Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2021 Feb. 20: South)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on February 21, 2021
Last week North Next week

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.

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

* P/1999 J6 = P/2004 V9 = P/2010 H3 ( SOHO )

Marsden group's comet. Three apparitions of this comet was confirmed in 1999, 2004 and 2010. It will approach to Sun down to 0.044 a.u. on Feb. 28. After the perihelion passage, it may be observed on the ground from March to April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  22  8.40  -17 49.1   1.370   0.406     6   18.8   4:08 (302,-12)  
Feb. 27  22 51.67   -9 32.9   1.081   0.107     3    9.6  20:07 ( 68,-15)  

* C/2020 R4 ( ATLAS )

Brightened rapidly. Now it is very bright as 12.6 mag (Dec. 25, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will approach to Earth down to 0.46 a.u. in April, and it is expected to brighten up to 9 mag and to be observable in excellent condition. It becomes unobservable temporarily from January to February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  20 46.77  -13  6.4   1.900   1.042    21   11.1   4:08 (286,  0)  
Feb. 27  20 41.52  -11 59.6   1.772   1.030    29   10.9   4:17 (280,  7)  

* C/2021 A2 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is bright as 10.5 mag (Feb. 6, Marco Goiato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition after this. In the Southern Heimsphere, it will be getting lower rapidly after this, and it will be unobservable in mid March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   5 49.66   26 44.2   0.736   1.471   116   11.5  20:17 (172, 27)  
Feb. 27   5 27.99   34 22.2   0.906   1.502   104   12.1  20:07 (165, 18)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

It will brighten up to 11.5 mag in spring. However, the condition is very bad in this apparition. It will appear in the morning low sky in March in the Southern Hemisphere, or in June in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  20 35.69  -17 36.6   2.294   1.453    24   12.1   4:08 (288,  5)  
Feb. 27  20 59.76  -16 41.3   2.264   1.438    25   11.9   4:17 (286,  6)  

* C/2019 N1 ( ATLAS )

Now it is bright as 12.9 mag (Feb. 9, Chris Wyatt). It stays 12 mag until March. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  16 12.91  -83 41.4   1.934   1.998    79   12.0   4:08 (356, 40)  
Feb. 27  20  9.40  -88 21.7   1.965   2.046    80   12.1   4:17 (358, 35)  

* C/2020 S3 ( Erasmus )

It brightened up to 5.6 mag in early December (Dec. 9, Marco Goiato). In mid December, it was visible at about 3 mag in the SOHO spacecraft images (Dec. 18, Hirohisa Sato). Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again in April. But then it will be fainter than 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  22  1.31    0  6.6   2.509   1.553    11   12.9   4:08 (287,-23)  
Feb. 27  22 16.76    1 44.1   2.627   1.669    11   13.3   4:17 (282,-20)  

* 156P/Russell-LINEAR

Brightened rapidly, and it brightened up to 9.7 mag in November (Nov. 15, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.0 mag still now (Feb. 9, Chris Wyatt). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   3 40.32   39 35.5   1.371   1.701    90   13.0  20:17 (151,  7)  
Feb. 27   4  2.32   40 14.4   1.468   1.747    88   13.4  20:07 (152,  7)  

* C/2019 L3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 12.4 mag (Feb. 8, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 10 mag in winter in 2022. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   1 12.66   52 28.4   4.747   4.577    74   13.1  20:17 (141,-20)  
Feb. 27   1 23.59   52  7.2   4.783   4.540    69   13.1  20:07 (140,-20)  

* 88P/Howell

It brightened up to 8.2 mag in autumn (Oct. 13, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.0 mag (Feb. 14, Sandor Szabo). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is already unobservable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in late February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   0 13.99   -0 39.2   2.794   2.021    31   13.5  20:17 ( 89, -1)  
Feb. 27   0 28.55    1  2.9   2.880   2.067    28   13.8  20:07 ( 90, -2)  

* C/2020 M3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 7.3 mag in November (Nov. 7, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 14.0 mag (Feb. 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays locating extremely low after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   5 59.73   48  8.1   1.452   2.082   115   13.6  20:17 (177,  7)  
Feb. 27   6 10.75   47 41.9   1.585   2.154   111   14.0  20:07 (176,  7)  

* C/2021 A4 ( NEOWISE )

