Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 May 27: North)

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Updated on May 29, 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 7.6 mag (May 26, Chris Wyatt). 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 becomes observable in good condition after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  27  14 54.21   27 34.6   0.827   1.652   127    6.8  22:32 (  0, 82)  
June  3  14 40.67   20 31.8   0.812   1.642   127    6.7  21:51 (  0, 75)  

* 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  27   0 41.37   10  0.3   1.341   1.081    52    7.5   3:07 (268, 15)  
June  3   1  5.78   12 27.6   1.389   1.117    52    7.7   3:02 (266, 16)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

It approached to Earth down to 0.14 a.u. from late March to early April, and it brightened up to 6.0 mag (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 9.4 mag still now (May 23, Carlos Labordena). 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  27  18 31.27   18 18.4   0.274   1.202   128    9.8   2:14 (  0, 74)  
June  3  18 28.59   13 26.1   0.301   1.249   135   10.6   1:44 (  0, 69)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is 11.0 mag (May 27, 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  27  16 38.14  -25 52.5   0.609   1.620   172   10.7   0:21 (  0, 29)  
June  3  16 34.91  -27 38.1   0.595   1.608   174   10.6  23:46 (  0, 27)  

* 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  27   4 50.09   17 37.4   2.167   1.177     9   11.1  20:47 (125,-15)  
June  3   5 18.16   17 35.2   2.209   1.220     9   11.4  20:54 (126,-16)  

* C/2017 E1 ( Borisov )

Now it is 10.9 mag (Apr. 30, Marco Goiato). 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  27   1 49.11    5 29.2   1.835   1.221    38   13.1   3:07 (262, -2)  
June  3   2  9.17    6 16.8   1.895   1.303    40   13.6   3:02 (262, -1)  

* 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  27  21 41.55  -13 39.7   5.537   5.842   102   13.5   3:07 (320, 32)  
June  3  21 42.16  -13 30.8   5.430   5.841   109   13.4   3:02 (325, 34)  

* 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  27   0 32.78   -1 13.8   1.614   1.391    58   13.8   3:07 (279, 10)  
June  3   0 58.68    0 30.0   1.563   1.353    58   13.5   3:02 (277, 10)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Feb. 20, 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  27   4  0.44  -10 50.7   5.179   4.356    32   14.0   3:07 (255,-38)  
June  3   4  7.01   -9 59.6   5.114   4.304    33   13.9   3:02 (257,-34)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 13.7 mag (May 26, Chris Wyatt). 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  27  16  6.76  -21 29.7   1.983   2.996   178   14.0  23:45 (  0, 33)  
June  3  16  1.26  -21 36.1   1.984   2.988   170   14.0  23:12 (  0, 33)  

* 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  27   0 20.60   15 32.8   3.337   2.889    55   14.1   3:07 (266, 22)  
June  3   0 18.42   15 44.4   3.188   2.865    62   14.0   3:02 (269, 27)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Apr. 22, Yuji Ohshima). It will be observable at 14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  27  18 27.69   17 29.9   3.695   4.409   129   14.7   2:11 (  0, 72)  
June  3  18 17.42   18 54.0   3.623   4.377   132   14.6   1:33 (  0, 74)  

* 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  27   0 26.28   29  4.3   3.906   3.376    51   14.7   3:07 (252, 27)  
June  3   0 30.38   31 25.8   3.807   3.355    56   14.7   3:02 (252, 32)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

It brightened up to 11.5 mag from late March to early April (Mar. 24, Andrew Pearce). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.6 mag (May 6, CAO, San Pedro de Atacama). Bright 12-mag new fragment BT was discovered on Feb. 10, but now it is faint as 16.7 mag (Apr. 18, F.-J. Hambsch, E. Bryssinck). 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  27   1 16.32   -1  7.9   1.808   1.376    49   14.8   3:07 (272,  1)  
June  3   1 32.25    0 15.4   1.832   1.439    51   15.1   3:02 (272,  3)  

* 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  27  18 46.45   53 52.2   4.828   5.071    98   15.5   2:29 (180, 71)  
June  3  18 38.27   54  5.8   4.742   5.014    99   15.4   1:53 (180, 71)  

* 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  27   2 40.61    4  7.6   6.411   5.542    28   15.5   3:07 (255,-13)  
June  3   2 46.57    4 21.3   6.383   5.566    33   15.5   3:02 (258, -9)  

* 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  27  22 53.72  -17 22.7   1.185   1.527    87   15.6   3:07 (307, 18)  
June  3  22 51.04  -17 49.6   1.175   1.618    95   15.9   3:02 (313, 22)  

* 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  27  21 55.46  -40 15.2   2.050   2.540   107   16.1   3:07 (332,  7)  
June  3  22  1.05  -39 28.8   1.965   2.525   111   16.0   3:02 (334,  9)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Apr. 30, T. Ikemura, H. Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 11-12 mag 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  27  17 37.32   59  8.1   4.641   4.884    97   16.2   1:20 (180, 66)  
June  3  17 22.89   60 12.0   4.600   4.832    97   16.1   0:38 (180, 65)  

