Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 Sept. 16: South)

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Updated on September 21, 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/2017 O1 ( ASASSN )

Now it is bright as 8.2 mag (Sept. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is expected to brighten up to 7.5 mag in October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is getting lower gradually, and it will be unobservable for a long time after October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   4  3.96   20 15.6   0.886   1.552   110    8.1   4:24 (180, 35)  
Sept.23   4 13.84   26 45.8   0.822   1.530   113    7.9   4:07 (180, 28)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

It brightened up to 7.1 mag from May to June (June 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 11.0 mag (Sept. 15, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition after this. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  15 44.70  -49  0.0   2.091   2.065    74   10.4  19:15 ( 53, 53)  
Sept.23  16  1.60  -50 40.7   2.207   2.120    71   10.7  19:21 ( 50, 50)  

* C/2015 ER61 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 6.2 mag in April (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.6 mag (Sept. 16, Carlos Labordena). It stays observable for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   3 58.60   23 11.2   1.665   2.230   110   11.1   4:19 (180, 32)  
Sept.23   3 56.53   22 54.1   1.664   2.313   118   11.2   3:50 (180, 32)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 10 mag from spring to summer. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.5 mag (Sept. 15, Chris Wyatt). 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)  
Sept.16  18 37.48  -36 21.1   1.203   1.748   104   12.0  19:15 ( 69, 86)  
Sept.23  18 54.72  -35 38.5   1.283   1.775   101   12.2  19:21 ( 83, 83)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.4 mag (Sept. 2, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It will stay bright as 10 mag for a long time from winter to next spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until next February. In the Northern Hemispehre, it stays observable for a long time after this until the comet fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   5 31.75   -2 38.1   3.401   3.561    90   12.2   4:34 (214, 53)  
Sept.23   5 34.27   -2 19.0   3.259   3.514    96   12.0   4:24 (208, 54)  

* 217P/LINEAR

Now it is bright as 12.2 mag (Aug. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays 12 mag until September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   6 59.84   11 33.0   1.483   1.456    68   12.2   4:34 (228, 29)  
Sept.23   7 15.25   11 15.8   1.481   1.502    71   12.3   4:24 (228, 30)  

* 96P/Machholz 1

Now it is 17.5 mag (Aug. 6, Jean-Francois Soulier). It will pass the perihelion on Oct. 27. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable while the comet will be brightening, until early October when the comet will brighten up to 9 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at all in this apparition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  13 49.93  -59 30.8   1.068   1.156    67   13.6  19:15 ( 38, 36)  
Sept.23  13 46.85  -55 16.3   1.048   1.018    59   12.9  19:21 ( 41, 30)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outburst occured on Aug. 27. Now it is very bright as 11.3 mag (Sept. 11, Marco Goiato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  21  8.24  -14 41.5   4.994   5.819   141   13.2  21:26 (180, 70)  
Sept.23  21  6.42  -14 45.3   5.068   5.818   134   13.3  20:57 (180, 70)  

* 213P/Van Ness

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (Aug. 14, Chris Wyatt). It was expected to brighten up to 12 mag in summer. But actually, it is fainter than expected. 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)  
Sept.16  19  6.45  -22  1.7   1.372   1.985   112   13.5  19:25 (180, 77)  
Sept.23  19 14.49  -21  5.6   1.437   1.984   107   13.6  19:21 (166, 76)  

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

Now it is 12.9 mag (Aug. 22, Marco Goiato). It is observable at 13-14 mag in good condition until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  20  7.51   -5 42.1   1.987   2.727   128   13.7  20:24 (180, 61)  
Sept.23  19 51.14   -7 57.1   2.120   2.733   117   13.8  19:41 (180, 63)  

* 24P/Schaumasse

Now it is 15.8 mag (Sept. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten very rapidly, and brighten up to 10 mag from October to December. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates very low for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   8  4.88   21 11.2   1.781   1.444    54   14.4   4:34 (234, 12)  
Sept.23   8 31.96   20 33.2   1.713   1.399    54   13.7   4:24 (236, 10)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 14.8 mag (Aug. 21, Gabor Santa). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will brighten up to 14 mag from summer to winter, and it will be observable in excellent condition. It is not observable at all after this in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  22 34.65   70 12.8   2.767   3.199   106   13.8  22:49 (180,-15)  
Sept.23  22  1.61   70 49.2   2.765   3.200   106   13.8  21:49 (180,-16)  

