Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2018 Dec. 8: North)

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Updated on December 6, 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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* 46P/Wirtanen

Now it is very bright as 4.3 mag (Dec. 4, Marco Goiato). Visible with naked eyes. It will approach to Earth down to 0.08 a.u. in December, and it is expected to brighten up to 3 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower rapidly after this, and it will be unobservable in late December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   3  1.26   -6  8.4   0.093   1.058   139    3.7  21:56 (  0, 50)  
Dec. 15   3 47.37   16 29.0   0.078   1.056   155    3.2  22:16 (  0, 74)  

* C/2018 V1 ( Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto )

New bright comet discovered by three amateur comet hunters. It brightened rapidly from 10 mag up to 8 mag just after the discovery. But after that, the brightness evolution became slow. Now it is 10.2 mag (Dec. 5, Sandor Szabo), much fainter than this ephemeris. In the Northern Hemisphere, it can be observable in the extreme low sky in the evening from around Dec. 5 to around Dec. 15. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable now. But it will appear in the morning sky in February, then it stays observable in good condition while the comet will be fading gradually.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  18 23.14   -9 40.5   0.925   0.406    24    5.9  18:18 ( 73,  6)  
Dec. 15  19  1.70  -14 33.3   1.200   0.496    23    7.3  18:20 ( 68,  5)  

* 38P/Stephan-Oterma

Now it is bright as 9.8 mag (Nov. 30, Seiichi Yoshida). It stays 9-10 mag until January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until it fades out. It locates low in the Southern Hemispehre.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   8 18.64   31 22.9   0.773   1.625   134    9.2   3:13 (  0, 86)  
Dec. 15   8 26.18   34 14.6   0.766   1.645   139    9.3   2:53 (  0, 89)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

Now it is very bright as 9.0 mag (Dec. 1, Chris Wyatt). It is 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)  
Dec.  8   1 58.86   33 29.1   0.555   1.452   139   10.1  20:52 (  0, 88)  
Dec. 15   2 15.84   32 22.7   0.597   1.478   136   10.5  20:41 (  0, 87)  

* C/2018 L2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 11.3 mag (Nov. 30, Seiichi Yoshida). It stays at 11 mag until February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time until it fades out. But it stays extremely low. It will never be observable again in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  17 47.07   11  3.2   2.412   1.713    35   10.8  18:18 ( 96, 11)  
Dec. 15  18  5.91   13 10.3   2.392   1.719    37   10.8  18:20 ( 99, 10)  

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 7.7 mag in June (June 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 10.5 mag (Nov. 29, Chris Wyatt). 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 not observable for a long time until autumn in 2019 when the comet fades out down to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  16  5.37  -79 25.7   2.999   2.598    57   11.1   5:25 (347,-33)  
Dec. 15  16 38.97  -81 50.5   3.011   2.640    58   11.2   5:29 (350,-34)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.3 mag (Nov. 30, Seiichi Yoshida). It stays 12 mag for a long time until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   8 11.78  -10 56.9   2.419   3.054   121   12.2   3:07 (  0, 44)  
Dec. 15   7 58.37  -13 22.2   2.383   3.089   128   12.2   2:26 (  0, 42)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.8 mag (Nov. 14, Sandor Szabo). It will be fading slowly after this. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer in 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  14 48.55   40 46.9   3.615   3.409    70   12.7   5:25 (243, 40)  
Dec. 15  14 59.81   40 35.5   3.619   3.454    72   12.8   5:29 (245, 44)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is 13.3 mag (Dec. 5, Sandor Szabo). It stays at 12-13 mag for a long time until autumn in 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  22 13.41   -7 25.5   2.223   2.220    77   13.1  18:18 ( 25, 44)  
Dec. 15  22 24.17   -6 45.2   2.280   2.198    72   13.0  18:20 ( 32, 43)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

It brightened up to 6.8 mag in September (Sept. 17, Seiichi Yoshida). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 11.3 mag (Nov. 30, Seiichi Yoshida). It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates low after this in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   6 57.89  -39 34.2   0.906   1.566   111   13.1   1:53 (  0, 15)  
Dec. 15   6 47.61  -39 36.6   0.954   1.630   114   13.5   1:15 (  0, 15)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is bright as 12.9 mag (Dec. 5, Sandor Szabo).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  22 49.22   -0 47.5   5.721   5.768    87   13.5  18:18 ( 15, 53)  
Dec. 15  22 51.59   -0 36.6   5.833   5.768    81   13.5  18:20 ( 26, 52)  

