Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2019 May 18: South)

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 Updated on May 20, 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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* 78P/Gehrels 2

Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky again at 13-14 mag in August. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   3 53.31   18  1.7   3.055   2.048     4   12.7  18:31 (102,-14)  
May  25   4 10.39   18 39.7   3.070   2.059     2   12.7  18:28 (102,-16)

* C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )

Appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It will appear in the morning sky in late June in the Northern Hemisphere. It will brighten up to 10.5 mag and it will be observable in good condition from autumn to winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   2  7.38   -0 52.6   4.399   3.558    29   12.7   5:21 (263, 12)  
May  25   2 12.19    0 34.6   4.319   3.527    34   12.7   5:25 (258, 16)

* C/2016 M1 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened up to 7.7 mag in June in 2018 (June 19, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still bright as 12.9 mag (May 6, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable 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)  
May  18   5 29.75  -35 21.4   4.159   3.773    60   13.1  18:31 ( 67, 33)  
May  25   5 37.80  -34  1.0   4.249   3.829    59   13.2  18:28 ( 67, 30)

* C/2017 M4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 12.8 mag (May 8, Chris Wyatt). It stays 13-14 mag until summer. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be getting lower gradually, and it will be unobservable in July. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  15 48.33  -40 45.9   2.484   3.445   158   13.3   0:10 (  0, 84)  
May  25  15 28.76  -41 50.3   2.510   3.468   157   13.4  23:16 (  0, 83)

* C/2018 Y1 ( Iwamoto )

It approached to Earth down to 0.3 a.u. in mid February, and brightened up to 5.5 mag (Feb. 13, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 13.0 mag (Apr. 24, M. Lehky). Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky in July in the Northern Hemisphere, or in August in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   4 31.93   34 15.6   2.860   1.934    19   13.6  18:31 (121,-16)  
May  25   4 34.27   34 33.5   2.964   2.005    15   13.9  18:28 (119,-20)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Appearing in the morning sky. Now it is bright as 13.7 mag (May 8, Chris Wyatt). 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0 33.85   10 55.3   6.441   5.768    44   13.8   5:21 (238, 22)  
May  25   0 38.08   11 30.5   6.362   5.768    50   13.7   5:25 (232, 26)

* C/2018 A6 ( Gibbs )

Now it is bright as 13.5 mag (May 7, Thomas Lehmann). It stays 13 mag for a long time in 2019. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in excellent condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observasble until summer in 2020. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   7 24.55  -52 59.5   2.934   3.060    87   13.8  18:31 ( 45, 55)  
May  25   7 25.31  -52 31.2   2.963   3.051    85   13.8  18:28 ( 47, 52)

* C/2018 R3 ( Lemmon )

Now it is bright as 13.4 mag (May 10, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It brightens up to 13-14 mag from May to June. However, it locates very low in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   2 47.93   58 32.7   1.927   1.326    40   14.2   5:21 (216,-28)  
May  25   3 48.90   59 57.4   1.922   1.306    39   14.1   5:25 (216,-32)

* C/2017 T2 ( PanSTARRS )

It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in 2020. Now it is not observable. It will appear in the morning sky in July. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   3 47.83   11  0.6   5.434   4.437     8   14.3  18:31 ( 96,-11)  
May  25   3 53.61   11 47.3   5.368   4.372     9   14.2   5:25 (263,-11)

* 123P/West-Hartley

Now it is 13.4 mag (May 6, Chris Wyatt). It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  11 13.35   18 30.8   1.787   2.270   105   14.3  19:31 (180, 37)  
May  25  11 19.07   16 42.9   1.877   2.290   100   14.5  19:09 (180, 38)

* C/2018 W2 ( Africano )

It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag in autumn. Now it is 14.2 mag (May 12, Thomas Lehmann). 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)  
May  18   3 54.28   66 48.9   2.651   2.105    47   14.8  18:31 (152,-34)  
May  25   4  1.06   65 32.9   2.631   2.040    44   14.7   5:25 (210,-34)

