Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2019 Mar. 16: North)

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 Updated on March 13, 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 8.7 mag (Mar. 11, Marco Goiato). 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)  
Mar. 16   4 38.56   33 52.4   1.210   1.401    78    9.6  19:31 ( 99, 60)  
Mar. 23   4 30.71   33 33.6   1.446   1.445    69   10.2  19:38 (102, 51)

* 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. It has already faded down to 10.6 mag (Mar. 9, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Mar. 16   9 46.85   40 44.1   0.726   1.584   133   11.9  22:13 (180, 85)  
Mar. 23   9 51.96   38 27.1   0.814   1.644   130   12.6  21:50 (180, 87)

* 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 11.2 mag (Mar. 4, 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)  
Mar. 16   4  6.47  -55 25.6   3.387   3.276    75   12.0  19:31 ( 24, -8)  
Mar. 23   4 16.91  -52 30.4   3.458   3.330    74   12.1  19:38 ( 29, -8)

* 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)  
Mar. 16   1 24.14    8 24.2   2.846   2.019    27   12.4  19:31 ( 94,  9)  
Mar. 23   1 40.02    9 42.9   2.875   2.016    24   12.4  19:38 ( 98,  6)

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 14.3 mag (Feb. 21, 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)  
Mar. 16   1 24.18  -14 51.8   4.719   3.874    28   13.3  19:31 ( 75, -5)  
Mar. 23   1 28.54  -13 11.9   4.719   3.836    24   13.2  19:38 ( 81,-10)

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 12.3 mag (Mar. 5, Marco Goiato). 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)  
Mar. 16  11 14.04   31 21.1   1.229   2.149   150   13.4  23:38 (  0, 86)  
Mar. 23  11  8.88   30 36.5   1.259   2.157   145   13.5  23:06 (  0, 85)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  17 29.93  -24 17.2   3.114   3.297    91   13.6   4:46 (341, 28)  
Mar. 23  17 26.49  -26  0.4   2.997   3.308    99   13.6   4:36 (347, 28)

* C/2018 L2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 12.5 mag (Feb. 27, S. Szabo). 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)  
Mar. 16  23  2.39   40 48.7   2.771   2.164    43   13.6   4:46 (230, 15)  
Mar. 23  23 24.85   42  1.8   2.850   2.218    42   13.9   4:36 (229, 15)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  23 48.88    5 17.9   6.751   5.767     7   13.9  19:31 (106,-12)  
Mar. 23  23 54.18    5 55.1   6.757   5.767     6   13.9   4:36 (253,-12)

* 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)  
Mar. 16   5 41.51   24 18.6   1.775   2.049    90   13.9  19:31 ( 65, 69)  
Mar. 23   5 55.57   23 54.8   1.900   2.102    87   14.3  19:38 ( 70, 65)

* 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)  
Mar. 16   8 39.05   44 11.2   1.507   2.200   121   14.0  21:05 (180, 81)  
Mar. 23   8 45.10   43  4.3   1.619   2.256   117   14.4  20:44 (180, 82)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.3 mag (Feb. 20, Thomas Lehmann). It will be fading after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   5 35.56  -20 53.4   3.524   3.628    87   14.1  19:31 ( 25, 30)  
Mar. 23   5 34.10  -20 33.9   3.666   3.674    82   14.2  19:38 ( 33, 27)

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (Mar. 3, Taras Prystavski). 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)  
Mar. 16   8 52.59  -60 18.0   2.724   3.199   109   14.2  21:16 (  0, -5)  
Mar. 23   8 32.03  -59 57.7   2.728   3.179   107   14.2  20:28 (  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)  
Mar. 16  16  2.54   46 36.5   3.662   4.083   108   14.7   4:30 (180, 78)  
Mar. 23  15 59.35   47 13.4   3.680   4.134   110   14.7   4:00 (180, 78)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  22 49.64  -53  6.7   4.469   3.938    52   14.9   4:46 (316,-32)  
Mar. 23  23  1.38  -52  0.6   4.438   3.944    54   14.9   4:36 (315,-31)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.9 mag (Mar. 1, 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)  
Mar. 16   9 27.64   43 22.5   4.340   5.028   129   14.9  21:52 (180, 82)  
Mar. 23   9 17.74   42 43.8   4.463   5.067   122   15.0  21:15 (180, 82)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Now it is 13.5 mag (Mar. 4, 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)  
Mar. 16  11 30.46   -5 12.2   0.873   1.864   172   15.0  23:55 (  0, 50)  
Mar. 23  11 26.33   -4 35.0   0.908   1.896   169   15.3  23:23 (  0, 50)

* (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)  
Mar. 16   9 27.43   70 42.5   1.876   2.380   108   15.2  21:53 (180, 55)  
Mar. 23   9 24.90   67 50.3   1.945   2.417   105   15.3  21:23 (180, 57)

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.6 mag (Feb. 27, S. Szabo). 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)  
Mar. 16   3  7.19    3 36.4   5.562   5.009    51   15.2  19:31 ( 75, 27)  
Mar. 23   3 10.34    4 27.0   5.586   4.946    46   15.2  19:38 ( 80, 21)

* C/2018 W2 ( Africano )

It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. Now it is 16.5 mag (Feb. 27, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
Mar. 16   1 13.28   87 25.4   2.540   2.723    89   15.9  19:31 (177, 35)  
Mar. 23   2 20.80   84 16.4   2.555   2.653    84   15.8  19:38 (173, 36)

