Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 Mar. 3: North)

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Updated on March 3, 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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* 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)  
Mar.  3  21 35.79    8 49.6   1.349   0.617    25   10.8   5:03 (264,  7)  
Mar. 10  21 37.81    3 54.2   1.404   0.684    26   11.3   4:54 (270,  8)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 10.5 mag (Feb. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will stay bright as 11 mag for a long time until spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon. In the Northern Hemispehre, it stays observable for a long time until the comet fades out. But it will be getting lower gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3   4  3.57   30 46.2   2.636   2.699    82   10.8  19:20 ( 89, 65)  
Mar. 10   4  7.94   32 25.6   2.718   2.681    77   10.8  19:26 ( 96, 59)  

* 185P/Petriew

Now it is 10.4 mag (Feb. 17, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It will fade out after this. 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)  
Mar.  3   2 12.96    4 56.7   1.351   1.060    51   11.7  19:20 ( 74, 29)  
Mar. 10   2 46.66    6 35.4   1.382   1.110    52   12.1  19:26 ( 76, 30)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 11.0 mag (Feb. 21, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It is expected to brighten up to 9 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)  
Mar.  3  19 15.15    0 56.0   3.303   2.855    55   12.2   5:03 (293, 31)  
Mar. 10  19 20.71    0  9.6   3.171   2.808    59   12.0   4:54 (296, 32)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  13 57.89   78 28.6   2.616   3.027   104   12.3   3:18 (180, 47)  
Mar. 10  12 33.10   80 19.4   2.602   2.994   103   12.2   1:28 (180, 45)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is very bright as 12.1 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be observable at 12-13 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)  
Mar.  3  16 23.25   39 59.7   3.423   3.731   100   13.0   5:03 (234, 81)  
Mar. 10  16 15.51   42 42.7   3.355   3.733   104   12.9   4:54 (196, 82)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  14 32.40    2 49.3   1.037   1.803   125   13.3   3:51 (  0, 58)  
Mar. 10  14 31.32    3 22.2   1.028   1.848   132   13.6   3:22 (  0, 58)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  22 21.00   -7 13.4   6.772   5.792     8   13.9   5:03 (271,-11)  
Mar. 10  22 26.30   -6 37.9   6.752   5.791    13   13.9   4:54 (272, -8)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  23 23.65  -47 18.2   4.292   3.600    40   14.2  19:20 ( 51,-31)  
Mar. 10  23 36.67  -46 33.0   4.338   3.666    42   14.3  19:26 ( 54,-34)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   3  5.15   -4 16.0   2.392   2.125    62   14.2  19:20 ( 57, 33)  
Mar. 10   3 15.39   -0 44.2   2.493   2.155    58   14.4  19:26 ( 64, 31)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Feb. 18, Yuji Ohshima). 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)  
Mar.  3   0 35.39   40 33.7   2.846   2.385    52   15.0  19:20 (122, 27)  
Mar. 10   0 49.04   39  9.5   2.837   2.295    48   14.9  19:26 (123, 23)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  18 47.07  -30 13.4   1.945   1.721    62   15.2   5:03 (321, 12)  
Mar. 10  19  9.37  -29 39.9   1.877   1.699    64   15.0   4:54 (320, 12)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   6 34.61   74 25.6   1.953   2.386   103   15.2  19:53 (180, 51)  
Mar. 10   6 55.37   72 14.4   2.058   2.453   101   15.5  19:46 (180, 53)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  16 38.99  -11 54.2   1.445   1.783    92   15.5   5:03 (342, 41)  
Mar. 10  16 44.96  -12 12.5   1.425   1.841    97   15.9   4:54 (346, 42)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   7 30.26   42 47.5   4.777   5.379   122   15.6  20:46 (180, 82)  
Mar. 10   7 23.70   43 14.8   4.889   5.387   115   15.6  20:12 (180, 82)  

* 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  19 35.78   39 13.2   4.733   4.408    65   15.8   5:03 (247, 45)  
Mar. 10  19 37.79   39 39.0   4.653   4.367    67   15.7   4:54 (247, 48)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  14  9.09  -60  6.3   4.543   4.858   102   15.9   3:28 (  0, -5)  
Mar. 10  14  5.56  -61 33.0   4.442   4.824   106   15.8   2:57 (  0, -7)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  11 48.35   11 16.0   2.569   3.539   165   15.9   1:07 (  0, 66)  
Mar. 10  11 44.09   11 45.9   2.557   3.540   170   15.9   0:36 (  0, 67)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  19 24.05  -21 46.0   3.830   3.324    52   16.1   5:03 (309, 13)  
Mar. 10  19 22.95  -22  7.2   3.749   3.364    59   16.1   4:54 (312, 16)  

