Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 June 2: South)

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Updated on June 5, 2018
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.
Azimuth indicates 0 for south, 90 for west, 180 for north, 270 for east.

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* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is bright as 9.5 mag (May 28, Alexandre Amorim). It stays bright as 9 mag for a while. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until the comet will fade out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  19 13.94  -25  5.3   1.450   2.349   144    9.5   2:34 (180, 80)  
June  9  18 58.62  -30 10.0   1.368   2.324   154    9.3   1:52 (180, 85)  

* 66P/du Toit

It brightened rapidly as expected. Now it is very bright as 10.7 mag (May 25, Chris Wyatt). It stays at 10-11 mag until 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)  
June  2  23 57.70  -30 29.0   0.903   1.303    85   10.5   5:29 (266, 67)  
June  9   0 18.08  -28 18.3   0.909   1.320    86   10.9   5:33 (259, 68)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is not observable. It will brighten up to 9 mag in summer, but it is hardly observable when it is bright. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late December. 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)  
June  2   3 50.06   20 21.2   2.169   1.192    11   11.4   5:29 (250, -8)  
June  9   4  8.65   17 33.6   2.059   1.108    14   11.0   5:33 (251, -4)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.3 mag (May 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It stays bright as 11 mag for a long time until autumn. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable for a long time after this. In the Northern Hemispehre, it stays observable for a long time until the comet fades out. But it stays very low until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   6 24.52   48 45.0   3.394   2.614    33   11.2  18:25 (140,-15)  
June  9   6 42.37   49 40.6   3.419   2.622    32   11.2  18:25 (140,-16)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.6 mag (May 15, 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 for a long time, although it becomes unobservable temporarily from mid June to August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   7 57.44   45 47.1   3.308   2.713    46   12.2  18:25 (149, -1)  
June  9   8  1.43   43 20.1   3.381   2.701    41   12.2  18:25 (144, -2)  

* 48P/Johnson

Now it is 14.7 mag (May 21, Catalina Sky Survey). 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)  
June  2  21 55.04  -14 59.1   1.568   2.082   105   12.9   5:14 (180, 70)  
June  9  22  4.57  -15  5.3   1.487   2.068   109   12.6   4:56 (180, 70)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Now it is 14.4 mag (May 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)  
June  2  20 30.94   33 47.7   1.145   1.673   101   13.1   3:50 (180, 21)  
June  9  20 42.75   37 36.4   1.067   1.608   101   12.7   3:34 (180, 17)  

* 364P/2018 A2 ( PanSTARRS )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 13 mag in 2013. Now it is 14.2 mag (June 3, Michael Mattiazzo). It will brighten very rapidly after this, up to 11 mag in summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition all through this apparition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the high light from mid June to mid August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   8 55.99   19 34.8   0.522   0.876    59   13.6  18:25 (145, 27)  
June  9   8 57.28   15 17.7   0.464   0.836    54   12.7  18:25 (136, 28)  

* 37P/Forbes

Now it is bright as 12.7 mag (May 25, Chris Wyatt). It will be observable at 12-13 mag in good condition from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  22 50.64  -10  9.4   1.265   1.635    91   13.1   5:29 (203, 63)  
June  9  23  2.71   -8  8.3   1.227   1.649    94   13.1   5:33 (192, 63)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is very bright as 12.0 mag (May 15, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
June  2  12 27.89   53 48.6   3.757   3.840    86   13.3  19:44 (180,  1)  
June  9  12 15.83   52 27.1   3.867   3.855    81   13.4  19:05 (180,  3)  

* C/2018 EF9 ( Lemmon )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is very bright as 11.8 mag (May 16, Juan Jose Gonzalez). It may fade out very rapidly in June. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until it fades out. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   5 19.94   84  9.6   1.754   1.563    62   13.3  18:25 (173,-34)  
June  9   4 58.63   84  8.8   1.786   1.574    61   14.9   5:33 (187,-35)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is 14.8 mag (May 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  23 15.24   -0 10.2   5.843   5.781    81   13.5   5:29 (207, 52)  
June  9  23 17.26    0 12.8   5.733   5.781    87   13.5   5:33 (195, 54)  

