Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Aug. 7: South)

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Updated on August 14, 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 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)  
Aug.  7   7 20.15   39  7.8   1.561   0.888    32    7.0     28.9 321.0   5:23 (230,-11)  
Aug. 14   7  8.24   41 50.5   1.467   0.974    41    7.1     32.0 319.5   5:17 (223, -8)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  12 15.96   18 33.3   1.099   0.815    45    8.3     54.4  40.9  18:48 (128, 16)  
Aug. 14  12 30.66   22 38.1   1.280   0.872    42    8.9     38.5  39.3  18:52 (128, 10)  

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 12
Bright as 11 mag visually, but 14 mag by CCD. It will close to the earth down to 0.4 AU in October and reach to 8 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)  
Aug.  7   9  4.28   59 46.5   1.760   1.234    43    9.6     19.6 198.5   5:23 (217,-35)  
Aug. 14   8 58.57   57 33.2   1.671   1.167    43    9.3     20.7 198.6   5:17 (218,-31)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  17 10.30  -20  0.1   0.695   1.518   124    9.9     24.6 143.4  20:08 (180, 75)  
Aug. 14  17 18.89  -22 15.2   0.718   1.504   119    9.8     27.2 133.9  19:49 (180, 77)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  13 56.81  -23 48.0   1.377   1.587    81   11.1     23.9 320.5  18:48 (107, 63)  
Aug. 14  13 50.98  -22  0.7   1.601   1.626    73   11.5     15.1 326.3  18:52 (101, 54)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   0 47.68    7 21.2   1.007   1.752   120   12.2      8.2   9.4   3:48 (180, 48)  
Aug. 14   0 47.29    8 11.5   0.992   1.792   126   12.3      7.0 334.5   3:20 (180, 47)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   6 40.66  -65 35.0   9.055   9.052    86   12.4      7.1 134.7   5:23 (330, 42)  
Aug. 14   6 46.16  -66 11.2   9.111   9.105    86   12.4      7.1 139.6   5:17 (331, 43)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   9 11.82  -51 18.7   3.846   3.590    67   12.9     18.3 129.9  18:48 ( 41, 21)  
Aug. 14   9 22.68  -52 44.6   3.838   3.572    67   12.8     19.4 131.6   5:17 (320, 22)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   7 11.77   16 21.7   2.735   1.893    27   12.9     35.5  99.7   5:23 (246,  5)  
Aug. 14   7 28.46   15 37.0   2.736   1.926    29   13.1     34.4 101.2   5:17 (246,  6)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  10  1.88   11 17.0   3.923   2.952    14   13.7     18.9 140.2  18:48 (101, -4)  
Aug. 14  10  7.56    9 36.9   4.008   3.015     9   13.8     18.4 140.0  18:52 ( 96, -8)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  14 46.87  -25 51.7   6.009   6.145    92   13.8      3.8  82.1  18:48 (120, 74)  
Aug. 14  14 49.05  -25 49.2   6.116   6.143    86   13.8      4.7  87.8  18:52 (108, 68)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  14 36.43   47 48.3   3.664   3.502    72   14.6     19.8 213.2  18:48 (168,  6)  
Aug. 14  14 29.91   45 53.3   3.738   3.500    68   14.6     18.2 207.3  18:52 (161,  5)  

* 84P/Giclas


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it as 14 mag from summer though winter under good condition. However, it will be surely much fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   3 31.28   10 58.1   1.718   1.853    80   14.7     31.9  80.3   5:23 (202, 41)  
Aug. 14   3 46.02   11 32.6   1.656   1.848    83   14.6     30.8  81.6   5:17 (200, 41)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  21 31.73   37 48.7   4.069   4.728   125   14.8      5.8 236.4   0:32 (180, 17)  
Aug. 14  21 28.83   37 21.1   4.009   4.702   128   14.7      6.9 226.7   0:02 (180, 18)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   0 57.28  -28 52.6   1.273   2.039   125   15.2     11.6 119.6   3:57 (180, 84)  
Aug. 14   1  1.95  -29 34.5   1.192   1.998   129   14.9      9.6 130.3   3:34 (180, 85)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  18 38.04  -21 20.4   3.612   4.478   144   15.3     16.8 231.2  21:35 (180, 76)  
Aug. 14  18 31.78  -22 32.5   3.646   4.436   136   15.3     15.5 229.2  21:01 (180, 78)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   4 37.83   35  9.3   2.171   1.917    61   15.4     35.1  68.4   5:23 (208, 13)  
Aug. 14   4 56.54   36 35.3   2.119   1.919    64   15.4     34.4  69.7   5:17 (207, 12)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  15 34.09   53 38.5   7.376   7.281    80   15.5     11.6 191.0  18:48 (178,  1)  
Aug. 14  15 32.75   52 18.3   7.405   7.272    78   15.5     11.6 186.2  18:52 (172,  2)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   4 49.70   44 27.0   2.628   2.297    60   15.5     26.3  66.7   5:23 (205,  4)  
Aug. 14   5  5.36   45 37.1   2.592   2.325    63   15.6     25.1  67.1   5:17 (204,  3)  

