Last updated: March 6, 2010

Ephemerides for all of these comets (and many others) can be calculated at the IAU Minor Planet Center's web site. Recent reports of their brightness can be found at the ICQ's magnitude page, the Comet Observation Home Page [currently inactive] and the Yahoo! comet observations group. Discussions of these and other comets are carried out at the Yahoo! comets mailing list group, and links to images are at the Yahoo! comet images group. For basic comet observing information see the appropriate page at this web site.

NOTE ADDED NOVEMBER 21, 2007: There are numerous objects that are apparent asteroids but that travel in distinctly cometary orbits or are otherwise associated with cometary phenomena in some way, and it is entirely possible that these are extinct or dormant comets. When any of these come by I do attempt to observe them, but they are not eligible for adding to my comet tally unless observations show that they are indeed comets, in which case I'll add them to my list retroactively (as has happened once so far). This page will now include any such objects that I'm currently following at the time of any updates.

NOTE ADDED JULY 3, 2008: This page will now highlight in red print those comets that are 9th magnitude or brighter (and that are also easily accessible for observation) at the time of the update in question. Such comets should be detectable from suburban areas with small telescopes, and thus are those that are specifically recommended for "Countdown" participating students.

(20898) Fountainhills [not a comet]

Although still almost six weeks away from perihelion passage, this object went through opposition, and was also nearest Earth, a little over a month ago, and if it follows an asteroidal brightness behavior it should be fading. Indeed, this is what my observations indicate; after appearing near magnitude 14 1/2 in early February it had clearly faded quite significantly -- to slightly fainter than 15th magnitude -- when I saw it last night. It also continues to maintain an entirely asteroidal appearance. Despite all this, it's still worth pointing out that Fountainhills is now closer to perihelion than it has ever been observed in the past, and while I consider it to be very unlikely at this point, it is still conceivable that it might begin to exhibit some kind of cometary activity over the next few weeks.

Fountainhills is currently located in northern Puppis 1 1/2 degrees west-northwest of the star 11 Puppis, and is traveling towards the west-southwest at approximately 10 arcminutes per day; it passes slightly less than a degree north of the star cluster M93 on March 20 and reaches its stationary point shortly before the end of this month, thereafter resuming direct (eastward) motion. Based upon the rate of fading I have seen recently I may be close to being finished with it (unless it indeed begins to exhibit cometary activity).

Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (no. 226)

Last month this comet underwent a large outburst -- its fourth, and brightest, since emerging into the morning sky last September -- and during the latter part of February appeared as as a small and distinctly condensed object of 11th magnitude. When I saw it a couple of nights ago it was still near the same total brightness but had diffused out some, appearing as a circular cloud a few arcminutes across. I expect the comet to continue expanding out over the coming weeks, and to remain visible the rest of this month and into April (longer, of course, if there is additional outburst activity). Now three weeks past opposition, the comet is located in western Leo 2 1/2 degrees northwest of the star Xi Leonis; it is traveling just northward of due west at approximately five arcminutes per day and crosses into southeastern Cancer on March 13.

Comet 81P/Wild 2 (no. 463)

Due to weather and the recent full moon I have not had a chance to observe this comet since a little after mid-February, but hope to do so soon. When I last saw it -- just a few days before perihelion passage -- it was an impressive object in the 41 cm telescope, with an overall brightness near magnitude 9 1/2 and exhibiting a faint but broad and distinct westward-pointing tail several arcminutes long. (I could just barely see the comet in binoculars.) It is currently located in eastern Virgo three degrees west-southwest of the star Iota Virginis and is traveling almost due eastward at a little over ten arcminutes per day (although slowing down as it approaches its stationary point at the end of this month). Although now receding from the sun the comet is still drawing closer to Earth as it approaches opposition during the latter part of April, and thus its brightness should hold steady -- perhaps even increase slightly -- during the next few weeks.

Comet Siding Spring C/2007 Q3 (no. 441)

As is the case with the above comet I have not had a chance to observe this one since a little after mid-February, but hope to do so soon. It has been maintaining an impressive visual appearance since late last year, exhibiting a small, relatively condensed coma and a distinct westard pointing tail several arcminutes long; however, since it is now five months past perihelion passage and is also receding from Earth it is slowly fading, from 10th magnitude early this year to 11th magnitude during my most recent observations. It is currently crossing from northeastern Bootes into western Draco and is located six degrees south-southwest of the star Iota Draconis; it is traveling just eastward of due north at approximately 20 arcminutes per day and reaches its stationary point on March 23 (after which it begins retrograde, or westward, motion), at which time it also begins entering northern circumpolar skies. The comet should continue its gradual fading over the coming weeks, and I'm curious as to how long it will maintain the impressive visual appearance that it has now.

Comet McNaught C/2009 K5 (no. 468)

I managed to sneak in an observation of this comet right before the end of February, and was pleased to see that it is continuing to brighten, appearing as a moderately condensed object near magnitude 10 1/2. It continues to climb higher into the morning sky and is currently located in southwestern Aquila four degrees north-northwest of the star Lambda Aquilae; it is traveling (through rich Milky Way star fields) towards the north-northeast at approximately 50 arcminutes per day. The comet should continue to brighten steadily as it approaches the sun and Earth, perhaps by close to a full magnitude by the end of this month.

Comet Catalina C/2009 O2 (no. 469)

I was also able to grab an observation of this comet shortly before the end of February, and although it is so far remaining faint it had clearly brightened some since my previous observation, appearing as a small and somewhat condensed 12th-magnitude object. It is currently located in southeastern Cygnus two degrees southeast of the star Zeta Cygni, and is traveling rapidly towards the northeast (currently at 100 arcminutes per day, increasing to 2 1/2 degrees per day shortly after mid-month), crossing into northwestern Pegasus on March 11 and into southwestern Lacerta a day later (and passing 15 arcminutes southeast of the star 1 Lacertae on the 14th). The comet should now be brightening fairly rapidly as it approaches its perihelion passage in a little less than three weeks; while it's difficult to predict just what to expect, based upon the brightness behavior I've seen thus far a brightness of around 10th magnitude around mid-month seems like a reasonable possibility.

Comet Christensen C/2006 W3 (no. 422)

I've read recent reports that indicate that this comet, which has recenty entered the southern hemisphere's morning sky, is currently around 11th magnitude -- more or less right where it might be expected to be. It is presently located in southwestern Capricornus three degrees south-southwest of the star 4 Capricorni, and is traveling towards the southeast at a little under ten arcminutes per day. The comet's brightness should hold fairly steady for the next several weeks, and in the meantime I should be able to pick it up low in my southeastern sky before dawn during the latter part of this month.