Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 July 10: South)

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Updated on July 11, 1999
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

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

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* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

Image: 1999 June 12
After rapid brightening, it suddenly stopped being brighter. Now it is not observable. It will appear at dawn as 6 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)  
July 10   7 57.81   28 26.8   1.676   0.708    11    6.7     29.8 329.2  21:01 (133, -7)  
July 17   7 49.31   31 19.0   1.696   0.718    10    6.7     28.7 325.7  20:56 (140, -9)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 14
It will fade out rapidly after this. It is now in the evening sky. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it reaches only 16 deg high around July 20, then it will be lower. So people can observe it only until mid August. After conjunction, it appears again at dawn as 16 mag in December. On the other hand, it keeps high until late August in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  16 29.10  -44 49.4   0.555   1.483   139    9.1    197.6 288.6  21:08 (  0, 11)  
July 17  15  4.92  -36 40.3   0.720   1.500   118    9.8    113.5 303.8  20:56 ( 20, 16)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 June 12
11 mag visually, well condensed and easy to see. It is stellar by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  17  1.45  -10 57.3   0.654   1.602   146   10.7     18.1 196.1  21:49 (  0, 44)  
July 17  17  0.08  -13  4.6   0.656   1.577   140   10.4     18.9 181.9  21:20 (  0, 42)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 June 14
It suddenly became 2 mag brighter in June. Now it reaches to 11 mag. The condition keeps good until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   0 29.67    2  9.2   1.089   1.610    99   11.6     22.3  51.2   3:09 (310, 45)  
July 17   0 36.94    3 42.3   1.067   1.643   104   11.8     18.6  47.3   3:15 (316, 50)  

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )


Only southern people can observe it. Northern people can never see it again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   6 16.10  -63 43.9   8.837   8.839    86   12.2      6.8 115.3   3:09 (328,-44)  
July 17   6 22.53  -64  6.2   8.890   8.893    86   12.2      6.9 120.3   3:15 (328,-41)  

* 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)  
July 10   5 59.18   18 16.9   2.715   1.779    18   12.2     39.1  92.8   3:09 (240, -9)  
July 17   6 18.14   17 59.1   2.722   1.804    20   12.4     38.3  94.6   3:15 (243, -6)  

* 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)  
July 10   8 35.02  -46 59.5   3.865   3.673    71   13.0     13.5 120.2  21:01 ( 55,-41)  
July 17   8 43.28  -47 51.2   3.863   3.651    70   13.0     14.7 123.2  20:56 ( 54,-43)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 20
Not observable. After conjunction, it will appear again at dawn in mid October as 14.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   9 37.82   18 35.0   3.490   2.702    33   13.0     21.2 143.4  21:01 (110,  4)  
July 17   9 44.01   16 38.4   3.610   2.763    28   13.2     20.6 142.2  20:56 (111, -1)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
Small outburst happened and it looked stellar as 14.5 mag on June 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  14 43.30  -26 24.9   5.600   6.153   118   13.7      1.9 348.3  21:01 ( 22, 25)  
July 17  14 43.38  -26 13.2   5.696   6.151   112   13.7      1.7  24.4  20:56 ( 27, 23)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 14
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. It is 13 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  15 27.07   55  9.2   3.393   3.519    88   14.4     26.4 240.4  21:01 (161, 68)  
July 17  15 10.00   53 29.7   3.453   3.513    84   14.4     24.8 232.8  20:56 (147, 66)  

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Although it is highest now, the altitude is only 18 deg.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  23 27.90  -35 29.4   4.790   5.426   124   14.4     12.9 193.2   3:09 (345, 18)  
July 17  23 25.84  -36 57.6   4.768   5.474   129   14.5     13.3 198.3   3:15 (353, 18)  