Brightening very rapidly. Now it is very bright as 12.5 mag (Feb. 8, Michael Jager). Now it is approaching to Earth down to 0.4 a.u. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. It will be observable in good condition after this also in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   5  5.07   35 47.0   0.495   1.228   106   13.6  20:17 (163, 18)  
Feb. 27   4 36.90   19 19.6   0.630   1.193    92   13.8  20:07 (147, 29)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 13.9 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in late February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   2 28.12   23 59.9   6.099   5.859    71   13.7  20:17 (129, 10)  
Feb. 27   2 31.98   24  7.5   6.205   5.861    65   13.7  20:07 (126,  7)  

* C/2019 F1 ( ATLAS-Africano )

It will brighten up to 13 mag from spring to summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until July in 2022.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  17 45.18  -57  1.5   4.015   3.764    68   13.8   4:08 (319, 48)  
Feb. 27  17 58.59  -58 37.5   3.921   3.746    72   13.7   4:17 (322, 50)  

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Feb. 8, 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 high light from 2022 summer to 2023 summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But it will be observable in good condition at the high light.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  18 19.59   36 16.5   7.281   7.046    72   13.8   4:08 (226, -2)  
Feb. 27  18 22.22   36 43.0   7.177   6.991    75   13.7   4:17 (221,  2)  

* 246P/NEAT

Now it is 15.5 mag (Jan. 19, Slooh.com Chile Observatory, La Dehesa). It stays 13-14 mag from 2020 to 2021. It will be observable in good condition after this 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)  
Feb. 20  18  8.02  -22 22.0   3.237   2.864    59   14.1   4:08 (273, 37)  
Feb. 27  18 18.36  -22 41.2   3.155   2.864    64   14.1   4:17 (270, 42)  

* C/2020 T2 ( Palomar )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 12.5 mag from spring to summer, and it stays observable in good condition for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  14  0.49   29 52.2   1.949   2.634   124   14.4   4:01 (180, 25)  
Feb. 27  14  4.08   30 47.7   1.860   2.586   127   14.2   3:37 (180, 24)  

* 398P/2020 P2 ( Boattini )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2009. It brightened up to 11.7 mag in January (Jan. 10, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.7 mag (Feb. 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable in good condition while the comet will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   6 28.71   24 36.3   0.631   1.447   125   14.2  20:28 (180, 30)  
Feb. 27   6 46.94   26  7.3   0.695   1.482   122   14.6  20:19 (180, 29)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

It brightened very rapidly in early December, and it brightened up to 10.0 mag in January (Jan. 7, Michael Jager). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.3 mag (Feb. 9, Chris Wyatt). Two more components, H and I, are also observed. It stays observable for a long time in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   4 32.02    1 20.1   0.747   1.289    94   14.2  20:17 (140, 46)  
Feb. 27   5  3.13    2 33.5   0.837   1.363    96   15.1  20:07 (146, 47)  

* C/2020 J1 ( SONEAR )

Now it is 14.4 mag (Jan. 20, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will brighten up to 13.5 mag in spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher and becoming observable slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  17 50.34  -40 18.9   3.706   3.398    64   14.7   4:08 (294, 46)  
Feb. 27  17 48.21  -40  6.4   3.570   3.389    71   14.6   4:17 (292, 53)  

* 414P/2021 A3 ( STEREO )

New periodic comet discovered in 2016. It had been predicted to return in 2024. But actually, it returned much earlier than predicted. It brightened up to 11 mag in January (Jan. 16, Giuseppe Pappa). Now it is fading. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  20  3.03  -51 23.8   0.576   0.742    48   14.6   4:08 (315, 27)  
Feb. 27  19 36.76  -52 21.8   0.615   0.839    57   16.0   4:17 (313, 37)  

* C/2019 T4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.2 mag and visible visually (Jan. 25, Chris Wyatt). It is expected to brighten up to 11.5 mag in 2022. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable from autumn to winter, but it locating extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   8  4.38  -38 59.0   5.139   5.720   121   14.7  22:02 (  0, 86)  
Feb. 27   8  2.12  -38 14.7   5.116   5.684   120   14.6  21:32 (  0, 87)  

