Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 July 31: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on August 1, 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 July 29
Observed by Ageo Survey team on July 27. The CCD images show the narrow tail and broad anti-tail. Southern observers cannot see it until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   7 30.56   36 33.5   1.635   0.813    23    6.9     27.8 322.0   3:30 (228,  5)  
Aug.  7   7 20.15   39  7.8   1.561   0.888    32    7.0     28.9 321.0   3:37 (232, 14)  

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

Image: 1999 July 24
New comet. Appearing at dusk even in the Northerm Hemisphere. It is brighter than expected. It will keep over 20 deg high in the evening sky in August in the Northern Hemisphere, although it set down under the horizon in the Southern Hemisphere. After that, it is alwasy observable for Northern people. It locates low at dusk until late October, then it turns to appear at dawn. It passes near by the North Pole in early February in 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  11 54.10   12 45.3   0.913   0.777    47    7.7     82.6  43.3  20:41 ( 95, 16)  
Aug.  7  12 15.96   18 33.3   1.099   0.815    45    8.3     54.4  40.9  20:33 (100, 19)  

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 12
Brightened rapidly and reached to 11 mag in mid June visually. It will close to the earth down to 0.4 AU in October and maybe reach to 6.4 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 31   9 10.22   61 55.2   1.833   1.306    43   10.0     19.3 199.0  20:41 (155, 18)  
Aug.  7   9  4.28   59 46.5   1.760   1.234    43    9.6     19.6 198.5   3:37 (205, 14)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 June 30
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 31  17  4.34  -17 40.5   0.677   1.535   129   10.0     22.2 154.7  20:41 (  4, 37)  
Aug.  7  17 10.30  -20  0.1   0.695   1.518   124    9.9     24.6 143.4  20:33 (  7, 35)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 30
It was brighter than the ephemeris in July. Northern people can observe it only until mid August. After conjunction, it appears again at dawn as 15 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 31  14  7.34  -26 27.0   1.151   1.552    91   10.6     38.5 315.9  20:41 ( 43, 14)  
Aug.  7  13 56.81  -23 48.0   1.377   1.587    81   11.1     23.9 320.5  20:33 ( 50, 12)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 July 8
12 mag visually. 14 mag by CCD. The condition keeps good until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   0 46.04    6 19.0   1.025   1.714   114   12.0     11.2  30.2   3:30 (338, 60)  
Aug.  7   0 47.68    7 21.2   1.007   1.752   120   12.2      8.2   9.4   3:37 (354, 62)  

* 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 31   6 34.85  -65  2.0   8.999   8.999    86   12.3      7.0 129.9   3:30 (329,-35)  
Aug.  7   6 40.66  -65 35.0   9.055   9.052    86   12.4      7.1 134.7   3:37 (331,-32)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Appearing over horizon at dawn, but it is too low to observe until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   6 54.47   17  0.7   2.732   1.862    24   12.7     36.4  98.0   3:30 (249,  0)  
Aug.  7   7 11.77   16 21.7   2.735   1.893    27   12.9     35.5  99.7   3:37 (252,  3)  

* 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 31   9  1.66  -50  1.0   3.854   3.609    68   12.9     17.1 128.0  20:41 ( 52,-47)  
Aug.  7   9 11.82  -51 18.7   3.846   3.590    67   12.9     18.3 129.9  20:33 ( 50,-48)  

* 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 31   9 56.05   13  0.2   3.827   2.889    19   13.5     19.4 140.6  20:41 (112, -8)  
Aug.  7  10  1.88   11 17.0   3.923   2.952    14   13.7     18.9 140.2  20:33 (113,-12)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
No outburst in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  14 45.18  -25 56.5   5.902   6.147    99   13.8      2.9  72.8  20:41 ( 36, 19)  
Aug.  7  14 46.87  -25 51.7   6.009   6.145    92   13.8      3.8  82.1  20:33 ( 39, 17)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 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. It is 13 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  14 45.03   49 44.8   3.591   3.504    76   14.5     21.4 219.3  20:41 (130, 59)  
Aug.  7  14 36.43   47 48.3   3.664   3.502    72   14.6     19.8 213.2  20:33 (125, 55)  

* 84P/Giclas


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it as 14 mag from summer though winter under good condition. However, maybe it is much fainter actually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   3 16.17   10 17.5   1.781   1.859    78   14.8     32.8  79.0   3:30 (287, 40)  
Aug.  7   3 31.28   10 58.1   1.718   1.853    80   14.7     31.9  80.3   3:37 (291, 44)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 8
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 31  21 34.45   38  5.8   4.138   4.754   122   14.9      4.7 248.6   1:03 (180, 87)  
Aug.  7  21 31.73   37 48.7   4.069   4.728   125   14.8      5.8 236.4   0:32 (180, 87)  

* 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 31   0 51.31  -28 15.3   1.359   2.082   121   15.4     13.3 111.9   3:30 (348, 26)  
Aug.  7   0 57.28  -28 52.6   1.273   2.039   125   15.2     11.6 119.6   3:37 (355, 26)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 14
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 31  18 44.83  -20  6.0   3.592   4.520   152   15.3     17.7 232.6  22:09 (  0, 35)  
Aug.  7  18 38.04  -21 20.4   3.612   4.478   144   15.3     16.8 231.2  21:35 (  0, 34)  

