Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2017 Oct. 14: North)

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Updated on October 21, 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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* 96P/Machholz 1

Now it is 11.6 mag (Oct. 13, Chris Wyatt). It will pass the perihelion on Oct. 27. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon. 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)  
Oct. 14  13 36.68  -39  7.0   0.932   0.526    31    9.2  18:50 ( 61,-29)  
Oct. 21  13 30.91  -28 32.8   0.885   0.316    18    6.4   4:46 (289,-25)  

* C/2017 O1 ( ASASSN )

Now it is bright as 8.3 mag (Oct. 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays 8 mag within October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   4 40.58   49 57.7   0.722   1.499   120    8.4   3:11 (180, 75)  
Oct. 21   4 47.69   57 54.4   0.722   1.501   121    8.5   2:51 (180, 67)  

* 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 12.3 mag (Oct. 12, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time 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)  
Oct. 14  16 59.05  -54 31.1   2.549   2.295    64   11.3  18:50 ( 27,-10)  
Oct. 21  17 20.11  -55 24.4   2.660   2.355    61   11.5  18:42 ( 26,-10)  

* 24P/Schaumasse

Now it is bright as 10.9 mag (Oct. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays 10 mag until 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)  
Oct. 14   9 56.85   17  4.9   1.558   1.285    55   11.9   4:41 (275, 37)  
Oct. 21  10 25.63   15 25.4   1.522   1.257    55   11.4   4:46 (277, 37)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

Now it is 12.9 mag (Oct. 1, Artyom Novichonok). It stays 11 mag until 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)  
Oct. 14   9 11.06   17 10.1   1.521   1.433    65   11.9   4:41 (282, 46)  
Oct. 21   9 35.59   16  7.9   1.475   1.415    66   11.6   4:46 (285, 47)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.2 mag (Oct. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will stay bright as 11 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)  
Oct. 14   5 36.62   -1  6.4   2.842   3.378   114   12.6   4:07 (  0, 54)  
Oct. 21   5 35.35   -0 33.2   2.711   3.334   121   12.4   3:38 (  0, 54)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 10 mag from spring to summer. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.0 mag (Oct. 12, 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)  
Oct. 14  19 45.91  -32 47.6   1.546   1.867    91   13.0  18:50 (  8, 22)  
Oct. 21  20  2.48  -31 38.7   1.641   1.900    88   13.2  18:42 (  9, 23)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is very bright as 12.2 mag (Oct. 12, Chris Wyatt).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14  21  4.10  -14 44.7   5.344   5.814   113   13.4  19:32 (  0, 40)  
Oct. 21  21  4.44  -14 40.2   5.449   5.813   106   13.4  19:05 (  0, 40)  

* C/2015 ER61 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 6.2 mag in April (Apr. 7, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 13.8 mag (Sept. 30, Ken Harikae). It stays observable for a long time after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   3 41.06   21 29.2   1.695   2.560   142   13.8   2:12 (  0, 77)  
Oct. 21   3 33.66   20 51.0   1.724   2.641   151   14.0   1:37 (  0, 76)  

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly from July to August. Now it is very bright as 14.1 mag (Sept. 27, 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)  
Oct. 14   0  6.20  -36  8.4   1.889   2.670   132   14.2  22:33 (  0, 19)  
Oct. 21   0  0.94  -35 31.5   1.909   2.641   128   14.1  22:00 (  0, 20)  

* 217P/LINEAR

It brightened up to 12.2 mag in August (Aug. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is fading now. It has already faded down to 14.0 mag (Oct. 1, Michael Jager).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   7 52.50   10 22.0   1.454   1.654    82   14.1   4:41 (311, 56)  
Oct. 21   8  1.79   10  8.1   1.438   1.708    87   14.3   4:46 (320, 59)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Sept. 22, Sandor Szabo). It is expected to brighten up to 10 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)  
Oct. 14  17 12.33   25 15.2   4.222   3.930    66   14.7  18:50 ( 90, 48)  
Oct. 21  17 16.23   23 16.7   4.234   3.873    62   14.6  18:42 ( 89, 44)  

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

Now it is 14.4 mag (Sept. 19, Toshiyuki Takahashi). It will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14  19 19.51  -12 51.0   2.593   2.763    89   14.7  18:50 ( 20, 40)  
Oct. 21  19 13.60  -13 59.8   2.760   2.777    80   14.8  18:42 ( 27, 37)  

