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 |
| 46P/Wirtanen | 4.2 | Cetus | 141° | Brightening (peak at mag 3.9 on 16 Dec 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| C/2018 L2 (ATLAS) | 9.1 | Ophiuchus | 36° | Brightening (peak at mag 9.1 on 5 Dec 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| 38P/Stephan-Oterma | 9.8 | Cancer | 136° | Brightening (peak at mag 9.7 on 11 Dec 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 10.8 | Bootes | 70° | Brightening | 2 Oct 2018 |
| C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) | 11.1 | Apus | 57° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| 64P/Swift-Gehrels | 11.4 | Triangulum | 137° | Fading (peak at mag 10.4 on 31 Oct 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| 69P/Taylor | 11.9 | Eridanus | 138° | Brightening (peak at mag 11.9 on 2 Dec 2018) | None available |
| C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS) | 12.2 | Puppis | 124° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.2 on 28 Nov 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| 21P/Giacobini-Zinner | 12.4 | Puppis | 112° | Fading | 1 Dec 2018 |
| C/2017 S3 (PANSTARRS) | 13.2 | Canes Venatici | 71° | Fading | 1 Dec 2018 |
| 48P/Johnson | 13.5 | Aquarius | 87° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| C/2017 M4 (ATLAS) | 13.8 | Ophiuchus | 16° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.8 on 2 May 2019) | 2 Oct 2018 |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 13.8 | Libra | 36° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.1 on 4 May 2019) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 240P/NEAT | 14.0 | Ursa Major | 101° | Fading | 1 Mar 2018 |
| C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS) | 14.1 | Ursa Major | 95° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.1 on 30 Dec 2018) | 1 Dec 2018 |
| 59P/Kearns-Kwee | 14.7 | Cancer | 132° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.7 on 22 Dec 2018) | 31 Dec 2099 |
| C/2015 V2 (Johnson) | 15.4 | Phoenix | 87° | Fading | 19 Oct 2017 |
| C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) | 15.5 | Centaurus | 54° | Brightening | 3 Aug 2016 |
| 65P/Gunn | 15.6 | Aquarius | 82° | Fading | 1 Aug 2017 |
| 37P/Forbes | 15.8 | Pisces | 96° | Fading | 2 Oct 2018 |
| C/2017 T3 (ATLAS) | 15.9 | Libra | 20° | Fading | 1 Aug 2018 |
| C/2018 EF9 (Lemmon) | 15.9 | Pegasus | 73° | Fading | 1 Jun 2018 |
| C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) | 15.9 | Serpens Caput | 31° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
| 168P/Hergenrother | 16.1 | Scorpius | 16° | Brightening | 15 Jan 2013 |
| C/2016 N4 (MASTER) | 16.5 | Canes Venatici | 87° | Fading | 2 Nov 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.