Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 May 22: North)

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 Updated on May 25, 1999
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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.

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* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

 Image: 1999 May 7
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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   8 48.04   -8 49.1   0.885   1.198    78    7.5     96.7 343.8  20:41 ( 64, 20)  
May  29   8 37.58    0 36.6   1.015   1.100    65    7.4     72.3 345.2  20:49 ( 79, 17)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 May 7
It was 13.2 mag by CCD on May 7 and 13.0 mag even visually on May 15. So it must be about 3 mag fainter than this ephemeris. It will close down to about 1 deg to 37P/Forbes on May 31 at 22h (UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  23 32.60   -6 36.3   1.577   1.546    69    9.9     16.3 208.8   3:11 (290, 15)  
May  29  23 27.56   -8 37.4   1.358   1.518    78    9.5     25.1 214.1   3:06 (296, 19)

* 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  22   3 37.52   16 10.3   2.669   1.665     5   11.5     43.1  80.3   3:11 (234,-18)  
May  29   3 58.20   16 56.2   2.674   1.673     7   11.5     42.8  81.9   3:06 (233,-18)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 May 7
We can see it in good condition until June. It is very low in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   8 52.52   36 25.3   2.503   2.290    66   11.6     31.1 158.3  20:41 (109, 44)  
May  29   8 59.14   33 12.4   2.651   2.346    61   11.8     28.8 155.7  20:49 (107, 38)

* 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  22   5 30.19  -63  4.3   8.481   8.461    85   11.9      6.2  77.6  20:41 ( 34,-39)  
May  29   5 36.56  -62 57.0   8.530   8.516    85   12.0      6.3  83.5  20:49 ( 34,-42)

* 37P/Forbes

 Image: 1999 May 7
Beginning to be higher in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be 13-14 mag until September under good condition. It will close down to about 1 deg to C/1998 T1 (LINEAR) on May 31 at 22h (UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  22 57.67  -12  2.8   1.250   1.459    79   13.0     41.7  62.3   3:11 (300, 18)  
May  29  23 14.70   -9 47.3   1.226   1.470    81   13.0     39.7  61.0   3:06 (299, 21)

* (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. It will appear at dawn as 14 mag in late June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   4 52.53   20 27.0   1.502   0.573    13   14.3     45.3  95.6  20:41 (122, -8)  
May  29   5 15.87   19 47.4   1.312   0.394    12   13.2     48.2  97.7  20:49 (123,-11)

* 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  22   7 55.80  -44 59.5   3.799   3.852    85   13.2      4.6  70.5  20:41 ( 43,-13)  
May  29   7 59.13  -44 52.2   3.816   3.824    82   13.2      5.7  85.0  20:49 ( 47,-17)

* 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  22  14 56.88  -28 21.5   5.183   6.165   164   13.5      6.6 290.8  22:57 (  0, 27)  
May  29  14 53.72  -28  4.5   5.206   6.164   159   13.5      6.2 293.6  22:26 (  0, 27)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1999 May 7
It will be too low to observe in June. After appearing again at dawn in December, it will be lower than 20 deg in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   8 28.48   10 16.6   2.441   2.242    66   13.9     28.5 111.9  20:41 ( 83, 28)  
May  29   8 41.05    9  1.4   2.527   2.262    63   14.1     28.8 112.1  20:49 ( 85, 23)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Apr. 14
It is getting brighter. It was about 15 mag in mid May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  17 30.70   -4 17.0   0.876   1.830   151   14.7      4.0 280.2   1:35 (  0, 51)  
May  29  17 28.19   -4 18.8   0.818   1.793   156   14.3      6.9 259.2   1:05 (  0, 51)

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Only southern people can observe it. It is over the horizon also in the Northern Hemisphere, but it will be only 18 deg high in July in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  23 22.77  -26 49.2   5.154   5.089    80   14.3      9.7 146.3   3:11 (307,  4)  
May  29  23 25.33  -27 48.5   5.091   5.137    86   14.3      9.9 153.8   3:06 (310,  6)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 May 8
Although it will be low in October and November, Northern people can observe it as 14 mag until 2000 April. Then they can trace it until July as the comet gets low at dusk as 16.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  18 17.85   54 22.1   3.280   3.584    99   14.4     30.8 302.8   2:23 (180, 71)  
May  29  17 55.41   56  5.4   3.253   3.570    99   14.4     31.3 294.5   1:33 (180, 69)

* 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  22  18 42.95  -57 39.0   1.255   2.070   131   14.9     53.9 284.5   2:48 (  0, -3)  
May  29  17 59.46  -55 25.0   1.277   2.165   141   15.1     55.1 295.0   1:38 (  0, -1)

* 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  22   1 54.54   25 45.7   2.894   2.054    27   15.0     34.6  57.6   3:11 (243,  6)  
May  29   2  9.80   27 53.1   2.879   2.071    30   15.0     34.2  58.3   3:06 (242,  8)

