Despite moving away from Earth as it heads towards the outer reaches of the Solar System comet Catalina remains well placed from Northern Hemisphere and tropical locations during February. At the start of the month the comet shone at magnitude +6.9 and beyond naked eye visibility but easily within binocular range. Unless something now dramatic happens it's expected to fade by another two magnitudes by months end, becoming increasingly difficult to spot with binoculars. At this level of brightness a small size telescope - preferably larger - is recommended for observing. From mid southern locations Catalina can no longer be seen.

From northern locations, Catalina can be seen high in the sky towards the north after sunset. The comet remains circumpolar from many locations and therefore visible all night long. It spends all of February moving on a southerly path through the dim constellation of Camelopardalis. The highlight of the month occurs on February 22nd and 23rd when Catalina passes close by open cluster NGC 1502. This small cluster shines at magnitude +7.0 and normally would be unremarkable except for a long line of mainly 8th and 9th magnitude stars adjacent to it known as "Kemble's Cascade". This superb asterism was discovered by Father Lucian Kemble who described it as "a beautiful cascade of faint stars tumbling from the northwest down to the open cluster NGC 1502".

The easiest way to find Kemble's Cascade is to imagine a line connection stars Caph (β Cas - mag. +2.3) and epsilon Cas (ε Cas - mag. +3.4) in Cassiopeia. Then extend the line eastwards by the same distance again to reach Kemble's Cascade. The asterism covers about 4 degrees of sky. For imagers a configuration with a large field of view is required to capture both the comet and the Kemble's Cascade in the same shot.

The finder charts below show the positions of Catalina from February 9th to March 8th, 2016.

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) Finder Chart from February 9th to March 8th, 2016 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) Finder Chart from January 30th to February 12th, 2016 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) Finder Chart from January 22nd to January 31st, 2016 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

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

(C/2013 US10) Catalina Data Table

See also

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) 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 (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