Comet Chasing in March
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, one in small telescopes, and one visible in a 6-inch telescope this month. See the Observing Synopses for which comets are visible from your latitude, the best dates and the time of night.
C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is an interesting new discovery. It will reach perihelion on April 4 at a distance of just 0.005 AU, when it could be quite bright. But it is far too early to tell how bright it will actually become, and it will be very close to the sun when at its brightest. This is one of those "wait and see how it develops" comets, although no doubt there will be hyperbolic claims made about it in the next couple of months. Beware. More on this one as the observations come in, the orbit improves, and we start to see how it develops. Right now it is very faint. This is a Kreutz sungrazer comet; a fragment of the Great Comet of 1106. Because these comets have been close to the sun before, they behave differently than other comets. It appears to be quite small. Other (apparently larger) fragments of this comet have become quite bright in the past.
C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) will reach perihelion on April 19. On April 19 this comet will pass within 0.5 AU of the earth. It is predicted to reach maximum brightness of magnitude 0 in late April and will likely be visible to the naked eye..
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/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) passed perihelion on January 20 2026.
24P/Schuamasse is a periodoc 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.
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. ****** Talk aboiut B component! **************
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.
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.
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/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 March
Explanation
of Comet Synopses and charts (read this if you have questions) C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS): A
morning comet visible in binoculars C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos): An
evening comet visible in binoculars at a dark site, or a small telescope under a
country sky C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): A
southern hemisphere morning comet visible in a 8-inch (20 cm) telescope at a
dark site, or a 24-inch telescope under a country sky 88P/Howell: A southern
hemisphere morning comet visible in a 6-inch (15 cm) telescope at a dark site 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann:
An evening comet visible in a 6-inch (15 cm) telescope at a dark site, or a
12.5-inch (32 cm) under a country sky C/2026 A1 (MAPS): An
evening comet visible in an 8-inch (20 cm) telescope at a dark site 24P/Schaumasse: A morning
comet visible in a 10-inch (25 cm) telescope at a dark site 235P/LINEAR: A morning
comet visible in a 14-inch (36 cm) telescope at a dark site 240P/NEAT: An evening
comet visible in a 16-inch (41 cm) telescope at a dark site C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao): A
far-northern morning comet visible in a 24-inch telescope at a dark site Summary
Data for This Month's Telescopic Comets
This comet begins the month in Pegasus at magnitude 10.9. Look
for a 2.5' coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should brighten rapidly.
FINDER CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:40
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:20
1-
40o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:20
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~04:50
1-
Equator
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:30
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:20
14-
30o S
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Very low in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:30
25-
This comet begins the month in Cetus at magnitude 8.8. Look for
a 3' coma, condensation is a diffuse spot in coma center; moderately condensed.
It should fade rapidly, moving into Taurus by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-
40o
N
Fairly high in the southern sky
during evening twilight at ~19:00
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~19:10
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-
Equator
High during evening twilight at
~19:10
High during evening twilight at
~19:20
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-
30o S
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:40
Fairly high during evening
twilight at ~19:40
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-
This comet begins the month in Triangulum Australe at magnitude
10.9. Look for a 4' coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should fade by
about 1.0 magnitudes, moving into Centaurus by month's end. The best visibility
is early in the month as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
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 in the southern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:10
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-30
30o S
High at ~04:30
Not visible
High in moonlight at ~03:20
High at ~02:10
High at ~02:10
1-
This comet begins the month in Capricornus at magnitude 11.1.
Look for a 2' coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should brighten slowly,
moving into Aquarius by month's end. The best visibility is late in the month as
seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
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 eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:10
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00
1-
30o S
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:40
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 ~05:00
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:00
1-
This comet begins the month in Leo at magnitude 11.7. Look for a
2' coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should remain constant. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
Fairly high in moonlight at
~01:10
Fairly high at ~00:00
Fairly high at ~23:50
Fairly high at ~23:20
Fairly high in moonlight at
~23:00
1-
40o
N
Fairly high in moonlight at
~03:00
High at ~22:50
High at ~23:50
High at ~23:20
High in moonlight at ~23:30
1-
Equator
High at ~04:00
High at ~21:40
High at ~23:50
High at ~23:10
Fairly high at ~02:30
1-
30o S
High at ~03:10
Fairly high at ~21:10
High at ~23:50
High at ~23:20
Fairly high at ~02:00
1-
This comet begins the month in Eridanus at magnitude 13.1. Look
for a 3' coma, diffuse condensation at center. It should brighten rapidly,
moving into Cetus by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
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
3-17, 19-19
Equator
Not visible
Not visible
Fairly high in the western sky
during evening twilight at ~19:10
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~19:10
Not visible
3-26, 28-29
30o S
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Low in the western sky during
evening twilight at ~19:10
Not visible
2-28
This comet begins the month in Serpens Caput at magnitude 11.3.
