Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 June 3: South)

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Updated on June 3, 2017
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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.

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* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

Now it is 7.5 mag (May 27, 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)  
June  3  14 40.67   20 31.8   0.812   1.642   127    6.7  21:51 (180, 35)  
June 10  14 29.67   12 51.3   0.816   1.637   126    6.7  21:13 (180, 43)  

* 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 7.9 mag still now (May 24, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
June  3   1  5.78   12 27.6   1.389   1.117    52    7.7   5:30 (228, 28)  
June 10   1 28.53   14 35.5   1.436   1.163    53    7.9   5:33 (225, 27)  

* 71P/Clark

Now it is bright as 10.9 mag (May 30, Marco Goiato). 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)  
June  3  16 34.91  -27 38.1   0.595   1.608   174   10.6  23:46 (180, 83)  
June 10  16 31.66  -29 21.2   0.590   1.598   168   10.4  23:15 (180, 85)  

* 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 9.5 mag still now (May 29, Chris Wyatt). 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)  
June  3  18 28.59   13 26.1   0.301   1.249   135   10.6   1:44 (180, 41)  
June 10  18 24.67    8 48.7   0.334   1.299   143   11.4   1:12 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
June  3   5 18.16   17 35.2   2.209   1.220     9   11.4  18:25 (105, -9)  
June 10   5 45.16   17 18.3   2.257   1.267     9   11.6  18:25 (105, -8)  

* 217P/LINEAR

Now it is 14.0 mag (May 19, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3   0 58.68    0 30.0   1.563   1.353    58   13.5   5:30 (236, 38)  
June 10   1 25.23    2 12.9   1.521   1.320    58   13.2   5:33 (233, 37)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outburst occured on Apr. 23. It is bright as 13.3 mag still now (May 29, Chris Wyatt).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  3  21 42.16  -13 30.8   5.430   5.841   109   13.4   4:57 (180, 68)  
June 10  21 42.24  -13 24.5   5.326   5.839   115   13.4   4:29 (180, 68)  

* 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)  
June  3   2  9.17    6 16.8   1.895   1.303    40   13.6   5:30 (245, 21)  
June 10   2 27.59    6 55.2   1.949   1.387    42   14.1   5:33 (243, 23)  

* 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)  
June  3   4  7.01   -9 59.6   5.114   4.304    33   13.9   5:30 (277,  7)  
June 10   4 13.64   -9 11.8   5.041   4.253    35   13.8   5:33 (273, 12)  

* 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)  
June  3   0 18.42   15 44.4   3.188   2.865    62   14.0   5:30 (215, 31)  
June 10   0 15.13   15 53.0   3.030   2.844    69   13.9   5:33 (206, 35)  

* 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)  
June  3  16  1.26  -21 36.1   1.984   2.988   170   14.0  23:12 (180, 77)  
June 10  15 56.08  -21 42.2   1.997   2.980   162   14.0  22:40 (180, 77)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.1 mag (May 20, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3  18 17.42   18 54.0   3.623   4.377   132   14.6   1:33 (180, 36)  
June 10  18  6.27   20 10.3   3.570   4.346   134   14.5   0:54 (180, 35)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 16.4 mag (May 18, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3   0 30.38   31 25.8   3.807   3.355    56   14.7   5:30 (210, 16)  
June 10   0 34.09   33 53.0   3.707   3.336    61   14.6   5:33 (203, 17)  

* 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. It is getting observable in the morning sky again also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  3   1 32.25    0 15.4   1.832   1.439    51   15.1   5:30 (243, 32)  
June 10   1 47.03    1 30.4   1.850   1.502    54   15.4   5:33 (239, 34)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (May 20, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3  18 38.27   54  5.8   4.742   5.014    99   15.4   1:53 (180,  1)  
June 10  18 29.23   54  8.4   4.660   4.957   101   15.3   1:17 (180,  1)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Mar. 6, Kunihiro Shima). It is appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It will appear in the morning sky 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)  
June  3   2 46.57    4 21.3   6.383   5.566    33   15.5   5:30 (253, 15)  
June 10   2 52.36    4 32.5   6.348   5.589    38   15.5   5:33 (249, 20)  

* 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)  
June  3  22  1.05  -39 28.8   1.965   2.525   111   16.0   5:16 (  0, 86)  
June 10  22  5.12  -38 42.0   1.885   2.513   116   15.9   4:52 (  0, 86)  

* 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)  
June  3  22 51.04  -17 49.6   1.175   1.618    95   15.9   5:30 (207, 71)  
June 10  22 46.25  -18 28.2   1.162   1.705   102   16.3   5:33 (180, 73)  

* 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)  
June  3  17 22.89   60 12.0   4.600   4.832    97   16.1   0:38 (180, -5)  
June 10  17  7.15   61  0.0   4.566   4.780    96   16.0  23:49 (180, -6)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.6 mag (May 20, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3   9 15.14    7  0.7   9.925   9.573    66   16.1  18:25 (141, 40)  
June 10   9 17.65    7  3.2  10.024   9.571    60   16.1  18:25 (134, 36)  

