Bright Comet Prospects for 2015

[glenc]

* 88P/Howell (http://cometography.com/pcomets/088p.html) — Discovered with the 0.46-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar Observatory on 1981. It reaches perihelion on April 6th, when it could become as bright as 8th magnitude. Northerners need not apply — this comet will be only be visible from the southern hemisphere during the autumn (April, May)

* C/2014 Q1 PanSTARRS (http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2014Q1/2014Q1.html)
Discovered in August 2014, Q1 PanSTARRS will reach perihelion on July 6, 2015, after passing just 0.3 a.u. from the Sun. Expectations are high for it to grow a long, bright tail and possibly crest to magnitude +3 at nightfall during July and early August in the middle of southern winter.

See the maps here
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/obser...&rid=246721721 (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/bright-comet-prospects-2015012815/?et_mid=720849&rid=246721721)
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[ralph1]

How about C/2013 US10 Catalina? It should reach a least binoculars visibility this year, if predictions hold out.

[madwayne]

Thank you Glen.

Wayne

[glenc]

Ralph you are correct.
For much of the year, the comet (Catalina) remains the province of southern hemisphere skywatchers. In late July and early August, it reaches magnitude +7 and becomes a south circumpolar object. By late September the comet achieves naked eye visibility (6th magnitude).

[Suzy]

Thanks Glen :).
Hey, you're on facebook aren't you? You should come join the Comet Watch group! Lots of comet discoverers there, great info, and amazing pics and a lot of IIS folk are already there so you will feel right at home. If interested, let me know and I will add you. I admin it with the founder of the group, Neil Norman.