Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 May 13: North)

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Updated on May 14, 2017
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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/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 8.1 mag (May 4, Seiichi Yoshida). It was expected to brighten up to 6-7 mag from April to July. But it is fainter than predicted recently. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  15 26.28   38 26.0   0.906   1.687   123    7.1   0:05 (180, 86)  
May  20  15  9.73   33 36.6   0.859   1.667   125    6.9  23:15 (  0, 88)  

* C/2015 ER61 ( PanSTARRS )

Outburst occured on Apr. 4, and it brightened by 2 mag, up to 6.2 mag (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is very bright as 7.6 mag still now (May 7, Marco Goiato). It stays observable for a long time after this. But it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  23 47.43    4  7.1   1.253   1.043    53    7.2   3:20 (275, 14)  
May  20   0 15.26    7 13.2   1.295   1.056    52    7.3   3:13 (271, 14)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

Now it is very bright as 7.2 mag (May 6, Carlos Labordena). It approached to Earth down to 0.14 a.u. from late March to early April. It is still very close to the Earth, around 0.2 a.u. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is 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)  
May  13  18 28.93   28 53.8   0.227   1.123   114    8.4   3:06 (  0, 84)  
May  20  18 31.75   23 25.7   0.249   1.160   120    9.1   2:42 (  0, 79)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. The condition of this apparition is worst. It will brighten up to 10 mag in spring, but not observable at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   3 51.41   16 52.5   2.103   1.110     7   10.9  20:32 (122,-14)  
May  20   4 21.10   17 23.5   2.131   1.141     8   11.0  20:40 (124,-14)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is 12.0 mag (May 6, Marco Goiato). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in summer. 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)  
May  13  16 42.07  -22 29.4   0.665   1.652   160   11.2   1:20 (  0, 33)  
May  20  16 40.69  -24  8.4   0.633   1.634   166   10.9   0:51 (  0, 31)  

* C/2017 E1 ( Borisov )

Now it is 11.0 mag (Apr. 28, Chris Wyatt). It will be fading gradually after this. It is not observable now in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time, but it stays low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   1  3.57    3 25.4   1.706   1.075    36   12.1   3:20 (264, -2)  
May  20   1 27.29    4 32.0   1.772   1.145    37   12.6   3:13 (263, -2)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outburst occured on Apr. 23. Now it is bright as 12.5 mag (May 4, Seiichi Yoshida).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  21 38.78  -14  4.4   5.760   5.845    89   13.6   3:20 (312, 26)  
May  20  21 40.41  -13 50.9   5.648   5.844    96   13.5   3:13 (315, 29)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 14.7 mag (May 2, Catalina Sky Survey). It will brighten up to 14 mag from spring to summer. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere. The perihelion distance increased from 2.4 a.u. to 2.9 a.u. in this apparition. So it will not be bright as before.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  16 17.54  -21 14.7   2.023   3.013   165   14.1   0:56 (  0, 34)  
May  20  16 12.32  -21 22.9   1.996   3.004   173   14.0   0:23 (  0, 34)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 14.4 mag (Jan. 14, Thomas Lehmann). It is not observable now in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be unobservable temporarily in May also in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting higher gradually in the morning sky after summer. Then it will be observable at 11 mag for a long time from 2017 autumn to 2018 winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   3 47.56  -12 42.2   5.286   4.459    31   14.1  20:32 ( 98,-34)  
May  20   3 53.94  -11 44.9   5.236   4.408    31   14.0  20:40 (104,-39)  

