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

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 Updated on December 24, 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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* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

Now it is very bright as 10.4 mag (Dec. 15, Marco Goiato). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fading after January. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  12 53.27    4 48.1   1.225   1.444    80   10.7   5:34 (327, 55)  
Dec. 30  13 10.54    3 52.6   1.206   1.468    83   10.9   5:37 (333, 56)

* C/2017 T1 ( Heinze )

Now it is very bright as 11.7 mag (Dec. 21, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It will approach to Earth down to 0.2 a.u., and to Sun down to 0.6 a.u., and it is expected to brighten up to 10-11 mag from winter to spring. In the Northern Hemisphre, it stays observable in good condition until January, but it will be extremely low after that. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable from January to mid March, but it stays observable in good condition except for that period. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   8 40.81   14  7.8   0.438   1.356   142   12.2   2:36 (  0, 69)  
Dec. 30   8  2.96   34 37.9   0.277   1.245   157   10.9   1:33 (  0, 88)

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 10.8 mag (Dec. 14, Chris Wyatt). 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 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)  
Dec. 23   4 35.16   11 29.4   2.054   2.978   155   11.3  22:26 (  0, 67)  
Dec. 30   4 26.43   13 32.6   2.063   2.943   147   11.3  21:50 (  0, 69)

* C/2017 O1 ( ASASSN )

It brightened up to 8.1 mag in autumn (Oct. 3, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.9 mag (Dec. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable all night in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  23 35.06   86  1.6   1.147   1.777   112   11.6  18:23 (179, 39)  
Dec. 30  23 56.70   85 44.3   1.213   1.829   112   12.0  18:28 (179, 39)

* 24P/Schaumasse

Now it is 11.2 mag (Dec. 4, Thomas Lehmann). It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates very low for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be fading after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  14 15.44   -2 46.3   1.488   1.295    59   11.9   5:34 (308, 38)  
Dec. 30  14 35.75   -4 22.0   1.496   1.330    60   12.4   5:37 (312, 38)

* 185P/Petriew

Now it is 16.2 mag (Dec. 9, Ken-ichi Kadota). It will brighten very rapidly, and brighten up to 11 mag from January to February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time in the evening sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low at the highlight. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  20 52.36  -10 43.7   1.578   1.070    41   13.3  18:23 ( 59, 21)  
Dec. 30  21 19.19   -9 51.4   1.534   1.025    41   12.8  18:28 ( 61, 21)

* 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 13.5 mag (Dec. 7, 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)  
Dec. 23  20 38.08  -55 27.6   3.582   2.935    42   13.0  18:23 ( 30,-13)  
Dec. 30  20 57.95  -54 47.6   3.671   3.001    41   13.1  18:28 ( 31,-14)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.6 mag (Dec. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23  15 37.75   51 13.9   3.421   3.414    81   13.6   5:34 (230, 45)  
Dec. 30  15 41.31   52 47.9   3.314   3.372    84   13.5   5:37 (228, 49)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is 14.7 mag (Dec. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  21 29.40  -12 22.9   6.391   5.803    49   13.8  18:23 ( 51, 26)  
Dec. 30  21 33.98  -11 57.8   6.472   5.801    43   13.8  18:28 ( 56, 22)

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.7 mag (Nov. 14, Gabor Santa). 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. However, it will be extremely low from December to January. 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)  
Dec. 23  18  8.63    9 30.4   4.154   3.371    32   14.1  18:23 (101,  1)  
Dec. 30  18 15.50    8 24.9   4.110   3.317    31   14.0   5:37 (262,  4)

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 14.0 mag (Dec. 13, Chris Wyatt). It stays 14 mag for a while. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition until spring in 2018. It is getting higher gradually also in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   1 38.88  -50 33.3   1.825   2.007    85   14.1  19:31 (  0,  5)  
Dec. 30   1 45.33  -45 42.1   1.836   2.003    84   14.1  19:10 (  0, 10)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.2 mag (Nov. 14, Artyom Novichonok). 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)  
Dec. 23  16 29.40   21 49.8   4.308   3.765    50   14.5   5:34 (261, 26)  
Dec. 30  16 31.74   22 48.7   4.234   3.757    55   14.4   5:37 (263, 32)