* C/2018 U1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Nov. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will stay at 14 mag for a long time from 2021 to 2022. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition while brightening gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear in the morning sky soon. Then it will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  18 20.55    2 44.3   5.798   5.364    59   15.1   4:08 (252, 20)  
Feb. 27  18 22.05    2 33.4   5.684   5.345    65   15.0   4:17 (246, 27)  

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

It had been observed as 8-9 mag for a long time in 2020. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (Jan. 23, Slooh.com Chile Observatory, La Dehesa). It will be observable in good condition after this in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low after this in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  17 36.28  -33  0.3   4.141   3.858    66   15.0   4:08 (283, 47)  
Feb. 27  17 40.13  -33 57.3   4.101   3.924    72   15.1   4:17 (281, 54)  

* 17P/Holmes

Now it is 15.8 mag (Jan. 16, Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory). It is not observable until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  22 52.61   -1 23.3   3.027   2.080    13   15.0  20:17 ( 76,-17)  
Feb. 27  23  6.68    0 39.2   3.043   2.081    11   15.1  20:07 ( 78,-19)  

* P/2020 U2 ( PanSTARRS )

Brightened very rapidly. Now it is 15.0 mag (Feb. 4, Michael Jager). It stays observable at 15-16 mag in good condition for a while. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   3 57.24   27 42.9   1.614   1.917    91   15.1  20:17 (147, 19)  
Feb. 27   4 12.58   27 56.1   1.696   1.934    88   15.1  20:07 (147, 19)  

* C/2020 F5 ( MASTER )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Jan. 14, Slooh.com Chile Observatory, La Dehesa). It stays 14-15 mag until the end of 2021. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time, although it becomes extremely low temporarily from January to February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  22  3.52  -47  3.6   5.094   4.334    36   15.2   4:08 (323,  9)  
Feb. 27  22 13.23  -45 53.5   5.070   4.331    37   15.2   4:17 (319, 11)  

* C/2020 N1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Feb. 8, Michael Jager). It stays 15-16 mag until spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   2 42.98   22 18.6   1.238   1.355    73   15.4  20:17 (130, 13)  
Feb. 27   3  8.79   20 33.3   1.250   1.335    72   15.5  20:07 (130, 16)  

* 409P/2020 V1 ( LONEOS-Hill )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 14-15 mag in 2006. Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 8, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 15-16 mag from February to March, and will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  13  7.55    9 29.4   0.914   1.772   137   15.4   3:08 (180, 46)  
Feb. 27  13 13.42   11 32.5   0.896   1.784   142   15.4   2:47 (180, 44)  

* C/2019 T2 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Nov. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 14.5 mag from spring to summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time, although it becomes extremely low temporarily from January to February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  22 24.08  -39 26.4   3.551   2.724    28   15.5  20:17 ( 43,  3)  
Feb. 27  22 33.65  -40 22.4   3.496   2.707    31   15.5   4:17 (317,  5)  

* C/2019 K7 ( Smith )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 15-16 mag until spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in the extremely low sky only in next spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  19 16.05   30 10.4   5.333   4.902    59   15.5   4:08 (238, -7)  
Feb. 27  19 18.37   31 43.0   5.301   4.925    62   15.6   4:17 (232, -3)  

* C/2020 K5 ( PanSTARRS )

It will brighten up to 13 mag from spring to summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low now, and it will be unobservable soon. Then it is not observable until September when it fades down to 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  19 21.57  -27 30.1   2.697   2.093    43   15.9   4:08 (288, 24)  
Feb. 27  19 37.71  -29  9.0   2.568   2.033    47   15.6   4:17 (287, 29)  

* 28P/Neujmin 1

Now it is not observable. It will be observable in June. But it will fade down to 17 mag at that time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  21 55.11  -16 43.0   2.572   1.596     7   15.7   4:08 (299,-11)  
Feb. 27  22 15.40  -14 12.1   2.559   1.586     8   15.7   4:17 (295,-10)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke

Now it is 18.1 mag, much fainter than predicted (Feb. 8, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 11 mag from May to August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a while. But it becomes extremely low after July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  15 58.72    9 48.3   1.262   1.675    95   16.1   4:08 (216, 38)  
Feb. 27  16 16.99    9 46.5   1.172   1.624    97   15.8   4:17 (211, 40)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 2022. In 2021, it is observable at 15-16 mag in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  13 45.40   -2 47.4   3.138   3.798   125   15.9   3:46 (180, 58)  
Feb. 27  13 44.66   -2 37.6   3.041   3.782   132   15.8   3:18 (180, 58)  

