Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2016 Jan. 23: North)

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Updated on January 25, 2016
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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/2013 US10 ( Catalina )

Now it is 6.5 mag (Jan. 21, Salvador Aguirre). 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 not observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  13  7.79   69 31.1   0.751   1.465   114    6.7   5:03 (180, 56)  
Jan. 30   9 54.71   81 15.2   0.848   1.558   116    7.3   1:38 (180, 44)  

* C/2013 X1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened in outburst in early January. Now it is very bright as 8.5 mag (Jan. 16, J.P.Navarro Pina). It will pass close to the earth from spring to summer, and it is expected to brighten up to 4-5 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in late February. It will appear in the morning sky again in late April, but it locates low in the south around the high light. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But after appearing in the morning sky again in mid April, it will be observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  23 43.56   13 54.0   2.108   1.840    60    8.0  18:46 ( 76, 42)  
Jan. 30  23 40.14   12  9.0   2.196   1.774    52    7.9  18:52 ( 81, 34)  

* C/2014 S2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is so bright as 9.4 mag (Jan. 17, Carlos Labordena). 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)  
Jan. 23  16 50.33   63 55.7   1.882   2.164    92    9.1   5:36 (210, 50)  
Jan. 30  16 42.62   65 11.1   1.867   2.185    94    9.1   5:33 (205, 52)  

* C/2014 W2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 12.4 mag (Jan. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Jan. 23  20  2.59   67 17.7   2.584   2.716    87   12.1   5:36 (206, 30)  
Jan. 30  20 10.91   66 12.5   2.616   2.704    84   12.1   5:33 (208, 31)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Now it is 11.8 mag (Jan. 8, Giuseppe Pappa). 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)  
Jan. 23  22 49.70  -15 28.5   2.273   1.592    36   12.6  18:46 ( 60, 14)  
Jan. 30  23 10.26  -13 36.4   2.335   1.625    34   12.8  18:52 ( 64, 12)  

* 22P/Kopff

It is not observable now. It will appear in the morning sky in June. But the comet will be faint as 16-17 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  21 45.81  -15 22.1   2.677   1.797    21   12.8  18:46 ( 70,  2)  
Jan. 30  22  4.27  -13 54.2   2.734   1.831    19   13.0  18:52 ( 73,  0)  

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is 12.5 mag (Jan. 8, Giuseppe Pappa). 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)  
Jan. 23   5  5.11   19 32.1   1.501   2.303   134   13.3  20:56 (  0, 75)  
Jan. 30   5  2.45   19 43.3   1.527   2.262   127   13.2  20:26 (  0, 75)  

* 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. It has already faded down to 15.2 mag (Jan. 16, Yuji Ohshima). In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable for a long time until the comet fades out. It is not observable until March in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  18  7.99   20  3.8   5.150   4.593    50   13.5   5:36 (266, 30)  
Jan. 30  18 12.76   20 13.4   5.175   4.660    53   13.6   5:33 (268, 35)  

* 116P/Wild 4

Now it is 13.3 mag (Jan. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). 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)  
Jan. 23  14 48.22  -16  1.3   2.176   2.189    77   13.7   5:36 (340, 37)  
Jan. 30  14 59.44  -16 59.8   2.100   2.191    81   13.6   5:33 (344, 37)  

* C/2015 X8 ( NEOWISE )

It passed near by the earth and brightened up to 12.1 mag from mid December to early January (Dec. 20, Thomas Lehmann). Now it is 13.2 mag (Jan. 17, Thomas Lehmann). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it will be fading rapidly after this. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   3 40.81   63  1.7   1.118   1.792   116   14.0  19:30 (180, 62)  
Jan. 30   3 13.61   56  9.3   1.300   1.864   108   14.5  18:52 (174, 69)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  18 57.91  -27 12.4   6.887   5.970    19   14.0   5:36 (298, -7)  
Jan. 30  19  3.96  -27  2.1   6.842   5.968    25   14.0   5:33 (301, -4)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

It brightened up to 11.1 mag in 2015 autumn (Sept. 21, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is 15.2 mag (Jan. 18, Thomas Lehmann). It keeps observable in good condition after this, while the comet will be fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  12 23.64    7 50.8   1.531   2.190   119   14.3   4:18 (  0, 63)  
Jan. 30  12 21.95    8 18.6   1.509   2.243   126   14.4   3:49 (  0, 63)  

