Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Oct. 9: South)

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 Updated on October 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 J3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 27
Being very close to the earth, the comet goes southwards rapidly. Northern people can observe it only until mid October. On the other hand, southern people can observe it after when it appears in October. It is close by M46 and M47 on Oct. 15. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   7 53.64    6  6.7   0.576   1.030    76    7.8    166.1 190.6   4:00 (232, 33)  
Oct. 16   7 36.57  -15 48.2   0.512   1.074    84    7.8    210.4 191.5   3:49 (244, 54)

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 27
Getting to be farther away from the earth. Although it locates in good positon until December, it will fade out rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  23 50.62   42 22.4   0.877   1.768   140    9.5    115.7 221.9  22:35 (180, 13)  
Oct. 16  23 13.03   32 35.6   0.978   1.866   141   10.0     93.7 213.7  21:32 (180, 23)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Sept. 5
It tends to be brighter after perihelion passage, but actually it is 10 mag, a bit fainter. It will close down to 0.7 deg to a globular cluster M55 on Oct. 8 at 18h (UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  19 40.91  -31 41.3   1.034   1.514    96    9.6     40.8  88.7  19:35 (100, 76)  
Oct. 16  20  3.34  -31 23.9   1.090   1.530    94    9.8     41.2  84.8  19:42 ( 97, 74)

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 23
It was 13 mag by CCD in mid September. 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)  
Oct.  9  13 35.64   38 17.8   2.129   1.592    45   12.5     19.0  42.4  19:35 (117,-33)  
Oct. 16  13 43.42   39 59.5   2.169   1.689    48   12.9     19.9  40.7  19:42 (116,-39)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  11 30.90  -67 46.4   3.797   3.467    63   12.6     26.1 132.3   4:00 (334, 30)  
Oct. 16  11 56.67  -69 46.5   3.802   3.459    62   12.6     26.5 129.8   3:49 (337, 30)

* 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)  
Oct.  9   7 10.35  -72 16.9   9.589   9.523    83   12.7      7.0 181.7   4:00 (346, 50)  
Oct. 16   7  9.42  -73  5.8   9.651   9.574    82   12.7      7.0 187.9   3:49 (349, 50)

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 27
New comet. It is brightest now. It locates high until December and keeps 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   0  3.74   55 49.4   1.137   1.929   129   13.1     60.5 296.4  22:49 (180, -1)  
Oct. 16  23 16.97   58  4.8   1.160   1.915   125   13.1     54.9 283.8  21:35 (180, -3)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  13  8.14   -1 31.2   2.714   1.722     5   13.6     40.8 115.9  19:35 ( 74,-19)  
Oct. 16  13 25.54   -3 36.4   2.681   1.690     5   13.3     41.8 115.4  19:42 ( 70,-21)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  13 54.39  -18 28.2   2.983   2.063    18   13.9      4.6  92.6  19:35 ( 68,  1)  
Oct. 16  13 56.66  -18 30.9   3.087   2.127    12   14.1      4.7  96.8  19:42 ( 63, -6)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 11
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)  
Oct.  9  21 16.14   28 18.5   3.885   4.514   123   14.0     12.8 173.0  20:05 (180, 27)  
Oct. 16  21 17.35   26 49.1   3.917   4.493   119   14.0     13.1 166.7  19:42 (179, 28)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 June 12
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in 2000 January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  15 21.00  -26 41.1   6.858   6.128    40   14.1     10.2 100.0  19:35 ( 72, 22)  
Oct. 16  15 26.36  -26 53.9   6.921   6.126    34   14.1     10.6 100.3  19:42 ( 68, 16)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as 14.4 mag on Sept. 19 by Kadota, as bright as the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   9 17.74    7 46.0   2.622   2.227    56   14.6     24.7 111.4   4:00 (247, 17)  
Oct. 16   9 28.19    6 43.3   2.590   2.268    60   14.8     23.2 112.5   3:49 (247, 19)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 May 20
Appearing at dawn. No observations have been reported since mid June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  10 45.15   -2 37.3   4.325   3.528    32   14.7     14.5 149.1   4:00 (269,  6)  
Oct. 16  10 48.43   -4  4.3   4.319   3.592    38   14.7     14.0 152.0   3:49 (268, 10)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 11
Although it will be low in October and November, Northern people can observe it as 14 mag until 2000 April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  14 20.13   33 58.3   4.173   3.533    44   14.9      9.0 165.0  19:35 (116,-23)  
Oct. 16  14 21.56   33  1.5   4.191   3.542    44   14.9      8.1 159.8  19:42 (112,-29)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  18 12.09  -30 24.3   4.213   4.113    77   15.3      7.3 162.4  19:35 ( 87, 58)  
Oct. 16  18 13.71  -31 12.3   4.290   4.075    70   15.3      7.7 151.0  19:42 ( 82, 51)

