Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Jan. 30: North)

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Updated on January 29, 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. 22
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. 30  19 15.36   52 58.7   1.743   1.744    73    9.6     34.2  11.2   5:33 (226, 35)  
Feb.  6  19 20.71   57 12.1   1.686   1.750    76    9.6     39.4   9.2   5:29 (221, 38)  

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

Image: 1999 Jan. 21
Bright and large visually. 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. 30  11  6.18   22  6.6   1.045   1.949   147   10.0     98.2 311.4   2:33 (  0, 77)  
Feb.  6  10 26.78   29  9.7   1.075   2.027   159   10.2     94.3 305.9   1:27 (  0, 84)  

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

Image: 1999 Jan. 21
Although it had been rapidly brightening since discovery, the outburst stopped in mid December. 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. 30   6 19.22   31 26.8   1.292   2.166   143   10.5     14.9 192.0  21:41 (  0, 86)  
Feb.  6   6 18.41   29 45.0   1.327   2.155   136   10.6     14.4 179.4  21:13 (  0, 85)  

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
Now at peak. It keeps the good condition until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   7  3.97   36 38.7   0.831   1.756   150   10.7     12.7 188.9  22:26 (180, 88)  
Feb.  6   7  3.79   35  7.1   0.859   1.758   144   10.7     13.6 174.0  21:58 (  0, 90)  

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
A new comet, but northern people can never see it again. Good target for Southern observers.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  23 37.67  -43 21.1   0.976   0.731    43   10.9     30.3 197.5  18:52 ( 38, -5)  
Feb.  6  23 30.34  -46  7.4   1.112   0.746    41   11.3     23.0 213.2  18:58 ( 41,-12)  

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )


Because the nuclear magnitude brightened 3 mag in mid December, visual observers recently reported it as bright as 9.6-11.3 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   5  4.23  -72 11.3   7.630   7.566    82   11.2      7.3 316.2  20:26 (  0,-17)  
Feb.  6   4 57.46  -71 32.4   7.688   7.624    82   11.3      7.1 325.4  19:52 (  0,-16)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
It was a bit fainter than the ephemeris. It is probably about 12 mag already.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   2 11.70  -19 33.6   1.269   1.403    75   11.2     52.3  75.2  18:52 ( 21, 33)  
Feb.  6   2 35.81  -17 56.1   1.352   1.463    75   11.6     49.5  73.4  18:58 ( 25, 33)  

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Not observable. It will appear again at dawn as 13.5 mag in late March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  21  7.19   14  3.2   2.101   1.372    32   11.7      3.4 189.8  18:52 (105,  4)  
Feb.  6  21  6.94   13 44.4   2.191   1.421    29   11.9      2.1 193.8   5:29 (254,  1)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Hard to observe it because it is very low. It will appear again in September as 13 mag after conjunction.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  22 39.42   -5 32.3   2.700   1.908    29   13.0     35.6  73.0  18:52 ( 75, 11)  
Feb.  6  22 55.56   -4 16.9   2.702   1.876    26   12.8     36.6  72.4  18:58 ( 79,  8)  

* 88P/Howell

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
It was still bright as around 12.0 mag in January. But it is getting lower and lower.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  23 19.62   -7  5.3   2.567   1.896    38   13.0     37.9  65.3  18:52 ( 67, 18)  
Feb.  6  23 35.54   -5 15.2   2.654   1.940    35   13.2     36.9  65.0  18:58 ( 72, 16)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Although reported as bright as 13.5-14.0 mag visually, it is so faint as 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. 30  23 16.90   -0 10.0   3.113   2.450    40   13.4      3.4 171.8  18:52 ( 74, 22)  
Feb.  6  23 17.41   -0 31.3   3.141   2.381    33   13.3      3.2 149.1  18:58 ( 79, 15)  

* 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. 30  22  0.01  -19 57.1   5.277   4.345    17   13.7     12.6  98.7  18:52 ( 69, -5)  
Feb.  6  22  6.19  -20  9.9   5.347   4.390    12   13.8     12.6  98.2  18:58 ( 73,-11)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

