Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 Feb. 24: North)

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Updated on February 25, 2018
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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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* 185P/Petriew

Now it is 10.4 mag (Feb. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays as bright as 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 will be getting higher gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   1 38.55    3  9.1   1.333   1.017    49   11.3  19:14 ( 73, 28)  
Mar.  3   2 12.96    4 56.7   1.351   1.060    51   11.7  19:20 ( 74, 29)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.8 mag (Feb. 15, Danil Sidorko). It will stay bright as 11 mag for a long time until spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in March. 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)  
Feb. 24   4  0.46   29  4.1   2.554   2.720    88   11.4  19:14 ( 79, 70)  
Mar.  3   4  3.57   30 46.2   2.636   2.699    82   11.4  19:20 ( 89, 65)  

* C/2017 T1 ( Heinze )

It brightened up to 9-10 mag from December to February. Juan Jose Gonzalez reported that it was bright as 9.3 mag on Feb. 21. However, Didac Mesa Romeu reported the condensation got weaker on Feb. 22. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  21 36.27   13 43.8   1.263   0.583    26   11.7   5:12 (257,  6)  
Mar.  3  21 35.79    8 49.6   1.349   0.617    25   12.1   5:03 (264,  7)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.1 mag (Feb. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays 12 mag for a long time until spring in 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 October.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  14 49.46   75 28.7   2.646   3.061   105   12.4   4:35 (180, 50)  
Mar.  3  13 57.89   78 28.6   2.616   3.027   104   12.3   3:18 (180, 47)  

* 62P/Tsuchinshan 1

It brightened up to 9.2 mag from November to December (Nov. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 12.4 mag still now (Feb. 10, Chris Wyatt). It stays observable in good condition until summer when it fades out.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  14 31.17    2 22.2   1.049   1.758   119   13.0   4:17 (  0, 57)  
Mar.  3  14 32.28    2 50.6   1.036   1.802   125   13.3   3:51 (  0, 58)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 11.0 mag (Feb. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until summer while the comet will be brightening. It is appear in the morning sky also in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  19  9.24    1 40.7   3.428   2.904    50   13.1   5:12 (290, 29)  
Mar.  3  19 15.15    0 56.0   3.303   2.855    55   13.0   5:03 (293, 31)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It is not observable now. It will appear in the morning sky in late March in the Southern Hemisphere, or in late April in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  22 15.64   -7 48.6   6.781   5.793     3   13.9   5:12 (269,-15)  
Mar.  3  22 21.00   -7 13.4   6.772   5.792     8   13.9   5:03 (271,-11)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is very bright as 12.1 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be hardly observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  16 28.94   37 22.3   3.501   3.730    95   14.0   5:12 (255, 77)  
Mar.  3  16 23.25   39 59.7   3.423   3.731   100   14.0   5:03 (234, 81)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

It brightened up to 7.1 mag from May to June in 2017 (June 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 12.9 mag (Jan. 17, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time after this. However, it will be extremely low from January to March. It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  23 10.09  -48  6.2   4.241   3.534    39   14.1  19:14 ( 49,-28)  
Mar.  3  23 23.65  -47 18.2   4.292   3.600    40   14.2  19:20 ( 51,-31)  

* 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 16.6 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good 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)  
Feb. 24   6 10.88   76 33.0   1.853   2.319   105   14.8  19:58 (180, 49)  
Mar.  3   6 34.61   74 25.6   1.953   2.386   103   15.2  19:53 (180, 51)  

* C/2017 K6 ( Jacques )

Now it is 13.8 mag (Feb. 10, Chris Wyatt). It stays 14 mag for a while. It stays observable in the evening sky until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   2 55.09   -8  3.7   2.297   2.099    65   14.8  19:14 ( 48, 34)  
Mar.  3   3  5.15   -4 16.0   2.392   2.125    62   15.0  19:20 ( 57, 33)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Feb. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 9 mag in 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, but it locates in extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   0 21.84   42  2.7   2.852   2.474    57   15.2  19:14 (122, 31)  
Mar.  3   0 35.39   40 33.7   2.846   2.385    52   15.0  19:20 (122, 27)  

