   2.015    46   12.6   5:13 (236, 15)  
Mar.  2  22 15.70   37 51.5   2.624   2.063    46   13.0   5:05 (234, 15)

* 38P/Stephan-Oterma

It brightened up to 9.5 mag from autumn to winter (Dec. 14, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.6 mag still now (Feb. 23, Seiichi Yoshida). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until it fades out. It locates low in the Southern Hemispehre. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   8 27.62   46 48.2   1.209   2.040   135   12.7  22:16 (180, 78)  
Mar.  2   8 30.16   46  5.6   1.302   2.092   131   13.1  21:51 (180, 79)

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 12.9 mag (Feb. 3, Chris Wyatt). 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)  
Feb. 23  11 31.24   31 51.3   1.202   2.132   153   13.3   1:23 (  0, 87)  
Mar.  2  11 25.76   31 58.1   1.200   2.136   154   13.3   0:50 (  0, 87)

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Jan. 22, Thomas Lehmann). It will brighten up to 10-11 mag in autumn. It will be unobservable temporarily in March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   1 12.72  -20  3.2   4.669   3.990    42   13.4  19:13 ( 58,  9)  
Mar.  2   1 16.22  -18 17.4   4.693   3.951    37   13.3  19:19 ( 64,  5)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.0 mag (Feb. 4, Chris Wyatt). It will be fading after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   5 47.60  -21 53.2   3.098   3.493   105   13.6  19:35 (  0, 33)  
Mar.  2   5 42.14  -21 34.7   3.238   3.537    99   13.7  19:19 (  5, 33)

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 13.3 mag (Feb. 9, Chris Wyatt). It stays 13-14 mag until summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  17 32.45  -19 44.8   3.467   3.270    70   13.8   5:13 (325, 27)  
Mar.  2  17 32.72  -21 10.0   3.351   3.277    77   13.8   5:05 (330, 28)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It is not observable now. It will appear in the morning sky in May. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  23 33.16    3 31.0   6.671   5.767    22   13.8  19:13 ( 92,  4)  
Mar.  2  23 38.34    4  5.6   6.708   5.767    16   13.8  19:19 ( 96, -2)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Now it is 13.9 mag (Feb. 9, Chris Wyatt). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in May. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  11 43.44   -6 24.8   0.832   1.775   153   14.3   1:35 (  0, 48)  
Mar.  2  11 39.58   -6 11.0   0.836   1.803   161   14.5   1:04 (  0, 49)

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is bright as 14.8 mag (Dec. 12, Kunihiro Shima). It stays 14 mag for a long time in 2019. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in excellent condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observasble until summer in 2020. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  10  0.03  -58 37.4   2.775   3.264   111   14.4  23:45 (  0, -4)  
Mar.  2   9 37.83  -59 40.3   2.747   3.241   111   14.3  22:56 (  0, -5)

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Feb. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).It will be fading slowly after this. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  16  4.63   44 27.0   3.633   3.933   100   14.4   5:13 (217, 78)  
Mar.  2  16  5.20   45 11.5   3.640   3.983   103   14.5   5:05 (202, 79)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Jan. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading slowly after this. It is observable in excellent condition until spring in the Northern Hemispehre. 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)  
Feb. 23  10  4.65   44 22.0   4.066   4.913   145   14.7  23:51 (180, 81)  
Mar.  2   9 51.32   44 13.4   4.140   4.951   141   14.7  23:11 (180, 81)

* (944) Hidalgo

Now it is 14.2 mag (Feb. 4, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). It will be fading gradually after this. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  10  9.26   78  8.7   1.710   2.273   111   14.9   0:03 (180, 47)  
Mar.  2   9 47.53   75 57.8   1.759   2.307   111   15.0  23:07 (180, 49)

* 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)  
Feb. 23  22  9.67  -56 40.2   4.538   3.925    46   14.9   5:13 (319,-35)  
Mar.  2  22 23.83  -55 27.1   4.519   3.928    48   14.9   5:05 (318,-34)

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Jan. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 7-8 mag in 2020. It will be unobservable temporarily in April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   3  0.54    1  6.3   5.451   5.196    69   15.3  19:13 ( 53, 42)  
Mar.  2   3  2.25    1 55.8   5.494   5.133    63   15.3  19:19 ( 61, 38)

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Jan. 21, Sandor Szabo). It stays 15 mag until March. 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)  
Feb. 23   3 59.97   66 22.1   3.030   3.300    96   15.6  19:13 (165, 56)  
Mar.  2   3 50.15   63 47.5   3.151   3.308    90   15.7  19:19 (156, 55)

* 240P/NEAT

Although it was faint as 16-17 mag in November, it brightened up to 14.7 mag in December (Dec. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is bright as 15.1 mag still now (Jan. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition after this. It stays extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  11  2.88   42 42.5   2.092   2.966   146   15.9   0:55 (180, 82)  
Mar.  2  10 56.11   43  8.6   2.135   2.996   144   16.1   0:20 (180, 82)

* P/2014 C1 ( TOTAS )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2014. The condition of this apparition is excelllent. It was expected to brighten rapidly, and to be observable at 15.5 mag in excellent condition in March. But it has not been recovered yet. Now it is not detected, fainter than 20.0 mag (Dec. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  10 19.27    8 53.2   0.821   1.810   178   16.1   0:11 (  0, 64)  
Mar.  2  10 15.00    9 38.2   0.804   1.789   171   16.1  23:35 (  0, 65)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