* 217P/LINEAR

Now it is 15.9 mag (May 5, A. Maury, B. Sandness, T. Noel). It will brighten rapidly, and it is expected to brighten up to 12 mag from July to September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays at the same altitude in the morning sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting higher slowly.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  23 43.31   -4 36.7   1.740   1.477    57   14.4   3:20 (283, 10)  
May  20   0  7.63   -2 56.6   1.673   1.432    58   14.1   3:13 (281, 10)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Now it is 12.3 mag (Apr. 5, Chris Wyatt). Bright new fragment BT was discovered on Feb. 10. Now the fragment BT is fainter than the primary component. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable temporarily until mid June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   0 40.75   -4 19.1   1.745   1.256    45   14.1   3:20 (274, -2)  
May  20   0 59.18   -2 39.5   1.779   1.315    46   14.4   3:13 (273, -1)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Apr. 22, Yuji Ohshima). It will be observable at 13 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  18 45.02   14 27.3   3.887   4.473   119   14.3   3:20 (358, 69)  
May  20  18 36.92   16  0.2   3.784   4.441   124   14.2   2:47 (  0, 71)  

* C/2015 VL62 ( Lemmon-Yeung-PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Feb. 15, Alexander Baransky). Appearing in the morning sky. It will brighten up to 12-13 mag and will be observable in good condition in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   0 22.36   15  4.3   3.607   2.940    42   14.4   3:20 (260, 13)  
May  20   0 21.85   15 19.2   3.478   2.914    48   14.3   3:13 (263, 17)  

* 2P/Encke

Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 12.3 mag (Apr. 28, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  22 53.62  -17  3.0   1.187   1.334    74   14.6   3:20 (300, 11)  
May  20  22 54.50  -17  7.5   1.190   1.432    80   15.1   3:13 (303, 14)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Appearing in the morning sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will brighten up to 14 mag from summer to winter, and it will be observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in the very low sky only from May to June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   0 17.18   24 37.8   4.095   3.420    42   14.9   3:20 (253, 19)  
May  20   0 21.86   26 48.4   4.002   3.398    47   14.8   3:13 (252, 23)  

* C/2017 E4 ( Lovejoy )

It brightened very rapidly, and brightened up to 6.3 mag (Apr. 2, Terry Lovejoy). However, the nucleus was disintegrated, and it is fading and getting diffuse rapidly after Apr. 9. It has already faded down to 10.5 mag (Apr. 19, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will not be observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   2 49.21   28 44.7   1.630   0.679    12   15.1   3:20 (229, -6)  
May  20   3  9.59   25 30.1   1.768   0.793    10   16.1   3:13 (231, -8)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Mar. 6, Kunihiro Shima). Now it is not observable. But it will appear in the morning sky in June in the Southern Hemisphere, or in July in the Northern Hemisphere. Then it stays observable at 15.5 mag unil the end of 2017.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   2 28.30    3 33.4   6.440   5.497    19   15.4   3:20 (251,-19)  
May  20   2 34.51    3 51.6   6.430   5.519    23   15.5   3:13 (253,-16)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.2 mag (May 2, D. Buczynski). It is expected to brighten up to 9 mag in summer in 2018. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until 2018 summer while the comet will be brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is hardly observable in 2017, but it will be observable in good condition in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  18 59.61   52 59.2   5.009   5.184    94   15.6   3:20 (188, 72)  
May  20  18 53.60   53 29.4   4.917   5.128    96   15.6   3:03 (180, 72)  

* 315P/2013 V6 ( LONEOS )

Small outburst occured in mid March, and it brightened up to 12.3 mag (Mar. 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.0 mag (Apr. 30, Catalina Sky Survey). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It stays low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  11 32.87   25  6.7   2.197   2.713   109   15.7  20:32 ( 29, 79)  
May  20  11 35.92   23 40.1   2.295   2.737   104   15.9  20:40 ( 51, 73)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Apr. 23, Yuji Ohshima). It stays 16-17 mag for a long time from 2016 to 2019. It stays near by the equator.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   9  9.10    6 42.4   9.606   9.580    85   16.0  20:32 ( 64, 42)  
May  20   9 10.85    6 50.3   9.715   9.578    79   16.1  20:40 ( 71, 36)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It brightened up to 11 mag from spring to summer in 2016. Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 30, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It will be observable at 16-17 mag in good condition from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  20 32.94  -16 55.0   2.546   2.984   105   16.2   3:20 (329, 32)  
May  20  20 33.82  -16 52.2   2.490   3.023   112   16.2   3:13 (333, 34)  