* 230P/LINEAR

It keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage. Now it is 13.9 mag and visible visually (Jan. 9, Seiichi Yoshida). It keeps observable in excellent condition for a while. But it will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   5 16.14   18 11.2   0.772   1.637   137   14.6  21:08 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 30   5 22.80   20 32.0   0.840   1.668   131   14.8  20:47 (  0, 76)  

* 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. It becomes unobservable temporarily from January to March in the Southern Hemisphere, or from February to April in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  22 15.38   -6 25.3   5.780   4.967    31   14.8  18:46 ( 73, 13)  
Jan. 30  22 22.27   -6  2.7   5.823   4.958    26   14.8  18:52 ( 77,  8)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  14  3.22  -26  9.4   3.756   3.792    84   15.4   5:36 (355, 29)  
Jan. 30  14  7.38  -26 53.7   3.678   3.814    90   15.5   5:33 (  0, 28)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   2 47.72   73 45.7   4.816   5.249   110   15.6  18:46 (179, 51)  
Jan. 30   2 43.71   73 23.5   4.885   5.257   106   15.7  18:52 (175, 51)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  13 33.59   -0 27.5   2.075   2.450   100   15.9   5:27 (  0, 54)  
Jan. 30  13 37.99   -1 33.4   1.975   2.436   105   15.7   5:04 (  0, 53)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  12 22.46   13 46.0   1.649   2.319   121   16.2   4:16 (  0, 69)  
Jan. 30  12 26.15   14 12.2   1.542   2.279   127   15.9   3:53 (  0, 69)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  14 18.19   22 12.3   2.440   2.744    97   15.9   5:36 (327, 75)  
Jan. 30  14 21.40   22 59.5   2.407   2.792   102   16.0   5:33 (345, 78)  

* 252P/LINEAR

Now it is 19.6 mag (Dec. 14, K. Hills). It will brighten very rapidly and reach up to 11 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)  
Jan. 23   6 12.57  -17 21.1   0.328   1.228   131   16.5  22:03 (  0, 37)  
Jan. 30   6  4.46  -19 36.6   0.290   1.176   125   16.0  21:27 (  0, 35)  

* 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 will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 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)  
Jan. 23   4 42.91   29 23.8   0.933   1.742   130   16.0  20:35 (  0, 85)  
Jan. 30   4 49.65   31 33.1   1.006   1.767   125   16.3  20:14 (  0, 87)  

* C/2014 N3 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Dec. 13, D. Buczynski). It keeps 15 mag for a long time from 2014 to 2015. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It will not be observable after this in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   0 35.46   45 54.7   4.669   4.732    87   16.1  18:46 (124, 62)  
Jan. 30   0 38.96   46  5.8   4.790   4.765    82   16.2  18:52 (123, 57)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Jan. 15, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
Jan. 23   7 27.27   64  0.0   5.061   5.797   134   16.2  23:18 (180, 61)  
Jan. 30   7 18.31   64 10.3   5.038   5.737   131   16.1  22:42 (180, 61)  

* C/2014 Q1 ( PanSTARRS )

It approached to the sun down to 0.3 a.u. on July 6, 2015, and brighted up to 3.9 mag (July 6, Thomas Lehmann). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.9 mag in October (Oct. 3, Chris Wyatt). No observations have been reported since November. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until the comet fades out. It will not be observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  19  3.59  -57 27.9   4.174   3.480    40   16.2   5:36 (324,-24)  
Jan. 30  19 17.17  -57 45.3   4.221   3.567    43   16.3   5:33 (325,-23)  

* C/2014 A4 ( SONEAR )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Dec. 8, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fading slowly after this. It will be unobservable soon in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable in early March also in the Northern Hemisphere. But it will be observable again at 17 mag in good condition in autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   0  2.18   16 36.3   4.647   4.340    65   16.2  18:46 ( 76, 48)  
Jan. 30   0  2.06   17  5.1   4.774   4.356    59   16.3  18:52 ( 82, 41)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  11  5.19   -7  0.7  10.157  10.827   130   16.3   2:59 (  0, 48)  
Jan. 30  11  2.37   -6 51.1  10.109  10.865   138   16.3   2:29 (  0, 48)  

* C/2015 X4 ( Elenin )

