Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Jan. 16: North)

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Updated on January 19, 1999
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 17
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. 16  19  5.52   46 16.7   1.856   1.746    68    9.8     25.1  15.7   5:38 (230, 26)  
Jan. 23  19 10.29   49 21.2   1.801   1.742    70    9.7     29.5  13.4   5:36 (229, 31)  

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

Image: 1999 Jan. 17
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. 16  12  8.22    7 14.9   1.128   1.794   116    9.8     77.8 318.1   4:29 (  0, 62)  
Jan. 23  11 40.47   14 27.8   1.065   1.871   131    9.9     91.5 315.3   3:34 (  0, 69)  

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

Image: 1999 Jan. 13
Rapidly brightening and easy to see now. We can see it as around 10.0 mag in good condition until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   6 25.94   34 47.0   1.252   2.192   157   10.1     16.1 212.1  22:43 (  0, 90)  
Jan. 23   6 21.78   33  8.6   1.266   2.178   150   10.1     15.6 203.0  22:11 (  0, 88)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
It was a bit fainter than the ephemeris. It will fade and become hard to see visually next month.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   1 17.61  -22 21.5   1.121   1.288    75   10.5     58.8  80.5  18:40 ( 17, 31)  
Jan. 23   1 45.72  -21  3.7   1.192   1.344    75   10.9     55.4  77.5  18:46 ( 19, 32)  

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

Image: 1999 Jan. 13
It keeps the good condition until March. It is still brightenning. It is low for Southern people.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   7  9.56   39 12.6   0.803   1.760   159   10.6     11.3 217.2  23:26 (180, 86)  
Jan. 23   7  6.00   38  1.9   0.812   1.757   155   10.6     12.1 203.7  22:55 (180, 87)  

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
A new comet. Extremely low in the southwest at dusk for the Northern observers. Northern people cannot see it again after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  23 40.84  -32 52.7   0.671   0.781    52   11.1     68.3 174.6  18:40 ( 34, 12)  
Jan. 23  23 41.72  -39 16.8   0.829   0.745    47   11.3     44.2 183.6  18:46 ( 35,  3)  

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )


Because the nuclear magnitude brightened 3 mag in mid December, visual observers recently reported it as bright as 10.0 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   5 23.08  -73 14.0   7.513   7.451    82   11.1      7.7 297.1  21:40 (  0,-18)  
Jan. 23   5 12.78  -72 45.7   7.572   7.509    82   11.2      7.5 306.8  21:02 (  0,-18)  

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Hard to observe because it is very low now. 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. 16  21  8.17   15 14.5   1.863   1.295    41   11.2      7.3 193.4  18:40 ( 96, 18)  
Jan. 23  21  7.55   14 32.4   1.992   1.330    36   11.4      5.1 190.7  18:46 (100, 11)  

* 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. 16  22  8.26   -7 47.5   2.686   1.976    35   13.3     33.4  74.7  18:40 ( 68, 17)  
Jan. 23  22 23.64   -6 42.6   2.694   1.942    32   13.2     34.5  73.8  18:46 ( 71, 14)  

* 88P/Howell

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
It was a bit brighter in December, about 11-12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  22 46.03  -10 50.4   2.393   1.811    43   13.3     40.1  66.2  18:40 ( 59, 22)  
Jan. 23  23  3.14   -8 57.2   2.480   1.853    40   13.7     39.0  65.7  18:46 ( 63, 20)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Although brightening as 13.5-14.0 mag visually, it seems fading around 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)  
Jan. 16  23 17.77    0 49.3   3.018   2.588    55   13.5      5.8 206.1  18:40 ( 62, 35)  
Jan. 23  23 16.98    0 16.6   3.071   2.519    47   13.4      4.3 191.8  18:46 ( 68, 28)  

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Not observable. 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. 16  21 47.80  -19 27.9   5.103   4.257    27   13.5     12.4 100.8  18:40 ( 62,  5)  
Jan. 23  21 53.87  -19 43.3   5.196   4.301    22   13.6     12.5  99.6  18:46 ( 66,  0)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Image: 1999 Jan. 12
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. Very low for the Southern people.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   6  8.95   43  1.9   1.028   1.941   149   13.9     12.9 192.7  22:26 (180, 82)  
Jan. 23   6  8.08   41 32.6   1.089   1.975   144   14.1     12.9 179.4  21:58 (180, 84)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 Jan. 4
It was so faint as 17.5 mag on Jan. 4. Although 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. 16  15  8.00  -26 47.4   6.566   6.195    63   14.0      7.7 114.6   5:38 (333, 23)  
Jan. 23  15 11.49  -27  9.4   6.461   6.194    69   14.0      7.0 116.1   5:36 (339, 25)  

