Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2019 Jan. 19: South)

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Updated on January 25, 2019
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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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* 46P/Wirtanen

It approached to Earth down to 0.08 a.u. in mid December, and it brightened up to 3.4 mag (Dec. 14, Seiichi Yoshida). it looked so large as 3 times of Moon. Now it is fading. But it is bright as 6.9 mag still now (Jan. 21, Maik Meyer). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until February.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   9  2.42   58 15.8   0.225   1.166   140    6.0   1:11 (180, -3)  
Jan. 26   9 17.78   56 34.9   0.271   1.208   141    6.7   0:59 (180, -2)  

* C/2018 Y1 ( Iwamoto )

Bright new comet. Now it is very bright as 9.3 mag (Jan. 21, Marco Goiato). It will approach to Earth down to 0.3 a.u. in February. Then it will brighten up to 7 mag and will be observable in excellent condition.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  13 56.43  -21 12.1   0.987   1.318    83    9.7   3:24 (260, 52)  
Jan. 26  13 36.70  -18 21.8   0.746   1.299    96    9.0   3:34 (242, 61)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels

It brightened up to 9.0 mag from autumn to winter (Nov. 16, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 9.8 mag still now (Jan. 14, Juan Jose Gonzalez). 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)  
Jan. 19   3 40.26   27 53.2   0.924   1.658   120   10.6  20:56 (163, 25)  
Jan. 26   3 56.37   27 16.6   1.011   1.701   116   11.1  20:49 (162, 25)  

* 38P/Stephan-Oterma

It brightened up to 9.5 mag from autumn to winter (Dec. 14, Marco Goiato). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 11.0 mag still now (Jan. 21, Maik Meyer). 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)  
Jan. 19   8 32.71   45 38.6   0.870   1.807   154   10.6   0:43 (180,  9)  
Jan. 26   8 30.31   46 42.3   0.920   1.849   152   11.0   0:13 (180,  8)  

* 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 10.9 mag (Jan. 14, 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 when the comet fades out down to 16 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   1 43.21  -81 11.3   3.067   2.866    69   11.2  20:56 (  9, 41)  
Jan. 26   2 18.90  -78  6.0   3.085   2.915    70   11.3  20:49 ( 11, 43)  

* C/2018 L2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 10.4 mag (Jan. 3, Ken Harikae). 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)  
Jan. 19  19 52.14   25  4.1   2.367   1.820    45   11.4   3:24 (268,-45)  
Jan. 26  20 15.45   27 29.8   2.386   1.852    46   11.6   3:34 (264,-43)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is 13.7 mag (Jan. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays at 12-13 mag for a long time until autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  23 26.25   -1 58.9   2.539   2.102    53   12.7  20:56 ( 94,  9)  
Jan. 26  23 39.94   -0 47.9   2.585   2.086    49   12.6  20:49 ( 94,  6)  

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 11.9 mag (Dec. 31, 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)  
Jan. 19   6 40.53  -21 22.1   2.523   3.280   133   12.7  22:45 (180, 76)  
Jan. 26   6 26.56  -21 55.9   2.612   3.321   129   12.9  22:04 (180, 77)  

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.3 mag (Jan. 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  15 44.27   41 21.4   3.626   3.688    85   13.1   3:24 (224, -8)  
Jan. 26  15 50.49   41 49.9   3.626   3.736    88   13.2   3:34 (220, -4)  

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Now it is 13.9 mag (Dec. 28, Chris Wyatt). It will brighten up to 10-11 mag in autumn. It will be unobservable temporarily in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   1  2.45  -29 17.0   4.469   4.195    67   13.5  20:56 ( 80, 42)  
Jan. 26   1  3.31  -27 23.8   4.517   4.153    62   13.5  20:49 ( 80, 37)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Now it is bright as 12.9 mag (Jan. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  23  9.21    0 59.9   6.341   5.767    50   13.7  20:56 ( 94,  3)  
Jan. 26  23 13.63    1 26.5   6.424   5.767    44   13.7  20:49 ( 92,  0)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Now it is 13.8 mag (Jan. 12, Chris Wyatt). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 39.65   -3 51.2   0.928   1.667   121   13.8   3:24 (192, 58)  
Jan. 26  11 44.14   -4 51.4   0.897   1.684   126   13.9   3:25 (180, 60)  

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 12.6 mag (Jan. 21, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 38.27   29  7.3   1.356   2.131   130   14.1   3:24 (186, 26)  
Jan. 26  11 40.29   29 44.9   1.308   2.128   135   14.0   3:22 (180, 25)  

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 13.9 mag (Jan. 19, Martin Masek). It stays 13-14 mag until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is appearing in the morning sky. It will appear in late January also in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  17 20.27  -13 28.7   3.955   3.252    39   14.1   3:24 (282,  7)  
Jan. 26  17 23.77  -14 40.1   3.874   3.253    44   14.1   3:34 (278, 14)  

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Jan. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading slowly after this. 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)  
Jan. 19  11 11.01   42  0.7   3.983   4.729   134   14.4   3:20 (180, 13)  
Jan. 26  10 59.11   42 49.6   3.962   4.765   140   14.4   2:41 (180, 12)  