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)  
Jan. 23   5 35.33   14 50.4   2.641   3.462   141   16.5  21:26 (  0, 70)  
Jan. 30   5 34.04   14  9.9   2.720   3.473   133   16.6  20:58 (  0, 69)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is 16.9 mag (Nov. 15, J. Bel). It will brighten up to 14 mag in 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)  
Jan. 23   1  1.30   -1 30.7   2.393   2.281    71   16.5  18:46 ( 42, 45)  
Jan. 30   1 11.04   -0 21.6   2.448   2.256    67   16.5  18:52 ( 50, 43)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  12  8.34   10 51.6   3.337   3.971   123   16.6   4:02 (  0, 66)  
Jan. 30  12  7.75   11 12.2   3.238   3.956   131   16.5   3:34 (  0, 66)  

* 332P/LINEAR

First return of an object discovered as an asteroid 2007 VA85 in 2007. Faint tail was observed on Jan. 8 by Hidetaka Sato. Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 10, E. Bryssinck). It will approach to the earth down to 0.5 a.u., will brighten up to 15-16 mag, and will be observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  10 30.81  -48 56.2   0.871   1.476   105   17.1   2:27 (  0,  6)  
Jan. 30   9 22.90  -47 51.7   0.700   1.420   113   16.6   0:54 (  0,  7)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   5 10.24  -62 55.2   3.374   3.508    89   16.6  20:59 (  0, -8)  
Jan. 30   4 45.64  -61 29.7   3.394   3.491    87   16.6  20:07 (  0, -6)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   8 25.78   22 27.6   0.979   1.963   176   16.6   0:21 (  0, 77)  
Jan. 30   8 21.68   23 20.2   0.994   1.974   171   16.6  23:45 (  0, 78)  

* 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 fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  12 40.52   34 39.6   1.782   2.436   120   16.6   4:35 (  0, 90)  
Jan. 30  12 30.36   34 15.9   1.745   2.476   127   16.6   3:57 (  0, 89)  

* C/2015 T4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 13, K. Hills). It keeps 16-17 mag for a long time until 2016 autumn. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   3 53.61  -27  7.6   2.458   2.813   100   16.6  19:44 (  0, 28)  
Jan. 30   3 47.66  -27 38.7   2.514   2.771    94   16.6  19:11 (  0, 27)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   2  2.68   12  5.3   2.764   2.943    90   16.8  18:46 ( 30, 64)  
Jan. 30   2  8.22   12 41.1   2.905   2.984    84   17.0  18:52 ( 44, 61)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   2 41.23    8 14.1   1.922   2.281    98   16.9  18:46 (  7, 63)  
Jan. 30   2 49.60    9  9.8   2.021   2.301    93   17.0  18:52 ( 21, 63)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   8  4.87   22  5.0   1.368   2.351   176   16.9   0:00 (  0, 77)  
Jan. 30   7 59.67   23 33.8   1.379   2.351   167   16.9  23:23 (  0, 79)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   7 30.85   29 13.0   1.623   2.588   165   17.2  23:20 (  0, 85)  
Jan. 30   7 13.88   33  7.9   1.626   2.549   154   17.1  22:36 (  0, 88)  

* C/2015 F4 ( Jacques )

It brightened 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)  
Jan. 23  23 37.45   46 55.8   2.637   2.656    80   17.2  18:46 (124, 52)  
Jan. 30  23 56.67   46 56.2   2.755   2.720    77   17.5  18:52 (124, 49)  

* 249P/LINEAR

It brightened up to 12.0-12.5 mag from early December to early January (Dec. 8, Michael Jager). Now it must be fading very rapidly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   0 16.19    2 51.2   1.266   1.195    62   17.2  18:46 ( 58, 42)  
Jan. 30   0 47.20    5 31.5   1.380   1.292    63   18.0  18:52 ( 61, 43)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  14 38.02    2 32.0   2.370   2.504    86   17.3   5:36 (335, 55)  
Jan. 30  14 46.16    2 18.4   2.292   2.509    90   17.3   5:33 (342, 56)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   4 55.95   42 54.3   0.924   1.743   131   17.3  20:48 (180, 82)  
Jan. 30   5  1.36   41 47.6   0.949   1.728   126   17.3  20:26 (180, 83)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   5 46.47  -13 22.7   1.344   2.117   130   17.3  21:37 (  0, 42)  
Jan. 30   5 46.46  -12  7.2   1.415   2.150   126   17.5  21:10 (  0, 43)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   1  8.78    2 55.0   4.313   4.165    74   17.3  18:46 ( 43, 50)  
Jan. 30   1 13.11    3 34.1   4.431   4.180    68   17.4  18:52 ( 53, 46)  