* 174P/(60558) 2000 EC98 ( Echeclus )

Brian Skiff found a bright outburst on Dec. 7. It brightened up to 13.2 mag (Dec. 11, Seiichi Yoshida). It stays bright as 13.3 mag still now (Dec. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). This is the 4th outburst following those in January 2006, May 2011 and August 2016. It stays observable in good condition for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   2 36.38   11 17.0   6.673   7.333   129   14.7  20:28 (  0, 66)  
Dec. 30   2 35.62   11 15.6   6.785   7.350   121   15.1  20:00 (  0, 66)

* (3200) Phaethon

It approached to Earth down to 0.07 a.u. in mid December, and it brightened up to 10.4 mag (Dec. 15, Thomas Lehmann). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 13.2 mag (Dec. 19, Seiichi Yoshida). It will fade out down to 18 mag soon, and it will be too low to observe soon. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  21 34.63  -12 48.2   0.131   0.907    50   14.7  18:23 ( 50, 25)  
Dec. 30  20 42.28  -23 38.3   0.250   0.774    28   17.9  18:28 ( 57,  4)

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly up to 13.8 mag in August (Aug. 22, kunihiro Shima). After that, it is fading gradually. Now it is 15.0 mag (Dec. 19, Martin Masek). 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)  
Dec. 23   0  9.81  -21 27.5   2.322   2.404    82   15.2  18:23 (  6, 34)  
Dec. 30   0 16.44  -19 24.8   2.378   2.381    78   15.3  18:28 ( 13, 35)

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

Now it is 15.6 mag (Dec. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It brightened rapidly. 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)  
Dec. 23   5  8.66   40 18.3   1.209   2.158   159   15.2  23:00 (180, 85)  
Dec. 30   5  3.64   40 10.6   1.259   2.187   154   15.4  22:27 (180, 85)

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Dec. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23   0 13.44    1  6.6   4.111   4.267    92   15.4  18:23 (  8, 56)  
Dec. 30   0 11.70    0  8.6   4.248   4.268    84   15.4  18:28 ( 22, 53)

* 71P/Clark

It brightened up to 10 mag from spring to summer. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 14.7 mag (Dec. 13, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
Dec. 23  22 15.62  -18 54.1   2.584   2.229    58   15.6  18:23 ( 36, 27)  
Dec. 30  22 28.75  -17 22.2   2.690   2.267    54   15.8  18:28 ( 41, 26)

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). It stays 17 mag in 2018. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   3 14.16   -1 13.1   5.654   6.352   131   15.8  21:06 (  0, 54)  
Dec. 30   3 13.15   -1  5.9   5.766   6.382   125   15.9  20:37 (  0, 54)

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Dec. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23  19 59.38   61 57.4   3.211   3.332    88   15.8  18:23 (145, 41)  
Dec. 30  20  5.30   62 12.0   3.252   3.352    87   15.9  18:28 (146, 38)

* 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 15.5 mag (Dec. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   8  4.35   13 31.0   1.310   2.217   150   15.8   1:59 (  0, 68)  
Dec. 30   7 56.54   14 33.9   1.329   2.274   159   16.0   1:24 (  0, 69)

* C/2017 S6 ( Catalina )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Nov. 22, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Dec. 23  23  5.73   30 35.8   1.491   1.787    90   15.9  18:23 ( 82, 71)  
Dec. 30  22 58.01   25 21.1   1.620   1.742    79   16.0  18:28 ( 79, 61)

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23  10 34.30    4  3.1   9.157   9.574   112   15.9   4:29 (  0, 59)  
Dec. 30  10 34.32    4 10.1   9.054   9.576   119   15.9   4:01 (  0, 59)