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 14.0 mag (Nov. 26, Chris Wyatt). It will brighten up to 10-11 mag in autumn in 2019. It stays observable in good condition for a while in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays extremely low for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   1 16.16  -40 10.5   4.195   4.453    98   13.6  20:08 (  0, 15)  
Dec. 15   1 11.25  -38 30.3   4.232   4.409    93   13.6  19:35 (  0, 17)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Now it is 14.8 mag (Nov. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 14 mag in excellent condition until March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  10 39.32    5 29.0   1.187   1.623    96   14.2   5:25 (356, 60)  
Dec. 15  10 52.59    3 40.7   1.137   1.623    99   14.1   5:19 (  0, 59)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.0 mag (Nov. 14, Kunihiro Shima). It stays 13-14 mag until summer in 2019. It is not observable now.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  16 54.36   -6  4.1   4.207   3.275    16   14.3   5:25 (272, -8)  
Dec. 15  16 58.94   -7 23.2   4.195   3.268    17   14.3   5:29 (277, -3)  

* (944) Hidalgo

Now it is 14.3 mag (Nov. 30, Seiichi Yoshida). It stays at 14 mag until winter. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer in 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  12 12.71   77  6.3   1.455   1.993   107   14.4   5:25 (188, 47)  
Dec. 15  12 43.00   77 33.6   1.463   2.009   108   14.4   5:29 (188, 46)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 13.5 mag (Nov. 14, Sandor Szabo). It will be observable at 13-14 mag for a long time from 2017 to 2018. It is observable in excellent condition until spring in the Northern Hemispehre. 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)  
Dec.  8  11 54.50   36 41.7   4.365   4.520    92   14.4   5:25 (259, 73)  
Dec. 15  11 50.48   37 26.8   4.283   4.554    99   14.4   5:29 (253, 80)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 16.3 mag (Nov. 14, Kunihiro Shima). It will brighten up to 13-14 mag in winter, and it will be observable in excellent condition. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  10 54.95   27 18.9   1.767   2.177   100   14.8   5:25 (325, 81)  
Dec. 15  11  5.14   27 20.6   1.688   2.166   105   14.7   5:29 (356, 82)  

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.5 mag (Aug. 16, P. Camilleri, H. Williams). 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.  8  18 21.71  -67 53.4   4.556   3.952    47   15.0  18:18 ( 24,-27)  
Dec. 15  18 48.07  -67 19.9   4.567   3.945    45   15.0  18:20 ( 25,-27)  

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.2 mag (Nov. 10, Kunihiro Shima). It stays 15 mag until March. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  11 12.27   57 24.2   2.869   3.294   106   15.5   5:25 (194, 67)  
Dec. 15  11  3.98   61  2.0   2.775   3.288   113   15.4   5:29 (180, 64)  

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is bright as 15.1 mag (Nov. 21, Artyom Novichonok). It stays 14 mag for a long time in 2019. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in excellent condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in low sky until early January, but it will be unobservable after that.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  11 29.69  -32 26.7   3.754   3.567    71   15.6   5:25 (347, 21)  
Dec. 15  11 30.39  -34 52.1   3.633   3.536    76   15.4   5:29 (354, 20)  

* C/2017 T3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 8.7 mag in July (July 18, Marco Goiato). Then it faded down to 12.3 mag in August (Aug. 29, Chris Wyatt). Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky in late December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  15 36.82  -22 38.5   3.345   2.431    18   15.5   5:25 (296, -3)  
Dec. 15  15 45.17  -22  3.8   3.389   2.520    23   15.7   5:29 (299,  2)  

* 48P/Johnson

Now it is 14.6 mag (Dec. 5, Sandor Szabo). It will be fading after this. It stays observable in excellent condition for a while 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)  
Dec.  8  23 26.95  -18 16.1   1.980   2.204    89   15.5  18:20 (  0, 37)  
Dec. 15  23 36.78  -16 43.8   2.078   2.226    85   15.8  18:20 (  5, 38)  

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.0 mag (Dec. 5, Sandor Szabo). It is expected to brighten up to 7-8 mag in 2020. In 2018, it will be observable at 15-16 mag in good condition from autum to winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   3 20.09   -5 36.4   5.048   5.865   143   15.7  22:11 (  0, 49)  
Dec. 15   3 15.71   -5 18.0   5.048   5.805   136   15.7  21:39 (  0, 50)  

* C/2017 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened rapidly in outburst up to 6.9 mag (July 19, Maik Meyer). Then it faded down to 9.3 mag (Aug. 2, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It approached to Sun down to 0.2 a.u. in August, and it was expected to brighten up to 3 mag. However, it must have been already disintegrated. It appeared in the morning sky. But nobody could detect the comet except for Juan Jose Gonzalez. Juan Jose Gonzalez reported he detected the remnant visually at around 10 mag between Oct. 16 and Nov. 16.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  13 48.66   29 39.7   2.561   2.396    69   15.8   5:25 (263, 48)  
Dec. 15  13 55.20   31 46.3   2.568   2.500    74   16.0   5:29 (263, 54)  

