Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Aug. 14: South)

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 Updated on August 21, 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 31
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. 14   7  8.24   41 50.5   1.467   0.974    41    7.0     32.0 319.5   5:17 (223, -8)  
Aug. 21   6 53.47   44 50.0   1.357   1.067    51    7.4     37.4 316.9   5:09 (217, -5)

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 31
Very diffused. 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. 14   8 58.57   57 33.2   1.671   1.167    43    9.3     20.7 198.6   5:17 (218,-31)  
Aug. 21   8 52.73   55  9.6   1.567   1.108    44    8.9     22.8 198.8   5:09 (220,-27)

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

 Image: 1999 July 31
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. 14  12 30.66   22 38.1   1.280   0.872    42    8.9     38.5  39.3  18:52 (128, 10)  
Aug. 21  12 41.44   25 40.4   1.447   0.944    40    9.6     29.3  38.8  18:57 (126,  5)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 July 31
10 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. 14  17 18.89  -22 15.2   0.718   1.504   119    9.8     27.2 133.9  19:49 (180, 77)  
Aug. 21  17 30.04  -24 22.2   0.745   1.494   115    9.7     29.8 125.8  19:33 (180, 79)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 30
Too low for the Northern observers. 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. 14  13 50.98  -22  0.7   1.601   1.626    73   11.5     15.1 326.3  18:52 (101, 54)  
Aug. 21  13 47.92  -20 47.0   1.817   1.670    65   11.9      9.7 334.7  18:57 ( 97, 47)

* 37P/Forbes

 Image: 1999 July 30
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. 14   0 47.29    8 11.5   0.992   1.792   126   12.3      7.0 334.5   3:20 (180, 47)  
Aug. 21   0 44.89    8 49.2   0.982   1.832   133   12.5      8.4 302.3   2:50 (180, 46)

* 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. 14   6 46.16  -66 11.2   9.111   9.105    86   12.4      7.1 139.6   5:17 (331, 43)  
Aug. 21   6 51.29  -66 50.4   9.169   9.158    86   12.4      7.1 144.4   5:09 (332, 45)

* 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. 14   9 22.68  -52 44.6   3.838   3.572    67   12.8     19.4 131.6   5:17 (320, 22)  
Aug. 21   9 34.30  -54 18.3   3.829   3.555    66   12.8     20.5 133.0   5:09 (321, 24)

* 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. 14   7 28.46   15 37.0   2.736   1.926    29   13.1     34.4 101.2   5:17 (246,  6)  
Aug. 21   7 44.50   14 47.5   2.733   1.960    32   13.3     33.4 102.7   5:09 (246,  7)

* 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. 14  10  7.56    9 36.9   4.008   3.015     9   13.8     18.4 140.0  18:52 ( 96, -8)  
Aug. 21  10 13.07    7 59.4   4.084   3.079     5   13.9     17.9 140.1  18:57 ( 91,-13)

* 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. 14  14 49.05  -25 49.2   6.116   6.143    86   13.8      4.7  87.8  18:52 (108, 68)  
Aug. 21  14 51.71  -25 49.1   6.223   6.142    80   13.9      5.6  91.5  18:57 (101, 62)

* 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. 14   3 46.02   11 32.6   1.656   1.848    83   14.6     30.8  81.6   5:17 (200, 41)  
Aug. 21   4  0.27   12  0.9   1.596   1.846    87   14.5     29.5  82.9   5:09 (198, 41)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 31
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)  
Aug. 14  14 29.91   45 53.3   3.738   3.500    68   14.6     18.2 207.3  18:52 (161,  5)  
Aug. 21  14 25.13   44  1.8   3.811   3.500    64   14.6     16.8 201.7  18:57 (154,  4)

* 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. 14   1  1.95  -29 34.5   1.192   1.998   129   14.9      9.6 130.3   3:34 (180, 85)  
Aug. 21   1  5.11  -30 18.9   1.118   1.957   133   14.6      7.7 146.0   3:10 (180, 85)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Aug. 1
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. 14  21 28.83   37 21.1   4.009   4.702   128   14.7      6.9 226.7   0:02 (180, 18)  
Aug. 21  21 25.91   36 42.8   3.958   4.677   130   14.7      7.9 218.5  23:27 (180, 18)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 31
Almost stellar object. 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. 14  18 31.78  -22 32.5   3.646   4.436   136   15.3     15.5 229.2  21:01 (180, 78)  
Aug. 21  18 26.21  -23 41.9   3.693   4.395   128   15.3     14.1 226.3  20:28 (180, 79)

