Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) remains visible with binoculars and small telescopes at it moves northwards. This month offers the last good chance to catch a glimpse before it fades significantly.

Comet Catalina is now an evening object that's well placed throughout January for observers at northern locations. For some weeks now the comet has shone between 6th and 7th magnitude; not quite bright enough to be seen with the naked eye but within the range of binoculars and telescopes. On January 17th, it makes its closest approach to Earth at 0.72 AU (108 million kilometres or 67 million miles). It's a shame it's not nearer but nevertheless a peak magnitude of +6.2 is predicted. After that Catalina will continue on its long journey to the far reaches of the Solar System. Although remaining superbly placed from Northern latitudes, its best days are then behind it. Catch it soon before it disappears forever!

Location and star charts

At the start of the year, Catalina passed less than a degree west of bright orange star Arcturus (mag. -0.04). On January 8th it moves into Canes Venatici, rising before 11pm from northern temperate locations. Continuing on its almost direct northerly trajectory the comet's visibility continues to improve for northern based observers; from the middle of the month it's visible practically all night and even circumpolar from many locations. Just west of the comet on January 14th is one of the most famous galaxies in the sky, M51 the Whirlpool Galaxy (mag. +8.4). It will be interesting to compare the appearance of the two objects. Through a small scope they both should look hazy although it's predicted Catalina will be 5 times brighter.

Next stop for Catalina is Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Such a well know constellation will aid in locating the comet. On January 17th, the date of closest approach to Earth it passes between star 83 UMa (mag. + 4.6) and M101 the Pinwheel galaxy (mag. +7.9). Following that, Catalina moves through Draco and Ursa Minor before ending the month in Camelopardalis. From southern latitudes it's visible low down in morning twilight for the first half of the month, not anymore after that.

The finder charts below show the positions of Catalina from January 1st to January 22nd, 2016.

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) Finder Chart from January 15th to January 22nd, 2016 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) Finder Chart from January 9th to January 16th, 2016 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) Finder Chart from January 1st to January 10th, 2016 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

C/2013 US10 (Catalina) Data (at epoch November 15, 2014)

Name C/2013 US10 (Catalina) Type Comet Discoverer Catalina Sky Survey Discovery date October 31, 2013 Perihelion (AU) 0.82290 Eccentricity 1.00040 Orbital period (years) unknown Inclination (degrees) 148.8733 Longitude of ascending node (degrees) 186.1371 Perihelion November 15th, 2015

(C2013/US10) Catalina Data Table

01-Jan-2016 14h 13m 59s 18d 21m 48s 6.4 0.898 Boötes 02-Jan-2016 14h 13m 28s 20d 04m 29s 6.4 0.880 Boötes 03-Jan-2016 14h 12m 53s 21d 51m 41s 6.4 0.863 Boötes 04-Jan-2016 14h 12m 13s 23d 43m 30s 6.3 0.846 Boötes 05-Jan-2016 14h 11m 28s 25d 40m 01s 6.3 0.830 Boötes 06-Jan-2016 14h 10m 37s 27d 41m 18s 6.3 0.815 Boötes 07-Jan-2016 14h 09m 40s 29d 47m 20s 6.3 0.800 Boötes 08-Jan-2016 14h 08m 35s 31d 58m 03s 6.3 0.787 Boötes 09-Jan-2016 14h 07m 22s 34d 13m 22s 6.3 0.775 Canes Venatici 10-Jan-2016 14h 05m 59s 36d 33m 03s 6.3 0.764 Canes Venatici 11-Jan-2016 14h 04m 24s 38d 56m 52s 6.3 0.754 Canes Venatici 12-Jan-2016 14h 02m 36s 41d 24m 25s 6.3 0.746 Canes Venatici 13-Jan-2016 14h 00m 32s 43d 55m 16s 6.3 0.738 Canes Venatici 14-Jan-2016 13h 58m 11s 46d 28m 54s 6.3 0.733 Canes Venatici 15-Jan-2016 13h 55m 28s 49d 04m 41s 6.3 0.729 Ursa Major 16-Jan-2016 13h 52m 21s 51d 41m 54s 6.2 0.726 Ursa Major 17-Jan-2016 13h 48m 43s 54d 19m 49s 6.2 0.725 Ursa Major 18-Jan-2016 13h 44m 28s 56d 57m 34s 6.2 0.725 Ursa Major 19-Jan-2016 13h 39m 30s 59d 34m 18s 6.3 0.727 Ursa Major 20-Jan-2016 13h 33m 36s 62d 09m 04s 6.3 0.731 Ursa Major 21-Jan-2016 13h 26m 34s 64d 40m 54s 6.4 0.736 Draco 22-Jan-2016 13h 18m 05s 67d 08m 46s 6.4 0.743 Draco 23-Jan-2016 13h 07m 46s 69d 31m 34s 6.5 0.751 Ursa Minor 24-Jan-2016 12h 55m 03s 71d 48m 02s 6.5 0.761 Draco 25-Jan-2016 12h 39m 12s 73d 56m 43s 6.6 0.772 Draco 26-Jan-2016 12h 19m 14s 75d 55m 44s 6.7 0.785 Draco 27-Jan-2016 11h 53m 53s 77d 42m 41s 6.7 0.799 Camelopardalis 28-Jan-2016 11h 21m 47s 79d 14m 21s 6.7 0.814 Draco 29-Jan-2016 10h 41m 53s 80d 26m 41s 6.8 0.830 Draco 30-Jan-2016 09h 54m 33s 81d 15m 18s 6.8 0.848 Draco 31-Jan-2016 09h 02m 43s 81d 37m 01s 6.9 0.866 Camelopardalis

See also

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) moves past Kemble's Cascade during the last week of February 2016. Visible with binoculars and small telescopes from northern and tropical latitudes.

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) now fading as it recedes from Earth. Currently moving through the far northern constellations. Remains visible with binoculars and small telescopes.

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) moves past Arcturus as it heads north during January. Remains visible with binoculars and small telescopes.

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) remains an early morning binocular and small telescope object

Catalina (C/2013 US10) an early morning binocular and small telescope comet

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) edges towards naked eye visibility

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) remains visible in the evening from Southern and Equatorial Latitudes during September 2015

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) now visible with binoculars from Southern and Equatorial Latitudes

