Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2015 Dec. 26: South)

Japanese version
Home page
 Updated on December 26, 2015
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.

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

* C/2013 US10 ( Catalina )

Now it is 6.2 mag (Dec. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It was expected to brighten up to 4-5 mag from autumn to winter. But actually, it is 6 mag at best. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is hardly observable after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  14 16.09    9 31.5   1.018   1.108    67    5.6   2:57 (254,  6)  
Jan.  2  14 13.47   20  4.3   0.880   1.192    79    5.4   3:04 (241,  6)

* C/2014 S2 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is so bright as 8.4 mag (Dec. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is observable at 9-10 mag until spring in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  16 54.80   62  1.3   1.919   2.109    86    9.4   2:57 (215,-42)  
Jan.  2  16 56.36   61 58.2   1.914   2.118    87    9.4   3:04 (215,-38)

* C/2013 X1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is so bright as 9.9 mag (Dec. 17, Marco Goiato). It will pass close to the earth from spring to summer, and it is expected to be observable at 6-7 mag in good condition. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemispehre. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   0 17.43   24 42.6   1.717   2.120    99    9.9  21:02 (137, 16)  
Jan.  2   0  4.71   21 20.2   1.811   2.048    89    9.9  21:03 (127, 13)

* P/2010 V1 ( Ikeya-Murakami )

First return of a periodic comet which brightened up to 8 mag in major outburst in 2010. It will be observable in excellent condition from winter to spring. Now it is not detected, fainter than 20 mag (Dec. 9, Jean-Francois Soulier). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   9 40.17   32 24.1   0.887   1.725   134   11.6   2:57 (186, 22)  
Jan.  2   9 45.47   32 36.8   0.826   1.700   139   11.1   3:02 (180, 22)

* 10P/Tempel 2

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is bright as 9.2 mag (Nov. 30, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It keeps 11-13 mag until February. But it keeps very low. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 19.48  -21 59.9   2.058   1.484    42   11.9  21:02 ( 72, 12)  
Jan.  2  21 43.22  -20 34.6   2.107   1.507    40   12.0  21:03 ( 73, 11)

* 22P/Kopff

Now it is bright as 9.7 mag (Nov. 30, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is already unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable soon also in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  20 25.24  -20 23.7   2.455   1.678    30   12.0  21:02 ( 66,  1)  
Jan.  2  20 46.38  -19 18.3   2.509   1.705    28   12.2  21:03 ( 66, -1)

* C/2014 W2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 12.2 mag (Dec. 19, Uwe Pilz). It keeps 12 mag for a long time from 2015 autumn to 2016 summer. In the Northern Hemispehre, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time. It keeps unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  19 10.87   74 47.6   2.463   2.785    98   12.2  21:02 (162,-42)  
Jan.  2  19 27.86   72 27.3   2.488   2.765    95   12.2  21:03 (160,-44)

* C/2015 X8 ( NEOWISE )

New bright comet. Now it is 12.8 mag (Dec. 19, Michael Jager). It looks diffuse visually. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps 13 mag within December, but it will be fading rapidly after January. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  11 56.73   52  6.6   0.873   1.532   111   12.8   2:57 (204, -4)  
Jan.  2  10 54.01   66  8.3   0.838   1.596   122   12.8   3:04 (187,-12)

* C/2014 Q2 ( Lovejoy )

It brightened up to 3.7 mag and became a naked eye comet in mid January in 2015 (Jan. 13, Marek Biely). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 11.9 mag still now (Nov. 25, Thomas Lehmann). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out, although it becomes low temporarily in December. It is not observable until March in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  17 45.20   20 21.3   4.970   4.322    44   13.2   2:57 (274,-42)  
Jan.  2  17 51.38   20  7.9   5.027   4.390    45   13.3   3:04 (270,-36)

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is 14.0 mag (Dec. 17, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It will brighten up to 11 mag from spring to summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 29.50   19 12.8   1.497   2.468   168   13.9  23:10 (180, 36)  
Jan.  2   5 22.02   19 14.6   1.480   2.427   159   13.7  22:35 (180, 36)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Now it is 13.3 mag (Dec. 8, Hiroshi Abe). It will be fading slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition. It will be getting higher gradually after this also in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  12 13.53    7 35.1   1.652   1.974    93   13.7   2:57 (234, 30)  
Jan.  2  12 18.49    7 23.9   1.620   2.028    99   13.9   3:04 (228, 35)

