Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2019 Dec. 7: North)

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 Updated on December 9, 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/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 9.9 mag (Dec. 1, Carlos Labordena). It is expected to brighten up to 8 mag in 2020. It stays observable in good condition for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon. Then it is not observable until July. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   4 41.76   48 32.2   1.598   2.520   153    9.8  23:37 (180, 76)  
Dec. 14   4 22.18   50 54.1   1.555   2.456   149    9.7  22:50 (180, 74)

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 11.3 mag (Dec. 4, Maik Meyer). It stays bright as 11 mag until winter. It stays observable in good condition for a long time in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon. Then it will never be observable again. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  23 42.41   39 11.2   2.609   3.135   113   11.6  18:39 (180, 86)  
Dec. 14  23 36.66   39 14.4   2.709   3.141   107   11.6  18:19 (149, 85)

* C/2018 W2 ( Africano )

It brightened up to 8.3 mag in September (Sept. 20, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.1 mag (Nov. 19, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in early December. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  21 40.65  -44 44.2   2.195   1.938    61   13.3  18:18 ( 18,  7)  
Dec. 14  21 45.38  -45 14.0   2.359   2.000    56   13.6  18:19 ( 21,  5)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 14.7 mag (Nov. 19, Chris Wyatt). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   0 24.98   13  2.8   5.278   5.781   116   13.3  19:22 (  0, 68)  
Dec. 14   0 25.36   12 55.4   5.382   5.782   109   13.4  18:55 (  0, 68)

* 260P/McNaught

Now it is 12.2 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will fade out rapidly after this. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It stays locating extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   2 25.21   47 40.5   0.829   1.713   141   13.9  21:22 (180, 77)  
Dec. 14   2 29.07   46 33.1   0.894   1.755   138   14.3  20:59 (180, 78)

* C/2018 F4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (Dec. 4, Chris Wyatt). It stays 14 mag until spring. It stays observable for a long time 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)  
Dec.  7  14 54.72  -84  5.2   3.784   3.440    62   14.0   5:24 (354,-33)  
Dec. 14  16 49.89  -85 58.8   3.777   3.441    62   14.0   5:29 (355,-35)

* 68P/Klemola

Now it is 14.0 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading slowly after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  21  6.33  -14 26.3   2.087   1.817    60   14.3  18:18 ( 39, 31)  
Dec. 14  21 24.97  -13 40.0   2.151   1.829    57   14.4  18:19 ( 42, 31)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Now it is 14.5 mag (Nov. 28, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 14 mag in excellent condition in winter. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   2 15.98   35 45.9   0.724   1.626   143   14.5  21:13 (180, 89)  
Dec. 14   2 21.44   32 52.5   0.732   1.611   139   14.5  20:51 (  0, 88)

* 155P/Shoemaker 3

Now it is 15.4 mag (Dec. 4, Chris Wyatt). It is observable at 14.5 mag in good condition in winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  10 36.30   12 47.9   1.390   1.818    98   14.7   5:24 (353, 68)  
Dec. 14  10 48.32   12 18.4   1.342   1.829   102   14.6   5:20 (  0, 67)

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Dec. 2, Chris Wyatt). It will be fading slowly after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it becomes low from February to March, but it stays observable for a long time. 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)  
Dec.  7  21 26.51  -68 50.4   3.634   3.279    61   14.7  18:18 ( 10,-16)  
Dec. 14  21 39.24  -66  2.5   3.708   3.303    58   14.8  18:19 ( 13,-14)

* 160P/LINEAR

Now it is 14.8 mag (Dec. 1, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays at 14.5-15 mag until December. 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)  
Dec.  7  21 17.81  -11 57.6   1.987   1.788    63   14.8  18:18 ( 37, 35)  
Dec. 14  21 33.54   -9 56.9   2.045   1.791    61   14.9  18:19 ( 42, 35)

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 7.7 mag in June in 2018 (June 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.1 mag (Nov. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time until the comet will fade out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays low for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   6 27.05  -34 26.7   4.880   5.423   118   15.0   1:27 (  0, 21)  
Dec. 14   6 20.20  -34  8.3   4.905   5.479   121   15.0   0:53 (  0, 21)