* (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)  
Mar.  3  19 44.54  -47  4.2   1.784   1.493    56   16.5   5:03 (324, -8)  
Mar. 10  20 20.77  -45 51.8   1.728   1.448    56   16.4   4:54 (321, -9)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Feb. 13, 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)  
Mar.  3  10 24.28    6 34.2   8.622   9.605   172   16.4  23:39 (  0, 62)  
Mar. 10  10 22.77    6 54.5   8.645   9.609   165   16.5  23:10 (  0, 62)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   3 24.53    1 41.7   6.967   6.660    68   16.4  19:20 ( 57, 40)  
Mar. 10   3 27.78    2  5.1   7.096   6.691    62   16.5  19:26 ( 64, 35)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  21 29.19   73 10.4   3.587   3.574    81   16.5   5:03 (200, 35)  
Mar. 10  21 43.18   75 10.3   3.627   3.604    80   16.5   4:54 (198, 35)  

* 48P/Johnson

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 23, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Mar.  3  19 12.71  -18 15.6   2.784   2.358    54   16.9   5:03 (308, 18)  
Mar. 10  19 26.52  -18  4.5   2.689   2.332    58   16.5   4:54 (309, 18)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  16 59.72  -29 38.7   1.386   1.636    85   16.9   5:03 (342, 23)  
Mar. 10  17 24.82  -31 51.6   1.293   1.584    86   16.6   4:54 (342, 21)  

* P/2017 U6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 15.7 mag (Feb. 11, Catalina Sky Survey). It will fade out rapidly after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in late April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  13 19.99   24 47.4   0.459   1.378   140   16.7   2:38 (  0, 80)  
Mar. 10  13 24.22   24 48.6   0.462   1.393   143   16.8   2:15 (  0, 80)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  21 20.45   61 59.5   7.202   6.949    71   16.8   5:03 (214, 33)  
Mar. 10  21 31.50   62 35.6   7.246   6.969    70   16.8   4:54 (213, 34)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   5 38.94   75  3.3   8.488   8.710    99   16.8  19:20 (178, 50)  
Mar. 10   5 41.03   74 40.1   8.547   8.700    95   16.9  19:26 (174, 50)  

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Feb. 26, Catalina Sky Survey). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition from winter to spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  12 25.96   15 28.8   4.590   5.509   155   16.8   1:45 (  0, 70)  
Mar. 10  12 19.76   17  1.1   4.586   5.532   160   16.9   1:11 (  0, 72)  

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.3 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 15 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)  
Mar.  3  12 25.73   20 17.5   3.467   4.380   154   17.1   1:45 (  0, 75)  
Mar. 10  12 16.21   22 21.4   3.406   4.340   157   17.0   1:08 (  0, 77)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1

Now it is 17.5 mag (Jan. 27, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
Mar.  3  15 20.37   -7 36.3   1.947   2.494   111   17.1   4:39 (  0, 47)  
Mar. 10  15 22.17   -7 17.4   1.900   2.529   118   17.1   4:13 (  0, 48)  

* C/2014 R3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Feb. 25, Catalina Sky Survey). It will be fading gradually after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  11 20.23   40 10.1   7.278   8.122   146   17.2   0:39 (180, 85)  
Mar. 10  11 14.57   40  6.3   7.315   8.141   144   17.2   0:06 (180, 85)  

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (Feb. 13, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  15  5.58  -17 59.3   5.771   6.227   113   17.2   4:24 (  0, 37)  
Mar. 10  15  4.95  -17 17.8   5.680   6.242   120   17.2   3:56 (  0, 38)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   5 33.46   16 31.6   7.680   7.936   101   17.4  19:20 ( 22, 70)  
Mar. 10   5 31.31   16 23.1   7.804   7.934    93   17.5  19:26 ( 43, 66)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   9 30.11  -15 43.2   2.322   3.214   149   17.5  22:45 (  0, 39)  
Mar. 10   9 27.27  -15 23.9   2.384   3.254   145   17.6  22:15 (  0, 40)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3  13 11.34  -13 57.0   1.733   2.572   139   17.7   2:30 (  0, 41)  
Mar. 10  13 10.08  -13 53.3   1.672   2.564   147   17.5   2:01 (  0, 41)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   5 31.05   36 33.2   2.088   2.485   101   17.8  19:20 (106, 83)  
Mar. 10   5 40.16   36  9.5   2.205   2.521    96   18.0  19:26 (100, 78)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is 19.3 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten rapidly, and brighten up to 7 mag from August to September. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable from July to August. But it will be observable in good condition before and after tha.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  18 11.26    1 39.2   2.626   2.488    71   18.1   5:03 (306, 42)  
Mar. 10  18 22.12    2 57.6   2.493   2.429    74   17.8   4:54 (307, 45)  

* 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)  
Mar.  3   5 13.86   33 28.6   3.186   3.466    97   17.8  19:20 ( 85, 80)  
Mar. 10   5 19.37   33 16.2   3.306   3.489    92   18.0  19:26 ( 89, 74)  

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