Objects in your sky: Comets
Below is a list of the brightest few comets that are visible at present.
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| Comet name | Mag | Constellation | Separation from Sun |
Trend | Latest observation from BAA Comet Section |
| Comet name | Mag | Constellation | Separation from Sun |
Trend | Latest observation from BAA Comet Section |
| C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto) | 6.4 | Auriga | 120° | Fading (peak at mag 5.0 on 12 Feb 2019) | 4 Feb 2019 |
| 46P/Wirtanen | 11.0 | Ursa Major | 141° | Fading | 4 Feb 2019 |
| 38P/Stephan-Oterma | 11.4 | Lynx | 136° | Fading | 2 Jan 2019 |
| C/2018 L2 (ATLAS) | 11.6 | Pegasus | 46° | Fading | 4 Feb 2019 |
| C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) | 12.0 | Reticulum | 75° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| 69P/Taylor | 12.5 | Taurus | 82° | Fading | None available |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 12.6 | Hercules | 100° | Brightening | 4 Feb 2019 |
| C/2018 N2 (ASASSN) | 13.2 | Cetus | 42° | Brightening | 4 Feb 2019 |
| C/2017 M4 (ATLAS) | 13.3 | Ophiuchus | 70° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.8 on 2 May 2019) | 2 Oct 2018 |
| C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS) | 13.4 | Lepus | 105° | Fading | 4 Feb 2019 |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 13.5 | Libra | 94° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.1 on 4 May 2019) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 123P/West-Hartley | 13.5 | Ursa Major | 152° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.5 on 21 Feb 2019) | 4 Feb 2019 |
| 60P/Tsuchinshan | 13.8 | Virgo | 153° | Fading (peak at mag 13.4 on 15 Jan~2019 2019) | 4 Feb 2019 |
| 64P/Swift-Gehrels | 13.9 | Taurus | 102° | Fading | 2 Jan 2019 |
| C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS) | 14.3 | Ursa Major | 145° | Fading (peak at mag 14.1 on 30 Dec 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| C/2017 S3 (PANSTARRS) | 14.4 | Ursa Major | 118° | Fading | 1 Dec 2018 |
| 240P/NEAT | 14.6 | Ursa Major | 146° | Fading | 1 Mar 2018 |
| C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) | 14.6 | Cetus | 70° | Brightening | 4 Feb 2019 |
| 48P/Johnson | 14.9 | Cetus | 46° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| 168P/Hergenrother | 14.9 | Sagittarius | 38° | Brightening (peak at mag 11.5 on 23 Aug 2019) | 15 Jan 2013 |
| 59P/Kearns-Kwee | 15.4 | Gemini | 142° | Fading | 31 Dec 2099 |
| C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) | 15.5 | Centaurus | 117° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.5 on 23 Feb 2019) | 3 Aug 2016 |
| 21P/Giacobini-Zinner | 15.8 | Lepus | 111° | Fading | 4 Feb 2019 |
| C/2015 V2 (Johnson) | 16.0 | Sculptor | 47° | Fading | 19 Oct 2017 |
| 65P/Gunn | 16.3 | Pisces | 27° | Fading | 1 Aug 2017 |
The position of each comet is calculated from orbital elements published by the Minor Planet Center (MPC), and is typically known with a high degree of confidence.
Where possible, magnitudes are estimated from observations sent into the BAA Comet Section, as compiled by Jonathan Shanklin. We avoid using the MPC's own magnitude estimates, since they are rarely updated. Nonetheless, comets are intrinsically unpredictable objects, and magnitude estimates must always be taken with a pinch of salt.
Click on the names of individual comets to display six-month ephemerides and finder charts.