Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2023 Feb. 25: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on February 26, 2023
Last week South Next week

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/2022 E3 ( ZTF )

It approached to Earth down to 0.29 a.u. in early February, and it brightened up to 4.5 mag (Feb. 1, Juan Jose Gonzalez). Now it is fading. But it is still very bright as 8.0 mag (Feb. 23, Osamu Miyazaki). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable until mid April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   4 38.08    4  4.5   0.817   1.311    92    7.7  19:15 ( 26, 56)  
Mar.  4   4 38.92   -0 13.2   1.028   1.372    85    8.4  19:21 ( 35, 49)  

* C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is very bright as 8.2 mag (Feb. 21, Marco Goiato). It is observable at 8 mag for a long time from 2022 to 2023. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   1 46.50  -60 24.7   2.243   1.990    62    8.0  19:15 ( 26,-16)  
Mar.  4   2 18.66  -56 11.8   2.271   2.030    63    8.1  19:21 ( 29,-13)  

* C/2022 A2 ( PanSTARRS )

It brightened very rapidly. Now it is very bright as 10.3 mag (Feb. 23, Osamu Miyazaki). It stays 9-10 mag until March. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable for a long time. But it locates low until spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  22 10.30   52 41.0   1.962   1.738    62    9.8   5:11 (220, 22)  
Mar.  4  22 37.66   50 33.9   2.065   1.745    57    9.9   5:02 (221, 19)  

* C/2020 V2 ( ZTF )

Now it is 10.6 mag (Feb. 23, Osamu Miyazaki). It stays bright as 10 mag for a long time until autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes unobservable temporarily in early April. But it becomes observable again in summer. In the Southern Hemipshere, it stays unobservable until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   1 43.18   43 33.7   2.553   2.378    68    9.8  19:15 (119, 45)  
Mar.  4   1 48.33   40 41.0   2.655   2.352    61    9.8  19:21 (117, 40)  

* C/2020 K1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.1 mag (Feb. 8, T. Prystavski). It is expected to brighten up to 10 mag from spring to summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2024 autumn.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  19 27.90  -35  4.8   3.718   3.156    48   11.3   5:11 (315,  0)  
Mar.  4  19 36.17  -36 38.8   3.611   3.141    54   11.2   5:02 (317,  1)  

* C/2019 L3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 8.3 mag in last winter (Jan. 6, 2022, Toshiyuki Takahashi). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 11.9 mag still now (Feb. 16, Chris Wyatt). 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)  
Feb. 25   9 20.07  -35 14.5   4.355   5.075   132   11.8  22:59 (  0, 20)  
Mar.  4   9 15.54  -35  7.9   4.402   5.117   131   11.9  22:27 (  0, 20)  

* C/2019 U5 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 12.1 mag (Feb. 21, Osamu Miyazaki). It stays 12 mag until summer. It stays observable in good condition for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13  2.90   -0  7.0   2.814   3.636   140   11.9   2:47 (  0, 55)  
Mar.  4  12 50.18   -0 27.4   2.734   3.632   150   11.8   2:07 (  0, 54)  

* 81P/Wild 2

Now it is 12.1 mag (Feb. 20, Osamu Miyazaki). It stays 11-12 mag until spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  16 46.85  -18 45.6   1.561   1.745    83   12.0   5:11 (338, 33)  
Mar.  4  17  0.24  -18 57.0   1.524   1.773    86   12.1   5:02 (339, 33)  

* C/2022 U2 ( ATLAS )

It brightened very rapidly up to 9.6 mag in late January (Jan. 25, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is still bright as 12.5 mag (Feb. 23, Osamu Miyazaki). It stays observable in good condition for a long time. But it will be fading after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   5 51.11   18 34.8   0.769   1.463   112   12.1  19:33 (  0, 73)  
Mar.  4   6  5.23   12 25.0   0.869   1.508   108   12.7  19:21 (  1, 67)  

* 96P/Machholz 1

It approached to Sun down to 0.1 a.u. on Jan. 31. Appearing in the morning sky. It was bright as 7.0-7.5 mag in early February (Feb. 5, Michael Jager). Now it is fading rapidly. It has already faded down to 12.1 mag (Feb. 20, M. G. J. Breukers, N. Paul). It stays observable after this while the comet will be fading.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  20 11.89   -6 53.6   1.399   0.806    34   12.3   5:11 (287, 11)  
Mar.  4  20 14.45   -7 13.2   1.472   0.960    40   13.3   5:02 (290, 14)  