It brightened up to 6.8 mag in September (Sept. 17, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.3 mag (Jan. 30, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates low after this in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   6 10.83  -19 48.7   1.715   2.268   111   16.1  19:59 (  0, 35)  
Mar.  2   6 15.25  -17 37.0   1.826   2.329   107   16.4  19:36 (  0, 38)

* C/2018 W2 ( Africano )

It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time while the comet is brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it it not observable until mid September. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  15  3.92   81  5.1   2.550   2.935   102   16.2   4:52 (180, 44)  
Mar.  2  15 34.34   84 54.1   2.535   2.864    99   16.1   4:53 (180, 40)

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Jan. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 23  11 35.41   74 17.9   7.980   8.446   114   16.6   1:27 (180, 51)  
Mar.  2  11 28.43   74 20.1   8.010   8.445   112   16.7   0:53 (180, 51)

* 239P/LINEAR

Now it is 16.6 mag (Feb. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It continues brightening even after the perihelion passage. It stays observable at 16-17 mag in good condition for some more time. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   8  7.14   -2 28.2   0.812   1.713   143   16.7  21:55 (  0, 52)  
Mar.  2   8 10.43   -2 15.2   0.859   1.735   139   16.7  21:31 (  0, 53)

* C/2018 F4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 16 mag for a long time from 2019 to 2020. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  14 11.51  -47 36.0   3.964   4.301   103   16.8   4:03 (  0,  7)  
Mar.  2  14  6.39  -49 21.6   3.840   4.264   108   16.7   3:30 (  0,  6)

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 8.7 mag in July (July 18, Marco Goiato). Then it faded down to 12.3 mag in August (Aug. 29, Chris Wyatt). It stays observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  16 28.24  -13 59.3   3.277   3.361    86   16.8   5:13 (339, 39)  
Mar.  2  16 27.65  -12 50.8   3.235   3.441    93   16.9   5:05 (345, 41)

* 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 16.7 mag (Feb. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 23   4 19.35   70  8.9   6.062   6.296    99   17.1  19:13 (171, 54)  
Mar.  2   4 13.55   69 28.9   6.177   6.323    93   17.2  19:19 (165, 53)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in 2019. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  15 50.88  -16 10.4   3.566   3.779    94   17.2   5:13 (351, 38)  
Mar.  2  15 53.85  -16 18.8   3.470   3.786   101   17.1   5:05 (356, 39)

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Fading slowly. It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition until summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  11 39.49    7 59.4   9.059   9.999   160   17.2   1:31 (  0, 63)  
Mar.  2  11 38.10    8 19.8   9.039  10.011   167   17.2   1:02 (  0, 63)

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to be observable at 5-6 mag for a long time from 2022 to 2023. It will be observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the highlight from 2022 summer to 2023 summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  18  9.43   53 15.4  12.285  12.203    82   17.3   5:13 (225, 56)  
Mar.  2  18 11.16   53 39.7  12.217  12.158    84   17.3   5:05 (223, 58)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in May. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   7 52.27   21 50.2   1.796   2.648   142   17.3  21:40 (  0, 77)  
Mar.  2   7 51.17   21 25.6   1.878   2.671   134   17.5  21:12 (  0, 76)

* 159P/LONEOS

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in May. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   5 45.44   43 17.7   3.450   3.928   111   17.4  19:34 (180, 82)  
Mar.  2   5 47.49   43  3.8   3.557   3.943   105   17.4  19:19 (167, 82)

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 17.0 mag (Jan. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in March. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  10 54.84   31 12.8   1.914   2.853   157   17.5   0:47 (  0, 86)  
Mar.  2  10 48.13   31 50.8   1.961   2.893   155   17.6   0:12 (  0, 87)

* (6478) Gault

Main-belt asteroid. But it shows a straight tail like a comet. Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 4, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable in excellent condition until early summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  10 27.15   -8 42.2   1.420   2.378   161   17.6   0:19 (  0, 46)  
Mar.  2  10 20.93   -7  4.3   1.395   2.363   163   17.5  23:40 (  0, 48)

* C/2018 X2 ( Fitzsimmons )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Jan. 30, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag from spring to summer. But it is hardly observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays locating extremely low. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   4  5.38   45 30.5   2.371   2.635    94   17.6  19:13 (131, 72)  
Mar.  2   4 15.31   44 42.7   2.405   2.590    89   17.5  19:19 (124, 68)

* 171P/Spahr

Now it is 16.8 mag (Jan. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 23   4 58.99   26 33.3   1.316   1.810   102   17.5  19:13 ( 34, 80)  
Mar.  2   5 11.12   28 16.9   1.394   1.824    98   17.7  19:19 ( 59, 78)

* C/2019 B1 ( Africano )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Feb. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in February. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   5 43.00   54  0.1   1.004   1.632   109   17.6  19:30 (180, 72)  
Mar.  2   5 16.80   44 20.6   1.113   1.615   100   17.8  19:19 (141, 78)

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

It was observed at 16 mag from 2017 to 2018. Now it is fading. It is observable at 18 mag in good condition in this spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  16  7.27    5  0.1   7.205   7.352    94   18.0   5:13 (338, 58)  
Mar.  2  16  8.06    5 48.2   7.128   7.380   100   17.9   5:05 (347, 60)

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