* 249P/LINEAR

Appearing in the evening sky. Now it is bright as 12.0-12.5 mag (Dec. 8, Michael Jager). It tends to brighten very rapidly around the perihelion passage. It will fade out very rapidly after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 23.43  -11 23.8   1.022   0.786    46   13.9  21:02 ( 82,  8)  
Jan.  2  22 14.25   -7 35.1   1.040   0.889    52   14.8  21:03 ( 88, 10)

* 116P/Wild 4

Now it is 14.3 mag (Dec. 8, Yuji Ohshima). It will brighten up to 13 mag from winter to spring. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 59.39  -11 26.1   2.475   2.190    61   14.0   2:57 (269, 22)  
Jan.  2  14 12.04  -12 40.7   2.401   2.188    65   13.9   3:04 (267, 27)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

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

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  18 32.80  -27 49.7   6.955   5.978     5   14.0  21:02 ( 43,-12)  
Jan.  2  18 39.15  -27 41.1   6.955   5.976     5   14.0   3:04 (318,-13)

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 14.8 mag (Nov. 22, Catalina Sky Survey). Distant object, but it keeps observable at 14-15 mag for a long time from 2015 to 2016. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  21 49.65   -7 32.3   5.529   5.008    53   14.7  21:02 ( 88, 10)  
Jan.  2  21 55.73   -7 19.5   5.602   4.997    47   14.7  21:03 ( 85,  6)

* C/2014 W11 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly in 2015 spring, and reached up to 13.8 mag (May 11, Sandor Szabo). It is bright as 15.5 mag still now (Dec. 20, Jean-Francois Soulier). It keeps 15-16 mag for a while until spring. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But it locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 40.27  -22 44.2   4.056   3.710    62   15.4   2:57 (277, 31)  
Jan.  2  13 46.83  -23 39.2   3.985   3.729    67   15.4   3:04 (275, 37)

* 329P/2015 T1 ( LINEAR-Catalina )

First return of a periodic comet discovered in 2003. Now it is 15.1 mag (Dec. 17, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It is brightening very rapidly. It will approach to the earth from autumn to winter, and it will brighten up to 15 mag and observable in excellent condition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   4 36.62   17 24.0   0.728   1.675   156   15.4  22:18 (180, 37)  
Jan.  2   4 35.15   20 52.0   0.764   1.687   149   15.5  21:49 (180, 34)

* C/2013 V4 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Dec. 19, Y. Sugiyama). It keeps 15-16 mag for a long time until 2016. It keeps observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps unobservable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   3 31.82   74 49.4   4.601   5.220   124   15.5  21:13 (180,-20)  
Jan.  2   3 16.66   74 42.4   4.643   5.226   121   15.5  21:03 (178,-20)

* 19P/Borrelly

Now it is 15.8 mag (Dec. 7, Yuji Ohshima). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable after this while the comet will be fading. It will be getting higher gradually after this also in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 54.06   20 20.5   2.576   2.548    77   15.5   2:57 (242,  4)  
Jan.  2  14  1.63   20 36.1   2.544   2.597    82   15.6   3:04 (238,  8)

* C/2015 G2 ( MASTER )

It brightened up to 6.0 mag in mid May (May 14, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.4 mag (Dec. 7, Yasukazu Ikari). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   6 14.46   38  9.1   2.396   3.357   165   15.7   0:01 (180, 17)  
Jan.  2   5 55.68   38 29.2   2.493   3.438   161   15.8  23:08 (180, 16)

* 230P/LINEAR

Now it is 13.0 mag and visible visually (Dec. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is passing near by the earth, and it is observable at 15 mag in excellent condition in December. It will fade out rapidly after January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5  6.31    5 59.5   0.587   1.538   155   15.7  22:48 (180, 49)  
Jan.  2   5  6.31    9 19.9   0.619   1.559   152   15.9  22:20 (180, 45)

* C/2014 N3 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 13.4 mag (Dec. 16, Yasukazu Ikari). It keeps 15 mag for a long time from 2014 to 2015. 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)  
Dec. 26   0 29.72   45 58.1   4.189   4.603   108   15.7  21:02 (152,  0)  
Jan.  2   0 29.73   45 50.7   4.306   4.634   103   15.8  21:03 (148, -3)

