Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 Sept. 23: North)

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 Updated on September 30, 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/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.23   4 13.83   26 45.9   0.822   1.529   113    7.9   4:07 (  0, 82)  
Sept.30   4 23.32   34  1.3   0.773   1.513   116    7.7   3:49 (  0, 89)

* 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 10.9 mag (Sept. 22, 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.23  16  1.60  -50 40.7   2.207   2.120    71   10.7  19:20 ( 30, -7)  
Sept.30  16 19.69  -52  9.3   2.321   2.177    69   10.9  19:09 ( 29, -8)

* 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.23   3 56.53   22 54.1   1.664   2.313   118   11.2   3:50 (  0, 78)  
Sept.30   3 52.78   22 31.2   1.666   2.395   125   11.4   3:19 (  0, 78)

* 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.23   5 34.27   -2 19.0   3.259   3.514    96   12.0   4:24 (335, 50)  
Sept.30   5 35.98   -1 58.1   3.117   3.468   102   11.9   4:29 (347, 52)

* 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.23  13 46.85  -55 16.3   1.048   1.018    59   12.9  19:20 ( 39,-26)  
Sept.30  13 44.33  -50 50.7   1.020   0.870    50   12.0  19:09 ( 45,-27)

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 10 mag from spring to summer. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.2 mag (Sept. 22, 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.23  18 54.72  -35 38.5   1.283   1.775   101   12.2  19:20 (  7, 19)  
Sept.30  19 11.96  -34 48.2   1.367   1.805    98   12.4  19:09 (  7, 20)

* 217P/LINEAR

It brightened up to 12.2 mag in August (Aug. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after this. It has already faded down to 13.9 mag (Sept. 21, Chris Wyatt). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.23   7 15.25   11 15.8   1.481   1.502    71   12.3   4:24 (292, 46)  
Sept.30   7 29.18   10 57.2   1.476   1.551    74   12.5   4:29 (297, 49)

* 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.23   8 31.96   20 33.2   1.713   1.399    54   13.7   4:24 (269, 36)  
Sept.30   8 59.78   19 39.6   1.653   1.357    55   13.1   4:29 (270, 36)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outburst occured on Aug. 27. Now it is very bright as 11.9 mag (Sept. 22, Chris Wyatt). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.23  21  6.42  -14 45.3   5.068   5.818   134   13.3  20:57 (  0, 40)  
Sept.30  21  5.10  -14 47.2   5.152   5.817   127   13.3  20:28 (  0, 40)

* 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.23  19 14.49  -21  5.6   1.437   1.984   107   13.6  19:20 (  4, 34)  
Sept.30  19 23.66  -20  9.6   1.505   1.984   102   13.8  19:09 (  6, 35)

* 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.23  22  1.61   70 49.2   2.765   3.200   106   13.8  21:49 (180, 54)  
Sept.30  21 29.39   70 49.4   2.773   3.202   106   13.8  20:49 (180, 54)

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

It brightened up to 12.3 mag in August (Aug. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will be fading after this. It has already faded down to 14.6 mag (Sept. 10, Thomas Lehmann). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.23  19 51.14   -7 57.1   2.120   2.733   117   13.8  19:41 (  0, 47)  
Sept.30  19 37.91   -9 52.3   2.269   2.741   107   14.0  19:09 (  3, 45)

* 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.23   0 25.12  -36 14.5   1.887   2.758   143   14.6   0:19 (  0, 19)  
Sept.30   0 18.67  -36 29.7   1.878   2.728   140   14.4  23:40 (  0, 19)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Sept. 22, Sandor Szabo). 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.23  16  7.16   20 16.4   4.297   3.957    63   14.6  19:20 ( 85, 43)  
Sept.30  16  6.51   19 52.7   4.360   3.937    58   14.7  19:09 ( 88, 40)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.7 mag (Sept. 22, Sandor Szabo). 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.23  14 53.44   50 29.6   4.384   4.020    62   14.8  19:20 (130, 39)  
Sept.30  14 54.56   49 38.4   4.351   3.971    61   14.7  19:09 (130, 36)

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Sept. 22, Sandor Szabo). 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.23  17  4.44   31 34.2   4.185   4.100    78   14.8  19:20 ( 94, 60)  
Sept.30  17  6.37   29 24.6   4.196   4.043    74   14.8  19:09 ( 92, 56)

* 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.23  16 34.73  -26  8.1   3.080   2.913    71   14.8  19:20 ( 40, 16)  
Sept.30  16 44.32  -26 31.3   3.164   2.911    66   14.9  19:09 ( 41, 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.23   1 57.09   23 52.4   3.484   4.326   142   15.1   1:51 (  0, 79)  
Sept.30   1 46.90   22 16.6   3.406   4.317   152   15.0   1:13 (  0, 77)