* C/2017 D2 ( Barros )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Apr. 7, MASTER-OAFA Observatory). It will brighten up to 15.5 mag in summer. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable for some more time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  21 40.13  -41 47.4   2.226   2.575    98   16.3   3:20 (329,  3)  
May  20  21 48.44  -41  1.5   2.136   2.556   102   16.2   3:13 (330,  5)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.9 mag (Apr. 22, Yuji Ohshima). It stays observable at 16 mag until June. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   7 29.96   26 13.1   4.081   3.648    58   16.3  20:32 (101, 33)  
May  20   7 37.86   25 55.0   4.159   3.643    53   16.3  20:40 (104, 27)  

* C/2016 B1 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is 16.1 mag (May 2, D. Buczynski). It was observed at 16 mag from spring to summer in 2016. It will be observable at 16 mag also in 2017 from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  18 25.88   18  1.2   2.910   3.544   121   16.3   3:03 (  0, 73)  
May  20  18 23.59   19 51.8   2.898   3.573   124   16.4   2:34 (  0, 75)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

It was observed at 17 mag in 2016. In 2017, it will be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from summer to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13   0 16.27   -0  5.2   3.389   2.823    48   16.5   3:20 (274,  5)  
May  20   0 25.50    1 12.9   3.318   2.821    52   16.4   3:13 (274,  8)  

* P/2000 S1 ( Skiff )

It has not been recovered yet in this apparition. It will brighten rapidly, and it is expected to be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from July to September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  23 43.17  -20 31.3   2.807   2.562    65   16.5   3:20 (295,  0)  
May  20  23 54.30  -19 26.1   2.731   2.554    69   16.4   3:13 (296,  2)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Apr. 23, D. Buczynski). It stays 16 mag from 2016 to 2017. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  19  1.94   59 16.4   6.248   6.333    90   16.6   3:20 (186, 66)  
May  20  18 59.53   60 31.0   6.247   6.341    90   16.6   3:09 (180, 64)  

* C/2014 W2 ( PanSTARRS )

It stayed bright 12 mag for a long time from autum in 2015 to summer in 2016. Now it is fading. It has already faded dwon to 16.1 mag (Apr. 29, T. Ikemura, H. Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  16 51.37  -11  5.2   4.023   4.967   156   16.8   1:30 (  0, 44)  
May  20  16 44.71  -11 36.2   4.039   5.018   163   16.8   0:55 (  0, 43)  

* C/2013 X1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 6.2 mag in June in 2016 (June 24, Marco Goiato). Now it is 16.7 mag (Apr. 30, K. Hills). In the Southern Hemisphee, it stays observable in excellent condition after this. It stays low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  12 50.15  -27 13.1   4.011   4.871   144   16.9  21:24 (  0, 28)  
May  20  12 43.43  -26  4.1   4.143   4.937   137   17.0  20:50 (  0, 29)  

* 213P/Van Ness

Now it is 17.4 mag (Apr. 30, Thomas Lehmann). It was expected to brighten up to 12 mag in summer. But actually, it is fainter than expected by 3-4 mag. 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)  
May  13  19 23.16  -33 19.1   1.504   2.230   123   17.3   3:20 (351, 21)  
May  20  19 26.94  -33 16.2   1.420   2.208   129   17.1   3:13 (355, 22)  