* C/2017 B3 ( LINEAR )

Now it is 14.4 mag (May 8, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0 10.49  -45 49.7   4.072   4.025    80   14.8   5:21 (302, 53)  
May  25   0 15.95  -45 27.5   4.014   4.039    84   14.8   5:25 (301, 58)

* C/2019 D1 ( Flewelling )

Now it is 14.8 mag (May 10, Katsumi Yoshimoto). It brightens up to 15 mag from May to June, and it will be observable in good condition. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 22.98   25 36.4   1.571   1.580    71   15.0   5:21 (200, 26)  
May  25  22 41.92   28 48.7   1.567   1.588    72   15.0   5:25 (196, 24)

* C/2016 N6 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.2 mag (May 7, Thomas Lehmann). It will be fading after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time until it fades out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will not be observable after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   5 49.26  -20  4.4   4.617   4.059    51   15.3  18:31 ( 86, 31)  
May  25   5 53.07  -20 21.8   4.702   4.108    48   15.5  18:28 ( 83, 27)

* C/2016 R2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 15.9 mag (May 4, 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 stays extremely low for a while. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  15  7.71   46 36.3   4.045   4.546   113   15.4  23:23 (180,  9)  
May  25  15  1.43   45 41.8   4.123   4.598   111   15.5  22:50 (180,  9)

* C/2015 O1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.1 mag (Apr. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading slowly after this. It will be getting lower gradually after this, and it will be unobservable in June. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   8 44.06   35 57.7   5.676   5.385    68   15.8  18:31 (161, 16)  
May  25   8 44.05   35  8.7   5.826   5.426    62   15.9  18:28 (156, 15)

* 68P/Klemola

Now it is 16.4 mag (May 2, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten rapidly after this. It will be observable at 13.5 mag in good condition in autumn. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17 50.02   -6  4.8   1.576   2.474   145   16.1   2:10 (180, 61)  
May  25  17 47.93   -5 21.1   1.497   2.431   150   15.8   1:41 (180, 60)

* C/2018 F4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (May 10, Mount John Observatory, Lake Tekapo). 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)  
May  18  11 34.77  -57 29.0   3.268   3.899   121   16.0  19:51 (  0, 67)  
May  25  11 23.02  -56 51.7   3.291   3.870   117   16.0  19:12 (  0, 68)

* (944) Hidalgo

It brightened up to 14 mag from autumn to winter in 2018. Now it is fading. It is observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates extremely low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  10  4.70   45 16.0   2.711   2.742    81   16.2  18:31 (179, 10)  
May  25  10 12.28   42 46.8   2.826   2.785    77   16.3  18:28 (175, 12)

* A/2017 U7

Asteroid, but it brightened rapidly. Now it is 16.9 mag (Mar. 27, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). 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)  
May  18  22 24.49  -37 23.3   6.339   6.466    92   16.3   5:21 (284, 73)  
May  25  22 21.90  -37 50.6   6.217   6.460    99   16.3   5:25 (289, 80)

* C/2018 KJ3 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Mar. 31, iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring). It will brighten up to 16.5 mag in June. It is observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17 54.26  -36 55.7   2.896   3.772   145   16.6   2:15 (  0, 88)  
May  25  17 37.37  -38 20.0   2.822   3.755   153   16.5   1:31 (  0, 87)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

It brightened up to 13.2 mag from December to March (Dec. 30, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.6 mag (May 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in June. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  11 35.30   -2 36.3   1.518   2.192   118   16.7  19:53 (180, 58)  
May  25  11 41.29   -2 54.8   1.625   2.231   113   17.1  19:31 (180, 58)

* C/2010 U3 ( Boattini )

Now it is 17.3 mag (May 4, 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)  
May  18  10 48.46   68 33.3   8.606   8.459    78   16.8  19:06 (180,-13)  
May  25  10 50.28   67 41.4   8.667   8.461    75   16.8  18:40 (180,-13)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Now it is 16.4 mag (May 7, 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)  
May  18  15 33.27  -15 43.3   2.866   3.876   176   16.9  23:49 (180, 71)  
May  25  15 28.63  -15 35.8   2.883   3.885   169   16.9  23:17 (180, 71)

