Comet 2018 W2 (Africano)
Discovered on 27 November, 2018 by astronomer B. M. Africano of the Mount Lemmon Survey, Comet 2018 W2 (Africano) measured approximately magnitude 20 as a […]
Articles by CometWatch Admin
Comet Wirtanen visible now!
Long awaited naked eye comet 46P/Wirtanen has finally reached a respectable altitude and brightness. At the time of writing the comet resides in the constellation of Eridanus at a magnitude of 4.5 (approx.) with a short tail approximately 8 arcmins in length and elongated coma.
Bright Comets of 2019
Comet 46P/Wirtanen 2019 starts off with a pleasing visitor from 2018, namely comet 46P/Wirtanen which reached perihelion, closest approach (and naked eye visibility) in December. […]
New Comet C/2018 V1 discovered by Don Machholz
American amateur astronomer Don Machholz has discovered his 12th comet in the early hours of November 07, 2018. Currently designated DM001, the comet is yet to be assigned to his name given that some Japanese astronomers discovered the comet at roughly the same time. Machholz wrote on his Twitter account..
Wirtanen – Brightest comet of the year is coming
Comet Wirtanen is coming! The 1.2 kilometer object is earmarked to become the brightest comet of 2018. However, we hasten to add that this comet is […]
Comet 21P – Closest Approach
On Monday September 10, 2018 a Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner will reach closest approach to the Earth at a distance of 0.39AU (36 million miles). This will […]
Comet 21P passes through Cassiopeia
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner has been well placed throughout June and July for northern hemisphere observers as the icy ball of dust passed through the high altitude, […]
PanSTARRS (2017 S3) in 2nd outburst
On 30 June Comet PanSTARRS 2017 S3 caught astronomers attention as the ball of ice and dust endured an outburst resulting in a jump in […]
Comet 21P Approaching North America Nebula
At the time of writing Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner passed 58 Cygni (Latin v Cygni) a binary star in Cygnus which shines at magnitude 3.94 and 6.40. This […]
‘Tunguska’ Size Asteroid Buzzes Earth
An asteroid comparable to the to the asteroid that exploded in the Tunguska region of Siberia in 1908 buzzed past the Earth on Sunday 15, […]