Comet Chasing in May
Comet chasing is the visual observation of telescopic comets. Jump to: Observing synopses Summary data Buy me a Coffee
There is one comet visible in binoculars and one visible in a six-inch telescope, but neither is visible from the northern hemisphere this month. See the Observing Synopses for which comets are visible from your latitude, the best dates and the time of night.
C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) passed perihelion on April 19, when it was also 0.5 AU of the earth.
88P/Howell is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 5.5 years. It passed perihelion in March 2026 at a distance of 1.4 AU.
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has frequent outbursts, typically resulting in a brightening of 1-4.0 magnitudes. It varies in its distance from the Sun from 5.8 AU (at perihelion) to 6.3 AU (at aphelion), which is an unusually small variation for a comet, and remains quite far from the sun at all times. This means that it can be observed more or less continuously. See Mission 29P from the BAA for up to date information.
10P/Tempel is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 5.4 years. Perihelion is on August 2, 2026 at a distance of 1.4 AU.
C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) passed perihelion on January 20 2026.
24P/Schaumasse is a periodic comet with an 8.2 year orbital period. Perihelion was on January 8, 2026.
C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is an amazing comet that brightened quickly in late August and became a naked eye object in October and November. There were reports of fans, streamers, and other structures apparent in the eyepiece at high magnification. It is now on its way out.
C/2025 T1 (ATLAS) passed perihelion in early December. It reached maximum brightness of magnitude 11.2 in mid November.
C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) fragmented, splitting into at least three parts (November 10). It has since faded. This comet was discovered on May 24. It passed perihelion on October 8.
240P/NEAT is a periodic comet with a 7.6 year orbital period. Perihelion was on December 19. It split into a second, fainter component (240P-B) in October.
235P/LINEAR is a periodic comet with a 6.4 year orbital period. Perihelion was on December 22 at a distance of 2.0 AU. It is currently predicted to reach maximum brightness of magnitude 12.5 in late April 2026.
210P/Christensen is a periodic comet with a 5.6 year orbital period. Perihelion is on November 22, when it will also be within 0.5 AU of the earth.
C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was identified by Vladimir Bezugly in SWAN images around 2025-09-11 (visible in SWAN since at least Sep 4, with STEREO-A/HI-1 detections into late August. C/2025 R2 (SWAN) is past perihelion, which occurred in mid September 2025. On September 12 this comet passed within 0.3 AU of the earth. It reached maximum brightness in late September
C/2021 G2 (ATLAS) is past perihelion, which occurred in early September 2024. It reached maximum brightness of magnitude 14 in late August.
3I/ATLAS is the 3rd interstellar comet. It is on it way out of the solar system, and fading rapidly. It passed closest to the sun on October 29 at a distance of 1.4 AU.
C/2026 A1 (MAPS) has apparently disintegrated (see below for more info). It reached perihelion on April 4 at a distance of just 0.005 AU. This was a Kreutz sungrazer comet; possbly a fragment of the Great Comet of 1106. C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) is an interesting Oort cloud comet that was reported as a result of the Dark Energy Survey. Soon after it was made public, images showed a cometary coma. Discovery credit goes to Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein. This is a remarkable comet that was at 29 AU in 2014, with a perihelion of 10.9 AU in 2031. Its orbit extends out to 40,000 AU! It was unusually bright for its distance. HST observations that isolate the nucleus estimate the diameter to be between 120 and 140 km, making this possibly the largest comet nucleus yet measured. Because of its distant perihelion, this comet is not expected to become bright enough to be visually observed except in large instruments, and not until the end of the decade, but it is likely going to be the subject of intense scientific scrutiny.
Comets that have apparently di
sintegrated: C/2026 A1 (MAPS), C/2025 F2, C/2024 G3, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), C/2022 S3 (PANSTARRS), C/2021 P4 (ATLAS), C/2020 Q1 (Borisov), C/2020 P1 (NEOWISE), and C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS). Beware that various sources often fail to keep track of whether or not a comet still exists!Comet Visibility in the Eyepiece
When you read below that a particular aperture is required to see a comet you can have a reasonable degree of confidence that the comet can in fact be seen in the eyepiece.