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Dec. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23   8 55.56   31 42.1   4.527   5.332   141   16.0   2:50 (  0, 87)  
Dec. 30   8 48.67   33 10.6   4.466   5.335   149   16.0   2:16 (  0, 88)

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 9 mag in 2018 summer. However, it is hardly observable when it is bright. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until March when it brightens up to 14 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable from July to September in 2018, but it locates in extremely low. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  22 26.04   59 58.1   2.938   3.238    98   16.4  18:23 (151, 58)  
Dec. 30  22 38.01   57 37.1   2.911   3.156    95   16.3  18:28 (144, 57)

* 355P/2017 M2 ( LINEAR-NEAT )

Return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2004. It brightened rapidly up to 14.3 mag (Nov. 15, Catalina Sky Survey). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.5 mag (Dec. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   2 21.91   18 38.4   1.060   1.838   128   16.3  20:14 (  0, 74)  
Dec. 30   2 27.53   19 52.8   1.137   1.861   122   16.6  19:52 (  0, 75)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be observable at 16 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  11 52.11    8 34.2   3.293   3.539    96   16.5   5:34 (353, 63)  
Dec. 30  11 55.49    8 28.3   3.192   3.538   102   16.4   5:22 (  0, 63)

* 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 15.5 mag (Dec. 20, Thomas Lehmann). It stays observable for a long time after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   2 43.10   15 43.7   2.614   3.354   132   16.5  20:35 (  0, 71)  
Dec. 30   2 42.49   15 33.6   2.773   3.431   124   16.7  20:07 (  0, 71)

* 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 will never be observable again. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  13 47.79  -45 13.5   5.704   5.214    55   16.7   5:34 (338,  5)  
Dec. 30  13 52.63  -46 36.3   5.592   5.177    60   16.6   5:37 (343,  5)

* C/2016 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Dec. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23   9 59.31   -9 31.8   2.331   2.874   113   16.6   3:54 (  0, 45)  
Dec. 30   9 59.43  -10 55.7   2.287   2.902   119   16.6   3:26 (  0, 44)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23   0 59.15   17 30.4   2.562   3.028   108   16.7  18:51 (  0, 73)  
Dec. 30   1  2.81   17 46.6   2.668   3.042   102   16.9  18:28 (  0, 73)

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Dec. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23   6 31.70   76 26.9   8.193   8.819   126   16.8   0:29 (180, 49)  
Dec. 30   6 22.97   76 40.8   8.187   8.807   126   16.8  23:47 (180, 48)

* 90P/Gehrels 1

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Dec. 23   5 14.24   35 59.6   2.296   3.250   163   16.8  23:05 (180, 89)  
Dec. 30   5  9.53   35 50.7   2.340   3.270   157   16.9  22:33 (180, 89)

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 21, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition for a while. It will be fainter than 18 mag in May. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  14  0.39   -5 15.4   2.461   2.170    61   16.8   5:34 (313, 38)  
Dec. 30  14 12.17   -5 58.1   2.416   2.199    65   16.9   5:37 (319, 40)

* 103P/Hartley 2

Now it is 18.2 mag (Dec. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading slowly after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  11 59.09  -12 37.1   2.787   2.895    86   17.3   5:34 (354, 42)  
Dec. 30  12  1.30  -13 10.1   2.734   2.947    92   17.4   5:28 (  0, 42)

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 22, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 18 mag for a long time until 2019. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   6 20.60   18 25.3   6.988   7.967   173   17.7   0:16 (  0, 73)  
Dec. 30   6 14.55   18 12.7   6.986   7.962   172   17.7  23:38 (  0, 73)

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Nov. 23, H. Nohara). It was observed at 17 mag in former 2017. It will be observable at 18 mag in good condition from winter to spring. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  12 54.49    2 33.8   5.390   5.302    79   17.9   5:34 (328, 53)  
Dec. 30  12 54.61    3 26.4   5.280   5.321    87   17.9   5:37 (339, 57)

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