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 |
| C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) | 8.8 | Corona Australis | 163° | Brightening (peak at mag 8.7 on 29 Jun 2018) | 1 Jun 2018 |
| 37P/Forbes | 11.1 | Aquarius | 99° | Brightening (peak at mag 11.0 on 6 Jul 2018) | 1 Jun 2018 |
| C/2018 EF9 (Lemmon) | 12.0 | Cepheus | 61° | Fading | 1 Jun 2018 |
| 21P/Giacobini-Zinner | 12.1 | Cygnus | 100° | Brightening (peak at mag 6.5 on 11 Sep 2018) | 31 Jul 2005 |
| C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) | 12.3 | Lynx | 31° | Fading | 1 Jun 2018 |
| C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS) | 12.3 | Lynx | 33° | Fading | 1 Jun 2018 |
| 240P/NEAT | 13.2 | Taurus | 5° | Fading | 1 Mar 2018 |
| 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh | 13.2 | Leo | 83° | Fading | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 66P/du Toit | 13.4 | Sculptor | 89° | Fading (peak at mag 12.9 on 18 May 2018) | 1 Jun 2018 |
| P/2013 CU129 (PANSTARRS) | 13.4 | Hydra | 47° | Brightening (peak at mag 11.4 on 10 Jul 2018) | 1 Oct 2013 |
| C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS) | 13.4 | Ursa Major | 74° | Fading | 1 Jun 2018 |
| C/2015 V2 (Johnson) | 14.1 | Phoenix | 86° | Fading | 19 Oct 2017 |
| 69P/Taylor | 14.2 | Cetus | 59° | Brightening (peak at mag 11.9 on 3 Dec 2018) | None available |
| 65P/Gunn | 14.7 | Aquarius | 101° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.4 on 16 Aug 2018) | 1 Aug 2017 |
| C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) | 14.8 | Hydra | 105° | Fading | 3 Aug 2016 |
| C/2015 VL62 (Lemmon-Yeung-PANSTARRS) | 15.5 | Scorpius | 165° | Fading (peak at mag 15.2 on 9 May 2018) | 19 Oct 2017 |
| C/2017 O1 (ASASSN) | 15.7 | Ursa Major | 54° | Fading | 1 Mar 2018 |
| C/2016 N4 (MASTER) | 15.8 | Ursa Major | 60° | Fading | 2 Nov 2017 |
| C/2017 T1 (Heinze) | 16.0 | Octans | 120° | Fading | 1 Mar 2018 |
| 185P/Petriew | 16.1 | Cancer | 39° | Fading | 2 Apr 2018 |
| C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) | 16.2 | Ophiuchus | 151° | Fading | 1 Mar 2016 |
| 59P/Kearns-Kwee | 16.2 | Taurus | 26° | Brightening (peak at mag 14.7 on 23 Dec 2018) | 31 Dec 2099 |
| 110P/Hartley | 16.5 | Sagittarius | 166° | Brightening (peak at mag 16.5 on 30 Jun 2018) | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson | 16.6 | Auriga | 15° | Fading | 29 Feb 2012 |
| 168P/Hergenrother | 16.6 | Centaurus | 132° | Brightening | 15 Jan 2013 |
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.