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

Image: 1999 May 12
Not observable. 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)  
July 10   9 56.37    0 57.3   3.033   2.417    44   14.7     29.2 114.5  21:01 ( 93, -3)  
July 17  10  8.72   -0 28.0   3.113   2.448    41   14.9     29.1 114.9  20:56 ( 93, -6)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. Although it appears at dawn, it will fade out rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   4  2.82   35 43.8   1.267   0.880    43   14.8     15.0  33.6   3:09 (241, 22)  
July 17   4  7.86   37  7.2   1.314   1.003    48   15.2     14.4  37.5   3:15 (243, 28)  

* 84P/Giclas


Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance for the first observation. We can observe it as 14 mag from summer though winter under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   2 29.52    7 41.0   1.980   1.891    69   15.1     34.5  75.5   3:09 (280, 27)  
July 17   2 45.21    8 38.6   1.912   1.878    72   15.0     34.1  76.6   3:15 (282, 31)  

* 102P/Shoemaker 1


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it until November as 15-16 mag. But it should be much fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   3 45.11   38 55.4   2.750   2.194    47   15.3     30.3  63.5   3:09 (240, 27)  
July 17   4  1.38   40 26.6   2.723   2.219    50   15.4     29.4  64.4   3:15 (240, 31)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 14
New comet. Because it is 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)  
July 10  21 40.74   37 58.7   4.624   5.073   110   15.4      2.9 319.2   2:31 (180, 87)  
July 17  21 39.38   38 10.0   4.549   5.058   114   15.3      2.9 291.3   2:03 (180, 87)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 14
New comet. The perihelion passage is in 2000 July, when it will be 13.5 mag. But the comet is in the southern sky. Northern people can observe it until October as 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  19  6.62  -16 19.1   3.644   4.656   173   15.5     18.2 234.4  23:53 (  0, 39)  
July 17  18 59.35  -17 34.1   3.611   4.613   168   15.4     18.5 234.1  23:18 (  0, 37)  

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 14
New comet. It will keep over 60 deg high until late November, when it will be 18 mag, so we can observe its fading out under good condition. It is 14.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  18 35.49   32 57.1   1.526   2.257   123   15.5     19.9 329.4  23:22 (  0, 88)  
July 17  18 30.05   34 43.2   1.550   2.252   121   15.5     16.0 325.5  22:49 (  0, 90)  

* 134P/Kowal-Vavrova

Image: 1999 June 14
About 3 mag brighter than expected based on the pre-perihelion observations.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  18 36.25  -16 54.6   2.166   3.171   169   15.5      8.8 264.2  23:23 (  0, 38)  
July 17  18 32.20  -17  1.6   2.217   3.202   162   15.6      7.8 261.9  22:52 (  0, 38)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 June 14
New comet. Because it is extremely far away, it keeps 15 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. Visual observers reported it as 14 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  15 48.28   58 38.0   7.282   7.326    88   15.5     11.4 212.5  21:01 (172, 66)  
July 17  15 43.31   57 28.2   7.303   7.316    86   15.5     11.5 206.7  20:56 (163, 66)  

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 12
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)  
July 10   9 39.96   69  2.8   2.066   1.640    51   15.7     19.7 206.9  21:01 (156, 29)  
July 17   9 30.04   67  2.0   2.040   1.568    48   15.5     18.3 203.1  20:56 (155, 26)  

* 50P/Arend


Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance for the first observation. We can observe it as 15 mag from summer though winter under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   3 25.70   28 22.1   2.387   1.930    51   15.7     36.4  63.6   3:09 (252, 26)  
July 17   3 43.21   30 12.4   2.331   1.923    54   15.6     36.2  64.7   3:15 (252, 30)  

* 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)  
July 10   1 23.10    8 25.7   2.372   2.498    84   15.8     19.7  80.4   3:09 (291, 40)  
July 17   1 31.94    8 45.4   2.293   2.500    89   15.8     18.2  82.6   3:15 (296, 45)  