* C/2015 TQ209 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Dec. 11, Purple Mountain Observatory). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 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)  
Jan. 23   1 57.69   10 51.4   3.027   3.166    88   17.4  18:46 ( 32, 63)  
Jan. 30   2  1.27   10 58.1   3.061   3.095    82   17.3  18:52 ( 45, 59)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   8  6.19   -0 23.4   9.183  10.112   159   17.4   0:01 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 30   8  4.51   -0  9.8   9.173  10.100   159   17.4  23:28 (  0, 55)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   3  7.57   15 32.8   3.811   4.200   106   17.4  18:59 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 30   3  8.90   15 47.4   3.908   4.191    99   17.4  18:52 ( 14, 70)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  11 20.40   51 48.4   1.583   2.359   132   17.5   3:15 (180, 73)  
Jan. 30  11  9.80   52 47.5   1.605   2.408   135   17.5   2:37 (180, 72)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   5 11.54   38  8.3   2.907   3.677   135   17.6  21:02 (180, 87)  
Jan. 30   5  1.50   37 47.7   3.077   3.756   127   17.8  20:25 (180, 87)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  10  3.84  -24 52.0   5.342   6.005   128   17.6   1:58 (  0, 30)  
Jan. 30   9 55.66  -24 44.9   5.300   6.028   134   17.6   1:23 (  0, 30)  

* C/2015 X7 ( ATLAS )

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)  
Jan. 23   6 45.10  -24 58.4   3.346   4.049   129   17.7  22:36 (  0, 30)  
Jan. 30   6 41.43  -23 28.0   3.337   4.024   128   17.7  22:04 (  0, 32)  

* C/2015 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Dec. 18, Hidetaka Sato). It keeps observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   8 57.82   -0 51.3   1.859   2.792   157   17.8   0:53 (  0, 54)  
Jan. 30   8 50.25    2 25.0   1.799   2.761   164   17.7   0:18 (  0, 57)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23   3  8.77   47 11.3  10.264  10.685   112   17.7  19:01 (180, 78)  
Jan. 30   3  8.25   47  4.0  10.338  10.661   106   17.7  18:52 (165, 77)  

* 269P/2012 R2 ( Jedicke )

It brightened up to 15.2 mag in early 2015 (Feb. 24, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Now it is 17.5 mag (Dec. 6, Catalina Sky Survey). It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  11 42.71   -6 16.9   4.114   4.726   123   17.7   3:37 (  0, 49)  
Jan. 30  11 41.67   -6 19.3   4.045   4.745   130   17.7   3:08 (  0, 49)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  15  3.70  -18 28.1   2.315   2.243    73   17.9   5:36 (337, 33)  
Jan. 30  15 16.13  -20  5.8   2.247   2.247    77   17.9   5:33 (341, 33)  

* C/2013 C2 ( Tenagra )

Very far object. Outburst occured on Feb. 20, 2015, and it brightened up to 15 mag. But it is faint as 18 mag now. 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)  
Jan. 23  13 32.26  -25 49.3   9.074   9.147    91   17.9   5:26 (  0, 29)  
Jan. 30  13 33.01  -26  0.7   8.963   9.149    97   17.9   4:59 (  0, 29)  

* 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)  
Jan. 23  14 24.60   57 37.0   7.020   7.346   105   17.9   5:36 (194, 66)  
Jan. 30  14 21.16   58 34.4   6.995   7.368   108   17.9   5:33 (184, 66)  

* 104P/Kowal 2

Now it is 19.0 mag (Jan. 10, B. Lutkenhoner). The brightness differs in every apparition. It was not observed in the last apparition. In this apparition, it was expected to be observable at 14-15 mag from winter to spring. But it will be 17 mag at best. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23  23 14.68   -0  0.2   1.891   1.426    47   18.7  18:46 ( 68, 28)  
Jan. 30  23 33.97    1 21.2   1.882   1.381    45   18.5  18:52 ( 72, 27)  

* 331P/2015 Y2 ( 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. However, now it is so faint; the fragment A is 17.9 mag and the fragment B is 18.2 mag (Jan. 15, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It will be 18-19 mag at best in this apparition. Pieter-Jan Dekelver reported the fragments C and D are also visible at 21-22 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 23   9  7.27   36 56.6   0.697   1.656   159   18.9   1:02 (180, 88)  
Jan. 30   9  2.60   36 48.3   0.674   1.636   160   18.8   0:30 (180, 88)  

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