Objects in your sky: 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 |
Absolute magnitude last updated |
| Comet name | Mag | Constellation | Separation from Sun |
Trend |
Absolute magnitude last updated |
| 289P/Blanpain | 8.6 | Aquarius | 100° | Brightening (peak at mag 4.7 on 11 Jan 2020) | Unknown |
| C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) | 9.0 | Auriga | 141° | Brightening (peak at mag 7.0 on 14 May 2020) | 2 Nov 2019 |
| P/2008 Y12 (SOHO) | 10.6 | Lupus | 14° | Fading (peak at mag -3.1 on 10 Oct 2019) | Unknown |
| C/2018 N2 (ASASSN) | 11.5 | Andromeda | 139° | Fading (peak at mag 11.4 on 19 Oct 2019) | 2 Nov 2019 |
| 68P/Klemola | 11.5 | Sagittarius | 70° | Fading (peak at mag 11.4 on 23 Oct 2019) | 2 Nov 2019 |
| 168P/Hergenrother | 12.1 | Lynx | 115° | Fading | 15 Jan 2013 |
| C/2018 W2 (Africano) | 12.2 | Grus | 84° | Fading (peak at mag 8.8 on 26 Sep 2019) | 2 Nov 2019 |
| 260P/McNaught | 12.4 | Andromeda | 146° | Fading (peak at mag 11.8 on 28 Sep 2019) | 2 Nov 2019 |
| 167P/CINEOS | 12.8 | Scorpius | 26° | Fading | Unknown |
| 78P/Gehrels | 13.5 | Leo | 86° | Fading | 24 Dec 2016 |
| 69P/Taylor | 14.0 | Coma Berenices | 55° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.8 on 14 Feb 2020) | Unknown |
| 155P/Shoemaker | 14.1 | Leo | 84° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.7 on 6 Jan 2020) | Unknown |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 14.5 | Ophiuchus | 24° | Fading (peak at mag 14.0 on 25 Jun 2020) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura | 14.6 | Cancer | 97° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.4 on 19 Nov 2019) | Unknown |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 14.7 | Serpens Caput | 35° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| 114P/Wiseman-Skiff | 15.0 | Andromeda | 150° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.1 on 25 Dec 2019) | 11 Apr 2000 |
| C/2010 U3 (Boattini) | 15.1 | Canes Venatici | 73° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.9 on 6 Feb 2020) | Unknown |
| 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann | 15.1 | Pisces | 143° | Fading (peak at mag 15.0 on 8 Oct 2019) | Unknown |
| P/2013 R3-B (Catalina-PANSTARRS) | 15.3 | Gemini | 122° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.2 on 5 Dec 2019) | Unknown |
| P/2013 R3-A (Catalina-PANSTARRS) | 15.3 | Gemini | 122° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.2 on 5 Dec 2019) | Unknown |
| 246P/NEAT | 15.3 | Coma Berenices | 51° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.1 on 10 May 2020) | 1 Aug 2013 |
| C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) | 15.3 | Puppis | 105° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| P/2010 H2 (Vales) | 15.4 | Microscopium | 74° | Fading | Unknown |
| C/2017 M4 (ATLAS) | 15.5 | Centaurus | 35° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| 101P/Chernykh | 15.8 | Aquarius | 124° | Fading (peak at mag 15.7 on 17 Oct 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.