Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Sept. 25: South)

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 Updated on October 4, 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 J3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
It brightened rapidly and reached to 9.5 mag. It will close to the earth down to 0.5 AU in October and reach to 8 mag. Because the comet goes southwards, northern people can observe it only until mid October. On the other hand, southern people can observe it after when it appears in October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   8 16.22   32 38.5   0.848   0.980    63    8.3     76.6 192.7   4:21 (224,  5)  
Oct.  2   8  6.16   21 58.9   0.698   0.998    69    8.0    113.0 191.3   4:11 (226, 16)

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
Being close to the earth, it looks large now. Southern observers cannot see it until October. It passes by double cluster NGC 869 and 884 on Sept. 25. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   2 25.68   58 16.1   0.842   1.568   116    8.7    119.0 256.9   2:17 (180, -3)  
Oct.  2   0 53.29   52  1.5   0.830   1.668   131    9.0    126.7 235.2   0:17 (180,  3)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
10 mag visually, well condensed and easy to see. It looks cometary also by CCD now and becomes harder to catch. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25  18 57.10  -31 14.2   0.933   1.491   100   10.2     39.2  97.5  19:22 (112, 81)  
Oct.  2  19 18.72  -31 38.3   0.982   1.501    98   10.4     40.1  93.0  19:28 (104, 79)

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

 Image: 1999 Aug. 31
It is fading out rapidly since late August. It keeps 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)  
Sept.25  13 20.88   35 10.1   2.011   1.398    39   11.5     18.1  43.8  19:22 (118,-22)  
Oct.  2  13 28.14   36 42.3   2.077   1.495    42   12.0     18.4  43.4  19:28 (117,-28)

* 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)  
Sept.25   7  8.86  -70 38.3   9.467   9.419    84   12.6      7.1 170.1   4:21 (342, 49)  
Oct.  2   7 10.11  -71 27.5   9.528   9.471    83   12.7      7.1 175.8   4:11 (344, 49)

* 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)  
Sept.25  10 48.63  -63 40.2   3.796   3.486    64   12.7     25.0 134.9   4:21 (329, 30)  
Oct.  2  11  8.44  -65 43.5   3.795   3.476    64   12.7     25.6 133.9   4:11 (332, 30)

* 106P/Schuster
Not yet observed in this return. The ephemeris says it reaches to 12 mag from October to December. However, it will be much fainter than the ephemeris in fact. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   0 53.14  -32 19.9   0.850   1.769   145   13.4     12.7 283.4   0:41 (180, 87)  
Oct.  2   0 45.76  -31 44.3   0.820   1.736   144   13.2     16.0 297.3   0:06 (180, 87)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 30
Not observable. It appears again at dawn as 15 mag in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25  13 50.22  -18 32.3   2.724   1.939    31   13.5      3.9  76.9  19:22 ( 76, 13)  
Oct.  2  13 52.21  -18 28.3   2.862   2.000    25   13.7      4.3  86.4  19:28 ( 72,  7)

* 9P/Tempel 1
Not observable around the perihelion passage at all. When it appears at dawn in 2000 June, it will be already fainter than 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25  12 34.81    2 34.6   2.777   1.790     7   14.0     38.7 116.4  19:22 ( 83,-14)  
Oct.  2  12 51.24    0 32.7   2.746   1.755     6   13.8     39.8 116.2  19:28 ( 79,-16)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
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)  
Sept.25  21 15.97   31 12.5   3.853   4.558   129   14.0     12.0 185.5  21:00 (180, 24)  
Oct.  2  21 15.69   29 46.9   3.864   4.536   126   14.0     12.5 179.3  20:32 (180, 25)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 June 12
After conjunction, it appears at dawn in 2000 January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25  15 11.02  -26 18.5   6.707   6.132    51   14.0      9.2  99.0  19:22 ( 79, 33)  
Oct.  2  15 15.88  -26 29.2   6.786   6.130    45   14.1      9.7  99.6  19:28 ( 75, 27)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since Jan. 12. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   8 54.61    9 52.9   2.673   2.147    48   14.2     27.5 109.2   4:21 (247, 14)  
Oct.  2   9  6.54    8 49.4   2.650   2.187    52   14.4     26.1 110.3   4:11 (247, 16)