* C/2018 N1 ( NEOWISE )

It approached to Earth down to 0.3 a.u., and brightened up to 8.3 mag in July (July 22, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has faded down to 13.2 mag in September (Sept. 24, Thomas Lehmann). Appearing in the morning sky in the Northern Hemisphere. It will appear in the morning sky in January also in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  15 26.41   -3 54.3   3.043   2.232    28   15.9   5:25 (283, 11)  
Dec. 15  15 27.71   -3 18.7   3.038   2.305    35   16.0   5:29 (287, 17)  

* 300P/Catalina

Now it is 15.4 mag (Oct. 7, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will be getting higher gradually after this. But it will be fading, and will be fainter than 18 mag in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  21 13.21  -21 43.1   1.046   0.998    58   16.1  18:18 ( 34, 26)  
Dec. 15  21 54.32  -18 31.4   1.068   1.057    61   16.7  18:20 ( 33, 30)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 14, Kunihiro Shima). It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from autumn to winter. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   8 37.15   24 35.8   1.689   2.442   129   16.5   3:32 (  0, 80)  
Dec. 15   8 36.44   24 21.6   1.641   2.456   137   16.4   3:04 (  0, 79)  

* 171P/Spahr

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Brightening rapidly. It is 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.  8   4 39.44   -2  7.1   0.863   1.804   154   16.6  23:30 (  0, 53)  
Dec. 15   4 33.27    0 14.3   0.858   1.793   153   16.5  22:57 (  0, 55)  

* C/2016 A1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 14.7 mag in early 2018 (Jan. 25, Catalina Sky Survey). Now it is fading slowly. Now it is 16.6 mag (Nov. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time until the comet fades out. It is never observable again in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   7 36.71   69 38.0   5.370   6.019   127   16.5   2:33 (180, 55)  
Dec. 15   7 19.54   70 50.2   5.366   6.043   129   16.6   1:49 (180, 54)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 21, Artyom Novichonok). It stays 16-17 mag for a long time until 2020. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  11 47.11   69 48.7   8.118   8.459   107   16.7   5:25 (191, 54)  
Dec. 15  11 51.52   70 17.0   8.071   8.457   109   16.7   5:29 (187, 54)  

* C/2015 V2 ( Johnson )

It brightened up to 7 mag from May to June in 2017. Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.0 mag (Sept. 30, J. Drummond). 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.  8   0 50.95  -49 34.7   6.043   6.114    89   17.0  19:43 (  0,  6)  
Dec. 15   0 50.29  -48 34.4   6.176   6.173    85   17.1  19:15 (  0,  7)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 17.3 mag (Nov. 10, Alexander Baransky). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in winter. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  11  6.26   20 42.4   2.102   2.411    95   17.0   5:25 (329, 74)  
Dec. 15  11 11.94   21 12.9   2.054   2.451   101   17.0   5:29 (351, 76)  

* 361P/2017 S4 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Nov. 8, Alexander Baransky). It was observed at 18 mag in last winter. It will be observable in good condition at 17 mag also in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   7 24.97    2 57.3   2.162   2.978   139   17.2   2:20 (  0, 58)  
Dec. 15   7 21.84    2 33.5   2.131   2.995   145   17.2   1:49 (  0, 58)  

* 369P/2018 P1 ( Hill )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 17.5 mag in 2010. Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late January. 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)  
Dec.  8   6  7.84   35 12.7   1.063   2.018   160   17.2   1:03 (180, 90)  
Dec. 15   6  2.83   36  4.6   1.067   2.034   165   17.2   0:31 (180, 89)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 14, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Fading slowly. It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition until summer in 2019.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  11 39.51    5 41.4   9.962   9.883    82   17.2   5:25 (328, 57)  
Dec. 15  11 40.95    5 44.2   9.855   9.892    89   17.2   5:29 (341, 59)  

* C/2014 OE4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 30, 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)  
Dec.  8  22 53.39   68 28.3   7.531   7.932   110   17.3  18:18 (175, 56)  
Dec. 15  22 59.00   67 32.6   7.590   7.960   108   17.4  18:20 (170, 56)  

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Nov. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It was observed at 17 mag in last winter. It will be observable in good condition at 17.5 mag also in this winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   5  3.13    5 36.7   7.097   8.043   162   17.4  23:54 (  0, 61)  
Dec. 15   4 57.59    5 16.2   7.116   8.051   160   17.4  23:21 (  0, 60)  

* 247P/LINEAR

Now it is 18.9 mag (Nov. 14, Kunihiro Shima). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in winter 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.  8  10 11.99   32 12.9   0.820   1.491   111   17.5   5:06 (  0, 87)  
Dec. 15  10 30.11   32 51.6   0.795   1.496   114   17.4   4:57 (  0, 88)  