This
page uses code developed for SkyTools to predict the visibility of a comet. Predicting how much
aperture is required to see a comet is a very complex task. The magnitude
alone is a very poor predictor. SkyTools considers the magnitude, coma
diameter, and degree of concentration of the comet, based on recent
observations.The predictions are made for a Country/Suburban site,
which is approximately
Bortle
5, unless
indicated otherwise. But always
remember, comets are like cats. They both have tails and do what they want, and
not always what we expect. This is one of the things that makes comet chasing
interesting!
Observing
Synopses for May
Explanation
of Comet Synopses and charts (read this if you have questions) C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS): A
southern hemisphere evening comet visible in binoculars 88P/Howell: A morning
comet visible in small telescopes at a dark site 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann:
An evening comet visible in a 10-inch (25 cm) telescope at a dark site 10P/Tempel: A morning
comet visible in a 12.5-inch (32 cm) telescope at a dark site C/2023 R1 (PANSTARRS): A
morning comet visible in a 12.5-inch (32 cm) telescope at a dark site C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): A
southern hemisphere evening comet visible in a 16-inch (41 cm) telescope at a
dark site C/2024 J3 (ATLAS): A
morning comet visible in an 18-inch (46 cm) telescope at a dark site 235P/LINEAR: A morning
comet visible in an 18-inch (46 cm) telescope at a dark site Summary
Data for This Month's Telescopic Comets
This comet begins the month in Taurus at magnitude 4.3. Look for
a 5' coma, condensation is a bright diffuse spot at center of coma. It should
fade rapidly, moving into Monoceros by month's end. The best visibility is early
in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
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
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~18:40
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~18:50
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~18:50
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~18:50
Not visible
1-
30o S
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~18:20
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~18:20
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~18:20
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~18:20
Not visible
1-
This comet begins the month in Aquarius at magnitude 10.6. Look
for a 2' coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should fade by about 0.6
magnitudes, moving into Pisces by month's end. The best visibility is mid-month
as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
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
26-
Equator
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:50
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:50
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:50
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~04:50
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~04:50
1-
30o S
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:20
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:20
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:20
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:30
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:30
1-
This comet begins the month in Leo at magnitude 12.4. Look for a
1.5' coma, center much brighter than edges, though still diffuse. It should fade
slowly. FINDER CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
Nights Visible
55o
N
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~22:00
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-23
40o
N
High during evening twilight at
~20:30
High during evening twilight at
~20:50
High during evening twilight at
~20:50
High during evening twilight at
~21:00
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~21:00
1-
Equator
High during evening twilight at
~19:00
High at ~19:50
High at ~19:30
High in moonlight at ~19:20
High during evening twilight at
~19:00
1-
30o S
High during evening twilight at
~18:40
High at ~19:50
High at ~19:20
High in moonlight at ~18:40
High during evening twilight at
~18:20
1-
This comet begins the month in Aquila at magnitude 15.6. Look
for a 35" coma. It should brighten rapidly. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
3-
40o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~03:00
High during morning twilight at
~02:50
High during morning twilight at
~03:00
1-1, 6-
Equator
Not visible
Not visible
High at ~04:10
High at ~03:50
High during morning twilight at
~04:50
7-
30o S
Not visible
Not visible
High at ~04:10
High at ~03:50
High during morning twilight at
~05:40
8-
This comet begins the month in Aquila at magnitude 14.2. Look
for a 40" coma, condensation is a diffuse spot in coma center; moderately
condensed. It should brighten slowly, moving into Serpens Cauda by month's end.