* 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)  
June  3   0 15.09  -17 22.3   2.576   2.543    76   16.2   5:30 (244, 58)  
June 10   0 24.66  -16 24.6   2.499   2.539    80   16.2   5:33 (236, 61)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It brightened up to 11 mag from spring to summer in 2016. Now it is 17.4 mag (May 19, Kunihiro Shima). It is 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)  
June  3  20 32.10  -17  0.2   2.391   3.100   126   16.2   3:47 (180, 72)  
June 10  20 29.53  -17 10.9   2.351   3.138   133   16.3   3:17 (180, 72)  

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.8 mag (May 28, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It stays 16 mag for a long time until summer in 2018. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until autumn. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  3  17  7.62  -38 51.9   2.478   3.459   162   16.4   0:23 (  0, 86)  
June 10  17  2.92  -38 28.9   2.424   3.412   164   16.3  23:47 (  0, 87)  

* 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)  
June  3   0 43.11    3 45.1   3.167   2.819    61   16.3   5:30 (229, 38)  
June 10   0 51.43    4 58.7   3.087   2.818    65   16.3   5:33 (223, 40)  

* 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)  
June  3  18 51.87   62 42.1   6.254   6.358    91   16.3   2:06 (180, -8)  
June 10  18 46.74   63 37.0   6.260   6.367    91   16.3   1:34 (180, -9)  

* 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 still bright visually as 13.9 mag (May 27, Jakub Cerny). 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)  
June  3  11 44.43   20 40.6   2.503   2.787    95   16.3  18:57 (180, 35)  
June 10  11 49.72   19  9.2   2.611   2.813    90   16.5  18:35 (180, 36)  

* 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)  
June  3  19 29.68  -33  6.9   1.274   2.165   141   16.6   2:45 (180, 88)  
June 10  19 28.54  -32 58.5   1.212   2.144   148   16.4   2:16 (180, 88)  

* 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)  
June  3  18 16.83   23  4.5   2.904   3.632   129   16.5   1:32 (180, 32)  
June 10  18 12.66   24 23.2   2.922   3.663   130   16.6   1:00 (180, 31)  

* 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 16.6 mag (May 18, Kunihiro Shima).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  3  16 31.16  -12 40.5   4.121   5.122   169   17.0  23:42 (180, 68)  
June 10  16 24.60  -13 13.4   4.187   5.174   165   17.1  23:08 (180, 68)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 17.0 mag (May 29, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will brighten up to 14.5 mag in winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until spring in 2018. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable until 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  3  23  7.39  -58  6.7   2.776   3.203   105   17.3   5:30 (343, 65)  
June 10  23 22.89  -59 52.0   2.675   3.148   108   17.1   5:33 (349, 65)  

* 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)  
June  3  11 53.84  -13 31.4   4.524   4.979   111   17.2  19:06 (180, 69)  
June 10  11 51.99  -12  7.5   4.644   4.983   103   17.3  18:37 (180, 67)  

* C/2013 X1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 6.2 mag in June in 2016 (June 24, Marco Goiato). Now it is 17.3 mag (May 19, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3  12 33.27  -23 58.5   4.445   5.068   122   17.3  19:45 (180, 79)  
June 10  12 29.72  -23  3.8   4.611   5.133   115   17.4  19:14 (180, 78)  

* 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)  
June  3  11 20.35   54  2.1   7.677   7.520    77   17.3  18:33 (180,  1)  
June 10  11 18.70   52 58.7   7.770   7.531    72   17.4  18:25 (177,  2)  

* 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)  
June  3  12 38.16  -34 33.4   5.268   5.915   125   17.3  19:50 (180, 90)  
June 10  12 38.56  -33 19.2   5.345   5.915   119   17.4  19:23 (180, 88)  

* 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)  
June  3  11 57.90  -26 39.6   5.869   6.375   115   17.6  19:10 (180, 82)  
June 10  11 56.88  -26 32.9   5.922   6.333   109   17.6  18:41 (180, 82)  

* 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 17.0 mag still now (May 20, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
June  3  15 13.65   30 56.2   7.304   7.896   122   17.6  22:25 (180, 24)  
June 10  15 10.37   31  9.7   7.393   7.927   118   17.7  21:54 (180, 24)  

* 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)  
June  3  22 30.94  -33 54.1   5.013   5.361   104   17.8   5:30 (251, 87)  
June 10  22 31.99  -33 53.2   4.939   5.381   110   17.8   5:19 (180, 89)  

* 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)  
June  3  14 20.01  -10 30.5   1.707   2.595   143   17.9  21:31 (180, 66)  
June 10  14 16.16  -10 32.1   1.730   2.561   136   17.8  21:00 (180, 66)  

* 157P/Tritton

Although it was predicted to be fainter than 21 mag, an outburst occured and it brightened up to 15.9 mag (Apr. 21, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). Now it is 17.7 mag (May 15, Kunihiro Shima). It stays observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  3  13 11.77  -17 37.3   2.682   3.426   130   17.9  20:24 (180, 73)  
June 10  13 11.18  -17 13.7   2.800   3.465   123   18.0  19:56 (180, 72)  

* 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)  
June  3  14 23.32  -24 17.9   8.562   9.435   147   17.9  21:35 (180, 79)  
June 10  14 22.07  -24  1.0   8.631   9.442   141   17.9  21:06 (180, 79)  

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