Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Nov. 20: South)

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 Updated on November 29, 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 Oct. 24
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)  
Nov. 20   2 19.20  -75 19.1   1.111   1.412    84   11.3     43.0 273.7  22:16 (  0, 50)  
Nov. 27   1 16.47  -74 10.3   1.288   1.492    80   12.0     31.1 295.6  20:49 (  0, 51)

* 141P/Machholz 2

 Image: 1999 Nov. 6
The nucleus D has brightened rapidly and reached to 12 mag in early November visually. It may be much brighter than this ephemris. Interesting object! 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  19 10.19  -11 40.4   0.913   0.823    51   12.6     49.8  88.3  20:27 ( 87, 16)  
Nov. 27  19 35.02  -11 30.0   0.827   0.781    50   11.9     54.6  88.7  20:36 ( 86, 14)

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 6
Rapidly brightening and it is 11 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  20 45.34   54 51.0   1.484   1.899    98   12.1     17.9 238.2  20:27 (151,-11)  
Nov. 27  20 35.35   53 52.3   1.564   1.907    94   12.3     12.3 234.1  20:36 (146,-16)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  15  1.10  -13 49.4   2.522   1.563    10   12.4     46.0 110.9   3:04 (300,-16)  
Nov. 27  15 22.09  -15 41.0   2.494   1.545    12   12.2     46.6 109.5   2:58 (301,-14)

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 6
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)  
Nov. 20  22 24.12    7  2.1   1.918   2.344   102   12.6     19.9 184.3  20:27 (140, 40)  
Nov. 27  22 24.18    5  1.0   2.139   2.436    95   13.1     15.1 173.9  20:36 (129, 36)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  15 21.11  -76 33.9   3.873   3.437    57   12.6     26.7  97.9   3:04 (348, 27)  
Nov. 27  16 14.78  -76 40.5   3.895   3.436    55   12.7     26.4  88.1  20:36 ( 11, 26)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Nov. 6
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. It is fainter than 13 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  21 50.11  -25 51.6   1.433   1.651    83   12.9     40.5  70.2  20:27 ( 95, 56)  
Nov. 27  22  9.47  -24 11.2   1.513   1.682    81   13.3     40.0  68.3  20:36 ( 95, 52)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   6 42.86  -76 37.0   9.954   9.831    80   12.9      6.6 224.9   2:49 (  0, 48)  
Nov. 27   6 32.68  -77  6.7  10.012   9.882    79   13.0      6.5 233.6   2:12 (  0, 48)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   0 14.47  -13  7.6   0.829   1.574   119   13.0     33.3   7.9  20:27 (174, 68)  
Nov. 27   0 17.71   -9 14.2   0.858   1.563   115   13.0     34.7  15.0  20:36 (157, 62)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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)  
Nov. 20  21 34.04   19 56.6   4.197   4.399    95   14.0     14.2 135.6  20:27 (137, 22)  
Nov. 27  21 39.25   18 48.3   4.269   4.382    90   14.1     14.5 130.0  20:36 (130, 18)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  15 55.60  -28  6.4   7.089   6.116     9   14.2     11.7 100.6  20:27 ( 46, -9)  
Nov. 27  16  1.73  -28 21.5   7.091   6.114     7   14.2     11.8 100.6   2:58 (317,-11)

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  14 27.37   51  7.9   2.247   2.165    72   14.6     27.3  28.8   3:04 (229,-40)  
Nov. 27  14 37.44   54  2.5   2.253   2.257    77   14.9     29.1  26.5   2:58 (225,-39)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
Rapidly brightening. It will reach to 14 mag in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   2 22.09   42 47.7   0.721   1.658   151   14.9     19.5 183.9  22:25 (180, 12)  
Nov. 27   2 22.12   40 19.2   0.706   1.637   150   14.7     22.9 176.0  21:58 (180, 15)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It keeps a good position until 2000 February when it will be 13 mag. It is 14 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   3 48.06   37  4.8   2.788   3.742   162   15.0     27.6 267.4  23:49 (180, 18)  
Nov. 27   3 31.53   36 48.4   2.711   3.663   162   14.8     29.1 263.5  23:05 (180, 18)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
It turns to be in the morning sky. It will keep 14 mag until 2000 March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  14 29.91   30 17.5   4.119   3.605    52   14.9      3.1 122.7   3:04 (255,-34)  
Nov. 27  14 31.20   30 10.0   4.074   3.621    56   14.9      2.2 101.8   2:58 (253,-30)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  14  6.67  -19  4.4   3.352   2.464    21   14.9      3.0 110.4   3:04 (295, -2)  
Nov. 27  14  7.85  -19 11.4   3.356   2.533    28   15.1      2.2 115.6   2:58 (293,  1)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 4
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)  
Nov. 20  10 57.21  -11  7.3   4.171   3.913    68   15.0     11.7 178.0   3:04 (262, 31)  
Nov. 27  10 57.05  -12 28.4   4.124   3.977    74   15.1     11.5 185.7   2:58 (259, 36)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   1 28.27  -42 59.0   4.526   4.960   110   15.2      8.5 263.5  21:31 (  0, 82)  
Nov. 27   1 23.15  -43  0.9   4.536   4.893   105   15.2      7.5 272.9  20:58 (  0, 82)

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )
It will reach to 13.5 mag in late January and will be observable under good condition. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  12 25.60   -8 32.5   2.585   2.062    48   15.7      4.2 329.0   3:04 (273, 11)  
Nov. 27  12 24.05   -8  3.1   2.427   2.041    55   15.5      6.6 317.0   2:58 (269, 16)

