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 |
Absolute magnitude last updated |
| Comet name | Mag | Constellation | Separation from Sun |
Trend |
Absolute magnitude last updated |
| P/2008 Y12 (SOHO) | 7.7 | Libra | 48° | Brightening (peak at mag -3.1 on 10 Oct 2019) | Unknown |
| C/2018 W2 (Africano) | 7.7 | Andromeda | 136° | Brightening (peak at mag 7.5 on 26 Sep 2019) | 4 Sep 2019 |
| C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) | 9.2 | Taurus | 91° | Brightening (peak at mag 4.2 on 11 May 2020) | 4 Sep 2019 |
| 289P/Blanpain | 10.8 | Aquarius | 160° | Brightening (peak at mag 4.7 on 11 Jan 2020) | Unknown |
| C/2018 N2 (ASASSN) | 11.2 | Triangulum | 132° | Brightening (peak at mag 10.9 on 20 Oct 2019) | 4 Sep 2019 |
| 260P/McNaught | 11.6 | Triangulum | 125° | Brightening (peak at mag 11.5 on 22 Sep 2019) | 4 Sep 2019 |
| 168P/Hergenrother | 11.7 | Auriga | 87° | Fading (peak at mag 11.5 on 23 Aug 2019) | 15 Jan 2013 |
| 68P/Klemola | 12.5 | Serpens Cauda | 94° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.4 on 6 Oct 2019) | 4 Sep 2019 |
| 167P/CINEOS | 12.8 | Hydra | 45° | Fading | Unknown |
| 78P/Gehrels | 13.3 | Cancer | 51° | Fading | 24 Dec 2016 |
| 69P/Taylor | 14.0 | Leo | 25° | Fading | Unknown |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 14.2 | Libra | 63° | Fading | 29 Feb 2012 |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 14.4 | Bootes | 53° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| C/2018 R3 (Lemmon) | 14.5 | Sextans | 19° | Fading | 31 Jul 2019 |
| P/2010 H2 (Vales) | 14.8 | Sagittarius | 121° | Fading | Unknown |
| C/2017 M4 (ATLAS) | 14.9 | Centaurus | 53° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) | 15.0 | Canis Major | 73° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| 155P/Shoemaker | 15.0 | Gemini | 64° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.7 on 6 Jan 2020) | Unknown |
| 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann | 15.0 | Pisces | 155° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.0 on 8 Oct 2019) | Unknown |
| C/2010 U3 (Boattini) | 15.1 | Ursa Major | 52° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.9 on 6 Feb 2020) | Unknown |
| C/2017 B3 (LINEAR) | 15.2 | Grus | 137° | Fading | Unknown |
| C/2019 D1 (Flewelling) | 15.3 | Andromeda | 131° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| C/2018 W1 (Catalina) | 15.6 | Centaurus | 42° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura | 15.6 | Gemini | 74° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.4 on 19 Nov 2019) | Unknown |
| P/2013 R3-B (Catalina-PANSTARRS) | 15.6 | Gemini | 77° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.2 on 5 Dec 2019) | Unknown |
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, the brightnesses of comets are estimated from absolute magnitude values computed by the BAA Comet Section, based on the observations they receive. We prefer these to the Minor Planet Center's own magnitude estimates, since the latter are less often 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 ephemerides and finder charts.