Below is a table of all current observable comets with an amateur telescope (brighter than visual magnitude 14). The list is in order of magnitude (brightest first), however it can be sorted by headers by clicking on them. Last updated 18 August, 2018.
| Comet | Mag. | Status | Hemisphere | Visible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21P/Giacobini-Zinner | 8 | Brightening | 55 N to 10 S | All Night |
| PanSTARRS (2017 S3) | 8 | Steady | 55 N to 5 S | Morning |
| PanSTARRS (2016 M1) | 9 | Fading | 20 N to 90 S | Evening |
| ATLAS (2017 T3) | 9 | Fading | 30 S to 90 S | Morning |
| NEOWISE (2018 N1) | 9.5 | Fading | 45 N to 90 S | Evening |
| 38P/Stephan-Oterma | 11 | Brightening | 45 N to 50 S | Morning |
| 37P/Forbes | 12 | Fading | 55 N to 60 S | Morning |
| PanSTARRS (2016 R2) | 12 | Fading | Poor elongation | Poor elongation |
| Lemmon (2018 EF9) | 12.5 | Fading | Poor elongation | Poor elongation |
| PanSTARRS (2016 N6) | 12.5 | Steady | In Conjunction | In Conjunction |
| 46P/Wirtanen | 13 | Brightening | 40 N to 70 S | Morning |
| 364P/PanSTARRS | 13 | Fading | 15 N to 75 S | Morning |
| 64P/Swift-Gehrels | 13 | Brightening | 15 N to 45 S | Morning |
| 66P/du Toit | 13 | Fading | 30 N to 65 S | Morning |
| 240P/NEAT | 13 | Steady | Poor elongation | Poor elongation |
| 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann | 13 | Variable | 55 N to 65 S | Morning |
| ATLAS (2018 L2) | 13.5 | Brightening | 20 N to 70S | Evening |
| ATLAS (2017 M4) | 13.5 | Steady | 55 N to 20 S | Evening |
| 48P/Johnson | 13.5 | Steady | 35 N to 80 S | Morning |
| PanSTARRS (2015 O1) | 13.5 | Fading | Poor elongation | Poor elongation |
For more information on upcoming bright comets this year, please visit our bright comets of 2018 page
Aww, it’s a shame there are no very bright comets this year. Do you know if there are meant to be any bright ones next year?
We will be creating the Bright Comet’s of 2017 page very shortly. There’s not much to write home about for 2017 if your looking for naked eye comets however, Comet Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova should reach magnitude 6 early in the year. In March 2017 Comet 41P/Tuttle- Giacobini- Kresak is hoped to reach magnitude 5. Then there is a long wait until Christmas 2017 when Comet 46P/Wirtanen is hoped to reach a promising magnitude 3. As always with all things comet, you never know what might be just around the corner that we don’t know about yet! The surprisers are usually the brightest.
We don’t know yet have to wait and see.
HI,
Observing ( Binoculars) from london (around 6:15am GMT) on 19th ( today) I thought I saw a comet quite near Jupiter ( south west). Now I am not sure if this was one. In the list above there a few listed as can be seen in the morning. Not sure if this was an optical illusion arising from the fact that I was observing through a closed window. I used two binoculars and could see it through both. Clear Skies.
Very unlikely from that distance I’m afraid you need a more powerfully telescope.
Hello
A few hours ago, from 46 South, NZ.
Comet 45p.
Used HIP Stars within 1 deg radius of comet, for Comparisons.
Can also use 12df MLim 10 centred on Arcturus (AAVSO Comparisons), if you so wish
Sidewick in-out method used.
A featureless pale green coma, still slightly elongated.
FEB 19.569 UT Mv 8.2 12 x 10 arcmin coma DC1 12cm L 50x (96′ FOV). G.WOLF, NZ
FYI
Best wishes from 46 South, NZ.
Graham W. Wolf
I’m sorry your blinding me with science.
Comet N’NE 3am viewed from Manchester approximately 20″/25″ above horizon???
Ah that sounds a bit more interesting . I’d like to see that but I live down the in the east near Cambridge a town called Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. I have no idea what the coordinates are it’s beyond me I’m afraid to say.