Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1998 Dec. 12: South)

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 Updated on December 15, 1998
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

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* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
We can observe it for a while under the same condition, but slowly fading. It is close by Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) this week. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  22 23.34  -21 54.9   0.877   1.074    70    9.0     78.7 101.2  20:53 ( 88, 38)  
Dec. 19  23  1.86  -23 17.0   0.908   1.105    71    9.2     75.3  96.8  20:58 ( 87, 40)

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Although it is rather fainter by CCD, but about 9 mag and easy to see visually. Rapidly becomes higher. It has two tails, a long anti-tail towards southeath and an ordinary tail towards west. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  13 12.77  -13 54.1   1.695   1.438    57    9.7     23.5 331.5   2:53 (273, 20)  
Dec. 19  13  6.42  -11 15.2   1.578   1.504    67    9.8     29.5 328.0   2:54 (266, 26)

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
It is going lower rapidly. The chance is until the end of December. Southern people cannot see it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  21 28.38   26  2.2   0.984   1.245    78    9.9     47.4 209.1  20:53 (121, -2)  
Dec. 19  21 19.39   22  5.7   1.182   1.236    68   10.3     30.4 205.9  20:58 (112, -7)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Northern people can see it for a long time until next May, although it will low in this winter. Southern people cannot see it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  18 48.00   37 25.2   2.030   1.831    64   10.2      8.4  25.1  20:53 (114,-37)  
Dec. 19  18 50.44   38 27.6   2.012   1.806    63   10.1     11.3  24.2  20:58 (113,-43)

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
It keeps the good condition for a while. It is brightening since October and now 10 mag visually. The tail is getting greater. Very low for Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   7 25.86   41  2.3   0.903   1.812   147   11.2      1.9  11.5   2:04 (180, 14)  
Dec. 19   7 25.08   41  9.9   0.864   1.797   152   11.1      2.9 275.9   1:36 (180, 14)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Brightening while approaching to the earth and the tail is getting greater. Now it is 10 mag visually. It will be 11 mag until next April. Very low for Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   6 54.87   40 25.1   1.386   2.306   152   11.4      8.5 233.9   1:34 (180, 15)  
Dec. 19   6 50.04   39 44.2   1.339   2.285   158   11.2     11.2 232.9   1:01 (180, 15)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. It was 11.0 mag in late November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   6 30.06  -73 22.4   7.217   7.160    82   11.5      9.0 247.2   1:10 (  0, 52)  
Dec. 19   6 16.20  -73 41.2   7.276   7.219    82   11.6      8.7 257.0   0:28 (  0, 51)

* 88P/Howell

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
It was 10 mag and diffused in November. It will fade rapidly after this, one reported that 12.2 mag on Dec. 9. C/1997 J2 is close. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  21  8.99  -20  0.4   1.985   1.617    54   11.7     45.9  71.8  20:53 ( 80, 22)  
Dec. 19  21 30.15  -18 16.6   2.062   1.653    52   12.0     44.8  70.3  20:58 ( 80, 19)

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
A bit fainter than the ephemeris. It is already fainter than 13 mag, one reported that 15.5 mag by CCD. It locates very low in the southwest at dusk. 88P is close. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  21 20.02  -17 28.4   4.489   4.042    57   13.0     11.1 116.2  20:53 ( 84, 23)  
Dec. 19  21 25.08  -18  0.1   4.629   4.084    51   13.1     11.4 111.5  20:58 ( 80, 17)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Although 14 mag visually, 16 mag by CCD. It will reach to 7 mag next year but the condition is bad for Northern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  23 37.35    5 45.6   2.646   2.938    97   13.8     19.9 231.7  20:53 (129, 34)  
Dec. 19  23 30.82    4 25.2   2.725   2.868    88   13.8     16.3 229.2  20:58 (119, 29)

* 93P/Lovas 1

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Bright as 13 mag both visually and by CCD. Now is the peak and it will fade after this. Southern people cannot observe it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   6 32.90   47 59.7   0.872   1.796   150   13.8      7.5 251.1   1:12 (180,  7)  
Dec. 19   6 27.40   47 32.8   0.883   1.821   154   14.0     10.0 238.4   0:39 (180,  7)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Brightening well. 14.0 mag visually and 15.5 mag by CCD. It will be at conjunction soon and we cannot see it for a year after that. So now is the chance to observe it, but very low at dusk. It is very close to M72, M73 and Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  20 58.19  -11 40.6   2.592   2.165    54   14.3     27.0  80.7  20:53 ( 86, 15)  
Dec. 19  21 11.17  -11  6.7   2.618   2.126    50   14.1     28.4  79.3  20:58 ( 84, 11)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Beginning to be observable. No observations are reported since July. CCD observers may catch it if it is in outburst. It has been at conjunction for a while, so observations are encouraged. Because we could not see the comet on the image on Dec. 6, so it should be fainter than 14.5 mag now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  14 45.79  -24 43.5   6.993   6.203    34   14.2     10.5 111.1   2:53 (295,  8)  
Dec. 19  14 50.73  -25  9.8   6.924   6.201    39   14.1     10.1 111.6   2:54 (292, 13)

* C/1998 K2 ( LINEAR )
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Recent magnitude is faint as 14-16 mag. It is close by SN 1998ew (14 mag). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  20 41.22  -70 11.1   3.010   2.587    55   14.5     30.3  75.5  20:53 ( 24, 35)  
Dec. 19  21 20.07  -69  3.3   3.050   2.622    55   14.6     30.8  68.9  20:58 ( 26, 35)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. Now is the last chance to observe in the Northern Hemisphere. Northern people cannot observe it in next year. It was observed as bright as 14.0 mag visually in late November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  10  7.80  -35  1.9   4.565   4.665    89   14.7     15.7 190.2   2:53 (278, 67)  
Dec. 19  10  5.72  -36 50.3   4.446   4.625    94   14.6     16.1 196.0   2:54 (282, 73)