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly from July to August. Now it is very bright as 14.0 mag (Sept. 15, Chris Wyatt). It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It stays low for a while in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   0 31.19  -35 43.7   1.907   2.787   144   14.8   0:53 (  0, 89)  
Sept.23   0 25.12  -36 14.5   1.887   2.758   143   14.6   0:19 (  0, 89)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.1 mag (Aug. 14, Chris Wyatt). It will be observable at 14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in early October. It will be extremely low from November to December in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  16  8.56   20 42.7   4.227   3.978    68   14.6  19:15 (138, 21)  
Sept.23  16  7.16   20 16.4   4.297   3.957    63   14.6  19:21 (131, 17)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 13-13.5 mag (Aug. 18, Gabor Santa). It will be unobservable in late October in the Northerm Hemisphere, or in late November in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  16 25.75  -25 43.8   2.993   2.914    75   14.8  19:15 ( 95, 56)  
Sept.23  16 34.73  -26  8.1   3.080   2.913    71   14.8  19:21 ( 91, 52)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Aug. 18, Gabor Santa). 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)  
Sept.16  14 53.11   51 26.3   4.411   4.069    63   14.9  19:15 (146,-12)  
Sept.23  14 53.44   50 29.6   4.384   4.020    62   14.8  19:21 (142,-15)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Aug. 22, 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)  
Sept.16  17  3.33   33 45.7   4.177   4.157    81   14.9  19:15 (156, 16)  
Sept.23  17  4.44   31 34.2   4.185   4.100    78   14.8  19:21 (148, 15)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Aug. 22, Kunihiro Shima). It stays observable at 16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   2  6.51   25 16.5   3.579   4.336   133   15.1   2:28 (180, 30)  
Sept.23   1 57.09   23 52.4   3.484   4.326   142   15.1   1:51 (180, 31)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Sept. 13, Martin Masek). 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)  
Sept.16   3 32.48  -80 21.7   2.039   2.390    97   15.3   3:51 (  0, 45)  
Sept.23   3 29.48  -80 47.6   2.025   2.346    95   15.2   3:21 (  0, 44)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Aug. 19, Gabor Santa). It stays observable at 16 mag unil the end of 2017.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   3 39.46    2 31.5   5.402   5.949   118   15.4   4:00 (180, 52)  
Sept.23   3 39.35    2  6.3   5.343   5.976   125   15.4   3:33 (180, 53)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

Now it is 16.4 mag (Aug. 26, Toshiyuki Takahashi). 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. It is fainter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   1 38.71   17 19.2   2.003   2.874   143   15.6   2:00 (180, 38)  
Sept.23   1 34.77   17 38.8   1.964   2.882   150   15.6   1:29 (180, 37)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

Now it is 15.4 mag (Sept. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). It brightened rapidly. It is observable at 15 mag in autumn in good 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)  
Sept.16   4 54.46   26 53.0   1.494   1.909    97   15.8   4:34 (190, 27)  
Sept.23   5  5.58   28  7.6   1.437   1.915   101   15.7   4:24 (189, 26)  

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Aug. 9, Yuji Ohshima). 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)  
Sept.16  17 15.78  -28 39.2   2.751   2.882    87   15.8  19:15 (100, 68)  
Sept.23  17 24.37  -28  5.1   2.813   2.856    82   15.8  19:21 ( 96, 63)  

* 352P/2017 L1 ( Skiff )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2000. Now it is 16.3 mag (Aug. 26, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It will brighten rapidly, and it was expected to be observable at 15.5 mag in good condition from July to September. But actually, it is fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   1  5.42   -7 49.0   1.684   2.639   156   15.9   1:27 (180, 63)  
Sept.23   0 59.92   -7 23.6   1.679   2.655   163   16.0   0:54 (180, 62)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

Now it is 18.5 mag (Aug. 13, Francois Kugel). It brightens rapidly, and brightens up to 11 mag from autumn to winter. It is observable in good 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)  
Sept.16   7 34.12   19 43.3   1.754   1.542    61   16.4   4:34 (229, 18)  
Sept.23   7 57.92   19 20.4   1.689   1.510    62   16.0   4:24 (231, 17)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.0 mag (Aug. 22, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
Sept.16  17 48.42   63 15.1   6.469   6.531    89   16.6  19:15 (172, -9)  
Sept.23  17 50.87   62 42.2   6.486   6.545    88   16.6  19:21 (169,-10)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