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (May 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to be observable at 5-6 mag for a long time from 2022 to 2023. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the highlight from 2022 summer to 2023 summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays unobservable for a while. But it will be observable in good condition at the highlight. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17 59.77   58 17.0  11.492  11.657    96   17.0   2:19 (180, -3)  
May  25  17 55.92   58 29.9  11.437  11.611    97   16.9   1:48 (180, -3)

* C/2019 J2 ( Palomar )

Now it is 16.8 mag (May 11, M. Suzuki, B. Lutkenhoner). It will brighten up to 16 mag from June to August, and it will be observable in excellent condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18   0 14.98   49 52.4   2.385   1.902    50   17.2   5:21 (209, -5)  
May  25   0 16.76   54 12.8   2.269   1.866    54   17.0   5:25 (203, -6)

* 260P/McNaught

Now it is 18.7 mag (May 7, Martin Masek). It will brighten rapidly up to 11.5 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be extremely low from autumn to winter. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  22 37.04  -22 48.3   1.686   1.880    84   17.5   5:21 (246, 66)  
May  25  22 52.71  -21 11.5   1.584   1.835    87   17.2   5:25 (237, 68)

* 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. It has already faded down to 17.6 mag (Apr. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays 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)  
May  18  10 50.66   22 45.9   1.719   2.118    98   17.4  19:08 (180, 32)  
May  25  10 59.20   21  5.1   1.849   2.176    94   17.9  18:49 (180, 34)

* C/2014 B1 ( Schwartz )

Now it is 17.2 mag (May 4, 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)  
May  18  11 27.13   10 53.1   9.730  10.144   111   17.5  19:44 (180, 44)  
May  25  11 27.41   10 55.6   9.851  10.157   104   17.6  19:17 (180, 44)

* 186P/Garradd

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from spring to summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at all. It has not been observed since last September. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  17  0.56  -57 14.5   3.575   4.390   139   17.7   1:22 (  0, 68)  
May  25  16 54.29  -57 19.4   3.544   4.390   142   17.7   0:48 (  0, 68)

* C/2019 F1 ( ATLAS-Africano )

Now it is 17.5 mag (May 3, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 13.5 mag in 2021, and it will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at the highlight. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 48.71    8  9.0   6.505   7.325   141   17.7  22:05 (180, 47)  
May  25  13 45.66    7 56.0   6.525   7.280   135   17.7  21:35 (180, 47)

* C/2019 J1 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 17.4 mag (May 7, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 17.5 mag from June to July. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  20 11.59  -20 46.0   1.902   2.515   116   17.9   4:31 (180, 76)  
May  25  20 16.65  -21 55.7   1.844   2.529   121   17.9   4:09 (180, 77)

* 149P/Mueller 4

Now it is 18.0 mag (Apr. 27, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It brightens up to 18 mag and it is observable in good condition from April to June. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  13 54.08   30  0.5   1.992   2.699   124   17.9  22:11 (180, 25)  
May  25  13 52.46   29 29.3   2.052   2.710   120   17.9  21:41 (180, 26)

* P/2018 X1 ( LONEOS )

First return of a new periodic comet which brightened up to 16.5 mag in 2005. Now it is 17.6 mag (May 9, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this. 

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
May  18  12 49.88   -7  3.2   2.169   2.995   137   17.9  21:07 (180, 62)  
May  25  12 49.27   -6 57.4   2.217   2.979   130   18.0  20:39 (180, 62)

* (6478) Gault

Main-belt asteroid. But it shows a straight tail like a comet. Now it is 18.1 mag (May 2, 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)  
May  18  10 18.55    8 53.1   1.831   2.193    96   18.2  18:36 (180, 46)  
May  25  10 25.87    9 16.8   1.901   2.178    91   18.3  18:28 (176, 46)

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