* (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.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  13 14.85   80 38.9   1.544   2.120   112   14.5   3:24 (185,-27)  
Jan. 26  12 48.01   81 11.6   1.568   2.147   112   14.6   3:34 (182,-26)  

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is bright as 14.8 mag (Dec. 12, Kunihiro Shima). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 14.05  -47 56.9   3.091   3.390    99   14.8   3:23 (  0, 77)  
Jan. 26  11  4.86  -50 32.1   3.006   3.363   102   14.7   2:47 (  0, 74)  

* 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)  
Jan. 19  20 43.80  -62 44.5   4.587   3.923    42   14.9  20:56 ( 25, 18)  
Jan. 26  21  3.22  -61 34.7   4.583   3.922    43   14.9  20:49 ( 25, 17)  

* C/2018 A3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Jan. 21, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Jan. 19   7 43.45   76 33.5   2.625   3.277   123   15.3  23:44 (180,-22)  
Jan. 26   6 26.04   76 14.1   2.668   3.279   120   15.3  22:01 (180,-21)  

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Jan. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 7-8 mag in 2020. It will be unobservable temporarily in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   3  0.68   -2 41.2   5.201   5.503   102   15.5  20:56 (136, 49)  
Jan. 26   2 59.42   -1 59.6   5.250   5.442    95   15.5  20:49 (130, 45)  

* 240P/NEAT

Although it was faint as 16-17 mag in November, it brightened up to 14.7 mag in December (Dec. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Now it is 15.5 mag (Jan. 21, Sandor Szabo). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 25.83   37 33.0   2.050   2.814   132   15.5   3:24 (182, 18)  
Jan. 26  11 23.72   38 49.4   2.036   2.844   137   15.7   3:05 (180, 16)  

* 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 13.8 mag (Jan. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 19   6  8.54  -32  0.1   1.257   1.954   120   15.6  22:14 (180, 87)  
Jan. 26   6  5.77  -29 34.7   1.335   2.018   120   16.0  21:44 (180, 84)  

* 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). It stays observable in good condition after this while the comet will be fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  16 16.71  -18 41.0   3.439   2.950    52   16.4   3:24 (278, 22)  
Jan. 26  16 20.79  -17 52.2   3.419   3.033    59   16.5   3:34 (273, 29)  

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Jan. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 58.04   72 46.8   7.935   8.449   118   16.6   3:24 (183,-18)  
Jan. 26  11 55.76   73 13.1   7.929   8.448   118   16.6   3:34 (180,-18)  

* 171P/Spahr

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 19   4 22.27   14 41.8   0.992   1.773   127   16.7  20:56 (172, 40)  
Jan. 26   4 25.91   17 27.9   1.046   1.776   122   16.8  20:49 (167, 36)  

* C/2018 W2 ( Africano )

It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time while the comet is brightening. In the Southern Hemisphere, it it not observable until mid September.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  14  2.85   62  3.6   2.848   3.287   107   16.9   3:24 (199,-13)  
Jan. 26  14 12.40   65 35.9   2.757   3.217   109   16.8   3:34 (194,-14)  

* 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 16.4 mag (Jan. 3, 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)  
Jan. 19   5 28.45   72 58.5   5.570   6.166   123   16.8  21:34 (180,-18)  
Jan. 26   5  8.76   72 37.7   5.651   6.192   119   16.8  20:49 (180,-18)  

* P/2014 C1 ( TOTAS )

First return of a new periodic comet discovered in 2014. It has not been recovered yet. Now it is not detected, fainter than 20.0 mag (Dec. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 19  10 29.47    6 52.3   1.065   1.936   141   17.0   2:39 (180, 48)  
Jan. 26  10 29.94    6 56.1   0.997   1.908   148   16.8   2:12 (180, 48)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Now it is 17.0 mag (Dec. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition until February. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   8 14.44   23 25.6   1.559   2.541   175   16.8   0:24 (180, 32)  
Jan. 26   8  8.51   23 11.1   1.581   2.561   173   16.9  23:46 (180, 32)  

* 164P/Christensen

Now it is 17.0 mag (Jan. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 19.84   25 51.5   1.869   2.653   134   17.1   3:24 (181, 29)  
Jan. 26  11 17.03   27  3.5   1.855   2.693   141   17.1   2:59 (180, 28)  

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Fading slowly. It stays observable at 17 mag in good condition until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  11 43.66    6 30.1   9.353   9.944   124   17.2   3:24 (191, 48)  
Jan. 26  11 43.31    6 45.3   9.271   9.955   131   17.2   3:25 (180, 48)  

* 247P/LINEAR

Now it is 17.8 mag (Jan. 5, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). 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)  
Jan. 19  11 24.08   36 47.2   0.734   1.580   133   17.2   3:24 (182, 18)  
Jan. 26  11 26.00   37 32.5   0.736   1.607   137   17.3   3:07 (180, 18)  