* 2I/2019 Q4 ( Borisov )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). The orbit is extremely hyperbolic with e=3.35. It is the first interstellar comet in history. It stays 15 mag until January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower after this, and it will be unobservable in mid January. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher gradually. Then it will be observable in excellent condition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  11 25.74  -17  7.7   2.004   2.007    75   15.0   5:24 (342, 36)  
Dec. 14  11 37.34  -22 31.3   1.966   2.010    78   15.0   5:29 (349, 32)

* C/2019 K1 ( ATLAS )

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable at 14.5 mag from winter to spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until August when it fades down to 17 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  16 29.53  -60 16.4   2.863   2.172    37   15.2   5:24 (325,-30)  
Dec. 14  16 48.66  -62 43.1   2.801   2.142    39   15.0   5:29 (328,-30)

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is 15.7 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading gradually after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   9 39.27    6  2.3   2.284   2.767   109   15.1   4:39 (  0, 61)  
Dec. 14   9 40.06    5 41.4   2.227   2.799   115   15.1   4:12 (  0, 61)

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Nov. 19, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable for a long time. It stays low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  22 54.35  -29 46.5   4.798   4.720    79   15.4  18:18 (  6, 25)  
Dec. 14  22 56.51  -28 22.2   4.932   4.753    73   15.5  18:19 ( 13, 26)

* 101P/Chernykh

Now it is 16.0 mag (Nov. 28, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 15-16 mag until December, and it is observable in good condition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  23 59.83   -6 42.5   1.942   2.366   102   15.9  18:57 (  0, 48)  
Dec. 14   0  6.48   -5 44.5   2.015   2.359    97   16.0  18:36 (  0, 49)

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

It will be fading slowly after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time, although it becomes low from October to November. It will never be observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  14 24.41  -56 28.7   5.083   4.418    43   16.0   5:24 (330,-15)  
Dec. 14  14 27.52  -57 55.5   5.077   4.460    46   16.0   5:29 (334,-13)

* 246P/NEAT

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 28, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 13.5-14 mag from 2020 to 2021. It stays observable in good condition for a long time after this until 2020 summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  12 39.84   12 10.8   3.820   3.617    70   16.2   5:24 (298, 52)  
Dec. 14  12 46.28   11 54.7   3.706   3.599    76   16.1   5:29 (306, 56)

* C/2019 N1 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Nov. 1, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten up to 10.5 mag from 2020 December to 2021 January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening gradually, but it is not observable at the high light. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable for a long time, but it will be observable in good condition after the high light. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  17 19.94   61 29.6   4.477   4.486    84   16.3  18:18 (146, 30)  
Dec. 14  17 27.92   60 58.6   4.413   4.422    84   16.2  18:19 (147, 28)

* C/2019 K5 ( Young )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays bright even after the perihelion passage. It will fade out rapidly after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in January. However, it may stay bright for some more time. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   3 10.15   -2  0.7   1.945   2.810   145   16.7  22:06 (  0, 53)  
Dec. 14   3  8.86   -1 48.6   2.047   2.864   138   16.9  21:38 (  0, 53)

* C/2018 DO4 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   1 42.14   -4 59.3   1.967   2.669   126   16.7  20:38 (  0, 50)  
Dec. 14   1 26.90   -6 17.3   2.129   2.701   115   17.0  19:55 (  0, 49)

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

It stays 16-17 mag for a long time until 2020. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is hardly observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  13 16.55   51 49.5   8.589   8.610    87   16.8   5:24 (228, 55)  
Dec. 14  13 20.13   51 59.2   8.530   8.618    91   16.8   5:29 (225, 60)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Fading. Now it is 17.6 mag (Nov. 28, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag from autumn to winter. It is observable in good 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)  
Dec.  7   9  5.02   23 41.1   6.041   6.619   122   16.9   4:05 (  0, 79)  
Dec. 14   9  0.33   23 43.5   5.983   6.663   130   16.9   3:33 (  0, 79)

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low for a long time. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   1 12.05   33 31.9   3.745   4.452   130   17.4  20:08 (  0, 89)  
Dec. 14   1  6.38   31 37.0   3.878   4.494   123   17.5  19:35 (  0, 87)

