Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 May 8: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on May 9, 1999
Last week South Next week

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

Please see also the Comet Rendezvous Calendar, Latest Pictures of Comets.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

Image: 1999 May 6
New comet. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be in the evening sky as 7 mag until mid June. Then it will appear at dawn as 7 mag in late July. After that, it will fade while being higher. It was 10.0 mag by CCD on May 6. It will be close down to 47 arcmin to galaxy NGC 2784 (10.1 mag, 5.1 arcmin) on May 13 at 13h (UT).
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   9 31.34  -36 30.3   0.725   1.400   106    7.8    150.9 335.9  20:26 ( 25, 14)  
May  15   9  4.21  -21 14.8   0.781   1.299    91    7.6    126.9 341.1  20:34 ( 45, 20)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Apr. 29
It was as faint as 14.2 mag on Apr. 29, about 3 mag fainter than the ephemeris by CCD. The current visual magnitude is uncertain. Although it is already higher than 30 deg in the Southern Hemisphere, no other observations except for by the Ageo Survey team have been reported since it appeared at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  23 36.44   -4 11.6   1.988   1.618    54   10.6      7.4 189.4   3:27 (281,  8)  
May  15  23 35.29   -5 11.9   1.788   1.579    61   10.2     10.8 200.9   3:19 (285, 12)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 1
We can see it in good condition until June. It is very low in the Southern Hemisphere. It was observed as a bit fainter than the ephemeris in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   8 39.21   43 55.0   2.215   2.184    75   11.1     37.1 163.8  20:26 (118, 56)  
May  15   8 45.87   39 58.4   2.357   2.236    70   11.4     33.9 161.1  20:34 (112, 51)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Not observable. 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)  
May   8   2 56.39   14 13.1   2.664   1.657     2   11.4     43.5  77.3   3:27 (235,-20)  
May  15   3 16.90   15 15.7   2.666   1.659     4   11.4     43.4  78.8   3:19 (234,-19)  

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )


Only southern people can observe it. Norhtern people can never see it again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   5 18.06  -63 31.7   8.381   8.352    84   11.8      6.1  65.2  20:26 ( 32,-32)  
May  15   5 24.01  -63 15.9   8.431   8.406    85   11.9      6.2  71.5  20:34 ( 33,-35)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 May 1
In the Northern Hemisphere, the altitude will be only about 15 deg until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  22 20.09  -16 33.5   1.304   1.447    76   13.0     45.1  65.2   3:27 (303, 15)  
May  15  22 39.46  -14 18.9   1.276   1.451    77   13.0     43.6  63.7   3:19 (301, 16)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

Image: 1998 Dec. 5
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear again in 2000 August as 13 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   7 51.99  -45 34.3   3.761   3.911    90   13.3      3.6  21.2  20:26 ( 35, -4)  
May  15   7 53.39  -45 13.8   3.781   3.881    88   13.2      3.8  49.1  20:34 ( 39, -8)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 Apr. 16
It was very diffused after outburst in mid April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  15  3.68  -28 50.9   5.178   6.169   167   13.5      6.7 285.5   0:03 (  0, 26)  
May  15  15  0.23  -28 37.2   5.173   6.167   168   13.5      6.8 288.1  23:28 (  0, 26)  

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

Image: 1999 May 1
It still keeps the brightness as 11-13 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   8  3.65   12 42.2   2.268   2.205    73   14.2     27.6 111.7  20:26 ( 77, 39)  
May  15   8 15.99   11 30.1   2.354   2.223    70   14.3     28.1 111.7  20:34 ( 80, 33)  

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear again in late May as 14 mag in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  23 16.20  -25  7.1   5.275   4.993    68   14.3      9.7 132.2   3:27 (301, -1)  
May  15  23 19.71  -25 55.4   5.216   5.041    74   14.3      9.7 139.0   3:19 (303,  1)  

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear at dawn as 16 mag in mid June for Norhtern observers. The brightness after late February is unknown.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  20 11.33  -58 38.9   1.271   1.879   110   14.5     44.8 264.0   3:27 (347, -6)  
May  15  19 28.58  -58 41.7   1.255   1.975   120   14.6     50.2 273.8   3:19 (354, -4)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 1
New comet. Well condensed and easy to take the image.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  18 52.81   49 53.8   3.376   3.617    95   14.5     28.8 317.4   3:27 (195, 74)  
May  15  18 37.01   52 15.9   3.321   3.600    97   14.5     30.0 310.4   3:09 (180, 73)  

* 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 June. But it should be muyh fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   1 24.61   21 19.4   2.922   2.027    22   14.9     35.4  56.5   3:27 (245,  1)  
May  15   1 39.48   23 34.2   2.909   2.040    25   15.0     35.0  57.0   3:19 (244,  3)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. Although it will be bright as 10 mag in June at around the perihelion passage, it is too close to the sun and not observable.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   4 12.12   21  1.9   1.768   0.866    17   15.5     36.3  91.3  20:26 (118, -3)  
May  15   4 31.24   20 50.8   1.649   0.728    15   15.0     40.4  93.3  20:34 (120, -6)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 Apr. 14
It is getting brighter. It was 16 mag in late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  17 31.38   -4 46.9   1.017   1.907   140   15.4      4.1  37.1   2:30 (  0, 50)  
May  15  17 31.79   -4 27.5   0.943   1.868   146   15.1      2.3 341.7   2:03 (  0, 51)  

