Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2019 May 11: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on May 15, 2019
Last week South Next week

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is not observable. 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)  
May  11   3 36.24   17 17.2   3.039   2.038     6   12.6  20:29 (123,-14)  
May  18   3 53.31   18  1.7   3.055   2.048     4   12.7  20:37 (127,-16)  

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It will appear in the morning sky in late June in the Northern Hemisphere. It will brighten up to 10.5 mag and it will be observable in good condition from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   2  2.49   -2 20.8   4.472   3.591    25   12.8   3:23 (259,-19)  
May  18   2  7.39   -0 52.8   4.400   3.559    29   12.7   3:15 (260,-15)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 7.7 mag in June in 2018 (June 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 12.9 mag (May 6, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable 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)  
May  11   5 21.47  -36 52.0   4.068   3.716    62   12.9  20:29 ( 61,-24)  
May  18   5 29.75  -35 21.3   4.159   3.773    60   13.1  20:37 ( 65,-28)  

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (May 7, Thomas Lehmann). It stays 13 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)  
May  11   7 25.18  -53 38.2   2.904   3.071    89   13.1  20:29 ( 34,-15)  
May  18   7 24.55  -52 59.5   2.934   3.060    87   13.1  20:37 ( 38,-19)  

* 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. It has already faded down to 13.0 mag (Apr. 24, M. Lehky). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. It will be unobservable soon also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   4 29.68   33 59.7   2.739   1.865    24   13.2  20:29 (128,  6)  
May  18   4 31.92   34 15.6   2.860   1.934    19   13.6  20:37 (133,  1)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 12.8 mag (May 8, Chris Wyatt). It stays 13-14 mag until summer. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower gradually, and it will be unobservable in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  16  7.30  -39 21.8   2.483   3.424   154   13.3   0:56 (  0, 16)  
May  18  15 48.32  -40 45.9   2.484   3.445   158   13.3   0:10 (  0, 14)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing in the morning sky.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   0 29.40   10 19.1   6.512   5.768    39   13.8   3:23 (262,  7)  
May  18   0 33.85   10 55.3   6.441   5.768    44   13.8   3:15 (264, 11)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 13.4 mag (May 6, Chris Wyatt). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  11  8.50   20 18.0   1.700   2.252   109   14.1  20:29 ( 30, 73)  
May  18  11 13.36   18 30.8   1.787   2.270   105   14.3  20:37 ( 46, 68)  

* C/2018 R3 ( Lemmon )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag (May 10, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It brightens up to 13-14 mag from May to June. However, it locates very low in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   1 54.28   55 41.3   1.951   1.354    40   14.3   3:23 (214, 19)  
May  18   2 47.80   58 32.4   1.928   1.326    40   14.2   3:15 (209, 17)  

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in 2020. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   3 42.22   10 13.3   5.488   4.501    10   14.4  20:29 (117,-18)  
May  18   3 47.83   11  0.6   5.433   4.437     8   14.3  20:37 (123,-23)  

* 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. It has not been observed since last October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   0  4.28  -46 17.6   4.127   4.011    76   14.8   3:23 (313,-20)  
May  18   0 10.49  -45 49.6   4.072   4.025    80   14.8   3:15 (314,-17)  

* C/2018 W2 ( Africano )

It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. Now it is 15.1 mag (May 5, 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)  
May  11   3 47.01   68 14.7   2.661   2.171    50   15.0  20:29 (159, 23)  
May  18   3 54.29   66 48.8   2.651   2.105    47   14.8  20:37 (160, 20)  

* C/2019 D1 ( Flewelling )

Now it is 14.8 mag (May 10, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It brightens up to 15 mag from May to June, and it will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  22  3.70   22 11.4   1.580   1.578    71   15.0   3:23 (272, 43)  
May  18  22 22.98   25 36.4   1.571   1.580    71   15.0   3:15 (267, 45)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.2 mag (May 7, Thomas Lehmann). It will be fading after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time until it fades out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will not be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   5 45.70  -19 52.1   4.524   4.009    53   15.2  20:29 ( 73,-11)  
May  18   5 49.27  -20  4.4   4.617   4.059    51   15.3  20:37 ( 77,-17)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.9 mag (May 4, 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)  
May  11  15 14.57   47 20.4   3.974   4.494   114   15.3   0:03 (180, 78)  
May  18  15  7.71   46 36.3   4.045   4.546   113   15.4  23:23 (180, 79)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Apr. 27, 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)  
May  11   8 44.74   36 48.2   5.521   5.344    74   15.7  20:29 (106, 54)  
May  18   8 44.07   35 57.7   5.676   5.385    68   15.8  20:37 (107, 47)  

* C/2018 F4 ( PanSTARRS )

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)  
May  11  11 48.52  -57 58.8   3.256   3.929   125   16.0  20:32 (  0, -3)  
May  18  11 34.77  -57 29.0   3.269   3.899   121   16.0  20:37 (  6, -3)  

* 68P/Klemola

Now it is 16.4 mag (May 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten rapidly after this. It will be observable at 13.5 mag in good condition in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  17 50.97   -6 50.9   1.665   2.517   139   16.3   2:39 (  0, 48)  
May  18  17 50.02   -6  4.8   1.576   2.474   145   16.1   2:10 (  0, 49)  