* C/2014 A4 ( SONEAR )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Dec. 8, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fading slowly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in early January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   0  9.85   15 18.6   4.089   4.283    94   15.8  21:02 (130, 22)  
Jan.  2   0  6.65   15 32.3   4.232   4.296    87   15.9  21:03 (124, 17)

* 88P/Howell

It brightened up to 8.8 mag in 2015 spring (Apr. 3, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.9 mag (Dec. 15, S. Shurpakov). It keeps observable until March when the comet becomes fainter than 18 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   1 47.83   10 10.0   2.215   2.778   115   15.8  21:02 (150, 40)  
Jan.  2   1 50.24   10 33.3   2.348   2.820   108   16.1  21:03 (143, 36)

* 318P/2014 M6 ( McNaught-Hartley )

First return of a periodic comet discovered in 1994. It brightened up to 13.8 mag from summer to autumn (Sept. 7, Taras Prystavski). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.1 mag (Dec. 11, MASTER-IAC Observatory, Tenerife). It is observable in excellent 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. 26  23 30.40  -11 18.5   2.581   2.516    75   16.1  21:02 (100, 33)  
Jan.  2  23 39.58   -9 26.9   2.676   2.531    70   16.2  21:03 ( 99, 28)

* C/2015 F4 ( Jacques )

It brightened rapidly up to 10.4 mag from July to August (July 18, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.0 mag (Dec. 8, Yasukazu Ikari). 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. 26  22 17.25   46 53.7   2.215   2.405    88   16.1  21:02 (137,-16)  
Jan.  2  22 37.64   46 54.7   2.312   2.466    87   16.4  21:03 (136,-17)

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach

It brightened up to 14.5 mag in autumn (Nov. 11, Sandor Szabo). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.7 mag (Dec. 14, L. Elenin). It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   2 16.43    4 58.4   1.554   2.211   119   16.3  21:02 (156, 47)  
Jan.  2   2 21.12    5 40.9   1.640   2.227   113   16.4  21:03 (149, 44)

* C/2006 S3 ( LONEOS )

It brightened up to 11-12 mag in 2012. It has already faded down to 17.2 mag (Dec. 19, Yuji Ohshima). It is observable at 16-17 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  11 13.78   -7 16.1  10.443  10.677   101   16.3   2:57 (232, 51)  
Jan.  2  11 12.08   -7 15.6  10.361  10.714   108   16.3   3:04 (220, 56)

* 77P/Longmore

Now it is 16.7 mag (Dec. 11, D. Buczynski). It will brighten rapidly after this, and it will be observable at 14-15 mag in good condition from winter to summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13  7.67    4 10.9   2.489   2.510    79   16.5   2:57 (247, 23)  
Jan.  2  13 15.19    2 58.9   2.385   2.494    84   16.3   3:04 (243, 28)

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 12, J. Lozano). It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in 2017 summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until the highlight while the comet will be brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until early 2017. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   8  0.24   61 56.7   5.273   6.035   137   16.4   1:46 (180, -7)  
Jan.  2   7 53.07   62 38.4   5.201   5.976   138   16.3   1:11 (180, -8)

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 15, J. Bel). It will brighten up to 14 mag in 2016 summer. But it is not observable at the highlight. It keeps observable until March while the comet will be brightening gradually up to 15-16 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   0 30.25   -5 25.4   2.156   2.387    91   16.7  21:02 (117, 41)  
Jan.  2   0 36.68   -4 34.4   2.217   2.360    85   16.6  21:03 (113, 36)

* C/2015 B2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 3, A. Maury, J.-F. Soulier, J.-G. Bosch, T. Noel). It keeps 16.5 mag for a long time in 2016, and it will be 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)  
Dec. 26   7 11.20  -62 55.3   3.401   3.589    92   16.7   0:57 (  0, 62)  
Jan.  2   6 41.32  -63 53.5   3.376   3.567    93   16.7  23:51 (  0, 61)

* P/2015 Q1 ( Scotti )

Brightening very rapidly, and it keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage. Now it is very bright as 15.9 mag (Dec. 16, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 59.66  -16  1.0   1.137   1.996   140   16.7  23:40 (180, 71)  
Jan.  2   5 54.75  -15 51.5   1.176   2.025   139   16.9  23:08 (180, 71)