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Apr. 30
It still keeps about 15.5 mag in late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  20  4.34   17  3.9   1.959   2.315    97   15.8     30.8 272.4   3:27 (304, 62)  
May  15  19 48.10   17  6.3   1.902   2.390   106   15.9     35.7 269.0   3:19 (319, 67)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 Apr. 14
It was about 16.5 mag in March and April, a bit fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  16  2.03  -16 36.9   8.460   9.437   164   15.9      4.2 286.5   1:01 (  0, 38)  
May  15  16  0.02  -16 28.5   8.446   9.447   171   15.9      4.4 285.8   0:32 (  0, 39)  

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

Image: 1999 Apr. 8
We failed to catch it on May 1, it should be fainter than 16.0 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   7 16.82   40 45.8   3.428   3.051    60   16.2      4.3 107.7  20:26 (117, 41)  
May  15   7 19.72   40 37.3   3.608   3.128    54   16.4      5.4 101.9  20:34 (119, 35)  

* 140P/Bowell-Skiff

Image: 1999 May 1
It was 15.1 mag on May 1, about 1 mag brighter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   8 24.18   20  1.1   1.946   1.973    76   16.3     30.7 107.3  20:26 ( 82, 47)  
May  15   8 38.91   18 54.3   2.005   1.972    73   16.3     31.8 108.1  20:34 ( 84, 42)  

* P/1988 V1 ( Ge-Wang )


First return. Bright and now is the chance to recover. It is already observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Even in the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be higher after this. It will be brightening slowly and reach to 15 mag in September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  23 45.62    1 46.7   3.058   2.525    49   16.5     26.9  71.8   3:27 (275, 10)  
May  15  23 57.48    2 44.6   2.988   2.517    53   16.4     26.5  72.1   3:19 (275, 12)  

* C/1998 M1 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. Last observation is on Sept. 16, 1998. It keeps 16 mag until August, locating in good position. We failed to observe it on Mar. 22, it should be fainter than 16.8 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  21 58.60    6 10.4   3.769   3.619    73   16.5     15.0  47.8   3:27 (288, 34)  
May  15  22  3.50    7 20.1   3.713   3.652    78   16.5     13.9  44.7   3:19 (290, 37)  

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

Image: 1999 Apr. 29
It was 16.5 mag in late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   9  4.01   15 15.7   1.770   1.991    86   16.7     29.2 115.2  20:26 ( 68, 52)  
May  15   9 16.78   13 48.4   1.866   2.021    83   17.0     29.4 115.1  20:34 ( 71, 47)  

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Mar. 12
No observations reported since it appeared at dawn, except for Ageo Survey team's one on Mar. 12 (16.4 mag).
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  23 47.30   52 34.8   4.377   3.831    51   17.0     19.1  51.5   3:27 (226, 33)  
May  15  23 58.68   53 57.0   4.405   3.878    52   17.1     18.3  50.4   3:19 (224, 34)  

* 105P/Singer Brewster


It was observed for the first time in this return on Apr. 12, but the brightness is unknown. Now is the peak on the brightness.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  18  9.97  -10  5.2   1.221   2.047   132   17.6      8.5  23.0   3:09 (  0, 45)  
May  15  18 10.75   -9 11.7   1.182   2.054   138   17.6      7.4 359.9   2:42 (  0, 46)  

* 134P/Kowal-Vavrova


No observations reported since last May, although it appears at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  19  2.48  -17 30.7   2.255   2.917   121   17.6      3.0  42.7   3:27 (350, 37)  
May  15  19  2.89  -17 16.3   2.206   2.943   128   17.7      1.9 349.4   3:19 (355, 38)  

* C/1999 G1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Apr. 13
New comet. It will be faint and low in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  13  4.54   -4 43.0   3.868   4.766   149   17.7     14.9 252.2  22:00 (  0, 50)  
May  15  12 58.22   -5 15.6   3.954   4.788   141   17.8     13.6 249.6  21:26 (  0, 50)  

* (10199) 1997 CU26

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
A Centaur asteroid. The perihelion passage is in 2004. It will keep the current brightness over 10 years after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   9 12.80    6 10.3  13.407  13.475    91   17.8      1.0  93.9  20:26 ( 56, 47)  
May  15   9 13.38    6  9.2  13.519  13.471    85   17.8      1.5  98.7  20:34 ( 64, 41)  

* C/1998 M3 ( Larsen )

Image: 1999 Mar. 22
It is nearly 19 mag, a bit fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  16 12.48   31 28.6   5.467   6.145   128   18.1     15.0 308.8   1:12 (  0, 86)  
May  15  16  5.92   32 30.3   5.490   6.162   127   18.1     14.6 304.3   0:38 (  0, 87)  

* C/1999 F1 ( Catalina )


New comet. The perihelion passage is in 2002. But because it will go to the Southern Sky, only until mid June the comet will be higher than 40 deg.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  12 58.80   -8 18.4   8.136   9.022   149   18.1      7.0 270.6  21:54 (  0, 47)  
May  15  12 55.60   -8 18.4   8.168   8.988   142   18.1      6.5 269.3  21:24 (  0, 47)  

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

Image: 1999 Mar. 22
It is already very faint, 17.9 mag in early April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8   7 42.97   34  6.5   2.195   1.996    65   18.2     32.1  93.6  20:26 (106, 44)  
May  15   8  0.90   33 46.8   2.285   2.027    62   18.4     31.9  96.1  20:34 (107, 41)  

* (5145) Pholus

Image: 1999 Jan. 30
A Centaur asteroid. The perihelion passage is in 1991. It will keep 18 mag until around 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   8  14 12.85   14 45.6  13.243  14.094   146   18.4      3.0 278.8  23:08 (  0, 70)  
May  15  14 11.44   14 47.8  13.304  14.113   141   18.4      2.8 273.6  22:39 (  0, 70)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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