Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Oct. 30: North)

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Updated on November 3, 1999
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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.

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* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 22
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. 30   6 30.33  -57 57.3   0.628   1.190    91    8.9    139.7 204.5   4:01 (  0, -3)  
Nov.  6   5 24.10  -69 12.6   0.771   1.259    90    9.7     92.3 221.0   2:29 (  0,-14)  

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
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. 30  22 37.54   18  3.3   1.298   2.061   127   11.3     51.3 203.5  20:03 (  0, 73)  
Nov.  6  22 29.86   13 17.0   1.494   2.156   118   11.8     37.2 198.5  19:28 (  0, 68)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It tends to be brighter after perihelion passage, but actually it is as bright as before perihelion. It may be a bit brighter than the ephmeris. However, it is as faint as 13 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  20 47.69  -29 54.0   1.215   1.571    90   11.7     41.4  77.9  18:33 (  4, 25)  
Nov.  6  21  9.16  -28 45.3   1.284   1.595    88   12.1     41.2  75.0  18:28 (  4, 26)  

* 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. 30  13  1.61  -73 23.4   3.821   3.447    60   12.6     27.0 121.3   4:53 (340,-32)  
Nov.  6  13 42.51  -74 50.7   3.835   3.442    59   12.6     27.0 114.9   4:59 (342,-33)  

* 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. 30  14  1.95   -7 47.5   2.615   1.633     6   12.9     43.7 114.1   4:53 (271,-12)  
Nov.  6  14 21.03   -9 51.3   2.583   1.607     7   12.7     44.5 113.2   4:59 (275,-10)  

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Brightening. Maybe it is brightern than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  21 52.53   58 22.8   1.262   1.899   114   12.8     39.6 260.2  19:17 (180, 67)  
Nov.  6  21 22.35   57 19.1   1.330   1.895   108   12.9     31.7 251.0  18:28 (177, 68)  

* 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. 30   7  3.53  -74 39.3   9.773   9.677    81   12.8      6.8 201.4   4:32 (  0,-20)  
Nov.  6   6 58.31  -75 22.4   9.834   9.729    81   12.8      6.8 208.8   4:00 (  0,-20)  

* 106P/Schuster

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Unexpectedly bright. It was observed visually as 13 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   0 17.78  -23 43.7   0.779   1.627   132   13.2     27.5 341.9  21:43 (  0, 32)  
Nov.  6   0 14.47  -20 28.6   0.789   1.607   128   13.1     29.7 351.3  21:13 (  0, 35)  

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
Although it was 14.7 mag on Oct. 10 by CCD, it is around 12 mag visually still now. It turns to be in the morning sky. 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. 30  13 59.88   43 49.9   2.219   1.882    57   13.7     22.4  36.2   4:53 (229, 18)  
Nov.  6  14  8.64   46  2.2   2.233   1.977    62   14.0     23.9  33.8   4:59 (229, 23)  

* 141P/Machholz 2


The nucleus D was also recovered, 7 arcmin from nucleus A. They say it was bright as 13-15 mag in late October. It may be brighening rapidly now, and maybe it is brighter than this ephemris. Interesting object!
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  18  8.54  -11 54.0   1.106   1.003    56   14.7     37.2  90.1  18:33 ( 50, 27)  
Nov.  6  18 27.21  -11 51.8   1.045   0.934    54   14.0     41.2  89.2  18:28 ( 51, 27)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 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. 30  21 21.98   23 53.4   4.008   4.454   110   14.0     13.6 154.0  18:49 (  0, 79)  
Nov.  6  21 25.35   22 29.8   4.065   4.435   105   14.0     13.8 147.7  18:28 (  3, 77)  

* 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. 30  15 37.65  -27 21.7   7.019   6.122    23   14.1     11.3 100.6  18:33 ( 63,-10)  
Nov.  6  15 43.53  -27 36.3   7.053   6.120    18   14.1     11.5 100.7  18:28 ( 65,-13)  