* C/2017 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to approach to Sun down to 0.2 a.u. and brighten up to 3 mag in August. Now it is 16.4 mag (May 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in the morning sky until early August when the comet brightens up to 6 mag. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   1 12.47   57 31.5   2.222   1.771    51   14.2   5:29 (203,-10)  
June  9   1 33.90   58 12.2   2.074   1.649    51   13.8   5:33 (201,-10)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.8 mag (May 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 13 mag in 2019 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  18 36.58   46 37.8   3.498   3.905   106   14.6   1:57 (180,  8)  
June  9  18 22.32   46 23.0   3.423   3.870   108   14.5   1:15 (180,  9)  

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 15.2 mag (May 21, Martin Masek). 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)  
June  2  12  6.92  -67  1.4   3.874   4.453   118   15.1  19:24 (  0, 58)  
June  9  12  2.15  -66 32.2   3.881   4.425   116   15.1  18:52 (  0, 58)  

* 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 14.6 mag (May 14, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
June  2   1 35.50  -43 24.9   4.552   4.450    77   15.1   5:29 (298, 50)  
June  9   1 42.17  -43 45.9   4.551   4.515    81   15.2   5:33 (298, 54)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux

The condition is worst in this apparition. It brightens up to 14.5 mag from June to August, but it is not observable at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   4 23.72   11 51.3   2.492   1.508    10   15.7   5:29 (262, -9)  
June  9   4 45.69   13 14.5   2.470   1.486    10   15.4   5:33 (260, -8)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 21, Martin Masek). It is observable at 15 mag in 2018, in good 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)  
June  2  23 12.27  -15 27.7   2.981   3.119    88   15.6   5:29 (219, 66)  
June  9  23 17.64  -15 16.5   2.899   3.131    93   15.6   5:33 (205, 69)  

* C/2018 C2 ( Lemmon )

It brightened rapidly. Now it is 15.8 mag (May 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 15.5 mag until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  14 44.63   27 42.8   1.209   1.957   123   15.7  22:01 (180, 28)  
June  9  14 43.45   23 55.1   1.225   1.958   121   15.7  21:32 (180, 31)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

Now it is 20.7 mag (May 25, J. V. Scotti). It will brighten rapidly, and it is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. But actually, it is much fainter than this ephemeris. It will be observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It stays low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  22 39.09   -6 14.5   1.939   2.222    92   16.1   5:29 (195, 60)  
June  9  22 48.71   -4 44.2   1.811   2.169    96   15.8   5:33 (184, 60)  

* C/2015 V1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 19, CAO, San Pedro de Atacama). Fading now. It stays observable in good condition for a long time after this in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable until June in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   0 58.77   -9 46.9   4.860   4.484    62   15.9   5:29 (247, 44)  
June  9   0 59.87  -10 42.3   4.761   4.502    69   15.9   5:33 (241, 50)  

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

It is fading now, but it stays 16 mag until summer. But actually, it is 18.1 mag (Mar. 23, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato), fainter than this ephemeris.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  17 28.66  -28 12.5   2.902   3.898   167   15.9   0:50 (180, 83)  
June  9  17 11.77  -28 17.9   2.934   3.945   174   16.0   0:06 (180, 83)  

* (3552) Don Quixote

Now it is 15.5 mag (Mar. 16, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It brightens 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. Its cometary activity was observed on Mar. 26 (M. Mommert, D. Polishook, N. Moskovitz).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   1  7.04   -2 23.4   1.510   1.283    57   16.1   5:29 (242, 38)  
June  9   1 21.34    1 39.7   1.508   1.309    58   16.1   5:33 (234, 38)  