* 168P/Hergenrother

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. Now it is fainter than 21.5 mag (Aug. 4, Erwin Schwab). It was expected to brighten up to 12 mag from August to September. But actually, it must be much fainter than expected. It is observable in good condition 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)  
Dec.  7   7 17.02   62 23.9   1.106   1.920   133   17.4   2:18 (180, 63)  
Dec. 14   7  2.60   62 42.2   1.131   1.969   137   18.0   1:36 (180, 62)

* C/2019 L3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 30, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 12 mag in winter in 2022. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  22  5.80   42  0.3   7.123   7.306    96   17.4  18:18 (121, 74)  
Dec. 14  22  8.31   41 34.7   7.153   7.261    92   17.4  18:19 (116, 69)

* 261P/Larson

Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in late December. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   3  8.36   25 36.9   1.461   2.395   156   17.4  22:05 (  0, 81)  
Dec. 14   3  5.53   24 56.5   1.526   2.422   148   17.7  21:34 (  0, 80)

* 173P/Mueller 5

Now it is 17.4 mag (Oct. 31, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable at 17-18 mag for a long time from late 2019 to early 2021. It will fade out before it passes the perihelion. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   3  0.14    0 40.3   4.294   5.133   145   17.5  21:56 (  0, 56)  
Dec. 14   2 57.32    0 49.4   4.343   5.120   138   17.5  21:26 (  0, 56)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Fading now. Now it is 17.1 mag (Oct. 5, M. Masek). 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)  
Dec.  7   5 35.62  -55 16.5   5.266   5.550   101   17.5   0:36 (  0,  0)  
Dec. 14   5 23.95  -55 43.3   5.328   5.602   101   17.6  23:51 (  0, -1)

* 203P/Korlevic

Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17-18 mag in good condition in winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   4  9.87   23 57.6   2.260   3.235   170   17.8  23:06 (  0, 79)  
Dec. 14   4  5.31   23 39.4   2.278   3.230   162   17.8  22:34 (  0, 79)

* A/2019 C1

Asteroid moving along a comet-like orbit. It stays observable at 17.5 mag from 2020 to 2021. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  10 54.44  -23 11.1   6.743   6.657    80   17.8   5:24 (352, 31)  
Dec. 14  10 56.47  -23 39.0   6.638   6.650    86   17.8   5:28 (  0, 31)

* 384P/2019 O1 ( Kowalski )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 18 mag in 2014. Now it is 17.4 mag (Nov. 28, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in December. It is observable in good 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)  
Dec.  7   8  6.87   43 56.8   0.426   1.320   134   17.8   3:07 (180, 81)  
Dec. 14   7 58.60   43 42.3   0.448   1.366   142   18.0   2:31 (180, 81)

* 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura

Now it is 17.3 mag (Dec. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It was exptected to brighten up to 16.5 mag from October to December. But actually, it is fainter than originally expected. It seems to brighten up to 17-18 mag at best. It is observable in good 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)  
Dec.  7   9 56.56   34 30.2   0.997   1.658   113   17.8   4:56 (  0, 89)  
Dec. 14  10 10.44   37 45.8   0.973   1.676   117   17.9   4:42 (180, 87)

* (3200) Phaethon

Fading now. It passed the perihelion on July 2. Then it must have brightened up to 13 mag, but it was not observable around that time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until December when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays locating low. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   0 16.73   27 49.5   1.493   2.143   118   17.9  19:14 (  0, 83)  
Dec. 14   0 17.85   25 58.6   1.613   2.178   111   18.2  18:47 (  0, 81)

* 289P/Blanpain

It brighted rapidly from 20.5 mag up to 18.5 mag in September. However, the brightness evolution has stopped since October. Now it is very faint as 18.9 mag (Nov. 21, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will approaches to Earth down to 0.09 a.u. in early January, and it will brighten up to 15.5 mag. It will be obesrvable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will not be observable at the high light. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  22 36.42  -12 43.8   0.245   0.980    81   18.3  18:18 ( 14, 41)  
Dec. 14  22 45.07   -7 43.7   0.207   0.964    78   18.2  18:19 ( 23, 45)

* 200P/Larsen

Now it is very faint as 19.7 mag (Oct. 25, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It brightened up to 15.5 mag in 1997, and 17 mag in 2008, however, it is much fainter in this apparition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   1  5.61   12 55.0   2.704   3.373   125   20.4  20:02 (  0, 68)  
Dec. 14   1  7.04   12 33.0   2.797   3.382   118   20.5  19:36 (  0, 68)

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