* C/2018 E1 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 18.0 mag (Nov. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It brightened up to 16 mag in 2018 spring. It stays observable in good condition until 2019 spring when the comet will be fainter than 18 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  10 54.62    6  4.8   3.378   3.567    92   17.5   5:25 (348, 60)  
Dec. 15  10 56.28    7 16.1   3.305   3.611   100   17.5   5:23 (  0, 62)  

* (3552) Don Quixote

Now it is 17.0 mag (Nov. 27, MASTER-II Observatory, Tunka). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in December. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 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)  
Dec.  8   0 54.87   48 40.6   1.994   2.694   126   17.6  19:47 (180, 76)  
Dec. 15   0 55.73   47 36.3   2.104   2.749   121   17.7  19:20 (180, 77)  

* 159P/LONEOS

Now it is 17.2 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17.5 mag until January, 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)  
Dec.  8   6 25.43   41 47.1   2.882   3.789   153   17.6   1:21 (180, 83)  
Dec. 15   6 20.04   42 26.3   2.869   3.800   157   17.6   0:48 (180, 83)  

* 368P/2018 L3 ( NEAT )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2005. Now it is 17.7 mag (Nov. 30, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in December. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   1 53.78   23 38.1   1.383   2.215   137   17.7  20:46 (  0, 79)  
Dec. 15   1 58.02   22 28.5   1.459   2.239   131   17.8  20:23 (  0, 77)  

* 232P/Hill

It was expected to be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But actually, it is so faint as 21.0 mag (Oct. 5, K. Sarneczky, et. al). It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   5 42.61   33 12.8   2.098   3.062   165   17.8   0:38 (  0, 88)  
Dec. 15   5 36.65   33 42.8   2.081   3.053   169   17.7   0:05 (  0, 89)  

* 240P/NEAT

It brightened very rapidly up to 13.8 mag in August in 2017 (Aug. 22, Kunihiro Shima). Now it is 16.3 mag (Nov. 14, Kunihiro Shima). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition after this. It stays extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  11  7.64   31  2.5   2.292   2.638    99   17.7   5:25 (295, 81)  
Dec. 15  11 14.00   31 50.7   2.239   2.667   104   17.8   5:29 (324, 86)  

* 373P/2018 R2 ( Rinner )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16 mag in 2011. Brightening rapidly. Now it is 18.2 mag (Nov. 14, Kunihiro Shima). It is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   2 37.46   14 23.2   1.587   2.466   145   17.8  21:29 (  0, 69)  
Dec. 15   2 35.96   13 31.8   1.627   2.450   138   17.7  21:00 (  0, 69)  

* 239P/LINEAR

Now it is 18.6 mag (Nov. 29, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17.5 mag in excellent condition in January.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   8  6.85   12  2.7   0.848   1.687   133   17.9   3:01 (  0, 67)  
Dec. 15   8 11.27    9 49.6   0.801   1.673   138   17.8   2:38 (  0, 65)  

* 243P/NEAT

It brightened rapidly. Now it is 17.5 mag (Nov. 30, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in December.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   1 40.49    2  9.3   1.818   2.546   128   17.8  20:32 (  0, 57)  
Dec. 15   1 41.50    2 50.7   1.902   2.559   121   17.9  20:06 (  0, 58)  

* P/2018 P3 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is 17.4 mag (Nov. 30, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   0 21.93   -3 31.1   1.262   1.825   107   17.8  19:14 (  0, 52)  
Dec. 15   0 30.84   -1 34.2   1.340   1.841   103   18.0  18:56 (  0, 54)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Now it is 17.1 mag (Nov. 28, Castelmartini). Although it is around the aphelion, it is observable at 17.5 mag in November, 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)  
Dec.  8   2  1.16   32 23.6   1.491   2.334   140   17.9  20:52 (  0, 87)  
Dec. 15   1 51.17   30 20.8   1.542   2.315   131   18.0  20:15 (  0, 85)  

* P/2014 C1 ( TOTAS )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2014. It has not been recovered yet. The condition of this apparition is excelllent. It will brighten rapidly, and will be observable at 15.5 mag in excellent condition in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  10 45.91    5 45.9   1.659   2.000    94   18.1   5:25 (352, 60)  
Dec. 15  10 56.73    4 42.0   1.559   1.970    99   17.9   5:23 (  0, 60)  

* (37117) Narcissus

Peculiar asteroid moving along a cometary orbit. Now it is 16.7 mag (Nov. 18, G. Pascoli Observatory, Castelvecchio Pascoli). It was observable at 17 mag in good condition in November. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   3 22.75   21 24.9   2.147   3.083   158   17.9  22:14 (  0, 76)  
Dec. 15   3 20.30   20 39.9   2.185   3.079   150   18.1  21:44 (  0, 76)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.