Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Dec. 4: South)

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Updated on December 19, 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. Fading our very slowly after the approach to the earth.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4   0 40.36  -72 23.2   1.462   1.575    77   10.8     23.4 312.6  20:45 (  7, 52)  
Dec. 11   0 20.91  -70 32.8   1.632   1.659    74   11.2     18.2 327.3  20:52 ( 15, 52)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

Image: 1999 Nov. 28
The component A has brightened rapidly and observed as 11 mag visually. On the other hand, the component D has been very diffused, about to disappearing.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  20  2.56  -11 25.3   0.718   0.754    49   11.3     60.3  90.4  20:45 ( 84, 12)  
Dec. 11  20 33.06  -11 34.8   0.625   0.750    49   11.0     68.3  92.3  20:52 ( 84, 11)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  15 43.73  -17 25.8   2.468   1.529    13   12.1     47.1 107.9   2:54 (302,-13)  
Dec. 11  16  5.99  -19  2.2   2.444   1.517    15   12.0     47.5 106.2   2:53 (303,-11)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  20 29.23   53 10.8   1.642   1.918    90   12.4      7.4 231.8  20:45 (141,-20)  
Dec. 11  20 26.03   52 48.4   1.717   1.932    86   12.5      3.2 235.3  20:52 (138,-25)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  17  6.77  -76 16.3   3.918   3.437    54   12.7     26.0  78.7  20:45 ( 12, 26)  
Dec. 11  17 54.10  -75 25.2   3.943   3.439    52   12.7     25.6  70.3  20:52 ( 14, 26)  

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Nov. 30
Appearing at dawn. It is about 13 mag, about 3 mag brighter than expected. It will be 11 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  12 21.19   -7 23.5   2.260   2.026    63   13.2     10.0 310.5   2:54 (264, 21)  
Dec. 11  12 16.69   -6 30.5   2.082   2.011    72   13.0     14.7 306.8   2:53 (259, 27)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   6 21.05  -77 30.3  10.069   9.932    79   13.0      6.4 242.8   1:33 (  0, 48)  
Dec. 11   6  8.29  -77 46.9  10.126   9.983    78   13.0      6.3 252.4   0:53 (  0, 47)  

* 106P/Schuster

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
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)  
Dec.  4   0 22.89   -5 19.1   0.894   1.555   111   13.1     36.0  21.2  20:45 (146, 56)  
Dec. 11   0 29.86   -1 26.1   0.935   1.551   107   13.2     37.0  26.9  20:52 (140, 49)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 Nov. 6
Rapidly fading, but it may be a bit brighter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  22 28.09  -22 24.4   1.597   1.714    79   13.8     39.4  66.8  20:45 ( 94, 47)  
Dec. 11  22 46.01  -20 33.0   1.685   1.748    76   14.2     38.8  65.5  20:52 ( 94, 43)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  21 44.97   17 46.1   4.345   4.366    84   14.1     14.8 124.7  20:45 (124, 14)  
Dec. 11  21 51.15   16 50.3   4.423   4.350    79   14.1     15.1 119.8  20:52 (118, 10)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  16  7.88  -28 36.5   7.082   6.112     9   14.1     11.8 100.5   2:54 (314, -9)  
Dec. 11  16 14.01  -28 51.3   7.062   6.110    13   14.1     11.7 100.4   2:53 (311, -5)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   2 24.14   37 30.7   0.699   1.618   147   14.5     25.6 168.1  21:32 (180, 18)  
Dec. 11   2 28.37   34 31.4   0.702   1.603   143   14.4     27.6 159.9  21:09 (180, 21)  