* 204P/LINEAR-NEAT

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 18, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It is observable at 16.5 mag in excellent condition from December to February. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   8 36.41   18 55.8   1.033   1.933   147   16.8   2:21 (180, 36)  
Jan.  2   8 35.51   19 42.2   1.004   1.938   154   16.7   1:53 (180, 35)

* 252P/LINEAR

Now it is 19.6 mag (Dec. 14, K. Hills). It will brighten very rapidly and reach up to 10 mag in March. In this apparition, it keeps observable in excellent condition both brightening and fading period. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable temporarily in mid March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   6 42.09   -6 59.8   0.527   1.460   148   17.3   0:27 (180, 62)  
Jan.  2   6 36.37   -9 41.2   0.467   1.399   147   16.8  23:49 (180, 65)

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 17, J. Nicolas, C. Rinner, F. Kugel, A. Klotz). It will brighten up to 14 mag in 2017. In 2016, it keeps observable at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  12  2.75   10 18.3   3.792   4.032    97   17.0   2:57 (230, 30)  
Jan.  2  12  5.26   10 19.0   3.672   4.017   103   16.9   3:04 (223, 34)

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

It brightened up to 13 mag in 2014. Now it is 16.0 mag (Dec. 16, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   0 56.79    0 42.0   3.825   4.106    99   17.0  21:02 (129, 41)  
Jan.  2   0 58.87    1 11.0   3.947   4.121    93   17.1  21:03 (123, 36)

* 211P/Hill

Now it is 17.0 mag (Dec. 16, Purple Mountain Observatory). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   8 22.09   16 19.9   1.459   2.360   149   17.0   2:07 (180, 39)  
Jan.  2   8 19.09   17 37.7   1.417   2.356   157   17.0   1:37 (180, 37)

* C/2015 T4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 13, K. Hills). It will brighten up to 16 mag in 2016 summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until next March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   4 31.03  -22 34.2   2.291   2.993   127   17.1  22:11 (180, 78)  
Jan.  2   4 20.02  -24  9.6   2.319   2.947   120   17.0  21:33 (180, 79)

* 9P/Tempel 1

Now it is 18.6 mag (Dec. 17, A. Klotz, F. Kugel, C. Rinner). It will be observable at 11 mag in good condition from spring to summer. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  11 58.54   13 25.4   2.125   2.480    99   17.5   2:57 (227, 28)  
Jan.  2  12  5.63   13 19.1   2.001   2.440   104   17.2   3:04 (221, 32)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 18, Catalina Sky Survey). Now it is near the aphelion. It is observable at 17 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   3 10.35   15  5.0   3.475   4.234   135   17.2  21:02 (177, 40)  
Jan.  2   3  8.43   15  7.2   3.548   4.225   128   17.3  21:03 (167, 39)

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 19, Y. Sugiyama). It keeps 17.5 mag for a long time from 2016 to 2019. It keeps locating near by the equator. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   8 12.53   -0 56.5   9.364  10.164   142   17.4   1:57 (180, 56)  
Jan.  2   8 11.11   -0 51.6   9.299  10.151   148   17.4   1:28 (180, 56)

* C/2015 GX ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 16, Yasukazu Ikari). It wil be fainter than 18 mag in January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   1 21.17   37  7.1   1.792   2.398   116   17.4  21:02 (156, 13)  
Jan.  2   1 26.36   32 46.3   1.922   2.441   110   17.7  21:03 (150, 15)

* 162P/Siding Spring

Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 13, D. Buczynski). 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. 26  11 36.75   46 30.7   1.573   2.160   113   17.5   2:57 (204,  2)  
Jan.  2  11 36.75   47 51.8   1.566   2.210   118   17.5   3:04 (198,  4)

* 180P/NEAT

Now it is 18.3 mag (Nov. 15, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 17 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  13 59.11    4 21.5   2.679   2.491    68   17.6   2:57 (256, 13)  
Jan.  2  14  9.63    3 46.0   2.603   2.493    72   17.5   3:04 (252, 17)

* 194P/LINEAR

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. It tends to be brightest after the perihelion passage. It is observable at 17 mag in excellent condition until March 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. 26   5  0.11   45 59.5   0.894   1.825   152   17.8  22:41 (180,  9)  
Jan.  2   4 55.63   45 32.6   0.889   1.801   148   17.6  22:10 (180,  9)