* 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. 14   4 56.54   36 35.3   2.119   1.919    64   15.4     34.4  69.7   5:17 (207, 12)  
Aug. 21   5 15.35   37 54.4   2.069   1.923    67   15.3     33.6  71.1   5:09 (206, 11)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

 Image: 1999 July 31
Because it is extremely far away, it keeps 15 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. Looks like a stellar object by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 14  15 32.75   52 18.3   7.405   7.272    78   15.5     11.6 186.2  18:52 (172,  2)  
Aug. 21  15 32.17   50 57.8   7.436   7.263    76   15.5     11.5 181.5  18:57 (167,  2)

* 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. 14   2  0.07    8 52.1   1.993   2.523   109   15.5     11.3 100.2   4:32 (180, 46)  
Aug. 21   2  4.81    8 33.9   1.926   2.531   115   15.5      9.5 109.7   4:09 (180, 46)

* 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. 14   5  5.36   45 37.1   2.592   2.325    63   15.6     25.1  67.1   5:17 (204,  3)  
Aug. 21   5 20.62   46 42.9   2.555   2.353    67   15.6     23.9  67.3   5:09 (203,  3)

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 31
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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 14  18 17.99   37 44.4   1.694   2.259   110   15.7      0.8 337.8  20:48 (180, 17)  
Aug. 21  18 18.62   37 42.5   1.739   2.269   108   15.8      2.8 116.7  20:21 (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. 14   4 22.76   42  5.5   1.352   1.402    71   16.0     10.6   9.9   5:17 (198, 10)  
Aug. 21   4 22.92   43 18.9   1.333   1.485    77   16.1     10.6 352.3   5:09 (194, 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. 14  19 45.32    1 30.1   4.475   5.369   148   16.1     12.5 287.1  22:14 (180, 53)  
Aug. 21  19 40.00    1 53.9   4.538   5.378   142   16.1     11.3 286.3  21:42 (180, 53)

* 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. 14  15 45.93  -15 45.5   9.411   9.587    96   16.2      1.6 109.7  18:52 (155, 69)  
Aug. 21  15 46.82  -15 49.8   9.536   9.599    90   16.3      2.3 107.5  18:57 (137, 66)

* 134P/Kowal-Vavrova

 Image: 1999 June 14
Ageo Survey Team failed to catch it on July 31. Probably it have faded out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 14  18 23.39  -17 38.4   2.538   3.328   134   16.3      1.6 209.9  20:53 (180, 73)  
Aug. 21  18 23.47  -17 48.2   2.643   3.360   127   16.5      1.8 140.7  20:26 (180, 73)

* 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. 14  15  6.71   12 38.0   5.545   5.473    80   16.4      5.7 107.8  18:52 (156, 39)  
Aug. 21  15  9.54   12 25.1   5.665   5.500    75   16.5      6.7 106.8  18:57 (148, 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)  
Aug. 14   5 57.78   30 21.6   2.844   2.353    51   16.7     28.4  89.5   5:17 (221, 10)  
Aug. 21   6 12.99   30 19.9   2.777   2.348    55   16.6     27.9  91.1   5:09 (220, 11)

* 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. 14   4 44.14   22  5.1   3.323   3.095    68   16.8     12.7  79.8   5:17 (211, 26)  
Aug. 21   4 50.06   22 19.7   3.263   3.133    73   16.8     11.2  79.9   5:09 (208, 27)

* 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. 14  16 42.84  -10 50.1   1.244   1.848   109   17.3      6.0 283.3  19:13 (180, 66)  
Aug. 21  16 41.14  -10 43.6   1.255   1.774   102   17.0      1.5 290.2  18:57 (172, 66)

* 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. 14  18 36.65    0  2.5   5.147   5.897   134   17.3     15.2 259.0  21:06 (180, 55)  
Aug. 21  18 30.01   -0 18.6   5.218   5.881   126   17.3     13.9 257.0  20:32 (180, 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)  
Aug. 14  19 51.14  -13 36.2   1.507   2.464   155   17.3     10.4 258.3  22:20 (180, 69)  
Aug. 21  19 46.71  -13 51.2   1.510   2.426   147   17.3      8.4 255.1  21:48 (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. 14   1 46.41   35 54.8   1.691   2.141   101   17.6     21.2  45.6   4:18 (180, 19)  
Aug. 21   1 54.93   37 37.4   1.589   2.100   105   17.3     20.2  44.1   3:59 (180, 17)

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