Explanation
of Comet Synopses and charts (read this if you have questions)
C/2022 E3 (ZTF): An
evening comet visible in binoculars
This comet begins the month in Camelopardalis at magnitude 5.1.
Look for a 16.5' coma. It should fade rapidly, moving into Taurus by month's
end. FINDER CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
High during evening twilight at
~18:30 |
High at ~19:30 |
High at ~19:30 |
Fairly high in moonlight at
~19:40 |
Not visible |
1- |
40o
N |
High during evening twilight at
~18:40 |
High at ~19:20 |
High at ~19:20 |
High in moonlight at ~19:30 |
Not visible |
1- |
Equator |
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:20 |
High at ~19:40 |
High at ~19:40 |
High in moonlight at ~21:10 |
Not visible |
1- |
30o S |
Very low in the northern sky
during evening twilight at ~20:20 |
Fairly high at ~20:20 |
High at ~20:20 |
Fairly high in moonlight at
~21:00 |
High during evening twilight at
~19:50 |
4- |
C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS): A
southern hemisphere evening comet visible in binoculars
This comet begins the month in Indus at magnitude 8.2. Look for
a 4.5' coma. It should fade slowly, moving into Hydrus by month's end. The best
visibility is late in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
40o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
Equator |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Low in the southern sky during
evening twilight at ~19:20 |
Low in the southern sky during
evening twilight at ~19:20 |
Not visible |
1- |
30o S |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during evening twilight at ~20:20 |
Fairly high at ~20:20 |
Fairly high at ~20:10 |
Fairly high in moonlight at
~20:10 |
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:50 |
1- |
C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS): A
far-northern morning comet visible in small telescopes
This comet begins the month in Draco at magnitude 9.5. Look for
a 4' coma. It should fade slowly, moving into Lacerta by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
High during morning twilight at
~05:50 |
Fairly high at ~19:00 |
Fairly high at ~05:10 |
Fairly high at ~05:00 |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~04:50 |
1- |
40o
N |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:40 |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:30 |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:20 |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:10 |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:10 |
1- |
Equator |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
30o S |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
C/2020 V2 (ZTF): A
northern hemisphere evening comet visible in small telescopes
This comet begins the month in Cassiopeia at magnitude 9.9. Look
for a 2' coma. It should fade slowly, moving into Andromeda by month's end.
FINDER CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
High during evening twilight at
~18:30 |
High at ~19:10 |
High at ~19:20 |
High in moonlight at ~19:30 |
High during evening twilight at
~19:30 |
1- |
40o
N |
High during evening twilight at
~18:40 |
High at ~19:10 |
High at ~19:10 |
High in moonlight at ~19:20 |
High during evening twilight at
~19:20 |
1- |
Equator |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:20 |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:30 |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:20 |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:20 |
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~19:20 |
1- |
30o S |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
C/2019 L3 (ATLAS): A
morning comet visible in small telescopes
This comet begins the month in Antlia at magnitude 11.5. Look
for a 1' coma. It should fade slowly, moving into Pyxis by month's end. The best
visibility is early in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
40o
N |
Low in the southern sky in
moonlight at ~00:40 |
Low in the southern sky at
~23:50 |
Low in the southern sky at
~23:30 |
Low in the southern sky at
~23:00 |
Not visible |
1- |
Equator |
Fairly high in the western sky
in moonlight at ~04:30 |
High at ~22:40 |
High at ~23:30 |
High at ~23:00 |
High in moonlight at ~20:10 |
1- |
30o S |
High during morning twilight at
~04:20 |
High at ~22:20 |
High at ~23:30 |
High at ~23:00 |
Fairly high in the western sky
at ~03:20 |
1- |
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann:
An evening comet visible in a 6-inch (15 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Auriga at magnitude 11.4. Look
for a 2' coma. It should fade slowly. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
High at ~20:50 |
High at ~20:20 |
High in moonlight at ~21:10 |
Not visible |
1- |
40o
N |
Not visible |
High at ~20:50 |
High at ~20:20 |
High in moonlight at ~23:00 |
Not visible |
1- |
Equator |
High during evening twilight at
~19:10 |
High at ~20:50 |
High at ~20:20 |
High at ~22:20 |
Not visible |
1- |
30o S |
Fairly high in the northern sky
during evening twilight at ~20:10 |
Fairly high at ~20:50 |
Fairly high at ~20:30 |
Fairly high in moonlight at
~20:30 |
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:40 |
1- |
81P/Wild: A morning comet
visible in an 8-inch (20 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Libra at magnitude 11.8. Look for
a 1.5' coma. It should fade slowly, moving into Ophiuchus by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Low in the southern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:50 |
Low in the southern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:40 |