* C/2018 F4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Jan. 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 16 mag for a long time from 2019 to 2020. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It is hardly observable in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  14 16.97  -39  4.8   4.653   4.490    74   17.4   3:24 (290, 54)  
Jan. 26  14 17.96  -40 42.0   4.511   4.451    80   17.3   3:34 (292, 61)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.5 mag (Jan. 10, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 17 mag in good condition in 2019. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  15 25.88  -14 48.2   4.040   3.741    65   17.3   3:24 (267, 31)  
Jan. 26  15 32.03  -15 10.1   3.950   3.748    71   17.3   3:34 (263, 37)  

* 239P/LINEAR

Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 31, 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)  
Jan. 19   8 10.65    0  5.6   0.694   1.652   159   17.4   0:20 (180, 55)  
Jan. 26   8  8.25   -1  4.4   0.700   1.658   159   17.4  23:46 (180, 56)  

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.3 mag (Jan. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to be observable at 5-6 mag for a long time from 2022 to 2023. It will be observable in good condition for a long time in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the highlight from 2022 summer to 2023 summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  17 56.26   51 50.3  12.605  12.427    77   17.4   3:24 (226,-33)  
Jan. 26  17 59.37   52  1.6  12.545  12.382    78   17.4   3:34 (224,-28)  

* 361P/2017 S4 ( Spacewatch )

Now it is 16.7 mag (Jan. 5, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable in good condition at 16-17 mag in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   6 59.75    2 35.4   2.159   3.086   156   17.5  23:05 (180, 52)  
Jan. 26   6 55.87    2 58.0   2.203   3.106   151   17.6  22:34 (180, 52)  

* C/2015 XY1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Dec. 31, 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)  
Jan. 19   4 33.19    4  8.3   7.464   8.091   126   17.5  20:56 (174, 51)  
Jan. 26   4 29.46    4  1.8   7.573   8.099   119   17.6  20:49 (164, 50)  

* 159P/LONEOS

Now it is 16.9 mag (Dec. 31, 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)  
Jan. 19   5 52.42   43 58.2   3.018   3.860   144   17.6  21:58 (180, 11)  
Jan. 26   5 48.74   43 57.0   3.087   3.873   137   17.7  21:27 (180, 11)  

* 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 19.7 mag (Dec. 29, Kunihiro Shima). It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   5 11.27   34 55.7   2.197   3.018   139   17.7  21:17 (180, 20)  
Jan. 26   5  9.17   34 58.2   2.256   3.012   132   17.7  20:49 (180, 20)  

* 373P/2018 R2 ( Rinner )

Now it is 17.6 mag (Dec. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16 mag in 2011. 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)  
Jan. 19   2 48.34   11 34.9   1.932   2.381   104   17.7  20:56 (143, 35)  
Jan. 26   2 54.49   11 36.7   2.005   2.370    99   17.8  20:49 (139, 33)  

* C/2018 X2 ( Fitzsimmons )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Jan. 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag from spring to summer. But it is hardly observable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays locating extremely low.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   3 38.78   50  0.5   2.243   2.877   121   17.8  20:56 (169,  4)  
Jan. 26   3 40.63   49  3.5   2.260   2.826   115   17.8  20:49 (165,  4)  

* 369P/2018 P1 ( Hill )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 17.5 mag in 2010. Now it is 17.1 mag (Dec. 31, 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)  
Jan. 19   5 42.35   37 37.0   1.256   2.140   145   17.8  21:49 (180, 17)  
Jan. 26   5 42.37   37 28.7   1.325   2.165   138   18.0  21:21 (180, 18)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2

Now it is 17.9 mag (Dec. 31, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 18 mag in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   6 38.62   22  4.7   2.549   3.492   160   17.9  22:44 (180, 33)  
Jan. 26   6 34.44   22 16.6   2.584   3.487   152   17.9  22:13 (180, 33)  

* C/2018 W1 ( Catalina )

Now it is 18.8 mag (Jan. 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 16 mag in spring. But the condition is bad. In the Northern Hemisphre, it is observable only until March. It stays low even in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   1 30.30   10 49.0   1.863   2.054    86   18.0  20:56 (125, 24)  
Jan. 26   1 33.75    8  2.3   1.921   1.988    79   17.9  20:49 (119, 23)  

* 375P/2018 T1 ( Hill )

Now it is 17.9 mag (Jan. 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 18 mag in good condition from January to February. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  10 50.62   32 44.0   1.052   1.917   140   17.9   3:00 (180, 22)  
Jan. 26  10 47.82   32 13.2   1.029   1.929   146   17.9   2:30 (180, 23)  

* C/2016 X1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Jan. 6, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 18 mag in winter.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19   7 16.55    3 57.7   6.657   7.590   160   17.9  23:22 (180, 51)  
Jan. 26   7 14.34    3 54.2   6.677   7.586   155   17.9  22:52 (180, 51)  

* (6478) Gault

Main-belt asteroid. But it shows a straight tail like a comet. Now it is 17.2 mag (Jan. 12, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable in excellent condition until early summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 19  10 47.88  -12 41.6   1.723   2.449   127   18.5   2:57 (180, 68)  
Jan. 26  10 45.96  -12 28.0   1.643   2.435   134   18.3   2:28 (180, 68)  

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