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Apr. 30, P. Camilleri, H. Williams). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable at 17 mag in good condition in spring. It stays extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  12 40.52  -38 27.2   5.106   5.917   140   17.3  21:15 (  0, 17)  
May  20  12 39.13  -37  8.5   5.148   5.916   135   17.3  20:46 (  0, 18)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Apr. 30, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It stays at 14 mag for a long time from 2018 to 2019. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition while the comet will be brightening gradually. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2018 October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  18  1.09   56 21.9   4.747   4.988    97   17.4   2:39 (180, 69)  
May  20  17 50.11   57 50.6   4.690   4.936    98   17.3   2:00 (180, 67)  

* C/2014 R3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Apr. 30, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It brightened rapidly, and became brighter than originally expected. It stays 16-17 mag until 2017. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent 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)  
May  13  11 30.46   57  4.6   7.402   7.487    90   17.3  20:32 (170, 68)  
May  20  11 26.16   56  5.8   7.493   7.498    86   17.4  20:40 (156, 66)  

* C/2013 V4 ( Catalina )

It brightened up to 15 mag in early 2016. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.0 mag (Apr. 29, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until autumn when the comet will be fainter than 18 mag. It will never be observable after this in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  13 57.89   70  5.9   6.653   6.737    90   17.4  22:31 (180, 55)  
May  20  13 50.26   69 14.9   6.720   6.768    88   17.4  21:56 (180, 56)  

* C/2016 T1 ( Matheny )

It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from April to May. No observations have been reported recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  16 15.75  -14 20.0   1.561   2.553   165   17.5   0:55 (  0, 41)  
May  20  15 46.19  -15 44.2   1.577   2.587   175   17.6  23:50 (  0, 39)  

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Apr. 29, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in spring. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  12  4.26  -18 26.8   4.218   4.973   133   17.6  20:39 (  0, 37)  
May  20  11 59.94  -16 41.8   4.308   4.974   126   17.6  20:40 ( 10, 38)  

* C/2015 TQ209 ( LINEAR )

It has not been observed since last April. Now it is fading. But it must be bright as 17.5 mag still now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  16 50.21  -16 12.4   2.620   3.578   158   17.6   1:28 (  0, 39)  
May  20  16 44.60  -15 47.1   2.659   3.648   165   17.7   0:55 (  0, 39)  

* C/2015 H2 ( PanSTARRS )

It stays observable at 18 mag from spring to summer. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays low for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  22 23.85  -34 13.5   5.249   5.303    87   17.8   3:20 (317,  4)  
May  20  22 26.85  -34  4.0   5.169   5.322    93   17.8   3:13 (320,  6)  

* C/2013 C2 ( Tenagra )

Very far object. Outburst occured on Feb. 20, 2015, and it brightened up to 15 mag. Now it is 18.0 mag (Apr. 29, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It is 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)  
May  13  14 28.39  -25  9.8   8.431   9.416   166   17.9  23:03 (  0, 30)  
May  20  14 26.53  -24 52.7   8.461   9.423   160   17.9  22:33 (  0, 30)  

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

It stays 15 mag from 2018 to 2019, and it will be observable for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  12  4.27  -27  8.0   5.753   6.501   134   17.9  20:39 (  0, 28)  
May  20  12  1.62  -26 57.8   5.784   6.459   128   17.9  20:40 (  8, 28)  

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova

It approached to Earth down to 0.08 a.u. in mid February, and brightened up to 6.5 mag (Feb. 10, Danil Sidorko). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 18.5 mag (Apr. 28, T. Ikemura, H. Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  10 53.09   13 11.3   1.597   2.128   107   17.9  20:32 ( 37, 64)  
May  20  10 59.11   12 12.5   1.753   2.203   102   18.4  20:40 ( 48, 59)  

* 157P/Tritton

Although it was predicted to be fainter than 21 mag, an outburst occured and now it is very bright as 16.5 mag (May 1, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It stays observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  13  13 19.69  -19 19.2   2.382   3.307   151   18.4  21:54 (  0, 36)  
May  20  13 16.01  -18 40.7   2.472   3.347   144   18.9  21:23 (  0, 36)  

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