* 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. It will be around 19 mag now in fact. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25  17  2.31  -11 14.8   1.269   1.390    74   14.9     18.7  95.2  19:22 (114, 48)  
Oct.  2  17 12.04  -11 26.4   1.254   1.311    70   14.3     22.3  94.2  19:28 (109, 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)  
Sept.25  10 37.42    0 18.9   4.308   3.399    22   14.5     15.6 144.7   4:21 (270, -1)  
Oct.  2  10 41.46   -1  9.6   4.322   3.464    27   14.6     15.1 146.6   4:11 (269,  3)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
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)  
Sept.25  14 18.25   36 15.0   4.109   3.518    48   14.8     10.9 175.3  19:22 (125,-13)  
Oct.  2  14 18.99   35  2.9   4.146   3.525    46   14.9      9.9 170.2  19:28 (121,-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)  
Sept.25  18 11.47  -28 42.7   4.051   4.191    91   15.3      7.7 188.4  19:22 (103, 71)  
Oct.  2  18 11.33  -29 34.6   4.132   4.152    84   15.3      7.3 175.4  19:28 ( 93, 64)

* 37P/Forbes

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
Gradually fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   0 12.66    8 56.7   1.051   2.049   171   15.3     16.1 259.0   0:01 (180, 46)  
Oct.  2   0  5.51    8 33.2   1.098   2.093   171   15.6     14.7 256.0  23:21 (180, 46)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
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)  
Sept.25  15 38.20   44 33.1   7.583   7.219    65   15.5     10.8 160.3  19:22 (142, -6)  
Oct.  2  15 40.77   43 23.5   7.607   7.212    63   15.5     10.6 156.3  19:28 (137,-10)

* 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)  
Sept.25   2 27.20   45  9.2   1.136   1.904   125   16.0     11.7  29.9   2:14 (180, 10)  
Oct.  2   2 30.38   46 13.9   1.061   1.867   129   15.7      9.0  23.8   1:50 (180,  9)

* 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)  
Sept.25   6 26.44   51 31.7   2.343   2.504    87   15.8     16.2  61.0   4:21 (197,  0)  
Oct.  2   6 36.45   52 26.6   2.298   2.535    91   15.9     14.5  57.0   4:11 (196,  0)

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
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)  
Sept.25  18 45.23   35 12.8   1.990   2.357    98   16.2     16.6 111.4  19:22 (169, 19)  
Oct.  2  18 54.63   34 29.4   2.046   2.382    96   16.3     18.7 109.6  19:28 (164, 18)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee
Appearing at dawn, but not yet observed. It will be 16 mag and locale high in next autumn and winter, but maybe it is much fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   7 23.07   29  1.0   2.420   2.340    73   16.3     24.0  98.5   4:21 (217, 15)  
Oct.  2   7 35.36   28 34.5   2.345   2.342    77   16.2     22.8  99.9   4:11 (217, 16)

* (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)  
Sept.25   3 38.89   48 40.6   1.175   1.826   113   16.3     26.8 280.8   3:26 (180,  6)  
Oct.  2   3 18.28   49  0.8   1.148   1.882   122   16.3     31.6 271.4   2:39 (180,  6)

* 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)  
Sept.25  19 22.67    3 14.6   5.016   5.431   109   16.4      4.1 295.0  19:22 (174, 52)  
Oct.  2  19 21.27    3 26.4   5.133   5.443   102   16.4      2.8 306.7  19:28 (160, 50)

* 50P/Arend
It was 16.8 mag on Aug. 5, a bit fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   6 46.30   42 51.7   1.827   1.974    82   16.7     27.3  75.9   4:21 (204,  7)  
Oct.  2   7  2.71   43 35.9   1.781   1.989    86   16.7     25.5  76.0   4:11 (203,  6)

* 84P/Giclas
It was 17.4 mag on Sept. 12, much fainter than the ephemeris. It tends to be at peak while after the perihelion passage, so it may be bright suddenly after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   4 59.48   13  1.5   1.318   1.866   106   17.2     18.9  89.3   4:21 (188, 42)  
Oct.  2   5  7.84   13  1.9   1.269   1.876   110   17.1     15.9  90.3   4:11 (185, 42)

* 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)  
Sept.25  19 44.99  -14 48.4   1.644   2.245   113   17.3      7.2  95.9  19:29 (180, 70)  
Oct.  2  19 49.21  -14 51.6   1.686   2.211   108   17.4     10.3  91.0  19:28 (165, 69)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It locates high at dawn now. No observations have been reported since 1999 February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.25   7 15.21   24  3.2   4.031   3.883    74   17.4     11.4  91.2   4:21 (219, 20)  
Oct.  2   7 20.75   24  1.9   3.921   3.875    79   17.3     10.3  90.6   4:11 (216, 21)

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