* P/1988 V1 ( Ge-Wang )


First return, but not yet detected. It will be brightest soon. However, it is surely much fainter actually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   1 54.31    9  2.1   2.065   2.515   104   15.6     13.2  93.6   4:54 (180, 46)  
Aug. 14   2  0.07    8 52.1   1.993   2.523   109   15.5     11.3 100.2   4:32 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  18 18.97   37 30.6   1.652   2.252   113   15.6      4.4 317.5  21:16 (180, 17)  
Aug. 14  18 17.99   37 44.4   1.694   2.259   110   15.7      0.8 337.8  20:48 (180, 17)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. No astrometric observations have been reported since 1996 December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   4 20.76   40 52.4   1.361   1.314    65   15.9     11.4  23.4   5:23 (202,  9)  
Aug. 14   4 22.76   42  5.5   1.352   1.402    71   16.0     10.6   9.9   5:17 (198, 10)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  19 51.09    1  2.6   4.427   5.360   154   16.0     13.4 288.2  22:48 (180, 54)  
Aug. 14  19 45.32    1 30.1   4.475   5.369   148   16.1     12.5 287.1  22:14 (180, 53)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  18 24.27  -17 28.5   2.442   3.296   141   16.1      3.1 243.1  21:21 (180, 72)  
Aug. 14  18 23.39  -17 38.4   2.538   3.328   134   16.3      1.6 209.9  20:53 (180, 73)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  15 45.37  -15 42.3   9.288   9.576   103   16.2      0.9 114.8  18:48 (176, 71)  
Aug. 14  15 45.93  -15 45.5   9.411   9.587    96   16.2      1.6 109.7  18:52 (155, 69)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  15  4.33   12 49.4   5.423   5.446    85   16.3      4.7 108.5  18:48 (165, 41)  
Aug. 14  15  6.71   12 38.0   5.545   5.473    80   16.4      5.7 107.8  18:52 (156, 39)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   5 42.34   30 17.7   2.910   2.360    48   16.8     28.8  87.9   5:23 (222, 10)  
Aug. 14   5 57.78   30 21.6   2.844   2.353    51   16.7     28.4  89.5   5:17 (221, 10)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7   4 37.51   21 48.4   3.377   3.057    63   16.7     14.1  79.5   5:23 (214, 25)  
Aug. 14   4 44.14   22  5.1   3.323   3.095    68   16.8     12.7  79.8   5:17 (211, 26)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  18 43.88    0 21.7   5.090   5.913   141   17.3     16.3 260.9  21:40 (180, 55)  
Aug. 14  18 36.65    0  2.5   5.147   5.897   134   17.3     15.2 259.0  21:06 (180, 55)  

* P/1999 P1 ( Machholz 2 )


First return of a split comet. The condition is best and we can always observe it until it faded out. It wad recovered as about 20.5 mag (m2) on Aug. 3, about 3 mag fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7  16 46.65  -11  3.0   1.233   1.920   116   17.6     10.5 282.8  19:44 (180, 66)  
Aug. 14  16 42.84  -10 50.1   1.244   1.848   109   17.3      6.0 283.3  19:13 (180, 66)  

* 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)  
Aug.  7  19 56.39  -13 22.1   1.516   2.503   162   17.4     11.7 260.6  22:53 (180, 68)  
Aug. 14  19 51.14  -13 36.2   1.507   2.464   155   17.3     10.4 258.3  22:20 (180, 69)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff


Not yet observed in this return. The condition is best. It will keep over 75 deg high until next February in Northern Hemisphere. It will be 13 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  7   1 37.50   34 10.7   1.797   2.183    97   17.9     21.9  47.0   4:37 (180, 21)  
Aug. 14   1 46.41   35 54.8   1.691   2.141   101   17.6     21.2  45.6   4:18 (180, 19)  

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