Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Nov. 27: North)

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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 Northern Hemisphere.

Please see also the Comet Rendezvous Calendar, Latest Pictures of Comets.

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* 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. Recent brightness is uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27  19 35.02  -11 30.0   0.827   0.781    50   11.9     54.6  88.7  18:18 ( 52, 26)  
Dec.  4  20  2.32  -11 24.0   0.736   0.756    49   11.4     60.4  89.9  18:18 ( 52, 26)

* 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. 27   1 16.47  -74 10.3   1.288   1.492    80   12.0     31.1 295.6  20:49 (  0,-19)  
Dec.  4   0 40.36  -72 23.2   1.462   1.575    77   12.6     23.4 312.6  19:47 (  0,-17)

* 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. 27  15 22.09  -15 41.0   2.494   1.545    12   12.2     46.6 109.5   5:16 (285, -6)  
Dec.  4  15 43.73  -17 25.8   2.468   1.529    13   12.1     47.1 107.9   5:21 (288, -4)

* 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. 27  20 35.35   53 52.3   1.564   1.907    94   12.3     12.3 234.1  18:18 (140, 61)  
Dec.  4  20 29.23   53 10.8   1.642   1.918    90   12.4      7.4 231.8  18:18 (135, 57)

* 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. 27  16 14.78  -76 40.5   3.895   3.436    55   12.7     26.4  88.1  18:18 ( 16,-35)  
Dec.  4  17  6.77  -76 16.3   3.918   3.437    54   12.7     26.0  78.7  18:18 ( 17,-34)

* 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. 27   6 32.68  -77  6.7  10.012   9.882    79   13.0      6.5 233.6   2:12 (  0,-22)  
Dec.  4   6 21.05  -77 30.3  10.069   9.932    79   13.0      6.4 242.8   1:33 (  0,-22)

* 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. 27   0 17.71   -9 14.2   0.858   1.563   115   13.0     34.7  15.0  19:54 (  0, 46)  
Dec.  4   0 22.89   -5 19.1   0.894   1.555   111   13.1     36.0  21.2  19:32 (  0, 50)

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 6
Rapidly fading. It was already 14 mag in mid November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27  22 24.18    5  1.0   2.139   2.436    95   13.1     15.1 173.9  18:18 (  9, 60)  
Dec.  4  22 25.49    3 29.7   2.360   2.528    88   13.5     11.9 161.0  18:18 ( 20, 57)

* 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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27  22  9.47  -24 11.2   1.513   1.682    81   13.3     40.0  68.3  18:18 (  8, 30)  
Dec.  4  22 28.09  -22 24.4   1.597   1.714    79   13.8     39.4  66.8  18:18 ( 11, 32)

* 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. 27  21 39.25   18 48.3   4.269   4.382    90   14.1     14.5 130.0  18:18 ( 44, 69)  
Dec.  4  21 44.97   17 46.1   4.345   4.366    84   14.1     14.8 124.7  18:18 ( 53, 65)

* 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. 27  16  1.73  -28 21.5   7.091   6.114     7   14.2     11.8 100.6   5:16 (291,-20)  
Dec.  4  16  7.88  -28 36.5   7.082   6.112     9   14.1     11.8 100.5   5:21 (294,-15)

* 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. 27   2 22.12   40 19.2   0.706   1.637   150   14.7     22.9 176.0  21:58 (180, 85)  
Dec.  4   2 24.14   37 30.7   0.699   1.618   147   14.5     25.6 168.1  21:32 (180, 88)

* 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. 27   3 31.53   36 48.4   2.711   3.663   162   14.8     29.1 263.5  23:05 (180, 88)  
Dec.  4   3 14.58   36 17.1   2.656   3.583   156   14.7     29.8 259.5  22:21 (180, 89)

* 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. 27  14 37.44   54  2.5   2.253   2.257    77   14.9     29.1  26.5   5:16 (225, 36)  
Dec.  4  14 48.13   57 11.6   2.261   2.349    82   15.1     30.8  24.4   5:21 (221, 40)

* 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. 27  14 31.20   30 10.0   4.074   3.621    56   14.9      2.2 101.8   5:16 (252, 29)  
Dec.  4  14 32.16   30 11.4   4.019   3.638    60   14.9      1.6  58.5   5:21 (255, 36)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 30
Appearing at dawn, but it is still very low. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27  14  7.85  -19 11.4   3.356   2.533    28   15.1      2.2 115.6   5:16 (299,  6)  
Dec.  4  14  8.56  -19 17.3   3.344   2.602    35   15.2      1.2 129.8   5:21 (304, 12)

* 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. 27  10 57.05  -12 28.4   4.124   3.977    74   15.1     11.5 185.7   5:16 (335, 39)  
Dec.  4  10 56.10  -13 47.7   4.075   4.041    81   15.1     11.5 194.2   5:21 (346, 40)

* 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. 27   1 23.15  -43  0.9   4.536   4.893   105   15.2      7.5 272.9  20:58 (  0, 12)  
Dec.  4   1 18.69  -42 53.8   4.551   4.825   100   15.1      6.6 284.1  20:27 (  0, 12)

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )
It will reach to 13.5 mag in late January and will be observable under good condition. No observations reported since June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27  12 24.05   -8  3.1   2.427   2.041    55   15.5      6.6 317.0   5:16 (309, 32)  
Dec.  4  12 21.24   -7 23.8   2.258   2.023    63   15.3     10.0 310.5   5:21 (318, 38)