* 102P/Shoemaker 1
Not yet observed in this return. It may be much fainter than the ephemeris. It is too low to observe. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  20 28.44  -26  6.1   2.730   2.130    43   15.1     31.4  60.2  20:53 ( 70, 17)  
Dec. 19  20 42.60  -24 14.7   2.765   2.110    40   15.1     32.1  59.8  20:58 ( 69, 12)

* P/1998 S1 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14 mag visually and 16 mag by CCD. Slowly fading although the location will be good for a while. Now is the chance. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   0 46.02   14  1.3   1.973   2.562   116   15.1      7.6  64.2  20:53 (152, 36)  
Dec. 19   0 49.89   14 27.0   2.059   2.568   110   15.2     10.0  66.3  20:58 (145, 33)

* C/1998 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Rapidly fading in November. It has a strange tail (about 1.5 arcmin). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   2 27.20    8 37.7   1.634   2.450   137   15.1      1.0 212.6  21:03 (180, 46)  
Dec. 19   2 27.56    8 36.3   1.784   2.533   130   15.3      2.0  79.0  20:58 (172, 46)

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14.5 mag visually and 15 mag by CCD. Now is the last chance for observation but getting lower.. Southern people cannnot observe it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  19 21.73   24 54.8   3.419   2.997    56   15.4     24.2  73.2  20:53 (104,-25)  
Dec. 19  19 33.80   25 45.9   3.472   3.027    55   15.5     24.8  71.9  20:58 (103,-29)

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 11
It keeps the current brightness for a while after this. Visual observers reported it as bright as 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   4 11.54   -4 21.2   0.844   1.760   148   15.6     25.0 330.6  22:46 (180, 59)  
Dec. 19   4  6.31   -1 37.8   0.848   1.748   145   15.6     26.6 338.3  22:14 (180, 56)

* P/1998 QP54 ( LONEOS-Tucker )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
15 mag both visually and by CCD. It will fade soon. Now the position is good, so it is the chance. It is low for the Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   0 11.01   25 29.6   1.394   1.980   111   16.2     17.8  75.8  20:53 (149, 23)  
Dec. 19   0 20.51   26  1.5   1.475   2.001   107   16.4     19.9  76.1  20:58 (145, 19)

* 37P/Forbes
Not yet observed in this return. It should be brightening from 19 mag to 16 mag during the conjunction. Now is the chance to observe it for the first time. It will be at the peak in June and reach to 13 mag, but the altitude keeps only about 15 deg for the Northern people until June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  14 36.08  -19 40.4   2.741   2.045    37   16.4     35.0 110.8   2:53 (289,  7)  
Dec. 19  14 52.64  -21  6.0   2.649   2.000    40   16.2     35.9 109.8   2:54 (289, 10)

* 139P/Vaisala-Oterma

 Image: 1998 Dec. 11
Recovered after 59 years since 1939. All observations in MPEC reported it much fainter as 18-19 mag than the ephemeris. It will fade out gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   3 25.73   18 48.3   2.497   3.410   154   16.8      7.4 251.0  22:01 (180, 36)  
Dec. 19   3 22.69   18 32.9   2.551   3.413   146   16.9      5.7 249.6  21:30 (180, 36)

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Nov. 29
Reported magnitude has a large scatter from 16 to 19 mag. It will keep the current brightness for a while. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   8 31.55   33 21.3   4.129   4.885   135   17.0     19.0 314.4   2:53 (184, 22)  
Dec. 19   8 23.29   34 55.1   4.049   4.880   144   16.9     20.6 310.8   2:35 (180, 20)

* 65P/Gunn
It is around the aphelion now. But the position is good. The recent magnitude is 17-19 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   3  4.09   14  2.1   3.579   4.442   147   16.9      7.6 266.4  21:39 (180, 41)  
Dec. 19   3  0.77   14  0.1   3.655   4.453   139   17.0      6.2 269.3  21:08 (180, 41)

* P/1998 U4 ( Spahr )
Gradually fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   3 45.74  -15 44.0   3.201   3.963   135   17.0      6.7 264.7  22:21 (180, 71)  
Dec. 19   3 42.77  -15 43.4   3.248   3.959   130   17.0      5.6 277.9  21:50 (180, 71)

* P/1998 U2 ( Mueller )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
Rapidly fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   1 25.75   12 26.3   1.352   2.076   124   17.4     10.9  72.7  20:53 (163, 41)  
Dec. 19   1 31.34   12 52.1   1.428   2.090   118   17.6     13.6  72.3  20:58 (155, 39)

* C/1998 W2 ( Hergenrother )
Rapidly fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12  22  5.53   -4 15.8   1.567   1.576    72   17.7     47.0  51.4  20:53 (103, 25)  
Dec. 19  22 22.76   -0 52.2   1.622   1.592    70   17.9     46.9  52.2  20:58 (103, 19)

* P/1983 C1 ( Bowell-Skiff )
Not yet recovered. Because the position is good, it may be fainter than the ephemeris. Delta-T is large as 3.6 days. It should become brighter than 18.0 mag now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 12   7 50.31   26 28.2   1.526   2.398   144   18.1      1.3 324.2   2:29 (180, 29)  
Dec. 19   7 49.21   26 36.4   1.447   2.361   152   17.9      3.6 290.2   2:00 (180, 28)

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