* 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 hardly observable after this. 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)  
Oct. 14  16  7.11   19 15.7   4.462   3.899    50   14.7  18:50 ( 92, 32)  
Oct. 21  16  8.21   19  3.4   4.497   3.881    46   14.7  18:42 ( 94, 28)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.7 mag (Sept. 22, Sandor Szabo). It is expected to brighten up to 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)  
Oct. 14  14 58.72   48 15.6   4.263   3.873    60   14.9  18:50 (130, 31)  
Oct. 21  15  1.61   47 45.4   4.208   3.825    60   14.8  18:42 (130, 28)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.7 mag (Oct. 1, Catalina Sky Survey). It stays observable at 15-16 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   1 25.26   18 33.9   3.317   4.301   169   14.9  23:51 (  0, 73)  
Oct. 21   1 14.39   16 31.4   3.308   4.294   170   14.9  23:13 (  0, 71)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Sept. 25, Seiichi Yoshida). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays 15 mag until winter, and it is 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)  
Oct. 14  20 36.80   69 26.7   2.811   3.210   104   15.1  19:03 (180, 56)  
Oct. 21  20 18.35   68 21.0   2.840   3.216   103   15.2  18:42 (176, 56)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

Now it is 14.9 mag (Sept. 26, Alexander Baransky). 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)  
Oct. 14   5 31.53   31 49.8   1.284   1.944   116   15.3   4:02 (  0, 87)  
Oct. 21   5 37.01   33  4.4   1.240   1.958   121   15.2   3:40 (  0, 88)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Sept. 17, Artyom Novichonok). 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)  
Oct. 14   3 36.11    0 48.5   5.221   6.060   144   15.4   2:07 (  0, 56)  
Oct. 21   3 34.21    0 23.8   5.203   6.089   150   15.4   1:37 (  0, 55)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 15.9 mag (Aug. 26, Hiroshi Abe). 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)  
Oct. 14  17  5.12  -27 12.7   3.325   2.910    57   15.5  18:50 ( 43, 12)  
Oct. 21  17 16.23  -27 30.2   3.401   2.910    52   15.6  18:42 ( 45, 11)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

Now it is 15.4 mag (Sept. 28, Yasukazu Ikari). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   1 18.95   17 59.4   1.921   2.909   170   15.7  23:46 (  0, 73)  
Oct. 21   1 13.28   17 55.3   1.933   2.919   169   15.7  23:12 (  0, 73)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 15.7 mag (Sept. 13, Martin Masek). It stays 15 mag until 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)  
Oct. 14   2 38.95  -80 22.0   1.975   2.228    90   15.9   1:09 (  0,-25)  
Oct. 21   2 16.76  -79 23.8   1.956   2.193    89   15.8   0:20 (  0,-24)  

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Sept. 18, 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)  
Oct. 14  17 54.42  -26 23.4   2.997   2.785    68   15.8  18:50 ( 35, 19)  
Oct. 21  18  5.64  -25 47.8   3.056   2.764    63   15.8  18:42 ( 37, 19)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Appearing in the morning sky. It will be observable at 15 mag in good condition from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14  10 48.29   13 18.0   4.227   3.556    42   16.1   4:41 (271, 24)  
Oct. 21  10 56.38   12 37.3   4.153   3.553    47   16.1   4:46 (275, 29)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Appearing in the morning sky. 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)  
Oct. 14  10 17.77    4 38.5  10.221   9.558    46   16.2   4:41 (283, 26)  
Oct. 21  10 20.56    4 28.6  10.134   9.559    52   16.1   4:46 (289, 31)  

* 213P/Van Ness

It brightened up to 13.5 mag in July (July 5, Chris Wyatt). But it is fading after that, even before the perihelion passage. It has already faded down to 15.9 mag (Sept. 11, Alexander Baransky). 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)  
Oct. 14  19 44.73  -18 15.4   1.650   1.989    94   16.2  18:50 ( 11, 36)  
Oct. 21  19 56.36  -17 15.9   1.725   1.994    90   16.4  18:42 ( 13, 37)  

* 355P/2017 M2 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Sept. 27, Mt. Lemmon Survey). 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)  
Oct. 14   2 43.25    5 29.9   0.749   1.716   158   16.4   1:14 (  0, 61)  
Oct. 21   2 39.24    6 38.8   0.736   1.718   165   16.4   0:43 (  0, 62)  