* (944) Hidalgo

It brightened up to 14 mag from autumn to winter in 2018. Now it is fading. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11   9 57.32   47 50.6   2.599   2.700    84   16.1  20:29 (131, 67)  
May  18  10  4.70   45 16.0   2.711   2.742    81   16.2  20:37 (122, 63)  

* A/2017 U7

Asteroid, but it brightened rapidly. 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)  
May  11  22 26.38  -36 59.7   6.462   6.472    86   16.4   3:23 (317,  0)  
May  18  22 24.49  -37 23.3   6.339   6.466    92   16.3   3:15 (321,  3)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

It brightened up to 13.2 mag from December to March (Dec. 30, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (May 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  11 30.12   -2 24.5   1.416   2.152   124   16.4  20:29 (  6, 52)  
May  18  11 35.30   -2 36.3   1.518   2.192   118   16.7  20:37 ( 18, 51)  

* C/2018 KJ3 ( Lemmon )

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. It has not been observed since last October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  18  8.91  -35 25.2   2.992   3.789   136   16.7   2:57 (  0, 20)  
May  18  17 54.27  -36 55.6   2.896   3.771   145   16.6   2:15 (  0, 18)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.3 mag (May 4, 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)  
May  11  10 47.42   69 23.7   8.544   8.457    81   16.8  20:29 (171, 55)  
May  18  10 48.46   68 33.3   8.606   8.459    78   16.8  20:37 (166, 54)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.4 mag (May 7, 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)  
May  11  15 37.98  -15 51.7   2.863   3.868   172   16.9   0:26 (  0, 39)  
May  18  15 33.27  -15 43.3   2.866   3.876   176   16.9  23:49 (  0, 39)  

* 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 17.6 mag (Apr. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays 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)  
May  11  10 42.25   24 29.9   1.591   2.060   102   16.9  20:29 ( 55, 73)  
May  18  10 50.66   22 45.9   1.719   2.118    98   17.4  20:37 ( 63, 67)  

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (May 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to be observable at 5-6 mag for a long time from 2022 to 2023. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the highlight from 2022 summer to 2023 summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable for a while. But it will be observable in good condition at the highlight.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  18  3.23   58  0.3  11.550  11.703    96   17.0   2:50 (180, 67)  
May  18  17 59.77   58 17.0  11.492  11.657    96   17.0   2:19 (180, 67)  

* 38P/Stephan-Oterma

It brightened up to 9.5 mag from autumn to winter (Dec. 14, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.2 mag (Apr. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
May  11   9 42.97   34  8.8   2.521   2.664    86   17.1  20:29 ( 96, 65)  
May  18   9 52.20   32 49.8   2.661   2.724    82   17.5  20:37 ( 96, 59)  

* P/2018 X1 ( LONEOS )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2005. Now it is 17.6 mag (May 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17.5 mag until early summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  12 51.43   -7 14.4   2.129   3.012   144   17.4  21:36 (  0, 48)  
May  18  12 49.88   -7  3.2   2.169   2.995   137   17.4  21:07 (  0, 48)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 4, 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)  
May  11  11 27.13   10 48.4   9.615  10.132   118   17.5  20:29 ( 10, 65)  
May  18  11 27.14   10 53.0   9.731  10.145   111   17.5  20:37 ( 30, 63)  

* 260P/McNaught

Now it is 18.7 mag (May 7, Martin Masek). It will brighten rapidly up to 11.5 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be extremely low from autumn to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  22 21.35  -24 17.6   1.792   1.926    81   17.9   3:23 (310, 10)  
May  18  22 37.04  -22 48.3   1.686   1.880    84   17.5   3:15 (309, 12)  

* 186P/Garradd

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from spring to summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at all. It has not been observed since last September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  17  6.12  -57  1.3   3.617   4.390   135   17.7   1:55 (  0, -2)  
May  18  17  0.56  -57 14.5   3.575   4.390   139   17.7   1:22 (  0, -2)  

* C/2019 F1 ( ATLAS-Africano )

Now it is 17.5 mag (May 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 13.5 mag in 2021, and it will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the highlight.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  13 52.00    8 18.7   6.496   7.370   147   17.7  22:36 (  0, 63)  
May  18  13 48.71    8  9.0   6.505   7.325   141   17.7  22:05 (  0, 63)  

* 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). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.8 mag (May 2, 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)  
May  11  10 34.44   36 41.8   3.049   3.303    95   17.9  20:29 (101, 76)  
May  18  10 37.94   35 31.5   3.167   3.333    90   18.1  20:37 ( 98, 69)  

* 149P/Mueller 4

Now it is 18.0 mag (Apr. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It brightens up to 18 mag and it is observable in good condition from April to June. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  11  13 56.55   30 16.6   1.938   2.690   128   17.9  22:40 (  0, 85)  
May  18  13 54.08   30  0.5   1.992   2.699   124   17.9  22:11 (  0, 85)  

* (6478) Gault

Main-belt asteroid. But it shows a straight tail like a comet. Now it is 18.1 mag (May 2, 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)  
May  11  10 12.24    8 18.4   1.762   2.209   102   18.2  20:29 ( 44, 56)  
May  18  10 18.55    8 53.1   1.831   2.193    96   18.2  20:37 ( 54, 52)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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