* C/2023 A2 ( SWAN )

Bright new comet. Now it is 12.7 mag (Feb. 13, M. Mattiazzo). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  20 26.23  -25 38.4   1.815   1.132    33   12.8   5:11 (299, -3)  
Mar.  4  20 42.14  -29 57.0   1.793   1.201    39   13.1   5:02 (303, -5)  

* C/2019 T4 ( ATLAS )

Now it is bright as 12.9 mag (Feb. 24, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 13 mag until spring. It stays observable in good condition for a while after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  15 41.22    6 23.9   4.434   4.757   103   12.9   5:11 (353, 61)  
Mar.  4  15 43.07    7 38.5   4.367   4.783   109   12.9   4:58 (  0, 63)  

* 71P/Clark

It brightens up to 13 mag in winter. But the condition is bad. Appearing in the morning sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It is not observable until May in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  20 37.59  -23 28.2   2.395   1.620    30   13.1   5:11 (296, -4)  
Mar.  4  20 58.94  -22 28.4   2.382   1.634    32   13.1   5:02 (295, -3)  

* 237P/LINEAR

Now it is 14.4 mag (Feb. 17, Jean-Claude Merlin). It will brighten very rapidly. It is expected to be observable at 11 mag in excellent condition from spring to summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  17 39.34  -24 55.7   2.194   2.084    70   13.6   5:11 (328, 22)  
Mar.  4  17 54.67  -24 25.1   2.107   2.068    74   13.3   5:02 (328, 23)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

It brightened in major outburst in late November. Now it is still bright as 11.6 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   6 16.79   28 36.4   5.550   6.075   117   13.6  19:58 (  0, 84)  
Mar.  4   6 16.60   28 26.6   5.654   6.077   110   13.6  19:30 (  0, 83)  

* C/2022 P1 ( NEOWISE )

Now it is bright as 11.4 mag (Dec. 14, Jose Guilherme de S. Aguiar). It will be fading after this. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time, although it became unobservable temporarily from December to January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until spring when it fades down to 15 mag.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  19 16.38  -39 44.5   2.389   1.954    52   13.6   5:11 (320, -1)  
Mar.  4  19 10.95  -40 23.7   2.300   2.004    60   13.9   5:02 (324,  1)  

* C/2021 Y1 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 13.8 mag (Feb. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). The brightness evolution is slower than originally predicted. It stays 14 mag until summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will too low to observe in late March. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   3 22.17  -15 55.9   2.283   2.176    71   13.7  19:15 ( 37, 30)  
Mar.  4   3 26.92  -16 48.2   2.339   2.147    66   13.7  19:21 ( 43, 26)  

* 118P/Shoemaker-Levy 4

Now it is 13.3 mag (Feb. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this. It stays observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   8 22.96   18 21.1   1.080   1.989   147   13.7  22:03 (  0, 73)  
Mar.  4   8 23.76   19 14.6   1.143   2.012   140   14.0  21:37 (  0, 74)  

* C/2021 T4 ( Lemmon )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Feb. 8, A. Diepvens). It is expected to brighten up to 8 mag in July. It will be unobservable soon. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in excellent condition at the high light. In the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes very low at the high lihght.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   0 22.40  -12 11.9   3.389   2.554    27   14.2  19:15 ( 73,  3)  
Mar.  4   0 23.51  -11 54.3   3.376   2.485    22   14.1  19:21 ( 78, -4)  

* 77P/Longmore

Now it is 14.9 mag (Feb. 10, ATLAS South Africa). It will brighten rapidly up to 14 mag and will be observable in excellent condition in spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition in winter, but it becomes somewhat low in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  14 34.01  -17 57.0   1.780   2.362   113   14.6   4:17 (  0, 37)  
Mar.  4  14 35.55  -19 31.4   1.699   2.357   120   14.5   3:51 (  0, 35)  

* C/2021 X1 ( Maury-Attard )

Now it is 14.1 mag (Feb. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 14 mag in 2023. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time, although it becomes unobservable temporarily from April to May. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 38.38  -10 49.0   3.716   3.349    60   14.6  19:15 ( 51, 28)  
Mar.  4   2 36.10   -9 27.7   3.812   3.333    54   14.6  19:21 ( 59, 23)  