* 352P/2017 L1 ( Skiff )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2000. Now it is 15.9 mag (Sept. 26, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Although it has been brightening even after the perihelion passage, it will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   0 42.01   -5 42.5   1.740   2.712   163   16.4  23:09 (  0, 49)  
Oct. 21   0 36.68   -4 59.4   1.787   2.733   157   16.5  22:36 (  0, 50)  

* 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)  
Oct. 14   9 15.76   20 44.5   5.670   5.336    65   16.5   4:41 (277, 47)  
Oct. 21   9 16.95   21 26.4   5.547   5.334    72   16.5   4:46 (282, 54)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Sept. 26, ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa). 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)  
Oct. 14  18  3.85   61  7.3   6.539   6.589    88   16.7  18:50 (151, 56)  
Oct. 21  18  9.83   60 38.7   6.558   6.605    88   16.7  18:42 (148, 55)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Sept. 25, 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)  
Oct. 14  18 25.86   55  9.4   5.205   5.291    89   16.8  18:50 (144, 62)  
Oct. 21  18 25.99   53 21.3   5.194   5.246    87   16.8  18:42 (138, 60)  

* C/2016 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Sept. 26, Alexander Baransky). 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)  
Oct. 14   9  4.47    7 20.9   2.950   2.678    64   16.8   4:41 (294, 41)  
Oct. 21   9 13.56    5 38.7   2.883   2.689    68   16.8   4:46 (302, 45)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1

Now it is 16.5 mag (Sept. 28, Alexander Baransky). 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)  
Oct. 14   5 42.61   33  5.4   2.545   3.087   113   17.0   4:13 (  0, 88)  
Oct. 21   5 44.45   33 35.5   2.477   3.101   120   16.9   3:47 (  0, 89)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Sept. 15, Yuji Ohshima). 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)  
Oct. 14   7  0.10   70 28.1   8.736   8.945    98   17.0   4:41 (187, 54)  
Oct. 21   7  2.56   71 11.2   8.651   8.932   103   16.9   4:46 (183, 54)  

* (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)  
Oct. 14  23 14.31  -44 30.2   3.224   3.831   120   17.0  21:41 (  0, 11)  
Oct. 21  23  8.35  -43 32.1   3.250   3.788   115   17.0  21:08 (  0, 12)  

* (3200) Phaethon

It will approach to Earth down to 0.07 a.u. in mid December, and it will brighten up to 10 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition until mid December. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   6 45.12   33 44.7   1.296   1.778   100   17.5   4:41 (278, 83)  
Oct. 21   6 52.13   33 58.5   1.146   1.716   106   17.2   4:46 (300, 88)  

* 188P/LINEAR-Mueller

Now it is 17.3 mag (Sept. 24, E. Bryssinck). 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)  
Oct. 14   7 16.47   33 49.0   2.774   3.019    94   17.2   4:41 (270, 76)  
Oct. 21   7 21.36   34  5.0   2.703   3.042   100   17.2   4:46 (274, 82)  

* 362P/(457175) 2008 GO98

Hilda-type minor planet, but the cometary activity was detected on July 3. It brightened up to 16.5 mag. Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 18.1 mag (Sept. 18, Kunihiro Shima).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14  20 53.42   -4 24.0   3.009   3.525   113   17.4  19:21 (  0, 51)  
Oct. 21  20 55.99   -4 52.2   3.119   3.542   107   17.5  18:56 (  0, 50)  

* C/2017 S6 ( Catalina )

Now it is 17.7 mag (Sept. 30, Catalina Sky Survey). It stays observable at 16 mag for a long time until summer in 2018. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere in 2017, and in the Southern Hemisphere in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14   6 46.60   52 12.3   1.970   2.370   100   17.7   4:41 (198, 72)  
Oct. 21   6 30.22   55 31.9   1.782   2.305   108   17.4   4:34 (180, 70)  

* C/2017 D2 ( Barros )

It brightened up to 14.7 mag in summer (Aug. 12, Yasukazu Ikari). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 17.0 mag (Sept. 28, Yasukazu Ikari).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 14  21  8.86  -12 45.6   2.095   2.676   115   17.7  19:37 (  0, 42)  
Oct. 21  21 12.08  -11 15.2   2.206   2.705   109   17.8  19:13 (  0, 44)  

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