* 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. 27  12 15.33    6 40.0   2.212   1.983    63   15.7     33.5 123.4   5:16 (299, 44)  
Dec.  4  12 28.26    4 30.4   2.141   1.974    66   15.5     33.0 124.3   5:21 (306, 46)

* 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. 27   5 12.70   13 46.0   1.055   2.020   163   15.7     11.8 285.2   0:52 (  0, 69)  
Dec.  4   5  6.98   14 10.0   1.068   2.045   169   15.8     12.8 287.1   0:19 (  0, 69)

* 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. 27  22 18.14   25 40.0   4.299   4.588   100   15.8      8.0 236.4  18:18 ( 30, 79)  
Dec.  4  22 15.13   25 11.1   4.363   4.541    94   15.8      6.2 232.6  18:18 ( 53, 75)

* 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. 27   8 38.15   24 50.2   1.770   2.404   118   16.4      6.1 119.7   4:16 (  0, 80)  
Dec.  4   8 40.11   24 30.5   1.711   2.417   125   16.4      3.5 138.5   3:51 (  0, 80)

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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. 27   3 18.54   56 55.6   0.964   1.849   142   16.6     11.1 190.5  22:54 (180, 68)  
Dec.  4   3 17.51   55 26.8   0.967   1.854   143   16.6     14.3 181.2  22:25 (180, 70)

* 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. 27   7 38.49   24 55.0   3.079   3.810   131   16.8      3.5 310.7   3:17 (  0, 80)  
Dec.  4   7 36.64   25 12.1   2.999   3.803   139   16.7      5.2 299.8   2:48 (  0, 80)

* 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. 27  10 31.84   21 50.1   4.353   4.509    92   16.7      9.2  49.2   5:16 (314, 72)  
Dec.  4  10 35.03   22 35.0   4.270   4.534    99   16.7      8.9  39.8   5:21 (335, 76)

* C/1999 U1 ( Ferris )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
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. 27   3 58.54   10 33.0   4.571   5.544   169   16.7     16.3 282.8  23:33 (  0, 66)  
Dec.  4   3 51.12   10 58.6   4.627   5.581   163   16.8     15.8 283.7  22:58 (  0, 66)

* 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. 27  10 12.97    1 17.9   2.324   2.519    89   16.9     11.5 121.6   5:16 (344, 55)  
Dec.  4  10 16.97    0 38.6   2.273   2.561    95   17.0      9.0 125.1   5:21 (357, 56)

* 50P/Arend

 Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Fading out gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27   8 20.26   49 14.5   1.466   2.171   123   16.9      6.8  15.0   3:59 (180, 76)  
Dec.  4   8 20.20   49 59.3   1.442   2.200   128   16.9      6.5 342.9   3:31 (180, 75)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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. 27   1 55.17   20 27.5   6.040   6.902   148   16.9      6.3 273.4  21:30 (  0, 75)  
Dec.  4   1 52.22   20 30.3   6.071   6.866   141   16.9      5.6 274.6  21:00 (  0, 76)

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 5
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. 27   2 28.29   12 58.5   4.837   5.744   154   17.0     14.6 224.7  22:03 (  0, 68)  
Dec.  4   2 23.59   11 47.1   4.882   5.726   146   17.0     13.7 223.2  21:31 (  0, 67)

* (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. 27   0 44.91   32 25.5   1.417   2.214   133   17.1     24.6 207.7  20:20 (  0, 87)  
Dec.  4   0 40.04   30  2.5   1.514   2.243   126   17.3     20.1 199.0  19:48 (  0, 85)

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It will soon become too faint and too low to observe. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27  20 38.14   29 29.9   2.603   2.654    82   17.3     27.5  96.9  18:18 ( 87, 64)  
Dec.  4  20 52.85   29  8.7   2.691   2.695    79   17.5     27.8  95.4  18:18 ( 88, 61)

* (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. 27   9 58.33    0 34.3  13.301  13.385    92   17.7      1.6 164.2   5:16 (351, 55)  
Dec.  4   9 58.41    0 24.0  13.182  13.382    99   17.6      1.4 182.7   5:09 (  0, 55)

* 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. 27   9 54.30    8 10.9   2.876   3.143    96   17.8     12.8 134.3   5:16 (351, 63)  
Dec.  4   9 58.15    7  9.8   2.800   3.159   102   17.7     11.2 139.7   5:09 (  0, 62)

* 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. 27   5 42.58   68 43.7   5.168   5.853   130   17.7     17.0 291.3   1:22 (180, 56)  
Dec.  4   5 21.26   69 18.1   5.172   5.882   132   17.8     17.1 282.8   0:34 (180, 56)

* 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. 27   2 48.08   10 57.8   3.876   4.806   158   18.1      7.9 263.8  22:23 (  0, 66)  
Dec.  4   2 44.56   10 53.0   3.934   4.815   150   18.1      6.9 266.0  21:52 (  0, 66)

* 136P/Mueller 3
Fading. Nakamura observed it on Nov. 8 and it was 17.5 mag, 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 27   3 23.99    4 58.8   2.335   3.283   160   18.6      9.6 265.4  22:59 (  0, 60)  
Dec.  4   3 19.76    4 56.4   2.381   3.296   154   18.7      8.4 270.7  22:27 (  0, 60)

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