* C/2021 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.9 mag (Feb. 18, ATLAS South Africa). It is expected to brighten up to 7 mag in early 2024. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   5 13.38  -34 38.2   4.390   4.556    93   14.8  19:15 (  5, 20)  
Mar.  4   5 13.20  -33 42.6   4.384   4.489    89   14.7  19:21 ( 12, 20)  

* C/2021 G2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.5 mag (Feb. 13, ATLAS Chile). It will brighten up to 13 mag from 2024 to 2025. It is observable in excllent 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)  
Feb. 25   8 51.05  -38 41.7   5.891   6.530   126   14.9  22:31 (  0, 16)  
Mar.  4   8 48.66  -38 12.8   5.864   6.498   126   14.9  22:01 (  0, 17)  

* C/2020 R7 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Feb. 24, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). The brightness evolution is slower than originally expected. It stays 14-15 mag for a long time. It stays observable in good condition for a while.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18  8.81    0  4.9   3.644   3.361    65   15.0   5:11 (304, 39)  
Mar.  4  18  9.43    2  7.8   3.563   3.394    72   14.9   5:02 (307, 43)  

* C/2021 E3 ( ZTF )

It brightened up to 9.3 mag in early summer in 2022 (June 5, Chris Wyatt). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 15.7 mag (Feb. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Southen Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   6 53.71  -24  2.8   2.974   3.541   117   15.3  20:33 (  0, 31)  
Mar.  4   6 48.48  -21 18.9   3.100   3.605   113   15.5  20:01 (  0, 34)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1

Now it is 14.8 mag (Dec. 8, ATLAS Chile). Now it is not observable. It will become observable again in late March in the Southern Hemisphere, or in late May in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  22 17.74  -17 45.5   4.218   3.243     8   15.3   5:11 (278,-20)  
Mar.  4  22 27.98  -16 49.7   4.217   3.255    12   15.4   5:02 (278,-18)  

* C/2022 E2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.4 mag (Feb. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 12-13 mag from 2024 to 2025.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   9 39.26  -15 47.1   5.167   6.057   151   15.9  23:19 (  0, 39)  
Mar.  4   9 32.80  -14 44.7   5.134   6.014   150   15.8  22:45 (  0, 40)  

* C/2020 S4 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 14.6 mag (Feb. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 15-16 mag and observable in good condition until spring. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   9 24.06   27 28.9   2.444   3.373   156   15.9  23:04 (  0, 82)  
Mar.  4   9 22.38   28  8.0   2.487   3.376   149   16.0  22:35 (  0, 83)  

* C/2022 L2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is expected to brighten up to 11.5 mag in 2024 spring. It stays observable in good condition for a long time. Appearing in the morning sky also in the Southern Hemisphere. At the high light, it will be observable in excellent condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but it will be low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18 36.37   15 36.0   4.990   4.627    63   16.1   5:11 (282, 44)  
Mar.  4  18 37.17   16  3.1   4.852   4.576    68   16.0   5:02 (285, 48)  

* 119P/Parker-Hartley

Now it is 14.7 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in spring. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   7 25.70   25 38.3   1.906   2.684   133   16.1  21:06 (  0, 81)  
Mar.  4   7 26.22   25 45.8   1.997   2.706   126   16.3  20:39 (  0, 81)  

* C/2022 A3 ( Lemmon-ATLAS )

Now it is 15.6 mag (Feb. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 16 mag for a long time from early 2023 to early 2024. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until 2023 spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   9 13.91   -5 36.8   3.243   4.165   155   16.3  22:53 (  0, 49)  
Mar.  4   9  4.48   -6  6.2   3.255   4.138   149   16.2  22:16 (  0, 49)  

* C/2018 U1 ( Lemmon )

It was observed at 15 mag from 2021 to 2022. Now it is fading. Now it is 16.3 mag (Feb. 11, J.-C. Merlin, D. De Martin). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemiphere, it is not observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  15  1.22  -69 11.2   6.105   6.165    88   16.3   4:45 (  0,-14)  
Mar.  4  14 51.35  -70 21.5   6.053   6.195    93   16.3   4:08 (  0,-15)  

* 263P/Gibbs

Now it is 16.4 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition from January to March. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13 24.07   30 24.1   0.365   1.273   134   16.4   3:07 (  0, 85)  
Mar.  4  13 32.10   31  0.6   0.382   1.295   136   16.4   2:47 (  0, 86)  