Image: 1998 Dec. 5
It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. Already hard to see it in the Northern Hemisphere. It is rather bright as 13.0 mag visually now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   9 29.19  -46 21.8   3.880   4.390   115   14.0     17.3 234.3   0:55 (  0,  9)  
Feb.  6   9 19.22  -47 25.9   3.819   4.353   116   13.9     17.1 241.2   0:18 (  0,  8)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 Jan. 27
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. 30  15 14.56  -27 30.3   6.352   6.192    76   14.0      6.1 118.1   5:33 (344, 26)  
Feb.  6  15 17.18  -27 49.8   6.239   6.190    82   13.9      5.3 120.9   5:29 (349, 26)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Image: 1999 Jan. 21
Some reported it is getting fainter now. But others reported it is still bright as 13 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   6  9.10   40  2.7   1.160   2.011   139   14.4     13.1 166.1  21:31 (180, 85)  
Feb.  6   6 11.85   38 35.1   1.239   2.048   133   14.6     13.6 154.1  21:07 (180, 87)  

* 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. 30   4 12.84   16 55.2   1.069   1.729   114   14.7     28.1  31.0  19:36 (  0, 72)  
Feb.  6   4 20.82   19 37.8   1.130   1.735   109   14.9     28.6  38.7  19:16 (  0, 75)  

* 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. 30  16 48.64  -28  7.7   2.105   1.749    55   15.0     42.0  99.7   5:33 (324, 16)  
Feb.  6  17 11.00  -28 51.2   2.021   1.711    57   14.8     43.1  97.4   5:29 (324, 16)  

* 102P/Shoemaker 1


Not yet observed in this return. Although it is not observable now, we can observe it for a while as 15-16 mag after appearing again at dawn as 15 mag in next summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  22  7.29  -11 50.5   2.914   2.017    19   14.9     35.0  57.0  18:52 ( 75,  1)  
Feb.  6  22 21.26   -9 35.3   2.929   2.006    16   14.9     35.3  56.5  18:58 ( 80, -2)  

* 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. 30   0  4.81  -56 48.2   3.337   2.860    53   15.2     30.8  48.4  18:52 ( 26,-11)  
Feb.  6   0 23.45  -54 23.9   3.394   2.904    52   15.3     30.3  47.4  18:58 ( 29,-11)  

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

Image: 1998 Dec. 24
Brightened rapidly. But the outburst seemed to have stopped at 17.0 mag. So it is actually about 1 mag fainter than the ephemeris. It keeps the same brightness for a while after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   6 16.66   22 22.9   0.910   1.803   144   15.7      6.6 185.7  21:39 (  0, 77)  
Feb.  6   6 17.35   21 38.3   0.938   1.792   137   15.6      7.1 151.0  21:12 (  0, 77)  

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
A new comet. The current brightness and condition will keep until early April. Visual observers reported it much brighter, 13.5-14.0 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   2 57.30    4  1.9   2.289   2.544    93   15.9     20.4  38.7  18:52 ( 15, 58)  
Feb.  6   3  3.69    5 51.9   2.382   2.553    88   16.0     21.2  43.1  18:58 ( 29, 58)  

* P/1998 S1 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14 mag visually, but 16 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   1 32.42   18 28.1   2.630   2.621    78   15.9     20.1  69.5  18:52 ( 65, 59)  
Feb.  6   1 41.95   19 18.0   2.727   2.632    74   16.0     21.1  69.9  18:58 ( 73, 55)  

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14.5 mag visually and 15 mag by CCD. Although it is very low now, it turned to be in the morning sky. We can trace it while fading gradually after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  20 50.23   32 26.4   3.773   3.233    50   16.0     26.1  64.6  18:52 (122, 11)  
Feb.  6  21  3.32   33 46.0   3.822   3.271    49   16.1     26.0  63.5   5:29 (238, 13)  

* 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. 30   6 41.12   28  9.2   1.332   2.235   149   16.1      6.7 253.2  22:03 (  0, 83)  
Feb.  6   6 38.48   27 53.7   1.345   2.204   141   16.0      4.3 235.0  21:33 (  0, 83)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
Not yet observed since it appeared in the morning sky. It closes to 105P/Singer Brewster (18.9 mag) down to 24 arcmin at 21h(UT) on Feb. 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  16  2.57  -17 34.7   9.624   9.293    67   16.2      4.6  94.6   5:33 (328, 31)  
Feb.  6  16  4.69  -17 36.8   9.524   9.303    74   16.2      4.0  93.0   5:29 (333, 33)  