* 84P/Giclas

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
After the perihelion passage, it is still getting brighter gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   5 17.71   13 27.1   1.054   1.997   155   15.6      9.7 284.0   1:24 (180, 42)  
Nov. 27   5 12.70   13 46.0   1.055   2.020   163   15.7     11.8 285.2   0:52 (180, 41)

* 63P/Wild 1

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
Kojima recovered it on Nov. 4 as 15.9 mag. It keeps 15 mag until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20  12  2.05    8 48.4   2.284   1.995    60   15.8     33.8 122.6   3:04 (255,  6)  
Nov. 27  12 15.33    6 40.0   2.212   1.983    63   15.7     33.5 123.4   2:58 (255,  9)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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)  
Nov. 20  22 22.09   26 13.0   4.238   4.634   107   15.8      9.9 239.8  20:27 (151, 22)  
Nov. 27  22 18.14   25 40.0   4.299   4.588   100   15.8      8.0 236.4  20:36 (142, 18)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   8 34.66   25 13.0   1.834   2.392   112   16.4      8.9 112.8   3:04 (204, 26)  
Nov. 27   8 38.15   24 50.2   1.770   2.404   118   16.4      6.1 119.7   2:58 (200, 27)

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
New comet. Although it locates at good position for a while, it will fade out gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   3 20.76   57 58.8   0.969   1.848   141   16.6      7.6 202.8  23:23 (180, -3)  
Nov. 27   3 18.54   56 55.6   0.964   1.849   142   16.6     11.1 190.5  22:54 (180, -2)

* C/1999 U1 ( Ferris )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
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)  
Nov. 20   4  6.12   10  8.2   4.535   5.507   168   16.7     16.4 282.3   0:13 (180, 45)  
Nov. 27   3 58.54   10 33.0   4.571   5.544   169   16.7     16.3 282.8  23:33 (180, 44)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  10  7.87    2  2.7   2.375   2.477    84   16.7     13.8 119.3   3:04 (241, 32)  
Nov. 27  10 12.97    1 17.9   2.324   2.519    89   16.9     11.5 121.6   2:58 (238, 36)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  10 28.04   21 10.8   4.437   4.484    86   16.8      9.7  57.3   3:04 (230, 15)  
Nov. 27  10 31.84   21 50.1   4.353   4.509    92   16.7      9.2  49.2   2:58 (226, 17)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   7 39.37   24 40.2   3.168   3.818   124   16.8      2.1 338.3   3:04 (191, 30)  
Nov. 27   7 38.49   24 55.0   3.079   3.810   131   16.8      3.5 310.7   2:58 (185, 30)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  19 28.21    5 11.0   5.943   5.537    61   16.8      6.4  61.9  20:27 (104, 10)  
Nov. 27  19 31.04    5 33.4   6.041   5.553    56   16.9      7.2  62.0  20:36 ( 99,  3)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   8 17.73   48 28.6   1.495   2.144   117   16.8      8.5  39.2   3:04 (193,  5)  
Nov. 27   8 20.26   49 14.5   1.466   2.171   123   16.9      6.8  15.0   2:58 (190,  5)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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)  
Nov. 20   1 58.46   20 24.9   6.023   6.938   156   16.9      6.9 273.0  22:01 (180, 35)  
Nov. 27   1 55.17   20 27.5   6.040   6.902   148   16.9      6.3 273.4  21:30 (180, 35)

* (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)  
Nov. 20   0 52.84   35  6.5   1.330   2.183   140   16.9     29.4 215.2  20:55 (180, 20)  
Nov. 27   0 44.91   32 25.5   1.417   2.214   133   17.1     24.6 207.7  20:36 (176, 23)

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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)  
Nov. 20   2 33.40   14 12.3   4.809   5.762   163   17.0     15.3 225.8  22:36 (180, 41)  
Nov. 27   2 28.29   12 58.5   4.837   5.744   154   17.0     14.6 224.7  22:03 (180, 42)

* 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)  
Nov. 20  20 23.57   29 55.7   2.520   2.614    84   17.2     27.2  98.4  20:27 (131,  4)  
Nov. 27  20 38.14   29 29.9   2.603   2.654    82   17.3     27.5  96.9  20:36 (128,  1)

* (10199) Chariklo

 Image: 1999 Jan. 22
A Centaur asteroid. The perihelion passage is in 2004. It will keep the current brightness over 10 years after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   9 58.00    0 45.8  13.421  13.388    85   17.7      2.0 151.4   3:04 (240, 35)  
Nov. 27   9 58.33    0 34.3  13.301  13.385    92   17.7      1.6 164.2   2:58 (235, 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)  
Nov. 20   6  1.92   67 53.6   5.180   5.825   126   17.7     16.7 299.4   2:09 (180,-13)  
Nov. 27   5 42.58   68 43.7   5.168   5.853   130   17.7     17.0 291.3   1:22 (180,-14)

* C/1999 V1 ( Catalina )
New comet. Although the condition is good until April, it will be only 17.5 mag at best. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   9 49.57    9 14.4   2.954   3.128    90   17.8     14.3 130.3   3:04 (231, 30)  
Nov. 27   9 54.30    8 10.9   2.876   3.143    96   17.8     12.8 134.3   2:58 (228, 33)

* 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)  
Nov. 20   5 53.77   26 31.6   3.857   4.728   148   17.8      7.8 279.9   2:00 (180, 28)  
Nov. 27   5 49.48   26 40.5   3.808   4.729   156   17.8      8.8 277.8   1:29 (180, 28)

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1
Fading very slowly. Nakamura observed it on Nov. 4 and it was 17.7 mag, a bit brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 20   2 51.98   11  4.9   3.833   4.797   165   18.0      8.6 262.2  22:55 (180, 44)  
Nov. 27   2 48.08   10 57.8   3.876   4.806   158   18.1      7.9 263.8  22:23 (180, 44)

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