Details
- Details of the discovery, observations and analyses of new comets which
were discovered during
1995 ,
1996 ,
1997 ,
1998 ,
1999 ,
2000 ,
2001 ,
2002 ,
2003 ,
2004 ,
2005 ,
2006 ,
2007 ,
2008 ,
2009 ,
2010 ,
2011 ,
2012 ,
2013 ,
2014 ,
2015 ,
2016 ,
2017 ,
2018 [updated 2023 October 24] ,
2019 [updated 2024 March 2] ,
2020 [updated 2024 April 23] ,
2021
[updated 2024 March 11],
2022 [updated 2024 June 4] ,
2023 [updated 2024 August 17] ,
2024 [updated 2024 September 9].
Note that in general only details of the brighter currently visually observable comets are
updated and that analyses of the brighter comets of past years will be published in the BAA Journal.
- Details, observations and analyses of periodic comets numbered
1 - 100 [updated 2024 April 4],
101 - 199 [updated 2023 July 11],
200 - 299 [updated 2023 June 17],
300 - 399 [updated 2024 March 19],
400 - 499 [updated 2024 September 5]
and
cometary asteroids, potentially numberable comets and periodic SOHO comets
[updated 2024 August 16].
- A list of SOHO comets discovered during 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 , 2022 [updated 2023 November 23] , 2023 [updated 2024 February 26] , 2024 [updated 2024 September 12] and SOHO X/ comets.
- A list of SOHO comets discovered during 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 , 2022 [updated 2023 November 23] , 2023 [updated 2024 February 26] , 2024 [updated 2024 September 12] and SOHO X/ comets.
- Observations submitted in ICQ format for comets of
2006 , 2007 ,
2008 , 2009 ,
2010 , 2011 ,
2012 , 2013 ,
2014 , 2015 ,
2016 , 2017 ,
2018 , 2019 ,
2020 , 2021 ,
2022 [updated 2023 December 2] , 2023 [updated 2024
February 1] ,
2024 [updated 2024 September 5].
Observations submitted or published in ICQ.
Observations in COBS.
-
Light curves of comets that may become brighter than 9th magnitude [click on thumbnail to get the full scale image, updated on 2024 September 5]. The dotted lines represent 99% confidence limits. The fitted curves are for an aperture of 30 cm, so the comet will appear brighter to visual observers using a smaller aperture. 2023 A3
-
-
Comet magnitude parameters [ updated 2024 September 5].
- Full IAUC details of SOHO Kreutz group and other comets announced during 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 .
- General information on Kreutz and sun approaching comets [updated 2022 February 3], on LASCO, STEREO and the Kreutz comets and a list of all SOHO comets [updated 2016 June 2].
- Daily news from 1999 / 2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024 /
- Maik Meyer's comet mailing list
- Contact Nick James <ndj [at] nickdjames.com> to be added to the distribution list for the BAA Comet Section electronic discussion forum.
Comet ephemerides (positions) etc
For positions of newly discovered comets see the NEO confirmation page . You can also generate your own ephemerides and elements at the CBAT Minor Planet and Comet Ephemeris Service web page. The elements and ephemerides from the JPL Small-Body Database Browser give estimates of the errors, which are often far larger than might be thought from the accuracy of the elements given by the CBAT. Seiichi Yoshida has pages for currently visible comets, which include finder charts. Seiichi also has a comet rendezvous page, which lists conjunctions between comets, variable stars and nebulae and a comet recovery page, which lists periodic comets not yet recovered at the present return. The T3 project aims to discover comets amongst the population of asteroids influenced by Jupiter.Planning aids and information for forthcoming comets, valid out to about 2025.
- Comets reaching within three degrees of 180° opposition [updated 2013 December 31]
- Comets reaching within three degrees of zero phase angle [updated 2013 December 31]
The MPC also has a list of the last observation for all comets. Electronic observers should try and observe any comets that have not recently been observed according to the CBAT but which are expected to be within range of their equipment. Negative observations are also useful. In addition, the MPC has orbital elements for unusual asteroids, many of which have cometary orbits.
Finder charts
The BAA Computing Section has online charts for the comets listed here. There are daily finder charts for bright comets at Heavens Above. Reinder Bouma and Edwin van Dijk's astrosite Groningen has an excellent set of finder charts for brighter comets, which also show suitable comparison stars.Orbits etc
The elements and ephemerides from the JPL Small-Body Database Browser give estimates of the errors, which are often far larger than might be thought from the accuracy of the elements given by the CBAT. Full details of the latest orbits were available from Kazuo Kinoshita's Comet Orbit Home Page (Kazuo died in 2021 July and his web page hadn't been updated since 2020 February). I compile orbital elements in Megastar format for: numbered periodic comets , recent comets (updated 2024 September 5) and comets prior to 2006. Most of the more recent elements include the latest magnitude parameters. The elements are from a mix of CBAT catalogues, MPC, MPEC, JPL and individual orbit computers. Older elements are for the epoch of perihelion, but most recent elements from the MPEC are for epoch of date.Downloads etc
Download Richard Fleet's GraphDark software for graphically displaying comet (and other object) visibility. Latest version is 2.05, 2007 May.