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 14.9 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time while it is getting fainter slowly. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  16 35.96   64 49.8   5.080   5.302    97   15.8   4:08 (195,-14)  
Feb. 27  16 32.30   65 43.9   5.113   5.349    98   15.9   4:17 (191,-13)  

* C/2021 A7 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Feb. 5, Thomas Lehmann). It brightens up to 15 mag from spring to summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until June. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in the low sky from March to May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   5 54.40  -55 18.7   2.349   2.622    94   16.0  20:17 ( 10, 69)  
Feb. 27   5 55.86  -51 59.9   2.291   2.570    94   15.9  20:07 ( 21, 72)  

* C/2020 M5 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Jan. 17, D. Buczynski). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable at 15 mag for a long time from spring to early 2022. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until the end of 2021.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  20  8.55   50  1.9   3.756   3.488    66   16.5   4:08 (226,-26)  
Feb. 27  20 12.15   51 44.6   3.700   3.454    68   16.4   4:17 (222,-22)  

* P/2020 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly up to 16.5 mag in January (Jan. 2, D. Buczynski). However, it is fading very rapidly in February. It has already faded down to 18.3 mag (Feb. 11, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 20   3 12.22   20 39.7   1.281   1.475    79   16.5  20:17 (134, 19)  
Feb. 27   3 34.51   22 34.7   1.335   1.494    78   16.6  20:07 (137, 18)  

* 277P/LINEAR

It brightened rapidly and became brighter than expected. Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable in good 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)  
Feb. 20   3 58.04   21 57.4   1.680   1.959    90   16.5  20:17 (144, 24)  
Feb. 27   4 12.23   21 32.8   1.764   1.974    86   16.6  20:07 (143, 24)  

* C/2020 Y2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 13 mag in 2022. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until June when it brightens up to 16 mag. But it will not be observable at the high light.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  14  2.79  -18 28.4   4.895   5.404   116   16.8   4:04 (180, 74)  
Feb. 27  13 58.69  -18 57.6   4.742   5.357   123   16.7   3:32 (180, 74)  

* C/2017 Y2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 16.5 mag from spring in 2020 to summer in 2021.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  17 52.22  -10 54.7   5.061   4.711    63   16.8   4:08 (259, 34)  
Feb. 27  17 52.02  -11 17.9   4.954   4.721    70   16.7   4:17 (253, 41)  

* C/2019 O3 ( Palomar )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Nov. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays at 16-17 mag from 2020 to 2021. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  19 37.36   34  7.6   9.298   8.820    58   16.8   4:08 (237,-13)  
Feb. 27  19 39.73   34 56.1   9.261   8.820    60   16.7   4:17 (233, -8)  

* C/2020 H6 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 16-17 mag from 2021 to 2022.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  14 29.94  -24 43.9   4.628   5.022   107   16.8   4:08 (207, 79)  
Feb. 27  14 29.35  -23 57.6   4.498   5.003   115   16.8   4:03 (180, 79)  

* C/2017 U7 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Oct. 17, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). It will be fading slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  18 28.27  -19  5.6   7.852   7.325    54   17.0   4:08 (273, 31)  
Feb. 27  18 28.73  -18 46.0   7.767   7.347    61   17.0   4:17 (267, 38)  

* 162P/Siding Spring

Now it is 16.0 mag (Feb. 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be unobservable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   1 58.55   34 55.3   1.554   1.535    70   17.1  20:17 (132, -3)  
Feb. 27   2 21.10   37 21.6   1.632   1.577    69   17.2  20:07 (135, -3)  

* C/2020 O2 ( Amaral )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Sept. 14, Slooh.com Chile Observatory, La Dehesa). It will brighten up to 16.5 mag in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  17 26.77  -35 30.8   5.357   5.082    68   17.2   4:08 (286, 50)  
Feb. 27  17 30.27  -35  2.4   5.234   5.066    74   17.1   4:17 (282, 56)  

* 402P/2020 Q3 ( LINEAR )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16 mag from 2003 to 2004. Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 16 mag in next winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   2 49.99  -12 53.5   4.561   4.281    67   17.2  20:17 (102, 38)  
Feb. 27   2 54.83  -11 46.7   4.628   4.266    62   17.2  20:07 (101, 35)  