* 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. 30  14  1.16  -18 42.0   3.244   2.259     6   14.5      4.5 102.6   4:53 (281,-18)  
Nov.  6  14  3.24  -18 49.3   3.297   2.327     9   14.7      4.2 104.9   4:59 (285,-12)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 22
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as 15.4 mag on Oct. 17 by Kadota.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  10 53.64   -6 56.1   4.281   3.721    49   14.9     13.0 159.9   4:53 (300, 25)  
Nov.  6  10 55.45   -8 20.8   4.251   3.785    55   14.9     12.5 165.0   4:59 (307, 30)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It will be at dawn in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  14 24.92   31 31.4   4.194   3.564    45   14.9      6.2 148.8  18:33 (122, 10)  
Nov.  6  14 26.67   30 58.4   4.180   3.577    46   14.9      5.2 142.2   4:59 (240, 12)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
Almost stellar object. It will go down to the south soon. The perihelion passage is in 2000 July, when it will be 13.5 mag. But the comet is in the southern sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  18 19.33  -32 43.9   4.429   4.000    58   15.3      9.0 134.9  18:33 ( 35, 12)  
Nov.  6  18 23.24  -33 28.0   4.489   3.964    52   15.2      9.8 129.5  18:28 ( 38,  9)  

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 17
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It keeps a good position until 2000 February when it will be 13 mag. It is a bit fainter than the ephemeris recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   4 30.06   36 38.4   3.146   3.976   142   15.5     19.9 279.6   2:00 (180, 88)  
Nov.  6   4 17.72   36 57.6   3.008   3.899   150   15.3     22.8 275.5   1:20 (180, 88)  

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


It is expected to be bright as 7 mag in late 2000. It keeps extremely low until 2000 January for nothern people, then they cannot observe it until 2000 December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   1 46.03  -41 53.3   4.508   5.132   124   15.4     11.2 241.6  23:11 (  0, 13)  
Nov.  6   1 39.88  -42 25.3   4.496   5.066   120   15.3     10.4 248.3  22:38 (  0, 13)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
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. 30  15 53.76   39 22.6   7.665   7.184    57   15.5      9.5 140.8  18:33 (120, 29)  
Nov.  6  15 57.46   38 33.1   7.668   7.177    57   15.5      9.2 136.9  18:28 (120, 26)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
It will be 14 mag at good position in 2000 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  22 39.87   28  5.1   4.094   4.771   128   15.8     15.0 249.1  20:06 (  0, 83)  
Nov.  6  22 32.95   27 27.1   4.131   4.724   121   15.8     13.4 246.0  19:31 (  0, 82)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
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. 30   2 28.92   47 14.0   0.821   1.736   146   16.2      6.7 214.0  23:54 (180, 78)  
Nov.  6   2 26.18   46 18.4   0.779   1.708   149   15.9     11.1 201.6  23:24 (180, 79)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as faint as 16.2 mag on Oct. 20 by Kadota.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   9 46.69    4 42.5   2.514   2.350    69   16.3     19.8 114.8   4:53 (304, 45)  
Nov.  6   9 54.68    3 45.7   2.471   2.392    73   16.4     18.0 116.1   4:59 (312, 49)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. Very few observations have been reported and this object is in the M.P.E.C. CRITICAL-LIST.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   1 39.63   43 43.6   1.157   2.072   148   16.5     40.2 236.6  23:04 (180, 81)  
Nov.  6   1 19.94   40 57.2   1.198   2.111   149   16.6     37.9 229.2  22:17 (180, 84)  

* 84P/Giclas

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
It tends to be at peak while after the perihelion passage. 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. 30   5 24.40   12 59.7   1.108   1.935   134   16.5      1.0  65.7   2:53 (  0, 68)  
Nov.  6   5 23.88   13  4.3   1.082   1.954   140   16.5      3.2 287.5   2:25 (  0, 68)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Image: 1999 Oct. 17
It keeps 16 mag and the good position until 2000 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   8 15.92   26 35.4   2.045   2.363    95   16.6     16.1 105.3   4:53 (304, 76)  
Nov.  6   8 23.46   26  6.0   1.973   2.372   101   16.5     13.9 107.0   4:59 (326, 80)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
Although it will be very low in winter, we can observe it as 17 mag in next spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  19 22.09    4 17.5   5.611   5.494    78   16.6      3.6  53.4  18:33 ( 44, 51)  
Nov.  6  19 23.68    4 33.3   5.727   5.508    72   16.7      4.6  58.6  18:28 ( 51, 48)  

* 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. 30   7 56.20   46 17.4   1.605   2.069   103   16.8     16.3  68.8   4:53 (206, 77)  
Nov.  6   8  5.51   46 59.3   1.565   2.093   107   16.8     13.6  63.1   4:59 (186, 78)  

