24P Schaumasse

Closest to Earth:  2026 Jan 4 at 0.59AU
Closest to Sun:   2026 Jan 8 at 1.18AU
Maximum magnitude: 8 in January 2026
Orbital Period: 8.2 years

Periodic comet Schaumasse was discovered in 1911 and has an orbital period of 8.2 years.
Its next approach is due in early 2026, when it will be 1.18 AU from the Sun on January 8
and will come as close as 0.59 AU to the Earth at the same time, reaching a peak brightness of magnitude 8.
This favourable apparition, which is slightly better situated for northern hemisphere viewers, won't happen again until 2059, so take advantage of it now.
 

During November 2025,
the comet will brighten from magnitude 13 to 10 as it moves through Cancer and Leo in the pre-dawn sky.
On November 8–9, it traverses the star cluster Messier 44, also known as the Beehive, though moonlight will hinder viewing.
The moon-free period starts on November 16, when the now magnitude 11 comet, still situated in Cancer, is now 6 degrees east of M44.
On the morning of November 22, the now magnitude 10.5 comet will be 1.5 degrees north of the marvellous magnitude 9 spiral galaxy NGC 2903 in Leo.
By November’s end, the comet will situate near Algieba (Gamma Leonis) within the sickle of Leo.
 

During December 2025,
the comet will brighten from magnitude 10.0 to 8.0 as it passes through Leo and Coma Berenices in the hours before dawn.
On December 2, it will be within a degree of Algieba (Gamma Leonis) and magnitude 11 interacting galaxy pair NGC 3226/7 in Leo.
Moonlight hinders viewing from December 4-17.
On the morning of December 13, the comet situates adjacent to magnitude 11 elliptical galaxy pair NGC 3607/8 in Leo.
On December 20, it locates 2 degrees north of Denebola (Beta Leonis)
Entering Coma Berenices on December 22, there are several rendezvous with galaxies situated in the Virgo Supercluster.
Particularly good events are with magnitude 10 face on spiral galaxy M100 between Dec 26-27 and barred spiral M91 on Dec 29. Astrophotographers take note.
 

During January 2026,
the comet will reach its maximum brightness at magnitude 8.0, gradually diminishing to magnitude 8.5 by the end of the month
as it traverses the constellations Virgo and Bootes in the morning sky.
On January 1, the comet will be found 45' north of the faint, magnitude 11 flocculant spiral galaxy NGC 4689.
This date offers your best chance to see the comet clearly before moonlight interferes with visibility from January 3 to 16.
On January 16, the comet locates in Bootes, about 4 degrees south of Upsilon Bootes.
On January 24, it lies adjacent to magnitude 5 star 15 Bootes.
On January 30, the now magnitude 8.5 comet situates 45’ south of magnitude 12 galaxy NGC 5669.
 

During February 2026,
the comet will fade from magnitude 8.5 to 10.0 as it traverses the constellations of Bootes, Virgo and Serpens, best viewable in the hours before dawn.
Moonlight interferes with viewing between February 1 to 14.
On February 3, it locates just north of magnitude 5 star 31 Bootes.
On February 14, it enters Virgo and the comet can be seen prior to local moonrise.
On February 18, the comet enters Serpens, near the Virgo/Bootes border.
By February 28, the mow magnitude 10 comet situates in Serpens, about 5 degrees west of Unukalhai (Alpha Serpentis)
 

During March 2026,
the comet continues to fade from magnitude 10.0 to 13.0 as it traverses the constellation of Serpens, best visible after midnight.
It commences a retrograde loop during March and should stay in the same vicinity as the magnitude 11 barred spiral galaxy NGC 5921,
within 2 degrees, and being closest to it, 20’ on the morning of March 28.
Astrophotographers take note as it would make a great sequence showing the fading comet over the month vs the steady brightness of the galaxy.