* 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  27   9 12.87    6 56.4   9.822   9.575    73   16.1  20:47 ( 77, 29)  
June  3   9 15.14    7  0.7   9.925   9.573    66   16.1  20:54 ( 82, 23)  

* 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  27  11 39.80   22 11.2   2.398   2.761   100   16.1  20:47 ( 62, 67)  
June  3  11 44.43   20 40.6   2.503   2.787    95   16.3  20:54 ( 68, 60)  

* 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  27  20 33.55  -16 53.9   2.437   3.062   119   16.2   3:07 (339, 36)  
June  3  20 32.10  -17  0.2   2.391   3.100   126   16.2   3:02 (346, 37)  

* 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  27   0  4.95  -18 22.9   2.654   2.548    72   16.3   3:07 (296,  5)  
June  3   0 15.09  -17 22.3   2.576   2.543    76   16.2   3:02 (298,  8)  

* 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  27  18 56.16   61 39.9   6.249   6.349    91   16.3   2:38 (180, 63)  
June  3  18 51.87   62 42.1   6.254   6.358    91   16.3   2:06 (180, 62)  

* 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  27   0 34.46    2 29.8   3.244   2.819    56   16.4   3:07 (275, 12)  
June  3   0 43.11    3 45.1   3.167   2.819    61   16.3   3:02 (276, 15)  

* 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  27  18 20.53   21 33.6   2.896   3.602   127   16.4   2:03 (  0, 77)  
June  3  18 16.83   23  4.5   2.904   3.632   129   16.5   1:32 (  0, 78)  

* 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  27  19 29.14  -33 12.5   1.343   2.186   135   16.8   3:07 (359, 22)  
June  3  19 29.68  -33  6.9   1.274   2.165   141   16.6   2:45 (  0, 22)  

* 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  27  16 37.92  -12  8.0   4.071   5.070   169   16.9   0:21 (  0, 43)  
June  3  16 31.16  -12 40.5   4.121   5.122   169   17.0  23:42 (  0, 42)  

* 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  27  12 37.81  -24 58.9   4.288   5.002   130   17.2  20:47 (  8, 30)  
June  3  12 33.27  -23 58.5   4.445   5.068   122   17.3  20:54 ( 18, 29)  

* 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  27  11 56.47  -15  3.0   4.411   4.977   118   17.2  20:47 ( 22, 37)  
June  3  11 53.84  -13 31.4   4.524   4.979   111   17.2  20:54 ( 33, 35)  

* 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  27  11 22.82   55  4.7   7.585   7.508    81   17.3  20:47 (146, 63)  
June  3  11 20.35   54  2.1   7.677   7.520    77   17.3  20:54 (138, 59)  

* 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  27  12 38.34  -35 50.2   5.202   5.915   130   17.3  20:47 (  6, 19)  
June  3  12 38.16  -34 33.4   5.268   5.915   125   17.3  20:54 ( 14, 19)  

* 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  27  13 43.97   68 17.6   6.790   6.800    86   17.5  21:23 (180, 57)  
June  3  13 39.02   67 15.0   6.860   6.832    84   17.5  20:54 (179, 58)  

* 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  27  11 59.48  -26 48.1   5.822   6.416   121   17.6  20:47 ( 17, 26)  
June  3  11 57.90  -26 39.6   5.869   6.375   115   17.6  20:54 ( 25, 24)  

* C/2015 LC2 ( PanSTARRS )

It has been 17 mag from 2016 to 2017. It stays bright even after the perihelion passage. It is bright as 16.9 mag still now (May 3, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  27  15 17.17   30 36.8   7.223   7.866   126   17.6  22:56 (  0, 86)  
June  3  15 13.65   30 56.2   7.304   7.896   122   17.6  22:25 (  0, 86)  

* 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  27  13 13.38  -18  6.6   2.572   3.387   137   17.7  20:53 (  0, 37)  
June  3  13 11.77  -17 37.3   2.682   3.426   130   17.9  20:54 (  9, 37)  

* 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  27  22 29.22  -33 57.6   5.090   5.341    98   17.8   3:07 (323,  9)  
June  3  22 30.94  -33 54.1   5.013   5.361   104   17.8   3:02 (326, 11)  

* 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  27  16 38.90  -15 23.4   2.712   3.718   171   17.9   0:22 (  0, 40)  
June  3  16 33.36  -15  2.1   2.779   3.787   172   18.0  23:44 (  0, 40)  

* 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  27  14 24.82  -24 35.3   8.505   9.429   154   17.9  22:04 (  0, 30)  
June  3  14 23.32  -24 17.9   8.562   9.435   147   17.9  21:35 (  0, 31)  

* 130P/McNaught-Hughes

Now it is 18.4 mag (May 5, Mt. Lemmon Survey). It will be brightening slowly until autumn when it becomes 16.5-17 mag. It will be getting lower gradually in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  27  14 24.93  -10 35.0   1.694   2.629   151   18.0  22:04 (  0, 44)  
June  3  14 20.01  -10 30.5   1.707   2.595   143   17.9  21:31 (  0, 44)  

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