* C/2015 TQ209 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Dec. 11, Purple Mountain Observatory). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 2016 summer. But it is not observable around the highlight. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable until February when it brightens up to 17 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until April when it brightens up to 16 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   1 53.41   11 22.1   2.894   3.449   116   17.7  21:02 (152, 39)  
Jan.  2   1 52.94   11  5.5   2.923   3.379   109   17.6  21:03 (144, 36)

* C/2013 G9 ( Tenagra )

It brightened up to 16 mag in early 2015. Now it is 18.1 mag (Dec. 12, ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala). It is observable at 18 mag from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  10 31.12  -24  7.3   5.632   5.915   101   17.7   2:57 (243, 70)  
Jan.  2  10 25.31  -24 28.0   5.545   5.937   108   17.7   3:04 (221, 77)

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

It will pass the perihelion in 2019. However, it has not been brightening since the discovery in 2010. Now it is 17.6 mag (Dec. 3, D. Buczynski). It keeps observable in excellent condition from autumn to next spring 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. 26   3 15.32   47 41.0  10.043  10.781   136   17.7  21:02 (179,  7)  
Jan.  2   3 13.06   47 34.3  10.084  10.757   131   17.7  21:03 (174,  7)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 19, Catalina Sky Survey). It keeps observable in good condition for a while. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   3 34.91   24 30.7   2.045   2.894   143   17.8  21:16 (180, 30)  
Jan.  2   3 33.28   24  4.9   2.137   2.923   135   17.9  21:03 (176, 31)

* C/2015 W1 ( Gibbs )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Dec. 17, Space Surveillance Telescope, Atom Site). It keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from winter to spring in the Northern Hemispehre. It is observable only until mid February in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   8 23.35   13 55.1   1.870   2.756   148   18.0   2:09 (180, 41)  
Jan.  2   8 13.30   17 20.2   1.771   2.712   158   17.8   1:31 (180, 38)

* C/2015 X4 ( Elenin )

New comet. Now it is bright as 16.0 mag (Dec. 17, P. Bacci, L. Tesi, G. Fagioli). It keeps observable in good condition for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   5 48.48   18 18.9   2.452   3.429   171   17.8  23:29 (180, 37)  
Jan.  2   5 44.26   17 20.7   2.480   3.437   164   17.8  22:58 (180, 38)

* C/2014 Y1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Nov. 30, Hidetaka Sato). It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag from winter to summer. But it is much fainter actually. It will be 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)  
Dec. 26  14 11.44  -11 33.5   2.599   2.257    59   17.8   2:57 (271, 19)  
Jan.  2  14 24.75  -13 20.4   2.526   2.249    62   17.8   3:04 (270, 24)

* C/2012 K8 ( Lemmon )

It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time since 2013. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable at 18 mag in good condition also in this winter. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  14 29.14   54 14.7   7.167   7.261    91   17.9   2:57 (218,-22)  
Jan.  2  14 29.18   54 59.4   7.125   7.282    95   17.9   3:04 (215,-18)

* C/2015 YG1 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 20, Michael Jager). It must have been observable at 16-17 mag in good condition from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, but it was not discovered. It will be observable after mid January also in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26  12 59.59   36 25.6   2.100   2.403    95   17.9   2:57 (222,  1)  
Jan.  2  12 58.05   35 50.9   2.048   2.436   101   17.9   3:04 (217,  6)

* C/2015 X7 ( ATLAS )

New comet. Now it is 17.6 mag (Dec. 17, A. Hidas). It keeps 17-18 mag for a long time until 2017 spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   7  2.58  -28 57.7   3.568   4.227   126   18.0   0:48 (180, 84)  
Jan.  2   6 58.20  -28 18.2   3.515   4.199   128   18.0   0:16 (180, 83)

* 51P/Harrington

It brightened up to 15.9 mag in June as predicted (June 23, Ken-ichi Kadota). It was expected to be observable at 13 mag in good condition from summer to autumn. However, the comet became disintegrating in July. Now the main component and fragments B and D are all fainter than 20 mag. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 26   2  8.93    9 14.9   1.453   2.118   119   21.1  21:02 (156, 43)  
Jan.  2   2 14.55   10 14.4   1.558   2.154   114   21.3  21:03 (149, 39)

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

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