* 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. 30  15 45.73   -8  2.1   2.571   2.486    73   16.5     22.7  95.5   5:33 (327, 41)  
Feb.  6  15 56.33   -8 14.9   2.445   2.444    78   16.3     22.4  93.9   5:29 (331, 42)  

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
It will keep the current brightness until early April. One reported it as brighter than 15 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   7 17.40   42 30.4   4.133   5.001   148   16.6     19.7 291.3  22:38 (180, 82)  
Feb.  6   7  6.06   43 14.9   4.207   5.012   140   16.6     18.1 288.3  22:00 (180, 82)  

* C/1998 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   2 48.75   10 26.1   2.802   3.022    93   17.3     12.2  71.1  18:52 ( 23, 64)  
Feb.  6   2 54.42   10 54.3   2.981   3.101    87   17.5     13.0  71.6  18:58 ( 37, 61)  

* (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. 30   1 45.84   21 25.2   1.845   1.978    82   17.4      9.1 127.9  18:52 ( 66, 64)  
Feb.  6   1 50.07   20 51.4   1.905   1.928    76   17.4     10.5 112.7  18:58 ( 73, 58)  

* C/1998 K1 ( Mueller )

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
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. 30  14 47.86  -26  9.7   3.677   3.678    82   17.5     13.8 146.4   5:33 (350, 28)  
Feb.  6  14 51.48  -27 29.7   3.599   3.702    88   17.5     12.9 151.6   5:29 (355, 27)  

* 1997 CU26

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
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. 30   9 25.46    5 18.6  12.568  13.520   164   17.7      3.5 277.1   0:51 (  0, 60)  
Feb.  6   9 23.83    5 22.0  12.546  13.516   169   17.6      3.5 278.8   0:22 (  0, 60)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 1998 Dec. 19
It is around the aphelion now. The recent magnitude is a bit brighter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   3 13.38   16 13.0   3.883   4.179   100   17.7      4.1  57.2  18:52 ( 12, 71)  
Feb.  6   3 15.43   16 29.7   3.982   4.170    94   17.7      5.6  62.8  18:58 ( 33, 69)  

* 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. 30   2 56.74   14 51.4   4.295   4.513    96   17.8      4.1  53.5  18:52 ( 22, 69)  
Feb.  6   2 58.66   15  9.5   4.415   4.522    89   17.9      5.4  59.4  18:58 ( 40, 65)  

* 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. 30  11 50.04   -5 11.4   2.474   3.194   129   18.0      1.2 262.8   3:15 (  0, 50)  
Feb.  6  11 49.01   -5  8.7   2.384   3.176   136   17.9      3.3 285.8   2:47 (  0, 50)  

* C/1998 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Jan. 10
It has faded out much faster than expected, already so faint.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30   6 51.42   38 41.1   1.027   1.930   147   18.1     17.4   2.9  22:14 (180, 86)  
Feb.  6   6 52.81   40 28.2   1.107   1.968   140   18.5     13.8  15.3  21:48 (180, 84)  

* C/1998 M3 ( Larsen )


Not yet observed since it appeared at dawn. We can observe it in good condition after March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 30  16 44.16   12 21.2   6.251   5.942    67   18.2     10.0  22.1   5:33 (293, 48)  
Feb.  6  16 45.75   13 28.6   6.165   5.954    73   18.2     10.4  16.0   5:29 (297, 53)  

* P/1998 X1 ( ODAS )

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
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. 30   9 43.42   15 13.2   1.504   2.472   166   18.3     13.0 287.5   1:09 (  0, 70)  
Feb.  6   9 37.26   15 40.6   1.517   2.501   175   18.4     13.5 286.7   0:36 (  0, 71)  

* (5145) Pholus


A Centaur asteroid. 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. 30  14 24.85   12  8.6  13.642  13.833    99   18.4      1.9  31.9   5:33 (350, 67)  
Feb.  6  14 25.20   12 20.2  13.555  13.852   105   18.4      1.8  15.7   5:22 (  0, 67)  

* 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. 30  14 39.52    4 50.1   2.197   2.463    93   18.6     12.3  65.3   5:33 (345, 59)  
Feb.  6  14 44.15    5 29.9   2.155   2.512    99   18.7     10.6  54.0   5:29 (354, 60)  

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