Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Jan. 2: South)

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 Updated on January 7, 1999
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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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* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 4
It will be bright in good condition until late February. But then it fades and becomes low rapidly after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  12 45.74   -3 58.2   1.334   1.644    89    9.8     48.6 322.5   3:04 (243, 39)  
Jan.  9  12 29.63    1  4.0   1.221   1.718   101    9.8     62.4 320.3   3:11 (226, 43)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
It was 9.5-10.0 mag, a bit fainter than the ephemeris in December. It will fade and become hard to see visually next month. It will close to NGC 253 next week. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   0 14.31  -23 54.4   0.998   1.186    73    9.8     66.8  88.0  21:03 ( 89, 43)  
Jan.  9   0 47.18  -23 20.8   1.056   1.235    74   10.1     62.6  84.0  21:02 ( 90, 44)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Appearing in the morning sky. We can see it in good condition until June. Southern observers cannot see it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  18 57.07   41 34.0   1.950   1.767    64    9.9     17.6  20.2  21:03 (115,-53)  
Jan.  9  19  1.09   43 42.0   1.906   1.754    66    9.8     21.2  18.0   3:11 (242,-51)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
Rapidly brightening and easy to see now. We can see it as around 10.0 mag in good condition until May. Very low for Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 37.53   37 39.5   1.262   2.226   165   10.3     15.2 225.2  23:49 (180, 17)  
Jan.  9   6 31.37   36 18.5   1.251   2.209   162   10.2     16.0 219.4  23:16 (180, 19)

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It keeps the good condition until March. It has been brightening. 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)  
Jan.  2   7 18.56   40 45.0   0.814   1.773   161   10.9      8.2 240.0   0:35 (180, 14)  
Jan.  9   7 14.00   40  7.6   0.804   1.765   162   10.9     10.1 229.0   0:03 (180, 15)

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
A bit fainter recently, about 11-12 mag. It will soon set in the west. It will appear again at dawn as 13.5 mag in late March. Southern observers cannot see it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  21 11.13   17 33.8   1.551   1.248    53   10.9     14.4 199.9  21:03 ( 99,-18)  
Jan.  9  21  9.26   16 13.0   1.715   1.267    46   11.2     10.2 196.7  21:02 ( 94,-23)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. It was bright as 11.0 mag in December. The nuclear magnitude brightened 3 mag suddenly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   5 48.08  -73 47.0   7.395   7.335    82   11.7      8.2 277.1  22:59 (  0, 51)  
Jan.  9   5 34.95  -73 34.9   7.454   7.393    82   11.8      8.0 287.2  22:19 (  0, 51)

* 88P/Howell

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
It was 10 mag and diffused in November. It is fading out now and 12 mag in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  22  9.73  -14 36.9   2.223   1.729    48   12.7     42.4  67.8  21:03 ( 81, 12)  
Jan.  9  22 28.25  -12 43.9   2.307   1.770    45   13.0     41.2  66.9  21:02 ( 81, 10)

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Very low and extremely hard to observe. We have another chance in July, but only 15 deg altitude as 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  21 36.05  -18 50.5   4.885   4.169    39   13.3     12.0 104.9  21:03 ( 73,  8)  
Jan.  9  21 41.84  -19 10.5   4.999   4.213    33   13.4     12.2 102.6  21:02 ( 69,  4)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
We will miss it after next month. It will appear again in September as 13 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  21 38.76   -9 39.5   2.659   2.049    42   13.7     31.0  76.8  21:03 ( 81,  3)  
Jan.  9  21 53.29   -8 46.5   2.674   2.012    39   13.5     32.2  75.7  21:02 ( 80,  0)

* 93P/Lovas 1

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It has been as bright as 13 mag both visually and by CCD since perihelion passage. It will keep the brightness for a bit more. Southern people cannot observe it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 15.97   45 43.4   0.935   1.878   156   13.6     12.5 216.6  23:28 (180,  9)  
Jan.  9   6 11.65   44 27.0   0.976   1.909   153   13.8     12.9 205.2  22:56 (180, 11)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Brightening as 13.5-14.0 mag visually. But very faint by CCD, fainter than 15 mag. 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)  
Jan.  2  23 22.01    2 18.2   2.882   2.728    71   13.7     10.2 221.6  21:03 (105, 17)  
Jan.  9  23 19.39    1 29.5   2.954   2.658    63   13.6      7.8 215.4  21:02 (100, 12)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 Jan. 4
It was not in ourburst in December. Although it is getting highter gradually, it keeps lower than 27 deg for Northern people in 1999. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14 59.95  -26  0.2   6.760   6.198    51   14.1      9.1 112.7   3:04 (286, 24)  
Jan.  9  15  4.14  -26 24.3   6.666   6.197    57   14.1      8.4 113.5   3:11 (283, 30)