Low in the southern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:20 |
Low in the southern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00 |
Not visible |
1- |
40o
N |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:40 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:30 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
at ~05:20 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
at ~05:10 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:10 |
1- |
Equator |
High during morning twilight at
~05:10 |
High in moonlight at ~05:00 |
High at ~05:00 |
High at ~04:50 |
High at ~04:50 |
1- |
30o S |
High during morning twilight at
~04:20 |
High in moonlight at ~04:10 |
High at ~04:10 |
High at ~04:20 |
High at ~04:30 |
1- |
96P/Machholz: A morning
comet visible in a 10-inch (25 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Aquarius at magnitude 2.7, in
solar conjunction. Look for a 1.5' coma. It should fade rapidly, moving into
Aquila by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Very low in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~06:00 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
3-26 |
40o
N |
Very low in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~06:10 |
Very low in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:40 |
Very low in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:30 |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:20 |
Not visible |
3- |
Equator |
Not visible |
Very low in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:20 |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:10 |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:00 |
6- |
30o S |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:30 |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:40 |
13- |
C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS): A
morning comet visible in a 10-inch (25 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Virgo at magnitude 12.5. Look for
a 2' coma. It should brighten slowly. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:50 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
at ~00:40 |
Fairly high at ~03:20 |
Fairly high at ~02:40 |
Fairly high in the western sky
during morning twilight at ~04:50 |
1- |
40o
N |
High during morning twilight at
~05:50 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
at ~23:50 |
High at ~03:20 |
High at ~02:40 |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:10 |
1- |
Equator |
High during morning twilight at
~05:10 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
in moonlight at ~23:20 |
High at ~03:20 |
High at ~02:40 |
High at ~04:30 |
1- |
30o S |
High during morning twilight at
~04:20 |
Fairly high in moonlight at
~00:40 |
High at ~03:20 |
High at ~02:40 |
High at ~03:40 |
1- |
C/2020 K1 (PANSTARRS): A
southern hemisphere morning comet visible in a 12.5-inch (32 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Sagittarius at magnitude 13.1.
Look for a 55" coma. It should brighten slowly. The best visibility is late
in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
40o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
Equator |
Not visible |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:10 |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:00 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:00 |
1- |
30o S |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:20 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:20 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:20 |
Fairly high at ~04:30 |
Fairly high at ~04:30 |
1- |
C/2022 U2 (ATLAS): An
evening comet visible in a 14-inch (36 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Perseus at magnitude 11.3. Look
for a 4' coma. It should fade rapidly, moving into Orion by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
High during evening twilight at
~18:30 |
High at ~19:50 |
High at ~19:50 |
High in moonlight at ~20:00 |
Not visible |
1-26 |
40o
N |
High during evening twilight at
~18:40 |
High at ~19:50 |
High at ~19:40 |
High in moonlight at ~22:10 |
Not visible |
1-27 |
Equator |
High during evening twilight at
~19:20 |
High at ~19:50 |
High at ~19:50 |
High at ~22:20 |
Not visible |
1-27 |
30o S |
Not visible |
Fairly high in the northern sky
at ~20:20 |
Fairly high at ~20:20 |
Fairly high at ~21:10 |
Not visible |
3-27 |
C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS): An
evening comet visible in a 16-inch (41 cm) telescope
This comet begins the month in Eridanus at magnitude 14.0. Look
for a 50" coma. It should remain constant. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during evening twilight at ~18:40 |
Low in the southern sky during
evening twilight at ~19:00 |
Low in the southern sky during
evening twilight at ~19:00 |
Low in the southern sky during
evening twilight at ~19:10 |
Not visible |
1- |
40o
N |
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~18:50 |
Fairly high at ~19:00 |
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:10 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:10 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:10 |
1- |
Equator |
High during evening twilight at
~19:20 |
High at ~19:30 |
High at ~19:30 |
High in moonlight at ~19:30 |
High during evening twilight at
~19:20 |
1- |
30o S |
High during evening twilight at
~20:10 |
High during evening twilight at
~20:20 |
High during evening twilight at
~20:10 |
High during evening twilight at
~20:00 |
High during evening twilight at
~19:40 |
1- |
C/2019 T4 (ATLAS): A
morning comet visible in very large telescopes
This comet begins the month in Serpens Caput at magnitude 13.1.