* 106P/Schuster


Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance for the first observation. It will keep around 25 deg high until October when it becomes 12.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   0 27.60  -26 59.3   1.648   2.213   110   16.3     17.4  97.4   3:09 (329, 21)  
July 17   0 36.30  -27 18.2   1.547   2.169   113   16.0     16.2 101.3   3:15 (335, 23)  

* C/1999 F2 ( Dalcanton )

Image: 1999 June 14
New comet. We can observe it until October when it fades to 17 mag and becomes low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  14 59.86   13  8.4   4.938   5.342   108   16.0      0.4  13.3  21:01 ( 42, 63)  
July 17  15  0.18   13  8.9   5.057   5.368   102   16.1      1.3 100.4  20:56 ( 50, 59)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
Stellar object.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  15 46.39  -15 41.2   8.842   9.533   130   16.1      1.9 279.4  21:01 (  8, 39)  
July 17  15 45.65  -15 39.7   8.944   9.544   123   16.1      1.2 276.2  20:56 ( 15, 38)  

* C/1999 L2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Northern people can observe it only until late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  16  8.21   -2 35.6   1.106   1.928   130   16.6     42.7 190.6  21:01 (  2, 52)  
July 17  16  5.45   -7 28.2   1.136   1.915   125   16.6     41.6 185.3  20:56 ( 11, 47)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
New comet. It will be over 45 deg high and 17 mag until mid November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  20 15.33   -1 16.1   4.297   5.233   154   16.9     15.3 296.2   1:06 (  0, 54)  
July 17  20  8.80   -0 30.5   4.266   5.224   158   16.8     15.5 293.8   0:32 (  0, 54)  

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Appearing to be in the morning sky. The brightness after late February is unknown. One reported that it is too faint to catch by CCD now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  15 54.76  -34 34.9   1.896   2.710   134   16.9     25.7 334.8  21:01 (  4, 20)  
July 17  15 49.88  -32  4.5   2.062   2.797   127   17.2     20.8 341.3  20:56 ( 11, 22)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee


Appearing at dawn. It will be 16 mag and locale high in next autumn and winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10   4 39.66   29  4.9   3.152   2.398    35   17.1     29.6  81.7   3:09 (243, 12)  
July 17   4 55.35   29 31.7   3.094   2.387    38   17.0     29.5  83.2   3:15 (245, 16)  

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 4
Fading as expected. Observation is hard because it is in the Milky Way.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  17  8.88    6 37.6   2.164   2.994   137   17.1     35.4 241.0  21:55 (  0, 61)  
July 17  16 55.58    4 39.0   2.301   3.069   131   17.4     30.6 237.2  21:15 (  0, 60)  

* P/1999 J5 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although it keeps 18 mag until the end of 2000, it is higher than 40 deg only until late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  16 10.47   -9 57.9   2.939   3.720   134   17.5      5.3 225.9  21:01 (  1, 45)  
July 17  16  9.08  -10 25.2   3.014   3.721   127   17.6      4.6 206.6  20:56 (  9, 44)  

* 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)  
July 10   1 13.02   63 41.0   4.498   4.265    70   17.6     11.0  34.2   3:09 (209, 51)  
July 17   1 19.00   64 42.9   4.494   4.314    73   17.6     10.0  29.9   3:15 (205, 53)  

* 137P/Shoemaker-Levy 2


It keeps 17.5 mag and 40 deg high until October. A stellar object.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  20 18.46  -12 51.8   1.674   2.660   162   17.7      9.6 269.9   1:10 (  0, 42)  
July 17  20 13.47  -12 54.0   1.615   2.620   168   17.6     11.1 266.8   0:37 (  0, 42)  

* 1999 LD31


New retrograde asteroid. It will be overhead as 17 mag between 2000 January and March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 10  14 52.58    5 22.5   2.213   2.735   110   17.8     32.5 275.4  21:01 ( 37, 55)  
July 17  14 38.66    5 38.3   2.320   2.700   100   17.9     27.1 273.2  20:56 ( 50, 50)  

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