* 37P/Forbes

Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 14, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will be observable at 14 mag in good condition from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  18 24.76  -30 33.5   2.017   1.746    59   15.4   5:12 (322, 12)  
Mar.  3  18 47.07  -30 13.4   1.945   1.721    62   15.2   5:03 (321, 12)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 24  19 33.18   38 53.3   4.807   4.450    63   15.9   5:12 (246, 41)  
Mar.  3  19 35.78   39 13.2   4.733   4.408    65   15.8   5:03 (247, 45)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Feb. 13, 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)  
Feb. 24  10 25.84    6 13.9   8.614   9.601   176   15.8   0:13 (  0, 61)  
Mar.  3  10 24.28    6 34.2   8.622   9.605   172   15.8  23:39 (  0, 62)  

* 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)  
Feb. 24  14 11.14  -58 36.5   4.650   4.892    98   15.9   3:58 (  0, -4)  
Mar.  3  14  9.09  -60  6.3   4.543   4.858   102   15.9   3:28 (  0, -5)  

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

Outburst occured in early December, and it brightened up to 13.2 mag (Dec. 11, Seiichi Yoshida). It has already faded down to 17.5 mag (Feb. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   2 44.68   12 17.9   7.817   7.494    67   15.9  19:14 ( 69, 46)  
Mar.  3   2 47.48   12 32.7   7.939   7.512    61   16.2  19:20 ( 76, 40)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.7 mag (Feb. 7, Alexander Baransky). 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)  
Feb. 24  11 52.23   10 45.0   2.595   3.538   159   15.9   1:39 (  0, 66)  
Mar.  3  11 48.35   11 16.0   2.569   3.539   165   15.9   1:07 (  0, 66)  

* 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 15.9 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be unobservable in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   1 32.35   -2 27.5   2.789   2.226    46   15.9  19:14 ( 69, 23)  
Mar.  3   1 43.97   -0 22.1   2.832   2.211    42   16.0  19:20 ( 75, 20)  

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

Appearing in the morning sky. It is fading now. But it stays 16 mag until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  19 24.40  -21 27.1   3.901   3.284    45   16.1   5:12 (305, 10)  
Mar.  3  19 24.05  -21 46.0   3.830   3.324    52   16.1   5:03 (309, 13)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.9 mag (Feb. 12, 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)  
Feb. 24   7 37.75   42 13.8   4.675   5.372   130   16.2  21:21 (180, 83)  
Mar.  3   7 30.26   42 47.5   4.777   5.379   122   16.2  20:46 (180, 82)  

* C/2011 KP36 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 20, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   3 21.60    1 18.3   6.833   6.628    73   16.4  19:14 ( 49, 45)  
Mar.  3   3 24.53    1 41.7   6.967   6.660    68   16.4  19:20 ( 57, 40)  

* C/2016 N4 ( MASTER )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Feb. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in the northern sky for a long time. 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)  
Feb. 24  21 16.73   71 17.5   3.548   3.545    81   16.4   5:12 (203, 34)  
Mar.  3  21 29.19   73 10.4   3.587   3.574    81   16.5   5:03 (200, 35)  

* (3552) Don Quixote

It will brighten up to 16 mag in spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable until August, but it will be unobservable after that. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable until June, but it will be observable in good condition after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  19  8.16  -47 38.1   1.849   1.542    56   16.6   5:12 (326, -6)  
Mar.  3  19 44.54  -47  4.2   1.784   1.493    56   16.5   5:03 (324, -8)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Feb. 13, 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)  
Feb. 24   5 38.26   75 25.9   8.432   8.720   103   16.8  19:23 (180, 50)  
Mar.  3   5 38.94   75  3.3   8.488   8.710    99   16.8  19:20 (178, 50)  

* 48P/Johnson

It will brighten rapidly after this, and it will brighten up to 11 mag from summer to autumn. 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)  
Feb. 24  18 58.83  -18 23.2   2.876   2.385    51   17.2   5:12 (308, 17)  
Mar.  3  19 12.71  -18 15.6   2.784   2.358    54   16.9   5:03 (308, 18)  

