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 |
| C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS) | 8.8 | Andromeda | 39° | Fading (peak at mag 8.4 on 18 Mar 2020) | 1 Mar 2020 |
| C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) | 9.0 | Ursa Major | 97° | Brightening (peak at mag -6.9 on 31 May 2020) | 1 Mar 2020 |
| C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) | 9.1 | Cassiopeia | 69° | Brightening (peak at mag 8.8 on 15 May 2020) | 1 Mar 2020 |
| 88P/Howell | 12.4 | Virgo | 163° | Brightening (peak at mag 8.6 on 18 Sep 2020) | 1 Apr 2018 |
| 210P/Christensen | 12.5 | Pisces | 13° | Brightening (peak at mag 12.0 on 15 Apr 2020) | 28 Mar 2009 |
| C/2018 N2 (ASASSN) | 12.9 | Cassiopeia | 49° | Fading | 1 Mar 2020 |
| 246P/NEAT | 13.2 | Coma Berenices | 158° | Brightening | 1 Aug 2013 |
| 69P/Taylor | 14.0 | Coma Berenices | 149° | Fading (peak at mag 13.8 on 13 Feb 2020) | Unknown |
| C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto) | 14.3 | Auriga | 77° | Fading (peak at mag 11.7 on 10 Feb 2020) | 1 Mar 2020 |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 14.4 | Sagittarius | 80° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.0 on 25 Jun 2020) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 84P/Giclas | 14.4 | Pisces | 9° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.7 on 16 Jun 2020) | 8 Feb 2017 |
| 2P/Encke | 14.4 | Pisces | 10° | Brightening (peak at mag 6.0 on 27 Jun 2020) | 14 Mar 2017 |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 14.9 | Hercules | 115° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.8 on 17 Mar 2020) | 3 Jun 2019 |
| 78P/Gehrels | 14.9 | Cancer | 124° | Fading | 24 Dec 2016 |
| 124P/Mrkos | 15.1 | Leo | 136° | Fading (peak at mag 15.0 on 21 Mar 2020) | 14 Sep 2017 |
| 168P/Hergenrother | 15.3 | Auriga | 90° | Fading | 15 Jan 2013 |
| 68P/Klemola | 15.6 | Pisces | 16° | Fading | 4 Jan 2020 |
| 110P/Hartley | 16.1 | Aquarius | 25° | Brightening (peak at mag 13.8 on 21 Oct 2020) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) | 16.1 | Centaurus | 135° | Fading (peak at mag 16.2 on 27 Feb 2020) | 3 Aug 2016 |
| 38P/Stephan-Oterma | 16.2 | Bootes | 155° | Fading (peak at mag 16.1 on 5 Feb 2020) | 3 Mar 2019 |
| 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko | 16.3 | Sagittarius | 87° | Brightening (peak at mag 15.3 on 22 Jul 2020) | 1 Apr 2018 |
| C/2017 M4 (ATLAS) | 16.4 | Chamaeleon | 105° | Fading | 3 Jun 2019 |
| 4P/Faye | 16.7 | Scutum | 88° | Brightening | 14 Sep 2017 |
| C/2018 W2 (Africano) | 16.8 | Phoenix | 56° | Fading | 1 Dec 2019 |
| C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) | 16.8 | Lepus | 78° | Fading | 31 Oct 2018 |
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.