Look for a 4' coma, center much brighter than edges, though still diffuse. It
should fade rapidly. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
High during morning twilight at
~05:00
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-28
40o
N
High during morning twilight at
~05:10
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-29
Equator
High at ~04:40
Not visible
High at ~03:50
Not visible
Not visible
1-5, 7-30
30o S
High during morning twilight at
~04:30
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-5, 8-30
This comet begins the month in Ophiuchus at magnitude 14.0. Look
for a 1' coma, condensation is a diffuse spot in coma center; moderately
condensed. It should brighten slowly. The best visibility is late in the month
as seen from the southern hemisphere. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-
40o
N
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:20
Not visible
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~05:00
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~04:50
Fairly high during morning
twilight at ~04:30
1-
Equator
High at ~05:00
Not visible
High during morning twilight at
~05:00
High during morning twilight at
~05:00
High at ~04:40
1-
30o S
High during morning twilight at
~04:30
Not visible
High in moonlight at ~04:40
High during morning twilight at
~04:50
High at ~04:40
1-
This comet begins the month in Taurus at magnitude 14.1. Look
for a 35" coma, center much brighter than edges, though still diffuse. It
should fade by about 0.7 magnitudes, moving into Auriga by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
High during evening twilight at
~19:30
High during evening twilight at
~19:40
High during evening twilight at
~20:00
High during evening twilight at
~20:10
Not visible
1-
40o
N
High during evening twilight at
~19:10
High during evening twilight at
~19:30
High during evening twilight at
~19:30
High during evening twilight at
~19:40
Not visible
1-
Equator
High during evening twilight at
~19:20
High during evening twilight at
~19:20
High during evening twilight at
~19:20
High during evening twilight at
~19:20
Not visible
1-
30o S
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
1-28
This comet begins the month in Pegasus at magnitude 13.3. Look
for a 55" coma, condensation is a diffuse spot in coma center; moderately
condensed. It should fade by about 1.0 magnitudes by month's end. FINDER
CHART
Latitude
Visibility February 28
Visibility March 7
Visibility March 14
Visibility March 21
Visibility March 28
Nights Visible
55o
N
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~05:10
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:50
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:30
Fairly high in the eastern sky
during morning twilight at ~04:10
Not visible
1-
40o
N
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:20
Not visible
Low in the eastern sky during
morning twilight at ~05:00
Not visible
Not visible
1-
Equator
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
30o S
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
Not visible
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 |
March 1st |
March 15th |
March 31st |
Observations as of (UT) | |||
| Mag | Diam | Mag | Diam | Mag | Diam | |||
| C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) | Cetus | 8.8 | 3.2' | 10.2 | 2.6' | 11.6 | 2.0' | 2026 February 24 |
| C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) | Pegasus | 10.9 | 1.7' | 8.4 | 2.0' | 4.5 | 2.7' | 2026 February 9 |
| C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) | Triangulum Australe | 10.9 | 4.0' | 11.4 | 4.1' | 12.0 | 4.1' | 2026 February 22 |
| 88P/Howell | Capricornus | 11.1 | 1.9' | 11.0 | 2.0' | 11.0 | 2.0' | 2026 February 23 |
| 24P/Schaumasse | Serpens Caput | 11.3 | 3.9' | 12.3 | 3.8' | 13.4 | 3.7' | 2026 February 25 |
| 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann | Leo | 11.7 | 1.8' | 11.7 | 1.8' | 11.7 | 1.8' | 2026 February 25 |
| C/2025 T1 (ATLAS) | Capricornus | 12.9 | 1.3' | 13.3 | 1.3' | 13.7 | 1.3' | 2026 January 20 |
| C/2026 A1 (MAPS) | Eridanus | 13.1 | 2.9' | 11.5 | 3.0' | 6.9 | 3.3' | 2026 February 25 |
| C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao) | Pegasus | 13.3 | 58" | 13.8 | 55" | 14.3 | 51" | 2026 February 23 |
| 198P/ODAS | Taurus | 13.6 | 1.2' | 13.9 | 1.1' | 14.2 | 57" | 2021 November 30 |
| 235P/LINEAR | Ophiuchus | 14.0 | 54" | 13.9 | 58" | 13.8 | 1.0' | 2026 February 22 |
| 240P/NEAT | Taurus | 14.1 | 34" | 14.4 | 31" | 14.7 | 28" | 2026 January 25 |
| C/2024 J3 (ATLAS) | Aquila | 14.8? | 24"? | 14.7? | 25"? | 14.5? | 26"? | 2025 August 22 |
| C/2022 QE78 (ATLAS) | Cancer | 14.9 | 43" | 15.0 | 42" | 15.1 | 40" | 2026 February 23 |
| C/2024 T5 (ATLAS) | Fornax | 14.9 | 29" | 14.9 | 29" | 14.8 | 29" | 2026 February 23 |
| C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS) | Taurus | 15.0 | 45" | 15.2 | 42" | 15.4 | 40" | 2026 February 22 |
| C/2021 G2 (ATLAS) | Ophiuchus | 15.5 | 34" | 15.5 | 35" | 15.5 | 35" | 2026 February 21 |
| 240P-B/NEAT | Taurus | 15.9 | 31" | 16.1 | 28" | 16.4 | 26" | 2025 November 28 |
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
|