* 50P/Arend


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it as 15 mag from summer though winter under good condition. However, maybe it is much fainter actually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   4 19.32   33 36.5   2.223   1.917    59   15.5     35.5  67.1   3:30 (252, 38)  
Aug.  7   4 37.83   35  9.3   2.171   1.917    61   15.4     35.1  68.4   3:37 (252, 42)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 July 8
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 31  15 36.26   54 57.4   7.347   7.291    82   15.5     11.6 196.1  20:41 (147, 64)  
Aug.  7  15 34.09   53 38.5   7.376   7.281    80   15.5     11.6 191.0  20:33 (141, 62)  

* 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 31   4 33.75   43 12.1   2.662   2.270    56   15.5     27.4  66.0   3:30 (239, 38)  
Aug.  7   4 49.70   44 27.0   2.628   2.297    60   15.5     26.3  66.7   3:37 (239, 42)  

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 8
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 31  18 21.44   36 57.9   1.612   2.248   115   15.6      8.2 318.9  21:46 (180, 88)  
Aug.  7  18 18.97   37 30.6   1.652   2.252   113   15.6      4.4 317.5  21:16 (180, 87)  

* P/1988 V1 ( Ge-Wang )


First return, but not yet detected. It will be brightening slowly and reach to 15 mag in September. However, maybe it is much fainter actually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   1 47.64    9  4.0   2.139   2.509    99   15.6     15.0  88.9   3:30 (311, 55)  
Aug.  7   1 54.31    9  2.1   2.065   2.515   104   15.6     13.2  93.6   3:37 (321, 59)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   4 17.32   39 39.2   1.359   1.218    59   15.7     12.4  32.1   3:30 (245, 40)  
Aug.  7   4 20.76   40 52.4   1.361   1.314    65   15.9     11.4  23.4   3:37 (245, 46)  

* 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 31  18 26.08  -17 18.9   2.356   3.264   148   15.9      4.8 253.8  21:51 (  0, 38)  
Aug.  7  18 24.27  -17 28.5   2.442   3.296   141   16.1      3.1 243.1  21:21 (  0, 38)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
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 31  19 57.19    0 31.2   4.394   5.351   158   16.0     14.2 289.7  23:21 (  0, 56)  
Aug.  7  19 51.09    1  2.6   4.427   5.360   154   16.0     13.4 288.2  22:48 (  0, 56)  

* 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 31  15 45.13  -15 40.3   9.168   9.566   110   16.2      0.3 147.1  20:41 ( 27, 35)  
Aug.  7  15 45.37  -15 42.3   9.288   9.576   103   16.2      0.9 114.8  20:33 ( 32, 33)  

* C/1999 F2 ( Dalcanton )

Image: 1999 June 30
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 31  15  2.43   12 58.8   5.301   5.419    91   16.3      3.6 108.7  20:41 ( 62, 53)  
Aug.  7  15  4.33   12 49.4   5.423   5.446    85   16.3      4.7 108.5  20:33 ( 66, 49)  

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
It was 16.6 mag (m2) on July 10. It is very low in the Northern Hemisphere. But it never locates over 10 deg high after mid August, so now is the last chance.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  23 19.48  -39 52.8   4.761   5.571   139   16.3     13.8 207.6   2:47 (  0, 15)  
Aug.  7  23 15.26  -41 16.6   4.777   5.620   142   16.4     13.8 212.0   2:16 (  0, 14)  

* 88P/Howell

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Appearing at dawn. It is probably much fainter than the ephemris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31   4 30.25   21 29.4   3.427   3.018    58   16.7     15.3  79.1   3:30 (264, 31)  
Aug.  7   4 37.51   21 48.4   3.377   3.057    63   16.7     14.1  79.5   3:37 (267, 36)  

* 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 31   5 26.75   30  8.1   2.973   2.368    45   16.9     29.1  86.4   3:30 (249, 23)  
Aug.  7   5 42.34   30 17.7   2.910   2.360    48   16.8     28.8  87.9   3:37 (251, 27)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


New comet. We can observe it as 17.5 mag until October. After conjunction, we can observe it again as 17 mag in spring and autumn in 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  18 51.61    0 38.5   5.050   5.930   147   17.2     17.1 262.6  22:16 (  0, 56)  
Aug.  7  18 43.88    0 21.7   5.090   5.913   141   17.3     16.3 260.9  21:40 (  0, 55)  

* 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 31  20  2.11  -13  9.8   1.536   2.542   169   17.5     12.3 262.5  23:26 (  0, 42)  
Aug.  7  19 56.39  -13 22.1   1.516   2.503   162   17.4     11.7 260.6  22:53 (  0, 42)  

* P/1994 P1 ( Machholz 2 )


First return of a split comet. The condition is best and we can always observe it until it faded out. The ephemeris is based on the outburst in 1994, so it will be much fainter in fact.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
July 31  16 52.50  -11 22.6   1.227   1.991   124   17.9     14.7 282.8  20:41 (  8, 43)  
Aug.  7  16 46.65  -11  3.0   1.233   1.920   116   17.6     10.5 282.8  20:33 ( 16, 43)  

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

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