* C/2017 K4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It was observed at 16 mag from summer to autumn in 2017. It will be observable at 16.5 mag in good condition also in 2018. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   0 24.43   16  6.4   3.392   3.014    59   16.4   5:29 (218, 30)  
June  9   0 32.17   17 31.1   3.348   3.047    64   16.5   5:33 (211, 31)  

* C/2017 S6 ( Catalina )

It stays observable at 16.5 mag for a while. It will be observable in good condition after this in the Southern Hemisphere. But it stays low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  22 18.41  -18 14.0   1.546   2.007   101   16.5   5:29 (187, 73)  
June  9  22  0.71  -22 36.8   1.444   2.066   113   16.4   4:53 (180, 77)  

* 105P/Singer Brewster

Unexpectedly, it brightened rapidly. Now it is 16.6 mag (May 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays at 16.5 mag until July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  12 27.20    1 45.2   1.482   2.112   114   16.5  19:45 (180, 53)  
June  9  12 32.66    1 33.4   1.538   2.100   108   16.5  19:23 (180, 54)  

* 38P/Stephan-Oterma

Now it is 16.7 mag (May 13, Hidetaka Sato). It will brighten rapidly after this, and it is expected to brighten up to 9 mag from autumn to winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until it fades out. In the Southern Hemispehre, it is observable in good condition until autumn, but it will be low in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   1 35.52   -6 11.7   2.979   2.503    52   16.8   5:29 (251, 35)  
June  9   1 48.11   -5  5.6   2.860   2.444    56   16.5   5:33 (246, 38)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 15.9 mag (May 4, Kunihiro Shima). It will be fading slowly until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  11 25.77   11  9.5   3.304   3.564    96   16.5  18:43 (180, 44)  
June  9  11 29.06   10 32.9   3.405   3.567    90   16.6  18:25 (178, 45)  

* C/2017 E3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.9 mag (May 15, 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)  
June  2  14 33.45   -6 49.6   5.585   6.453   146   16.8  21:50 (180, 62)  
June  9  14 31.26   -6  6.2   5.673   6.472   138   16.9  21:20 (180, 61)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 16.6 mag (May 10, 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)  
June  2  10 21.84    9 18.8   9.746   9.669    82   16.8  18:25 (164, 44)  
June  9  10 23.60    9 18.9   9.864   9.675    76   16.9  18:25 (156, 43)  

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.7 mag (May 10, 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 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  10 31.40   34 50.9   4.005   3.890    76   16.9  18:25 (172, 20)  
June  9  10 28.58   34 56.5   4.092   3.856    69   16.9  18:25 (166, 18)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.8 mag (May 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading gradually after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in winter. 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)  
June  2  23 24.49   71 22.9   7.598   7.235    65   16.9   5:29 (186,-17)  
June  9  23 30.92   72  8.0   7.604   7.259    66   17.0   5:33 (184,-18)  

* C/2017 M5 ( TOTAS )

Now it is 18.0 mag (May 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition from spring to autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  21  1.89    1  3.1   5.538   5.989   111   17.2   4:21 (180, 54)  
June  9  21  2.24    1 22.8   5.446   5.990   117   17.1   3:54 (180, 54)  

* C/2017 D3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.8 mag (May 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in July.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  11 21.65   27 13.2   5.764   5.834    88   17.6  18:39 (180, 28)  
June  9  11 20.55   27 23.5   5.908   5.861    82   17.6  18:25 (176, 28)  

* 2018 EN4

Now it is bright as 18.0 mag (May 14, Hidetaka Sato). Hidetaka Sato pointed out its cometary activity. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable at 18 mag until June. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2   7 45.12   42 54.8   2.003   1.452    43   17.9  18:25 (146, -1)  
June  9   8  0.49   45 25.9   2.042   1.450    41   17.9  18:25 (146, -4)  

* 143P/Kowal-Mrkos

Now it is 16.6 mag (May 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
June  2  12 46.56   -8 41.5   1.841   2.538   122   17.9  20:04 (180, 64)  
June  9  12 49.92   -8 41.9   1.916   2.542   116   18.1  19:40 (180, 64)  

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