* 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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  15 43.66   42 17.3   7.628   7.204    61   15.5     10.4 152.3  19:35 (132,-14)  
Oct. 16  15 46.82   41 14.9   7.645   7.197    59   15.5     10.1 148.4  19:42 (128,-18)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It keeps a good position until 2000 February when it will be 13 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   4 55.96   35 10.8   3.644   4.205   117   16.0     11.5 294.0   3:48 (180, 20)  
Oct. 16   4 49.13   35 42.8   3.467   4.129   125   15.9     14.1 288.5   3:14 (180, 19)

* 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)  
Oct.  9   6 44.99   53 22.0   2.254   2.567    96   15.9     12.7  51.0   4:00 (194, -1)  
Oct. 16   6 51.84   54 18.2   2.211   2.599   101   15.9     11.0  42.5   3:49 (192, -1)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  23 59.30    8  7.9   1.156   2.138   165   15.9     12.5 253.2  22:47 (180, 47)  
Oct. 16  23 54.35    7 43.8   1.226   2.184   158   16.2      9.6 250.2  22:15 (180, 47)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee
It was 16.9 mag on Sept. 19, a bit fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   7 46.88   28  5.9   2.270   2.346    81   16.2     21.4 101.2   4:00 (216, 17)  
Oct. 16   7 57.54   27 36.1   2.195   2.350    86   16.1     19.8 102.5   3:49 (215, 18)

* 141P/Machholz 2
First return of a split comet. The condition is best. It is much fainter than the early prediction. If it does not brighten rapidly, it will be about 18.5-19 mag still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9  17 23.50  -11 37.2   1.231   1.232    66   16.8     26.0  93.2  19:35 (104, 39)  
Oct. 16  17 36.73  -11 46.1   1.199   1.154    62   16.1     29.6  92.1  19:42 (100, 35)

* (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)  
Oct.  9   2 54.26   48 45.8   1.130   1.934   130   16.3     36.0 262.2   1:47 (180,  6)  
Oct. 16   2 28.43   47 47.6   1.124   1.983   138   16.3     39.2 253.2   0:54 (180,  7)

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Sept. 11
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)  
Oct.  9  19  5.11   33 45.1   2.104   2.409    95   16.4     20.6 107.8  19:35 (158, 17)  
Oct. 16  19 16.54   33  1.1   2.164   2.438    93   16.5     22.2 106.1  19:42 (153, 16)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  19 20.55    3 38.2   5.252   5.455    96   16.5      1.9 333.7  19:35 (148, 46)  
Oct. 16  19 20.48    3 50.3   5.373   5.468    90   16.5      1.9  15.7  19:42 (138, 42)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff
It was 17.6 mag on Sept. 25, fainter than expected. Although the position is best in December and January, it will be 15 mag at best. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   2 32.06   47  3.1   0.991   1.832   134   16.9      5.9  13.1   1:24 (180,  8)  
Oct. 16   2 32.23   47 32.4   0.927   1.799   138   16.7      2.7 342.4   0:57 (180,  7)

* 50P/Arend

 Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Now the brightness is at peak, but faint. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   7 18.12   44 17.4   1.735   2.007    90   16.7     23.5  75.5   4:00 (203,  5)  
Oct. 16   7 32.29   44 57.4   1.690   2.026    94   16.7     21.2  74.4   3:49 (202,  5)

* 84P/Giclas
It tends to be at peak while after the perihelion passage. It was 16.6 mag on Oct. 3, brighter than the ephemeris. Now it will be around 16 mag actually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   5 14.65   13  0.7   1.222   1.888   116   17.1     12.5  91.1   4:00 (182, 42)  
Oct. 16   5 19.74   12 59.1   1.180   1.902   121   17.0      8.8  91.3   3:44 (180, 42)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It locates high at dawn now. It was already observed on Sept. 14. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   7 25.69   24  1.7   3.810   3.867    85   17.3      9.1  89.6   4:00 (214, 23)  
Oct. 16   7 29.98   24  2.8   3.697   3.858    91   17.2      7.7  87.9   3:49 (211, 24)

* 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)  
Oct.  9  19 54.89  -14 50.7   1.732   2.179   102   17.4     13.3  88.0  19:35 (147, 67)  
Oct. 16  20  1.97  -14 44.9   1.779   2.147    97   17.4     16.1  85.8  19:42 (134, 63)

* 106P/Schuster
The magnitude in this ephemeris is based on the nucleus magnitude. It will be about 1-2 mag brighter actually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  9   0 37.77  -30 35.7   0.798   1.706   143   17.6     19.3 309.6  23:26 (180, 85)  
Oct. 16   0 29.95  -28 51.6   0.784   1.677   140   17.5     22.3 321.1  22:50 (180, 84)

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