* C/2020 Y2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 15.8 mag (Feb. 7, ATLAS Chile). It was expected to brighten up to 13 mag in 2022 spring. But actually, it was fainter than originally expected. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time, although it becomes unobservable temporarily from April to May. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable in March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 14.86  -22 57.2   4.423   3.943    55   16.4  19:15 ( 47, 15)  
Mar.  4   2 16.60  -21  8.4   4.541   3.982    50   16.5  19:21 ( 54, 12)  

* 199P/Shoemaker 4

Appearing in the morning sky. It stays observable at 14-15 mag from spring to autumn. It locates somewhat low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  17 43.61  -13 18.7   3.326   3.132    70   16.5   5:11 (320, 32)  
Mar.  4  17 51.70  -13 37.6   3.218   3.115    75   16.4   5:02 (323, 33)  

* 94P/Russell 4

Now it is 16.6 mag (Feb. 21, ATLAS Chile). It is observable at 16.5 mag in good condition in spring. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   8 15.17   28 57.1   1.436   2.303   142   16.5  21:55 (  0, 84)  
Mar.  4   8 13.33   28 55.1   1.476   2.292   135   16.5  21:26 (  0, 84)  

* C/2022 W3 ( Leonard )

Now it is 16.8 mag (Feb. 11, Giuseppe Pappa). It will brighten up to 13 mag in summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until August.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   4 37.32   78 48.2   1.751   2.149    99   16.5  19:15 (176, 46)  
Mar.  4   3 36.43   76 31.7   1.796   2.081    91   16.5  19:21 (168, 45)  

* P/2023 B1 ( PanSTARRS )

Now it is 16.2 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It moves along an almost circular orbit. It seems to be bright temporarily in outburst.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  10 54.71   25 16.3   5.189   6.143   163   16.5   0:39 (  0, 80)  
Mar.  4  10 51.60   25 35.1   5.196   6.142   161   16.5   0:08 (  0, 80)  

* 204P/LINEAR-NEAT

It brightened rapidly. Now it is 16.7 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  10  0.40   21 13.6   1.056   2.031   166   16.5  23:40 (  0, 76)  
Mar.  4   9 56.76   21 45.0   1.100   2.057   159   16.7  23:09 (  0, 77)  

* 116P/Wild 4

It brightened up to 12.7 mag in last year (Feb. 27, 2022, Jose Guilherme de S. Aguiar). Now it is fading. Appearing in the morning sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable until summer when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. It locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18 48.80  -25 42.5   3.102   2.659    54   16.6   5:11 (315, 13)  
Mar.  4  18 59.90  -25 35.4   3.049   2.683    59   16.6   5:02 (316, 14)  

* 364P/PanSTARRS

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten very rapidly up to 11.5 mag in April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable from mid April to mid June.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13 31.94   21 58.2   0.524   1.409   134   17.1   3:15 (  0, 77)  
Mar.  4  13 48.49   23 35.3   0.433   1.335   135   16.6   3:03 (  0, 78)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach

It brightened up to 14.6 mag in autumn (Oct. 19, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.6 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 57.99   11  2.7   2.474   2.323    69   16.7  19:15 ( 66, 47)  
Mar.  4   3  9.90   12  2.7   2.571   2.344    65   16.9  19:21 ( 72, 44)  

* P/2022 L3 ( ATLAS )

It brightened up to 14.1 mag in autumn (Nov. 14, Thomas Lehmann). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 16.3 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition for a while. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   3  3.40   33 29.9   2.655   2.627    77   16.8  19:15 ( 98, 59)  
Mar.  4   3 14.88   34 12.4   2.759   2.651    73   16.9  19:21 (102, 55)  

* C/2019 E3 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 16.6 mag (Feb. 9, ATLAS Chile). Very far object. It stays 16-17 mag for a long time from 2021 to 2026. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable at all.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   5 10.71  -73 55.0  10.470  10.409    83   16.9  19:15 (  2,-19)  
Mar.  4   5  5.08  -73 15.9  10.458  10.404    84   16.9  19:21 (  5,-19)  

* 408P/2020 M7 ( Novichonok-Gerke )