It stays 16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   9  6.97   18 34.7   6.090   5.352    39   16.7   4:34 (245,  2)  
Sept.23   9  9.66   19  2.5   5.998   5.347    45   16.7   4:24 (243,  5)  

* 355P/2017 M2 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Sept. 13, Martin Masek). Return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2004. It will be observable in excellent condition in autumn. It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag, if the comet is as bright as when it was discovered. But actually, it is much fainter than expected.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   2 42.34    1 46.4   0.886   1.734   132   16.8   3:03 (180, 53)  
Sept.23   2 45.35    2 36.0   0.841   1.726   138   16.7   2:39 (180, 52)  

* C/2016 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   8 22.48   13 44.1   3.205   2.651    48   17.0   4:34 (242, 14)  
Sept.23   8 33.75   12 13.0   3.143   2.655    52   16.9   4:24 (242, 16)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.1 mag (Sept. 2, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It is expected to brighten up to 13-14 mag from 2018 to 2019. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  18 38.43   62 25.3   5.299   5.476    94   17.0  19:15 (178, -7)  
Sept.23  18 32.92   60 39.0   5.266   5.430    94   17.0  19:21 (173, -6)  

* (457175) 2008 GO98

Hilda-type minor planet, but the cometary activity was detected on July 3. Now it is bright as 16.2 mag (Aug. 22, Kunihiro Shima).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  20 51.73   -1 45.5   2.630   3.455   139   17.0  21:10 (180, 57)  
Sept.23  20 50.81   -2 30.8   2.712   3.472   132   17.1  20:41 (180, 57)  

* (944) Hidalgo

Now it is 17.9 mag (June 2, MASTER-OAFA Observatory). It will brighten up to 14 mag from autumn to winter in 2018, and it will be observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2017, it is observable at 17 mag in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  23 45.63  -46 20.5   3.213   4.001   136   17.0   0:07 (  0, 79)  
Sept.23  23 37.22  -46 12.6   3.200   3.959   133   17.0  23:26 (  0, 79)  

* C/2017 D2 ( Barros )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Sept. 2, Ken-ichi Kadota). It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be getting higher gradually in the morning sky also in the Northern Hemisphere. It will fade out rapidly after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  21  7.46  -19 28.7   1.724   2.580   140   17.0  21:25 (180, 74)  
Sept.23  21  5.88  -17 41.6   1.804   2.601   133   17.2  20:56 (180, 72)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

It will pass the perihelion in 2019. However, it has not been brightening since the discovery in 2010. It is observable in good conditioin in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   6 42.64   67 44.6   9.101   9.000    81   17.1   4:34 (194,-17)  
Sept.23   6 47.96   68 23.7   9.008   8.986    85   17.0   4:24 (193,-17)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1

Now it is 18.0 mag (Aug. 22, Kunihiro Shima). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 17 mag in excellent condition from autumn to winter. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   5 23.99   31  2.0   2.855   3.041    90   17.2   4:34 (196, 22)  
Sept.23   5 30.15   31 33.3   2.774   3.051    96   17.2   4:24 (194, 22)  

* 188P/LINEAR-Mueller

It was observed at 17 mag in 2016. It stays 17 mag also in 2017. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates very low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16   6 47.05   33  0.0   3.055   2.930    73   17.4   4:34 (212, 13)  
Sept.23   6 55.71   33 10.9   2.987   2.952    78   17.3   4:24 (211, 14)  

* 189P/NEAT

Now it is 19.3 mag (Aug. 23, Michael Jager). It is observable in good condition. But actually, it is much fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  18 47.15   14  0.2   0.593   1.307   106   17.3  19:15 (177, 41)  
Sept.23  19  9.45   15  6.8   0.643   1.339   106   17.6  19:21 (174, 40)  

* 81P/Wild 2

It brightened up to 11 mag from spring to summer in 2016. Now it is 17.4 mag (July 14, Ken-ichi Kadota). It stays observable for a long time after this, but it will be fainter than 18 mag in October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  19 30.15  -21  4.7   3.054   3.634   117   17.6  19:48 (180, 76)  
Sept.23  19 30.98  -21  7.4   3.182   3.667   111   17.8  19:22 (180, 76)  

* 2016 ND21

Peculiar asteroid moving along a comet-like orbit. It is observable at 18 mag in good condition from August to September. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.16  22 23.45   17 44.6   2.840   3.764   153   17.8  22:41 (180, 37)  
Sept.23  22 20.15   17 29.0   2.864   3.765   149   17.8  22:10 (180, 37)  

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