* 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 is rather bright as 13-14 mag visually now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   9 58.31  -40 22.9   4.225   4.545   102   14.3     16.8 208.2   3:04 (340, 84)  
Jan.  9   9 52.84  -42  3.9   4.125   4.506   106   14.2     17.1 214.5   2:41 (  0, 83)

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
Bright as around 14.0 mag visually, around 15.0 mag by CCD. It will keep the good position for a while. But the brightness is at peak now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   4  0.44    4 33.1   0.890   1.734   135   14.3     27.7 355.3  21:13 (180, 50)  
Jan.  9   4  0.39    7 46.8   0.923   1.729   130   14.4     27.7   4.3  21:02 (174, 47)

* C/1998 K2 ( LINEAR )
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. No observations reported recently. It was faint as 14-16 mag between August and October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  22 27.64  -65 44.9   3.137   2.695    54   14.8     31.3  58.6  21:03 ( 30, 35)  
Jan.  9  22 56.14  -63 42.6   3.183   2.735    54   14.9     31.4  54.8  21:02 ( 32, 35)

* 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)  
Jan.  2  21 10.96  -20 20.7   2.826   2.073    33   15.0     33.3  58.9  21:03 ( 68,  4)  
Jan.  9  21 25.10  -18 18.2   2.852   2.057    29   15.0     33.8  58.4  21:02 ( 68,  1)

* P/1998 S1 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14 mag visually, but 16 mag by CCD. Slowly fading although the location will be good for a while. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   1  0.77   15 32.6   2.242   2.582    98   15.4     14.2  68.0  21:03 (134, 25)  
Jan.  9   1  7.57   16 11.8   2.338   2.590    93   15.5     16.0  68.4  21:02 (131, 22)

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 3
A new comet. The current brightness and condition will keep until early April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   2 41.53   -3 36.1   1.954   2.522   114   15.5     16.8  12.6  21:03 (149, 55)  
Jan.  9   2 43.84   -1 40.8   2.030   2.526   108   15.6     17.6  20.5  21:02 (142, 50)

* 37P/Forbes
Not yet observed in this return. The ephemeris says it will be brighter than 16 mag, so CCD observers may catch it soon. 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)  
Jan.  2  15 27.96  -23 48.4   2.464   1.913    45   15.8     37.8 107.1   3:04 (287, 17)  
Jan.  9  15 46.83  -25  3.2   2.372   1.871    48   15.6     38.8 105.5   3:11 (286, 21)

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14.5 mag visually and 15 mag by CCD, but low in the evening sky. It will appear at dawn after February and we can trace it while fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  19 58.66   27 42.5   3.575   3.091    53   15.7     25.6  69.3  21:03 (101,-37)  
Jan.  9  20 11.37   28 47.5   3.625   3.125    52   15.7     25.9  68.1  21:02 (100,-40)

* C/1998 K1 ( Mueller )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 4
Appearing at dawn now. About 17 mag, fainter than the ephemeris. It will keep the brightness for a long time after this, but it keeps very low for the Northern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14 27.09  -20 42.1   3.980   3.593    60   16.1     17.2 133.7   3:04 (277, 28)  
Jan.  9  14 33.09  -22  5.1   3.907   3.613    65   16.0     16.4 135.9   3:11 (274, 34)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Beginning to be observable. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  15 51.47  -17 15.6   9.964   9.254    41   16.2      6.7  98.5   3:04 (285,  9)  
Jan.  9  15 54.59  -17 22.0   9.891   9.264    48   16.2      6.2  97.7   3:11 (281, 16)

* C/1998 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Fading now. It will be close to P/1998 VS24 within 1 deg. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   2 31.50    8 55.4   2.105   2.699   117   16.5      6.5  70.3  21:03 (153, 42)  
Jan.  9   2 34.81    9 13.1   2.274   2.780   110   16.7      8.3  70.0  21:02 (147, 40)

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It will keep the current brightness until early April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   8  4.23   37 49.9   4.062   4.987   158   16.5     21.7 304.2   1:21 (180, 17)  
Jan.  9   7 53.24   39 11.7   4.058   5.000   161   16.5     21.8 300.9   0:42 (180, 16)

* C/1998 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
A new comet. It is brighter than the first ephemeris. But it will fade out very soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 59.14   26 31.6   0.828   1.810   175   16.7     34.2 350.1   0:15 (180, 29)  
Jan.  9   6 56.08   30 17.0   0.859   1.836   170   16.8     31.0 349.8  23:40 (180, 24)

* 65P/Gunn

 Image: 1998 Dec. 19
It is around the aphelion now. The recent magnitude is 17-19 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   2 56.33   14  5.1   3.841   4.473   124   17.1      3.1 285.0  21:03 (163, 39)  
Jan.  9   2 55.27   14 12.3   3.947   4.483   117   17.2      1.8 312.2  21:02 (155, 37)