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 4, Kunihiro Shima). It will be fading after this. 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)  
Mar. 16   3 41.81   59 22.8   3.406   3.329    77   15.9  19:31 (143, 49)  
Mar. 23   3 41.03   57 33.3   3.534   3.341    70   16.0  19:38 (139, 45)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  10  8.15   11  2.5   0.799   1.753   155   16.0  22:33 (  0, 66)  
Mar. 23  10  6.61   11 34.4   0.811   1.737   147   15.9  22:04 (  0, 67)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  10 43.47   43 14.3   2.255   3.058   136   16.4  23:08 (180, 82)  
Mar. 23  10 38.31   42 55.6   2.331   3.088   132   16.6  22:36 (180, 82)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  13 50.56  -52 43.8   3.621   4.193   118   16.5   2:20 (  0,  2)  
Mar. 23  13 39.60  -54 15.2   3.528   4.158   123   16.4   1:41 (  0,  1)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  11 14.22   74  4.7   8.088   8.446   107   16.7  23:39 (180, 51)  
Mar. 23  11  7.65   73 47.1   8.135   8.447   104   16.7  23:05 (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)  
Mar. 16   8 21.51   -1 34.9   0.975   1.785   129   16.9  20:47 (  0, 53)  
Mar. 23   8 29.04   -1 14.1   1.042   1.814   125   17.0  20:27 (  0, 54)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  15 57.28  -16 28.4   3.285   3.802   114   17.0   4:25 (  0, 38)  
Mar. 23  15 57.68  -16 29.8   3.200   3.810   120   17.0   3:58 (  0, 38)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

It brightened up to 6.8 mag in September (Sept. 17, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 15.7 mag (Mar. 4, Katsumi Yoshimoto). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   6 26.77  -13 41.9   2.062   2.449   100   17.0  19:31 ( 12, 41)  
Mar. 23   6 33.58  -11 59.7   2.187   2.508    96   17.3  19:38 ( 21, 41)

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 8.7 mag in July (July 18, Marco Goiato). Now it is 19.9 mag (Feb. 28, Jean-Francois Soulier). It stays observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading. But actually, it is fainter than this ephemeris. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  16 23.31  -10 21.8   3.156   3.600   108   17.1   4:46 (358, 45)  
Mar. 23  16 19.56   -9  2.1   3.124   3.679   116   17.1   4:20 (  0, 46)

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 28, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
Mar. 16  18 13.43   54 32.9  12.079  12.067    86   17.2   4:46 (217, 62)  
Mar. 23  18 13.91   55  1.1  12.009  12.022    88   17.2   4:36 (213, 64)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  11 35.12    8 59.9   9.046  10.034   172   17.2   0:04 (  0, 64)  
Mar. 23  11 33.63    9 19.0   9.072  10.046   167   17.3  23:31 (  0, 64)

* C/2018 X2 ( Fitzsimmons )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 1, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
Mar. 16   4 38.81   43 11.1   2.474   2.504    80   17.5  19:31 (117, 61)  
Mar. 23   4 52.12   42 25.6   2.509   2.463    75   17.4  19:38 (116, 57)

* C/2018 KJ3 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 18.2 mag (Oct. 8, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 16.5 mag in June. 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)  
Mar. 16  18 55.78  -25 23.8   4.149   3.961    72   17.6   4:46 (323, 19)  
Mar. 23  18 54.91  -26 18.4   3.994   3.937    79   17.5   4:36 (327, 20)

* 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)  
Mar. 16   5 54.68   42 35.0   3.779   3.972    93   17.6  19:31 (124, 74)  
Mar. 23   5 59.65   42 20.6   3.892   3.987    88   17.6  19:38 (118, 69)

* (6478) Gault

Main-belt asteroid. But it shows a straight tail like a comet. Now it is 17.4 mag (Mar. 4, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It stays observable in excellent condition until early summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  10  9.40   -3 19.2   1.387   2.333   156   17.6  22:34 (  0, 52)  
Mar. 23  10  4.89   -1 21.9   1.403   2.318   149   17.7  22:02 (  0, 54)

* P/2018 X1 ( LONEOS )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2005. It will brighten up to 17.5 mag in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  13 19.15   -9 53.9   2.250   3.168   152   17.8   1:48 (  0, 45)  
Mar. 23  13 16.24   -9 39.9   2.189   3.146   160   17.7   1:17 (  0, 45)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 1, 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)  
Mar. 16   7 52.88   20 32.8   2.065   2.719   121   17.8  20:19 (  0, 75)  
Mar. 23   7 55.53   20  4.8   2.168   2.744   115   17.9  19:54 (  0, 75)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  10 35.94   32 27.0   2.095   2.972   145   17.9  23:01 (  0, 87)  
Mar. 23  10 31.06   32 26.1   2.180   3.011   139   18.0  22:28 (  0, 87)

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

Now it is 17.7 mag (Feb. 4, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 18 mag in good condition from March to April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  14 29.17   13 55.7   1.931   2.742   136   17.9   2:58 (  0, 69)  
Mar. 23  14 24.77   14 60.0   1.931   2.788   142   17.9   2:26 (  0, 70)

* 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)  
Mar. 16  16  8.29    7 29.5   6.987   7.436   113   17.9   4:36 (  0, 62)  
Mar. 23  16  7.72    8 21.7   6.927   7.465   119   17.9   4:08 (  0, 63)

* (394130) 2006 HY51

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. It passed only 0.08 a.u. from Sun on Jan. 31. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 18 mag in excellent condition in March. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  16 30.82   50 56.5   0.493   1.203   102   17.9   4:46 (189, 74)  
Mar. 23  14 55.83   53 55.1   0.552   1.329   115   18.1   2:59 (180, 71)

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