* 24P/Schaumasse

It brightened up to 9.7 mag in November (Nov. 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 15.5 mag (Feb. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  16 31.31  -11 32.3   1.464   1.726    87   16.9   5:12 (339, 41)  
Mar.  3  16 39.03  -11 54.5   1.445   1.783    92   17.1   5:03 (342, 41)  

* 66P/du Toit

Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 18, Martin Masek). It will brighten rapidly after this, and will brighten up to 12 mag from April to June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable from April to June when the comet becomes brightest.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  16 36.92  -27 25.8   1.487   1.691    83   17.3   5:12 (343, 25)  
Mar.  3  16 59.77  -29 38.9   1.386   1.636    85   16.9   5:03 (342, 23)  

* C/2016 T3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   9 33.62  -15 55.2   2.272   3.175   151   17.0  23:16 (  0, 39)  
Mar.  3   9 30.11  -15 43.2   2.322   3.214   149   17.1  22:45 (  0, 39)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Feb. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading gradually after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in autumn. 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)  
Feb. 24  21  9.29   61 25.8   7.157   6.928    72   17.0   5:12 (214, 32)  
Mar.  3  21 20.45   61 59.5   7.202   6.949    71   17.1   5:03 (214, 33)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 18.5 mag (Feb. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 24  15 17.21   -7 50.0   1.998   2.459   105   17.1   5:03 (  0, 47)  
Mar.  3  15 20.37   -7 36.3   1.947   2.494   111   17.1   4:39 (  0, 47)  

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 12, 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)  
Feb. 24   5 36.14   16 40.7   7.560   7.938   109   17.4  19:20 (  0, 72)  
Mar.  3   5 33.46   16 31.6   7.680   7.936   101   17.4  19:20 ( 22, 70)  

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 15.5 mag in January, 2019. It stays observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemispehre. It is observable only until June, 2018, in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  12 34.23   18 14.1   3.551   4.423   148   17.7   2:21 (  0, 73)  
Mar.  3  12 25.73   20 17.5   3.469   4.382   154   17.6   1:45 (  0, 75)  

* 235P/LINEAR

It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from February to April. However, now it is 18.7 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato), fainter than predicted.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  11 59.45   -7 33.5   1.825   2.735   151   17.7   1:46 (  0, 47)  
Mar.  3  11 56.45   -7  0.5   1.785   2.734   159   17.6   1:15 (  0, 48)  

* 143P/Kowal-Mrkos

Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 17 mag and will be observable in good condition in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  13 11.49  -13 52.1   1.802   2.581   133   17.8   2:58 (  0, 41)  
Mar.  3  13 11.34  -13 57.0   1.733   2.572   139   17.7   2:30 (  0, 41)  

* 103P/Hartley 2

Now it is 18.4 mag (Jan. 15, 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)  
Feb. 24  11 40.95  -12 50.8   2.438   3.339   151   17.7   1:28 (  0, 42)  
Mar.  3  11 34.82  -12  8.8   2.444   3.385   158   17.7   0:54 (  0, 43)  

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Feb. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is 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)  
Feb. 24  12 31.73   13 55.0   4.612   5.487   149   17.7   2:18 (  0, 69)  
Mar.  3  12 25.96   15 28.8   4.590   5.509   155   17.7   1:45 (  0, 70)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1

Now it is 18.0 mag (Feb. 18, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in March. It is observable in excellent 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)  
Feb. 24   5  9.15   33 42.0   3.067   3.442   103   17.7  19:14 ( 75, 85)  
Mar.  3   5 13.85   33 28.6   3.186   3.465    97   17.8  19:20 ( 85, 80)  

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It was observed at 17 mag in 2017. It will be observable at 18 mag in 2018.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  15  5.66  -18 37.3   5.867   6.211   105   17.8   4:52 (  0, 36)  
Mar.  3  15  5.58  -17 59.3   5.771   6.227   113   17.7   4:24 (  0, 37)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5

It brightened up to 14.8 mag from autumn to winter (Nov. 21, Hiroshi Abe). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.1 mag (Feb. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Feb. 24   5 22.73   36 57.1   1.973   2.449   106   17.9  19:14 (143, 88)  
Mar.  3   5 31.05   36 33.2   2.088   2.485   101   18.1  19:20 (106, 83)  

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