List of Bright Comets
Below is a list of the brightest few comets that are visible at present.
You are welcome to reproduce the text below for non-profit purposes, providing you credit In-The-Sky.org.
| 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/2015 V2 (Johnson) | 9.0 | Hydra | 101° | Fading (peak at mag 7.8 on 5 Jun 2017) | 3 Jul 2017 |
| C/2015 ER61 (PANSTARRS) | 9.8 | Aries | 68° | Fading | 3 Jul 2017 |
| 71P/Clark | 11.3 | Scorpius | 132° | Fading (peak at mag 10.7 on 20 Jun 2017) | 3 Jul 2017 |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 11.7 | Eridanus | 54° | Brightening (peak at mag 8.7 on 11 Jan 2018) | 2 Feb 2017 |
| 217P/LINEAR | 12.4 | Taurus | 57° | Fading (peak at mag 12.2 on 17 Jul 2017) | 5 Dec 2009 |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 13.8 | Cancer | 12° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.4 on 10 Mar 2018) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) | 13.8 | Corvus | 67° | Fading | 3 Aug 2016 |
| 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson | 14.1 | Pisces | 94° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.6 on 30 Sep 2017) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 65P/Gunn | 14.1 | Libra | 118° | Fading (peak at mag 13.8 on 3 Jun 2017) | 3 Jul 2017 |
| 103P/Hartley | 14.5 | Cancer | 8° | Fading | None available |
| C/2011 KP36 (Spacewatch) | 14.6 | Taurus | 71° | Fading | 2 Feb 2017 |
| C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS) | 14.7 | Hercules | 115° | Fading | 3 Jul 2017 |
| C/2017 E4 (Lovejoy) | 14.9 | Orion | 51° | Fading | 11 May 2017 |
| 24P/Schaumasse | 14.9 | Taurus | 42° | Brightening (peak at mag 9.9 on 16 Nov 2017) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) | 15.1 | Ophiuchus | 132° | Fading | 1 Mar 2016 |
| 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann | 15.3 | Cetus | 77° | Fading | 4 Apr 2017 |
| 69P/Taylor | 15.4 | Piscis Austrinus | 146° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.1 on 11 Sep 2017) | None available |
| 237P/LINEAR | 15.4 | Pisces | 96° | Fading | 1 Dec 2016 |
| 96P/Machholz | 15.6 | Octans | 123° | Brightening (peak at mag 2.1 on 28 Oct 2017) | 1 Dec 2007 |
| 62P/Tsuchinshan | 15.8 | Taurus | 47° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.1 on 25 Nov 2017) | 20 Apr 2005 |
| 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak | 15.9 | Serpens Cauda | 150° | Fading | 3 Jul 2017 |
| 315P/LONEOS | 16.0 | Virgo | 64° | Fading | 4 Apr 2017 |
| 2P/Encke | 16.0 | Capricornus | 161° | Fading | 4 Apr 2017 |
| C/2013 US10 (Catalina) | 16.5 | Perseus | 55° | Fading | 2 Jun 2016 |
| 110P/Hartley | 16.5 | Libra | 119° | Fading | 29 Feb 2012 |
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.