Now it is 16.4 mag (Feb. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading and getting lower gradually after this. It will be unobservable in April in the Northern Hemisphere, or in May in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   4 14.24    2 14.6   3.455   3.534    86   16.9  19:15 ( 34, 52)  
Mar.  4   4 19.19    2 52.0   3.556   3.540    81   17.0  19:21 ( 44, 49)  

* C/2023 B2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 8, J.-C. Merlin, D. De Martin). It brightens up to 16.5 mag from March to April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in excellent condition. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until the end of March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  11 24.69  -56 33.4   1.108   1.751   113   17.2   1:08 (  0, -2)  
Mar.  4  11 31.84  -55 40.5   1.053   1.745   117   17.0   0:47 (  0, -1)  

* C/2023 A1 ( Leonard )

Now it is 16.5 mag (Feb. 23, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable at 17 mag in excellent condition from February to March. 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)  
Feb. 25  10 34.86   73 28.8   1.195   1.855   115   17.1   0:25 (180, 51)  
Mar.  4   8 58.31   68 25.5   1.189   1.844   115   17.0  22:06 (180, 57)  

* C/2020 F2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.0 mag (Feb. 24, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag and observable in good condition until summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13 20.23    8 20.8   8.152   8.913   138   17.1   3:04 (  0, 63)  
Mar.  4  13 16.49    8 57.3   8.086   8.919   145   17.0   2:32 (  0, 64)  

* 300P/Catalina

It will approach to Sun down to 0.8 a.u. in April, and it will brighten up to 15 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in the extremely low sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable after March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  19 40.36  -20  3.5   1.576   1.076    42   17.7   5:11 (302,  9)  
Mar.  4  20 16.95  -18 51.0   1.535   1.015    40   17.1   5:02 (298,  7)  

* 402P/2020 Q3 ( LINEAR )

It brightened up to 15.3 mag in last winter (Jan. 12, 2022, H. Nohara). Now it is fading. It has already faded down to 17.3 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be observable at 17 mag in good condition in next winter. It locates low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  10  5.07   29 12.4   3.686   4.625   159   17.1  23:45 (  0, 84)  
Mar.  4  10  1.50   29 49.8   3.736   4.644   153   17.2  23:14 (  0, 85)  

* 280P/Larsen

It has not been observed yet in this apparition. In the last apparition, it had faded before the perihelion passage. If it becomes as bright as its last apparition, it will brighten up to 17 mag. It stays observable in good condition for a long time.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  14 13.47    1 12.4   2.180   2.853   123   17.3   3:56 (  0, 56)  
Mar.  4  14 15.35    1 47.1   2.092   2.836   130   17.3   3:31 (  0, 57)  

* C/2020 H6 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 17.1 mag (Feb. 24, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Fading slowly. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18 24.61   48  1.2   6.262   6.147    78   17.3   5:11 (234, 55)  
Mar.  4  18 30.38   49 14.5   6.270   6.180    80   17.4   5:02 (232, 57)  

* C/2014 UN271 ( Bernardinelli-Bernstein )

Now it is 17.8 mag (Feb. 1, ATLAS Chile). Very large comet. It is expected to brighten up to 14 mag in 2031. In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until 2030.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   2 31.32  -58 38.7  18.318  17.951    66   17.4  19:15 ( 22,-11)  
Mar.  4   2 33.00  -58 23.4  18.305  17.926    66   17.3  19:21 ( 26,-14)  

* C/2019 O3 ( Palomar )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 13, D. Buczynski). Fading slowly. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable after this.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  18 28.53   69  9.4   9.710   9.740    88   17.4   5:11 (202, 48)  
Mar.  4  18 30.94   70  4.2   9.731   9.757    88   17.4   5:02 (200, 49)  

* P/2021 N2 ( Fuls )

It brightened very rapidly up to 15.5 mag from last autumn to last winter (Nov. 2, 2021, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). Now it is fading slowly. It has already faded down to 16.7 mag (Feb. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato).