* 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.23   3 29.48  -80 47.6   2.025   2.346    95   15.2   3:21 (  0,-26)  
Sept.30   3 18.55  -80 59.4   2.010   2.305    93   15.1   2:43 (  0,-26)

* 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.23   7 57.92   19 20.4   1.689   1.510    62   16.0   4:24 (275, 42)  
Sept.30   8 22.08   18 47.1   1.628   1.481    63   15.3   4:29 (277, 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.23   3 39.35    2  6.3   5.343   5.976   125   15.4   3:33 (  0, 57)  
Sept.30   3 38.73    1 40.4   5.293   6.004   131   15.4   3:04 (  0, 57)

* 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.23   5  5.58   28  7.6   1.437   1.915   101   15.7   4:24 (310, 80)  
Sept.30   5 15.60   29 21.6   1.383   1.923   106   15.5   4:29 (336, 84)

* 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.23   1 34.77   17 38.8   1.964   2.882   150   15.6   1:29 (  0, 73)  
Sept.30   1 29.99   17 51.8   1.937   2.890   157   15.6   0:56 (  0, 73)

* 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.23  17 24.37  -28  5.1   2.813   2.856    82   15.8  19:20 ( 29, 20)  
Sept.30  17 33.72  -27 31.5   2.875   2.831    77   15.8  19:09 ( 31, 20)

* 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.23   0 59.92   -7 23.6   1.679   2.655   163   16.0   0:54 (  0, 48)  
Sept.30   0 53.95   -6 54.4   1.686   2.673   167   16.1   0:20 (  0, 48)

* 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.23   2 45.35    2 36.0   0.841   1.726   138   16.7   2:39 (  0, 58)  
Sept.30   2 46.49    3 29.0   0.803   1.720   144   16.6   2:12 (  0, 59)

* 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.23  17 50.87   62 42.2   6.486   6.545    88   16.6  19:20 (159, 58)  
Sept.30  17 54.30   62  9.5   6.503   6.559    88   16.7  19:09 (156, 58)

* 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.23   9  9.66   19  2.5   5.998   5.347    45   16.7   4:24 (265, 27)  
Sept.30   9 12.06   19 33.0   5.897   5.343    52   16.6   4:29 (269, 34)

* 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.23   8 33.75   12 13.0   3.143   2.655    52   16.9   4:24 (277, 31)  
Sept.30   8 44.52   10 38.5   3.080   2.660    56   16.9   4:29 (282, 35)

* 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.23  18 32.92   60 39.0   5.266   5.430    94   17.0  19:20 (165, 63)  
Sept.30  18 29.13   58 49.7   5.240   5.384    92   16.9  19:09 (158, 63)

* (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.23  23 37.22  -46 12.6   3.200   3.959   133   17.0  23:26 (  0,  9)  
Sept.30  23 28.99  -45 51.3   3.198   3.916   129   17.0  22:51 (  0,  9)

* 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.23   6 47.96   68 23.7   9.008   8.986    85   17.0   4:24 (200, 51)  
Sept.30   6 52.70   69  4.2   8.916   8.972    90   17.0   4:29 (196, 53)

* (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.23  20 50.81   -2 30.8   2.712   3.472   132   17.1  20:41 (  0, 53)  
Sept.30  20 50.79   -3 12.8   2.804   3.490   126   17.2  20:14 (  0, 52)

* 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.23   5 30.15   31 33.3   2.774   3.051    96   17.2   4:24 (281, 77)  
Sept.30   5 35.37   32  4.2   2.695   3.063   101   17.1   4:29 (292, 83)

* 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.23  21  5.88  -17 41.6   1.804   2.601   133   17.2  20:56 (  0, 38)  
Sept.30  21  5.64  -15 58.5   1.893   2.624   127   17.3  20:29 (  0, 39)

* 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.23   6 55.71   33 10.9   2.987   2.952    78   17.3   4:24 (263, 60)  
Sept.30   7  3.55   33 22.4   2.917   2.974    83   17.3   4:29 (265, 65)

* 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.23  19  9.45   15  6.8   0.643   1.339   106   17.6  19:20 ( 13, 70)  
Sept.30  19 31.31   15 52.8   0.697   1.375   106   17.8  19:09 ( 10, 71)

* 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.23  19 30.98  -21  7.4   3.182   3.667   111   17.8  19:22 (  0, 34)  
Sept.30  19 32.72  -21  7.9   3.315   3.699   104   17.9  19:09 (  4, 34)

* 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.23  22 20.15   17 29.0   2.864   3.765   149   17.8  22:10 (  0, 73)  
Sept.30  22 17.42   17  9.0   2.899   3.767   145   17.9  21:40 (  0, 72)

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