* (3200) Phaethon
Mother asteroid of Geminids. CCD observers will be able to catch it because it is stellar in a good position. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   1 44.34   25 50.2   1.576   2.144   111   17.2     15.3 206.6  21:03 (149, 22)  
Jan.  9   1 41.92   24 22.1   1.643   2.107   103   17.3     11.8 193.0  21:02 (143, 20)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

 Image: 1998 Dec. 24
Brightened rapidly. It will be around 17 mag for a while after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   6 30.78   25 29.3   0.886   1.867   175   17.6     12.1 240.0  23:43 (180, 30)  
Jan.  9   6 25.54   24 44.9   0.876   1.848   167   17.4     11.7 235.8  23:10 (180, 30)

* P/1998 QP54 ( LONEOS-Tucker )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
Probably much fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   0 42.49   27 13.5   1.648   2.047    99   17.4     23.2  76.2  21:03 (138, 14)  
Jan.  9   0 54.69   27 52.8   1.739   2.073    95   17.7     24.4  76.3  21:02 (136, 11)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 1998 Dec. 19
It is around the aphelion now. The recent magnitude is 18-19 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   3 13.23   15 34.6   3.525   4.213   128   17.5      3.4 278.4  21:03 (169, 39)  
Jan.  9   3 12.03   15 39.6   3.606   4.205   121   17.5      1.9 299.9  21:02 (160, 37)

* 1997 CU26
A Centaur asteroid. CCD observers will be able to catch it because it is stellar in a good position. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   9 31.12    5 15.1  12.797  13.533   136   17.7      2.4 265.0   2:47 (180, 50)  
Jan.  9   9 29.90    5 14.2  12.720  13.530   144   17.7      2.8 269.3   2:18 (180, 50)

* P/1998 X2 ( Bowell-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
Rediscovered as bright as prediction. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   7  1.34   28 26.5   1.393   2.373   173   17.9     10.2 273.9   0:18 (180, 27)  
Jan.  9   6 55.76   28 29.2   1.359   2.337   171   17.7     10.7 270.5  23:40 (180, 27)

* 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)  
Jan.  2   1 45.91   14  0.6   1.595   2.122   108   17.9     18.1  72.1  21:03 (144, 33)  
Jan.  9   1 54.62   14 41.3   1.685   2.140   103   18.1     19.9  72.2  21:02 (140, 30)

* (5145) Pholus
A Centaur asteroid. Although it is rather lower, CCD observers will be able to catch it because it is stellar. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2  14 21.16   11 35.5  13.998  13.759    73   18.4      2.9  75.6   3:04 (248, 10)  
Jan.  9  14 22.41   11 41.5  13.911  13.777    80   18.4      2.6  68.1   3:11 (242, 17)

* C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater )
About 19.0 mag recently, a bit fainter the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   3 48.88   33 47.8   7.081   7.853   139   18.4      5.0 235.7  21:03 (180, 21)  
Jan.  9   3 46.79   33 28.1   7.215   7.909   132   18.5      4.3 230.0  21:02 (173, 21)

* 139P/Vaisala-Oterma

 Image: 1998 Dec. 11
Recovered after 59 years since 1939. Fading gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   3 19.34   18 12.5   2.694   3.421   131   18.5      1.7 237.7  21:03 (171, 36)  
Jan.  9   3 19.14   18  8.2   2.779   3.425   123   18.6      0.7 119.0  21:02 (163, 35)

* P/1998 VS24 ( LINEAR )
A new comet but very faint. It is high in the evening. Gradually fading after this. It will be close to C/1998 K5 within 1 deg. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   2 35.63    9  5.0   2.837   3.412   118   18.6      2.6  41.7  21:03 (155, 43)  
Jan.  9   2 36.90    9 20.8   2.931   3.415   111   18.7      4.5  54.8  21:02 (147, 40)

* C/1998 X1 ( ODAS )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
A new comet. But so faint and fading after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   9 59.98   13 52.0   1.572   2.362   133   18.7      3.5 290.8   3:04 (184, 41)  
Jan.  9   9 57.68   14  4.3   1.539   2.389   141   18.7      6.7 289.6   2:46 (180, 41)

* 1998 WU24
A new asteroid whose orbit is like a comet. So faint. But it is high enough and stellar, so CCD observers may catch it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   9 41.64   39 36.9   1.443   2.285   139   19.1     28.4 343.8   2:57 (180, 15)  
Jan.  9   9 35.84   42 40.7   1.476   2.350   145   19.2     27.2 337.1   2:24 (180, 12)

* 48P/Johnson
Around 18.5 mag recently. It has passed the perihelion in 1997 and will soon fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  2   3 53.97    6 45.2   2.676   3.443   135   19.2      6.7 306.8  21:06 (180, 48)  
Jan.  9   3 51.95    7 14.9   2.774   3.467   127   19.3      5.5 324.2  21:02 (171, 47)

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.