* 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. 16   9 46.14  -43 38.9   4.034   4.467   109   14.2     17.3 221.0   2:07 (  0, 11)  
Jan. 23   9 38.22  -45  5.5   3.952   4.428   112   14.1     17.4 227.6   1:32 (  0, 10)  

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
Bright as around 14.0 mag visually, around 15.0 mag by CCD. The brightness is at peak now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   4  2.51   10 57.1   0.964   1.726   124   14.5     27.7  13.6  20:20 (  0, 66)  
Jan. 23   4  6.64   14  1.5   1.014   1.727   119   14.6     27.8  22.6  19:57 (  0, 69)  

* 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. 16  21 39.21  -16 12.2   2.876   2.042    26   14.9     34.3  57.9  18:40 ( 66,  6)  
Jan. 23  21 53.28  -14  2.9   2.896   2.028    23   14.9     34.7  57.4  18:46 ( 70,  4)  

* 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. 16  23 21.55  -61 30.2   3.232   2.775    54   15.0     31.3  52.0  18:40 ( 20,-13)  
Jan. 23  23 44.30  -59 11.1   3.283   2.817    53   15.1     31.1  49.8  18:46 ( 23,-12)  

* 37P/Forbes


Not yet observed in this return. The ephemeris says it will be bright as 15 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. 16  16  6.55  -26 12.3   2.281   1.829    50   15.4     39.9 103.8   5:38 (321, 17)  
Jan. 23  16 27.16  -27 14.3   2.192   1.788    53   15.2     40.9 101.8   5:36 (323, 17)  

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
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. 16   2 47.29    0 14.7   2.112   2.530   103   15.7     18.6  27.5  19:05 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 23   2 51.80    2  9.3   2.199   2.537    98   15.8     19.5  33.5  18:46 (  2, 57)  

* 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. 16   1 15.15   16 54.3   2.436   2.600    88   15.7     17.5  68.8  18:40 ( 44, 67)  
Jan. 23   1 23.46   17 40.0   2.533   2.610    83   15.8     18.9  69.1  18:46 ( 56, 63)  

* 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. 16  20 24.23   29 56.7   3.674   3.160    51   15.8     26.1  66.9  18:40 (115, 17)  
Jan. 23  20 37.19   31  9.8   3.724   3.196    50   15.9     26.1  65.7  18:46 (118, 14)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Image: 1998 Dec. 24
Brightened rapidly. It will be around 16 mag for a while after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   6 21.07   23 57.8   0.877   1.831   159   16.1     10.2 228.0  22:38 (  0, 79)  
Jan. 23   6 17.97   23  9.9   0.889   1.816   151   15.9      8.1 213.1  22:08 (  0, 78)  

* 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. 16  15 57.50  -17 27.3   9.809   9.274    54   16.2      5.8  96.9   5:38 (317, 25)  
Jan. 23  16  0.17  -17 31.6   9.720   9.284    61   16.2      5.2  95.8   5:36 (323, 28)  

* 140P/Bowell-Skiff

Image: 1999 Jan. 12
It keeps 16 mag for a while after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   6 50.20   28 27.4   1.338   2.302   164   16.4     10.2 266.6  23:07 (  0, 83)  
Jan. 23   6 45.15   28 20.6   1.329   2.268   156   16.2      8.8 261.5  22:34 (  0, 83)  

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It will keep the current brightness until early April. One reported it as 14.9 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   7 41.14   40 30.1   4.044   4.981   160   16.5     21.8 297.6   0:03 (180, 85)  
Jan. 23   7 29.21   41 35.4   4.078   4.991   155   16.5     21.0 294.4  23:18 (180, 83)  

* 10P/Tempel 2


It is getting brighter now, so CCD observers will catch it soon. It should be fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  15 24.24   -7 22.8   2.818   2.568    65   16.8     23.2  98.5   5:38 (319, 38)  
Jan. 23  15 35.02   -7 44.6   2.695   2.527    69   16.7     23.0  97.0   5:36 (323, 40)  

* C/1998 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Fading now. It will be only 6.0 arcmin from P/1998 VS24 on Jan. 16.9 (UT).
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   2 38.85    9 34.7   2.447   2.861   104   16.9      9.8  70.2  18:57 (  0, 65)  
Jan. 23   2 43.53    9 59.3   2.623   2.942    98   17.1     11.1  70.6  18:46 (  7, 65)  