FINDER CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Fairly high in the southern sky
during morning twilight at ~01:10
Fairly high in the southern sky
during morning twilight at ~00:40
Not visible
1-
40o
N
High during morning twilight at
~03:30
High in moonlight at ~02:50
High at ~02:50
High at ~02:20
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~03:00
1-
Equator
Not visible
High in moonlight at ~02:40
High at ~03:00
High at ~02:20
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~04:50
1-
30o S
Not visible
High in moonlight at ~03:20
High at ~03:00
High at ~02:20
Not visible
1-
This comet begins the month in Centaurus at magnitude 14.0. Look
for a 40" coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should fade by about 1.1
magnitudes, moving into Antlia by month's end. The best visibility is early in
the month as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
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
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:10
High at ~19:50
High at ~19:20
Not visible
Not visible
1-25, 31-
30o S
High during evening twilight at
~18:30
High at ~19:50
High at ~19:10
High in moonlight at ~18:40
Not visible
1-25, 31-
This comet begins the month in Delphinus at magnitude 14.6. Look
for a 35" coma, center much brighter than edges, though still diffuse. It
should brighten slowly, moving into Vulpecula by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~01:30
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~01:00
High during morning twilight at
~00:30
High during morning twilight at
~00:20
1-
40o
N
High during morning twilight at
~03:30
High during morning twilight at
~03:00
High during morning twilight at
~03:00
High during morning twilight at
~02:50
High during morning twilight at
~03:00
1-
Equator
Not visible
High in moonlight at ~04:40
High at ~04:30
High at ~04:10
High during morning twilight at
~04:50
1-
30o S
Not visible
Fairly high in moonlight at
~05:00
Fairly high at ~04:40
Fairly high at ~04:10
Not visible
1-
This comet begins the month in Ophiuchus at magnitude 14.6. Look
for a 30" coma, condensation is a diffuse spot in coma center; moderately
condensed. It should fade by about 0.6 magnitudes by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility May 2
Visibility May 9
Visibility May 16
Visibility May 23
Visibility May 30
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-28
40o
N
Not visible
Fairly high at ~01:50
Fairly high at ~01:30
High at ~01:00
Not visible
1-
Equator
Not visible
High at ~01:00
High at ~01:30
High at ~01:00
Not visible
1-2, 5-29
30o S
Not visible
High in moonlight at ~00:40
High at ~01:30
High at ~01:00
Not visible
1-1, 5-29
Comets
brighter than 16th magnitude. This table is
updated as necessary. The last column indicates the date of the last
observation used to compute these values. The constellation listed is
where the comet was on the first of the month.
| Comet | Constellation |
May 1st |
May 15th |
May 31st |
Observations as of (UT) | |||
| Mag | Diam | Mag | Diam | Mag | Diam | |||
| C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) | Eridanus | 4.5 | 6.0' | 7.3 | 3.3' | 9.7 | 2.2' | 2026 May 3 |
| 88P/Howell | Aquarius | 10.7 | 2.0' | 10.9 | 2.0' | 11.2 | 2.0' | 2026 April 26 |
| 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann | Leo | 12.8 | 1.6' | 12.8 | 1.5' | 12.9 | 1.5' | 2026 May 2 |
| C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) | Centaurus | 14.2 | 43" | 14.7 | 38" | 15.3 | 33" | 2026 April 25 |
| C/2023 R1 (PANSTARRS) | Aquila | 14.5 | 36" | 14.3 | 39" | 14.2 | 41" | 2026 March 24 |
| C/2024 T5 (ATLAS) | Eridanus | 14.7 | 29" | 14.6 | 29" | 14.5 | 30" | 2026 March 24 |
| 24P/Schaumasse | Virgo | 14.9 | 1.4' | 15.9 | 1.2' | 17.1 | 58" | 2026 May 2 |
| 235P/LINEAR | Ophiuchus | 14.9 | 31" | 15.1 | 31" | 15.6 | 31" | 2026 April 14 |
| C/2024 J3 (ATLAS) | Delphinus | 14.9 | 30" | 14.8 | 31" | 14.6 | 33" | 2026 April 13 |
| 10P/Tempel | Aquila | 15.6 | 26" | 14.8 | 31" | 13.9 | 37" | 2026 April 27 |
| C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao) | Andromeda | 15.6 | 44" | 16.1 | 42" | 16.5 | 41" | 2026 April 7 |
| C/2022 QE78 (ATLAS) | Cancer | 15.7 | 37" | 15.8 | 35" | 15.9 | 34" | 2026 May 2 |
| C/2025 Q3 (ATLAS) | Fornax | 15.7 | 49" | 15.9 | 49" | 16.0 | 50" | 2026 March 22 |
| C/2021 G2 (ATLAS) | Ophiuchus | 15.9 | 37" | 15.9 | 37" | 16.0 | 37" | 2026 May 1 |
| C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS) | Taurus | 16.0 | 55" | 16.1 | 53" | 16.2 | 52" | 2026 May 2 |
| C/2024 R4 (PANSTARRS) | Pegasus | 16.2 | 19" | 16.1 | 19" | 15.9 | 20" | 2026 April 12 |
For information about specific comets see Gary W. Kronk's Cometography
Make your own visual observing custom charts for your location and telescope/binoculars: Software for visual comet observing
Select comets that are appropriate for your
imaging system, and plan when they are best imaged: Software
for comet imaging
| Links
Skyhound's Guide
to Comets
|