Look for a 2' coma. It should remain constant. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:50 |
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:30 |
Fairly high at ~05:00 |
High at ~04:40 |
High during morning twilight at
~05:00 |
1- |
40o
N |
High during morning twilight at
~05:40 |
High in moonlight at ~05:30 |
High at ~05:10 |
High at ~05:00 |
High during morning twilight at
~05:10 |
1- |
Equator |
High during morning twilight at
~05:10 |
High in moonlight at ~05:00 |
High at ~04:50 |
High at ~04:50 |
High at ~04:40 |
1- |
30o S |
High during morning twilight at
~04:20 |
High in moonlight at ~04:10 |
High at ~04:10 |
High at ~04:20 |
High at ~04:20 |
1- |
C/2022 S3 (PANSTARRS): A
southern hemisphere evening comet visible in very large telescopes
This comet begins the month in Tucana at magnitude 13.7. Look
for a 4' coma. It should brighten slowly, moving into Dorado by month's end. The
best visibility is late in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere.
FINDER CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
40o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
Equator |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Low in the southern sky during
evening twilight at ~19:30 |
Fairly high in the southern sky
in moonlight at ~19:30 |
Not visible |
13- |
30o S |
Fairly high in the southern sky
during evening twilight at ~20:20 |
Fairly high at ~20:20 |
High at ~20:10 |
High in moonlight at ~20:10 |
Not visible |
1- |
C/2022 P1 (NEOWISE): A
southern hemisphere morning comet visible in very large telescopes
This comet begins the month in Sagittarius at magnitude 12.9.
Look for a 2' coma. It should fade by about 1.2 magnitudes, moving into Corona
Australis by month's end. The best visibility is mid-month as seen from the
southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
40o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
Equator |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
at ~05:00 |
Not visible |
13- |
30o S |
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:10 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:20 |
Fairly high in the eastern sky
at ~04:20 |
Fairly high at ~04:20 |
High at ~04:30 |
1-5, 8- |
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann:
An evening comet visible in very large telescopes
This comet begins the month in Pisces at magnitude 14.5. Look
for a 45" coma. It should fade by about 0.7 magnitudes, moving into Cetus
by month's end. FINDER CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~18:50 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
7-12 |
40o
N |
Not visible |
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~19:00 |
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~19:10 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
1-2, 6-21 |
Equator |
Not visible |
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~19:30 |
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~19:30 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
1-2, 5-24 |
30o S |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
6-9 |
C/2021 T4 (Lemmon): An
evening comet visible in very large telescopes
This comet begins the month in Cetus at magnitude 15.1. Look for
a 35" coma. It should brighten slowly. FINDER
CHART
Latitude |
Visibility February 4 |
Visibility February 11 |
Visibility February 18 |
Visibility February 25 |
Visibility March 4 |
Nights Visible |
55o
N |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
|
40o
N |
Not visible |
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~18:50 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
6-11 |
Equator |
Not visible |
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~19:30 |
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~19:20 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
1-2, 5-21 |
30o S |
Not visible |
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~20:10 |
Not visible |
Not visible |
Not visible |
1-1, 5-13, 15-15 |