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

Image: 1999 Apr. 8
It was 16.8 mag on Oct. 22, as bright as expected. It keeps 16 mag at good position until 2000 May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  10 13.44   19 43.6   4.685   4.413    68   16.8     11.7  74.2   4:53 (281, 50)  
Nov.  6  10 18.78   20  7.8   4.604   4.436    74   16.8     11.0  69.8   4:59 (286, 56)  

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 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. 30  19 41.75   31 37.9   2.295   2.503    90   16.8     24.8 102.9  18:33 ( 85, 72)  
Nov.  6  19 55.27   31  0.1   2.366   2.538    88   16.9     25.8 101.4  18:28 ( 85, 70)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It is already very faint.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  23 48.86    7  7.9   1.398   2.274   143   16.9      3.2 236.6  21:15 (  0, 62)  
Nov.  6  23 48.30    6 58.6   1.499   2.320   136   17.2      0.9 159.6  20:47 (  0, 62)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


New comet. It will reach to 15 mag in 2001.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   2  9.47   20 15.1   6.060   7.047   173   17.0      7.6 275.0  23:35 (  0, 75)  
Nov.  6   2  5.70   20 19.2   6.032   7.011   170   17.0      7.6 273.9  23:03 (  0, 75)  

* 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. 30   7 36.33   24 10.7   3.475   3.842   104   17.1      4.7  79.3   4:53 (346, 79)  
Nov.  6   7 38.26   24 18.0   3.368   3.834   110   17.0      3.2  67.3   4:39 (  0, 79)  

* C/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although it locates at good position for a while, it will fade out soon. It will be 18.5 mag at the end of 1999.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   3 27.23   58 15.8   1.086   1.909   133   17.0      5.2 352.6   0:57 (180, 67)  
Nov.  6   3 25.95   58 38.4   1.096   1.939   136   17.1      2.4 301.9   0:28 (180, 66)  

* 63P/Wild 1


It was not observed in last return. No observations reported after 26 years ago. The position and magnitude are uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  11 20.00   15  6.3   2.500   2.044    51   17.1     34.3 120.0   4:53 (275, 34)  
Nov.  6  11 34.19   13  4.5   2.427   2.025    54   17.0     34.2 120.9   4:59 (280, 37)  

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Because it is extremely far away, it keeps brighter than 17 mag until late 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   2 49.95   17 56.2   4.838   5.820   170   17.1     15.4 227.5   0:20 (  0, 73)  
Nov.  6   2 44.36   16 42.5   4.809   5.800   178   17.0     15.7 227.2  23:42 (  0, 72)  

* C/1999 U1 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
New comet. Although the condition is good, it will fade out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   4 28.11    8 59.4   4.204   5.067   147   17.2     14.7 282.0   1:58 (  0, 64)  
Nov.  6   4 21.08    9 21.4   4.200   5.117   155   17.2     15.6 281.8   1:23 (  0, 64)  

* 137P/Shoemaker-Levy 2


It is getting lower. A stellar object.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30  20 19.85  -14 16.9   1.875   2.088    87   17.5     21.1  82.3  18:33 ( 15, 40)  
Nov.  6  20 30.42  -13 53.9   1.924   2.060    83   17.5     23.3  80.8  18:28 ( 18, 39)  

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Mar. 22
Fading very slowly. After appearing at dawn, it was observed as 17.7 mag, as bright as expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   6 44.10   64 20.1   5.297   5.744   111   17.7     14.8 321.1   4:13 (180, 61)  
Nov.  6   6 32.76   65 38.5   5.246   5.771   117   17.7     15.6 314.2   3:34 (180, 59)  

* 65P/Gunn

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
At aphelion now. No observations have been reported since Feb. 17.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   6  2.49   26  1.5   4.078   4.725   125   17.9      3.6 293.9   3:31 (  0, 81)  
Nov.  6   6  0.35   26 11.8   3.994   4.726   132   17.9      5.1 286.7   3:02 (  0, 81)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


Fading very slowly. No observations have been reported since 1998 December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 30   3  4.61   11 35.8   3.795   4.770   167   18.0      8.8 259.3   0:34 (  0, 67)  
Nov.  6   3  0.40   11 24.5   3.793   4.779   173   18.0      9.1 260.1   0:02 (  0, 66)  

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