* C/2020 R7 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 18.2 mag (Feb. 2, Thomas Lehmann). It is expected to brighten up to 12 mag in 2022. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low until mid February, then it becomes unobservable until 2022.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   2 41.86  -45 43.1   6.355   6.025    66   17.3  20:17 ( 58, 48)  
Feb. 27   2 41.97  -45  4.7   6.353   5.976    63   17.3  20:07 ( 59, 45)  

* A/2019 U5

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 8, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Although it is an asteroid, it is brightening rapidly. It may brighten up to 11 mag in 2023. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. It will appear in mid March, but it stays extremely low after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  18 34.60   39 23.2   7.580   7.327    71   17.4   4:08 (226, -7)  
Feb. 27  18 35.75   40  4.8   7.489   7.282    74   17.3   4:17 (220, -2)  

* C/2019 C1 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 16.1 mag in last winter (Mar. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In 2021, it stays observable at 17-18 mag in good condition until early summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  13 14.48  -20  2.3   6.235   6.859   125   17.5   3:15 (180, 75)  
Feb. 27  13 13.78  -19 46.5   6.161   6.872   132   17.5   2:47 (180, 75)  

* C/2020 Y3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 15, Michael Jager). It stays 17.5 mag and observable in good condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  14 58.80    8 12.0   1.671   2.210   109   17.6   4:08 (198, 45)  
Feb. 27  15  0.20   13 30.7   1.627   2.246   116   17.6   4:17 (185, 42)  

* 99P/Kowal 1

Now it is 18.0 mag (Feb. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17-18 mag for a long time from 2021 to 2023.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  11  0.71   10 41.0   3.983   4.956   168   17.6   1:02 (180, 44)  
Feb. 27  10 57.31   11  0.2   3.961   4.948   174   17.6   0:31 (180, 44)  

* 413P/2020 W4 ( Larson )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16 mag in 2014. Now it is 18.3 mag (Feb. 14, Michael Jager). It will brighten up to 17 mag in spring, and it will be observable in good condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  13  1.55   12 30.2   1.581   2.415   138   17.7   3:03 (180, 43)  
Feb. 27  12 59.87   12 40.9   1.510   2.392   145   17.6   2:33 (180, 42)  

* A/2020 F7

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Although it is an asteroid, it is brightening rapidly. It stays 17-18 mag for a long time from 2021 to 2022. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until May.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   8 54.71   -6 22.0   4.781   5.685   153   17.7  22:52 (180, 61)  
Feb. 27   8 48.23   -6 34.3   4.800   5.667   148   17.7  22:18 (180, 62)  

* C/2020 V2 ( ZTF )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 8, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in 2023. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until 2023 autumn. In the Southern Hemipshere, it stays extremely low until mid July, then it becomes unobservable for a while. But it becomes observable in good condition after 2023 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  13 11.45   32 34.7   7.197   7.914   133   17.8   3:12 (180, 23)  
Feb. 27  13  8.11   33 28.7   7.102   7.863   137   17.7   2:42 (180, 22)  

* C/2019 E3 ( ATLAS )

It stays 17-18 mag for a long time until 2026. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays sobservable in good condition for a long time. It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   9 23.58  -57 23.7  11.203  11.591   110   17.9  23:20 (  0, 68)  
Feb. 27   9 18.41  -57 23.3  11.166  11.575   112   17.9  22:48 (  0, 68)  

* 405P/2020 U1 ( Lemmon )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 17 mag in 2013. Now it is 18.0 mag (Feb. 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in late February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20  13 51.37   -5 37.5   0.530   1.354   123   17.9   3:52 (180, 61)  
Feb. 27  13 46.89   -7 19.7   0.541   1.404   130   18.1   3:20 (180, 62)  

* 323P/SOHO

Five apparitions of this comet was confirmed in 1999, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. It approached to Sun down to 0.04 a.u. on Jan. 17. It may be observed on the ground in December and February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 20   3  3.52   21  0.3   0.595   1.044    78   19.1  20:17 (134, 18)  
Feb. 27   3 59.41   23 37.3   0.755   1.183    84   20.1  20:07 (142, 21)  

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

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