Download William Schwittek's CometWin software for generating comet ephemerides and visibility diagrams. [Updated 2002 March 5]
Download Solex, N-body solar system dynamics software.
Upcoming comets
Predictions for the comets expected to return in 2023 [Updated to 2023 January 1], 2024 [Final edition 2024 February 22] , 2025 [Updated 2024 June 24] and 2026 [Updated 2024 June 24] are published in the BAA Journal in December each year. This list [Updated 2024 August 29] gives the period of visibility and maximum brightness for comets that are predicted to be brighter than 12th magnitude within the next few years. A few are listed further into the future. Seiichi Yoshida also has a list of comets likely to be visible in the next five years.Contributing observations
Observations may be used in the reports on comets which appear on these pages, in The Comet's Tale and in the BAA Journal. Guidance on observing is given in the BAA Comet Observing GuideThanks to the many observers who do send in their observations in ICQ format. Imagers are encouraged to reduce their observations to equivalent visual magnitude (see Project Alcock ) and submit them in this format. Do check the observation files to see if what you sent matches what is there, as I still have to edit some of the submitted records, particularly the position of "m" when tail length is given in minutes, the focal ratio and the designation of periodic comets 1-99. If your observations are missing it may be because you have not used the correct format, which includes ICQ as a key. If you use the Comet Observation Database to enter your observations they will be formatted correctly. I extract all the observations from observers who are affiliated to the BAA on a monthly basis for publication in TA, but other observers will need to send them to me. Observers providing VEMs are reminded that they should report a coma diameter to go with the magnitude.
Visual and visual equivalent magnitude observations should be sent to me at <jds [at] ast.cam.ac.uk> in simple text format. Visual observers can use the BAA visual report form to log observations. To avoid the use of multiple formats the ICQ format , which uses special keys to code observation particulars, is now standardised as the one to use for submission and archiving of observations. The ICQ have not updated their observation keys since 2010, so these additional keys are suggested for use when submitting observations to the BAA (updated 2020 October 3). Crni Vhr Observatory has launched the Comet Observation Database which allows entry of observations in ICQ format, and plots of light curves. Visual observations entered using this system should be emailed to me at the end of the month. Observations are usually analysed and sent to TA as soon as possible after the end of the month with a TA deadline of the 2nd; any late observations will be used in subsequent analyses. Observations will continue to be published by Guy Hurst in The Astronomer magazine in TA format. There is also a visual drawing form. The German comet group also has a computer program that will correctly format observations for the ICQ [2009 December].
Images should be sent to Denis Buczynski.
Regular contributors include James Abbott, Jose Aguiar, Alexander Amorim, Nicolas Biver, Denis Buczynski, Paul Camilleri, Peter Carson, Matyas Csukas, Roger Dymock, John Fletcher, Marco Goiato, Juan Gonzalez, Bjorn Granslo, Werner Hasubick, Kevin Hills, Nick James, Heinz Kerner, Carlos Labordena, Rolando Ligustri, Michael Mattiazzo, Maik Mayer, Antonio Milani, Martin Mobberley, Giuseppe Pappa, Jose Navarro Pina, Gabriel Oksa, Mieczyslaw Paradowski, Nirmal Paul, Stuart Rae, Walter Robledo, Tony Scarmato, Willian Souza, David Strange, Johan Warrell, Chris Wyatt and Seiichi Yoshida, several of whom contribute observations from their colleagues. Thanks are due to all of them.
Warning I receive a large number of emails containing viruses or other junk. Please try and make clear that your message is legitimate, otherwise it may be deleted without being read. It is advisable to use your own name, rather than an alias, in the 'from' field and use an obvious, recent subject.
Comments and contact
Many thanks to those that regularly access this page for your interest. If you have any comments, suggestions for improvement or find any problems, please email the visual co-ordinator, Jon Shanklin, at j.shanklin @ bas.ac.uk. If you need to phone me, my home number is +44 (0)1223 571250 or my BAS number is +44 (0)1223 221482. Snail mail will reach me at the British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, CAMBRIDGE CB3 0ET, England. For information about my work with BAS see my web page at BAS. There is a small piece of Antarctica named as Shanklin Glacier. See also this BBC report. Exploration of icy parts of the world clearly runs in the blood as my great-grandfather kept diaries which record the passage of a comet below the Plough, the discovery of a comet by his brother, Bernard Thomas, from Tasmania and the expeditions to Antarctica by Scott and Shackleton. A write up of my George Alcock lecture, which tells a little of the Antarctic story was published in the 2021 October BAA Journal.
Published by jds@ast.cam.ac.uk