* C/1998 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
A new comet. It will fade out very soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   6 53.39   33 37.3   0.909   1.870   162   17.0     26.7 351.2  23:10 (  0, 89)  
Jan. 23   6 51.67   36 26.5   0.967   1.903   154   17.2     22.0 355.2  22:41 (180, 88)  

* (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. 16   1 41.53   23  9.1   1.712   2.067    96   17.3      9.4 173.5  18:40 ( 39, 75)  
Jan. 23   1 42.92   22 10.5   1.779   2.024    89   17.4      8.6 149.5  18:46 ( 56, 70)  

* C/1998 K1 ( Mueller )

Image: 1999 Jan. 4
Appearing at dawn now, but it is very faint now. 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. 16  14 38.60  -23 27.3   3.832   3.634    71   17.5     15.6 138.7   5:38 (339, 29)  
Jan. 23  14 43.55  -24 48.9   3.755   3.656    76   17.5     14.7 142.1   5:36 (345, 29)  

* 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. 16   3 11.65   15 47.7   3.693   4.196   114   17.6      1.4   3.8  19:29 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 23   3 12.11   15 58.9   3.786   4.187   107   17.6      2.5  44.7  19:02 (  0, 71)  

* 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. 16   9 28.53    5 14.6  12.656  13.526   151   17.7      3.1 272.5   1:49 (  0, 60)  
Jan. 23   9 27.04    5 16.1  12.604  13.523   158   17.7      3.3 275.0   1:20 (  0, 60)  

* 65P/Gunn

Image: 1998 Dec. 19
It is around the aphelion now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   2 55.01   14 22.5   4.059   4.493   110   17.7      1.7   8.5  19:13 (  0, 69)  
Jan. 23   2 55.51   14 35.6   4.176   4.503   103   17.7      2.8  41.3  18:46 (  0, 70)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


It was brighter than the ephemeris, 16.5 mag in November, 17 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   0 27.91   -5 13.9   4.615   4.362    69   18.1     11.0  56.0  18:40 ( 40, 42)  
Jan. 23   0 32.40   -4 30.0   4.725   4.372    63   18.2     11.9  57.5  18:46 ( 48, 38)  

* 135P/Shoemaker-Levy 8


No observations reported recently. Maybe much fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  11 49.26   -4 55.3   2.677   3.229   115   18.3      3.5 126.6   4:10 (  0, 50)  
Jan. 23  11 50.12   -5  6.8   2.572   3.211   122   18.2      1.4 144.0   3:43 (  0, 50)  

* 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. 16   2  4.10   15 25.1   1.780   2.161    98   18.3     21.4  72.4  18:40 ( 13, 70)  
Jan. 23   2 14.32   16 11.1   1.876   2.182    94   18.4     22.7  72.8  18:46 ( 29, 69)  

* (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. 16  14 23.45   11 49.0  13.821  13.796    86   18.4      2.3  58.6   5:38 (323, 62)  
Jan. 23  14 24.26   11 58.1  13.731  13.815    92   18.4      2.0  46.5   5:36 (336, 65)  

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux


Extremely faint, but it is stellar.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16  14 26.79    3 54.1   2.278   2.365    82   18.5     16.2  79.9   5:38 (329, 55)  
Jan. 23  14 33.71    4 18.1   2.238   2.414    88   18.6     14.2  73.6   5:36 (337, 57)  

* 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. 16   3 45.20   33  9.1   7.358   7.964   125   18.5      3.6 222.1  20:03 (  0, 88)  
Jan. 23   3 44.12   32 51.1   7.511   8.019   117   18.6      2.9 210.7  19:34 (  0, 88)  

* 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. 16   9 54.53   14 20.4   1.625   2.523   149   18.6      8.7 289.0   2:15 (  0, 69)  
Jan. 23   9 50.11   14 42.0   1.628   2.566   157   18.6     10.5 288.3   1:43 (  0, 70)  

* 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. 16   3 19.93   18  7.9   2.871   3.430   116   18.6      2.6  84.8  19:38 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 23   3 21.69   18 11.4   2.968   3.435   110   18.7      4.6  80.4  19:12 (  0, 73)  

* P/1998 VS24 ( LINEAR )


Extremely faint. Gradually fading after this. It will be only 6.0 arcmin from C/1998 K5 on Jan. 16.9 (UT).
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 16   2 39.06    9 40.8   3.030   3.418   104   18.7      6.3  60.2  18:57 (  0, 65)  
Jan. 23   2 42.09   10  4.7   3.132   3.421    98   18.8      8.1  63.2  18:46 (  8, 65)  

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