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   6 10.25   10 20.6   4.117   4.638   116   17.5  19:51 (  0, 65)  
Mar.  4   6 11.02   10 33.8   4.234   4.659   109   17.6  19:24 (  0, 66)  

* 244P/Scotti

Now it is 17.6 mag (Feb. 17, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in April. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   5 48.53   25 52.2   3.466   3.939   111   17.6  19:29 (  0, 81)  
Mar.  4   5 50.36   25 47.8   3.568   3.942   104   17.6  19:21 ( 23, 80)  

* C/2021 S4 ( Tsuchinshan )

Now it is 17.4 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays 17 mag for a long time from 2023 to 2024. 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)  
Feb. 25   2 33.94   28 18.6   7.268   6.988    69   17.6  19:15 ( 93, 51)  
Mar.  4   2 37.63   28 29.9   7.356   6.976    63   17.6  19:21 ( 97, 45)  

* C/2022 U4 ( Bok )

Now it is 17.2 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays observable at 17.5 mag in good condition from spring to summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low only in summer.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  13 16.02   45 34.5   2.590   3.308   129   17.8   2:59 (180, 80)  
Mar.  4  13 17.19   47 37.9   2.556   3.275   129   17.7   2:33 (180, 78)  

* 452P/2022 B5 ( Sheppard-Jewitt )

Now it is 18.5 mag (Feb. 21, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It stays observable at 18 mag in good condition from January to March.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  10 19.38   14 46.8   3.205   4.191   173   17.8   0:03 (  0, 70)  
Mar.  4  10 16.04   15 12.2   3.216   4.188   166   17.8  23:28 (  0, 70)  

* C/2022 W2 ( ATLAS )

Now it is 18 mag (Feb. 11, Giuseppe Pappa). It stays 17.5 mag until spring. It is observable in good 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)  
Feb. 25   2 56.59   77 24.7   2.892   3.125    94   17.8  19:15 (169, 44)  
Mar.  4   3 38.78   75 39.5   2.930   3.123    91   17.8  19:21 (168, 46)  

* 211P/Hill

Now it is 17.9 mag (Feb. 20, H. Nohara). It will be fading after this, and it will be fainter than 18 mag in March. It locates somewhat low in the Southern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  11 57.77   24 56.4   1.579   2.506   154   17.8   1:41 (  0, 80)  
Mar.  4  11 53.78   26 14.8   1.584   2.523   156   17.8   1:10 (  0, 81)  

* 99P/Kowal 1

It brightened up to 15.9 mag in 2022 spring (May 5, Toshiyuki Takahashi). In 2023, it is observable at 17.5 mag in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25  16 23.84  -23 42.6   4.793   4.855    87   17.8   5:11 (345, 30)  
Mar.  4  16 26.73  -23 55.0   4.690   4.862    94   17.8   5:02 (349, 30)  

* P/2021 V2 ( Fuls )

Now it is 17.5 mag (Feb. 15, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   8 38.64    0 42.6   2.608   3.505   150   17.8  22:19 (  0, 56)  
Mar.  4   8 36.65    1  7.3   2.654   3.509   144   17.9  21:49 (  0, 56)  

* 65P/Gunn

Now it is 18.0 mag (Feb. 16, Toshihiko Ikemura, Hirohisa Sato). It will brighten up to 15 mag from 2024 to 2025. In 2023, it is observable at 18 mag in spring.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   9 45.24   25 49.8   3.436   4.381   160   17.9  23:25 (  0, 81)  
Mar.  4   9 40.70   26  5.7   3.460   4.369   153   17.9  22:53 (  0, 81)  

* C/2021 C5 ( PanSTARRS )

It was predicted to brighten up to 16 mag in 2023. But actually, it is very faint as 18.2 mag (Feb. 7, J.-C. Merlin, D. De Martin). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition 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)  
Feb. 25  17 34.06  -72  6.6   3.335   3.245    76   17.9   5:11 (350,-19)  
Mar.  4  18  1.57  -72 57.2   3.291   3.248    78   17.9   5:02 (350,-20)  

* C/2022 S3 ( PanSTARRS )

Tiny comet, but it approached to Sun down to 0.8 a.u. in January, and it will approach to Earth down to 0.6 a.u. in March. It was expected to brighten up to 14 mag from January to March. But actually, it became disintegrated before the perihelion passage. Now it is extremely faint as 18.2 mag (Feb. 20, Thomas Lehmann). In the Southern Hemisphere, it stays observable in good condition for a long time. It becomes observable in good condition after this also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1   Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 25   3 40.43  -59  8.7   0.674   1.049    75   18.7  19:15 ( 14, -6)  
Mar.  4   5  2.65  -47 38.9   0.610   1.127    86   18.7  19:21 ( 11,  7)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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