* 140P/Bowell-Skiff

 Image: 1999 May 1
It will be low in late June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   8 53.92   17 42.1   2.066   1.973    70   15.0     32.7 109.0  20:41 ( 86, 37)  
May  29   9  9.12   16 24.9   2.128   1.977    67   15.1     33.4 109.9  20:49 ( 88, 33)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
New comet. Because it is extremely far away, it keeps 15 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  16 46.52   63 34.8   7.384   7.549    95   15.6      9.6 259.6   0:51 (180, 61)  
May  29  16 36.68   63 18.1   7.385   7.544    95   15.6      9.9 252.3   0:14 (180, 62)

* 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  22  15 57.96  -16 20.4   8.448   9.458   175   16.0      4.4 285.1   0:02 (  0, 39)  
May  29  15 55.90  -16 12.5   8.464   9.468   171   16.0      4.3 284.5  23:28 (  0, 39)

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 May 7
Fading as expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  19 29.54   16 52.8   1.858   2.466   115   16.0     40.4 265.5   3:11 (343, 71)  
May  29  19  9.01   16 19.5   1.830   2.542   124   16.1     44.3 261.9   2:46 (  0, 71)

* 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  22   0  9.16    3 40.2   2.915   2.511    56   16.3     25.9  72.6   3:11 (276, 14)  
May  29   0 20.63    4 33.1   2.840   2.506    60   16.3     25.4  73.1   3:06 (276, 17)

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will close to the earth down to 0.4 AU in October and reach to 11 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, people can observe it until mid November. But because the comet is moving southwards, it will just over the horizon after the approach to the earth. It will not be obesrvable after 2000 February. On the other hand, southern people cannot see it until the approach. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  14 42.02   76 45.9   2.071   2.181    82   17.0     34.5 301.2  22:38 (180, 48)  
May  29  13 34.57   78  7.8   2.073   2.102    77   16.8     32.2 281.6  21:03 (180, 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  22   0  9.74   55 17.5   4.429   3.925    54   17.2     17.5  49.3   3:11 (223, 36)  
May  29   0 20.42   56 36.0   4.450   3.973    55   17.2     16.6  48.0   3:06 (222, 38)

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

 Image: 1999 Apr. 29
Fading as expected. It will be too low to observe in mid June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   9 29.56   12 20.7   1.965   2.052    80   17.3     29.5 115.1  20:41 ( 74, 41)  
May  29   9 42.29   10 52.9   2.065   2.085    76   17.6     29.5 115.2  20:49 ( 77, 36)

* 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  22  18  9.99   -8 22.5   1.150   2.063   144   17.5      7.3 334.7   2:14 (  0, 47)  
May  29  18  7.87   -7 39.7   1.128   2.072   150   17.5      8.0 313.8   1:44 (  0, 47)

* C/1998 M1 ( LINEAR )
It was 17.5 mag on May 13. It seems to be fading a bit rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  22  7.76    8 28.0   3.657   3.687    83   17.6     12.6  41.1   3:11 (292, 41)  
May  29  22 11.34    9 33.3   3.601   3.722    88   17.7     11.4  36.7   3:06 (295, 45)

* 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  22  19  2.15  -17  4.4   2.164   2.970   135   17.7      3.0 299.8   3:06 (  0, 38)  
May  29  19  0.34  -16 55.1   2.130   2.997   142   17.8      4.9 283.3   2:37 (  0, 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  22  12 52.62   -5 49.5   4.054   4.811   133   17.9     12.1 246.0  20:53 (  0, 49)  
May  29  12 47.82   -6 24.7   4.165   4.834   126   17.9     10.7 241.3  20:49 ( 10, 48)

* C/1999 F1 ( Catalina )

 Image: 1999 May 7
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  22  12 52.67   -8 19.6   8.213   8.955   134   18.1      5.9 267.5  20:53 (  0, 47)  
May  29  12 50.04   -8 22.1   8.268   8.921   127   18.1      5.3 264.9  20:49 (  9, 46)

* 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  22  15 59.18   33 23.1   5.526   6.180   126   18.1     14.0 299.7   0:04 (  0, 88)  
May  29  15 52.40   34  6.9   5.575   6.198   123   18.2     13.2 295.1  23:25 (  0, 89)

* C/1999 J4 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will be 18.0 mag at 60 deg high in next winter in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  15 37.86   46 33.0   3.598   4.103   113   18.2     23.9 296.9  23:37 (180, 78)  
May  29  15 23.26   47 38.0   3.629   4.083   109   18.2     22.6 290.6  22:55 (180, 77)

* (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  22  14 10.12   14 48.0  13.378  14.132   136   18.4      2.6 267.5  22:11 (  0, 70)  
May  29  14  8.91   14 46.2  13.461  14.150   131   18.4      2.4 260.4  21:42 (  0, 70)

* P/1999 DN3
New comet. Although the current condition is not good enough and maybe too faint, it will only be fainter and lower after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  12 14.05   -6 47.7   3.309   3.981   125   18.6      2.5 242.0  20:41 ( 10, 48)  
May  29  12 13.43   -6 57.6   3.400   3.985   118   18.7      1.7 195.9  20:49 ( 22, 46)

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