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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)  
Dec.  4   3 14.58   36 17.1   2.656   3.583   156   14.7     29.8 259.5  22:21 (180, 19)  
Dec. 11   2 57.87   35 31.7   2.624   3.503   148   14.5     29.5 255.7  21:37 (180, 20)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  22 25.49    3 29.7   2.360   2.528    88   14.8     11.9 161.0  20:45 (120, 31)  
Dec. 11  22 27.72    2 21.1   2.581   2.618    81   15.1     10.1 146.4  20:52 (113, 26)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  14 32.16   30 11.4   4.019   3.638    60   14.9      1.6  58.5   2:54 (250,-26)  
Dec. 11  14 32.67   30 22.0   3.956   3.656    65   14.9      2.2  11.7   2:53 (247,-21)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Nov. 4
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as 15.4 mag on Oct. 17 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  10 56.10  -13 47.7   4.075   4.041    81   15.1     11.5 194.2   2:54 (256, 42)  
Dec. 11  10 54.31  -15  4.6   4.025   4.104    87   15.2     11.7 203.1   2:53 (252, 48)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
It will reach to 13.5 mag in June, but will not be observable in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  18 45.09  -36 19.2   4.639   3.824    30   15.2     12.9 118.2  20:45 ( 53, 11)  
Dec. 11  18 51.92  -37  1.7   4.651   3.791    26   15.1     13.5 116.8  20:52 ( 49,  7)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  14 48.13   57 11.6   2.261   2.349    82   15.1     30.8  24.4   2:54 (221,-37)  
Dec. 11  14 59.56   60 34.0   2.274   2.440    87   15.4     32.3  22.6   2:53 (216,-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)  
Dec.  4  14  8.56  -19 17.3   3.344   2.602    35   15.2      1.2 129.8   2:54 (289,  6)  
Dec. 11  14  8.70  -19 21.6   3.318   2.672    42   15.3      0.6 218.7   2:53 (286, 11)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Image: 1999 Nov. 8
Takuo Kojima, Chiyoda, 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)  
Dec.  4  12 28.26    4 30.4   2.141   1.974    66   15.5     33.0 124.3   2:54 (255, 13)  
Dec. 11  12 40.81    2 19.8   2.070   1.967    70   15.4     32.4 125.3   2:53 (255, 17)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
Appearing at dawn. It will be observable as 15 mag with a good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  16 12.74   36  3.5   7.620   7.155    58   15.5      7.6 120.9   2:54 (253,-48)  
Dec. 11  16 16.48   35 38.6   7.592   7.150    59   15.4      7.2 116.5   2:53 (251,-43)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   1 18.69  -42 53.8   4.551   4.825   100   15.6      6.6 284.1  20:45 ( 23, 81)  
Dec. 11   1 15.01  -42 38.6   4.569   4.757    95   15.6      5.8 297.6  20:52 ( 51, 77)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   5  6.98   14 10.0   1.068   2.045   169   15.8     12.8 287.1   0:19 (180, 41)  
Dec. 11   5  1.10   14 38.5   1.092   2.071   171   15.9     12.7 290.1  23:41 (180, 40)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   3 17.52   55 26.7   0.967   1.854   143   16.1     14.3 181.1  22:25 (180,  0)  
Dec. 11   3 18.20   53 36.8   0.979   1.861   142   16.2     17.1 172.9  21:59 (180,  2)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   8 40.11   24 30.5   1.711   2.417   125   16.4      3.5 138.5   2:54 (195, 29)  
Dec. 11   8 40.50   24 13.8   1.659   2.431   132   16.3      2.3 200.0   2:53 (188, 30)  

* C/1998 K2 ( LINEAR )


Although it has passed the perihelion in 1998 September, it is unexpectedly bright.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4   3 28.16  -27  5.5   4.544   5.207   127   16.4     12.2 302.7  22:36 (180, 82)  
Dec. 11   3 23.05  -26 15.7   4.643   5.263   124   16.4     11.9 309.3  22:03 (180, 81)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  22 15.13   25 11.1   4.363   4.542    94   16.5      6.2 232.6  20:45 (134, 13)  
Dec. 11  22 13.02   24 47.3   4.428   4.496    87   16.5      4.5 227.7  20:52 (128,  8)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Being brighter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4   7 36.64   25 12.1   2.999   3.803   139   16.7      5.2 299.8   2:48 (180, 30)  
Dec. 11   7 33.86   25 30.9   2.929   3.795   147   16.6      6.8 294.1   2:18 (180, 29)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  10 35.03   22 35.0   4.270   4.534    99   16.7      8.9  39.8   2:54 (222, 20)  
Dec. 11  10 37.57   23 25.7   4.191   4.560   105   16.7      8.8  29.5   2:53 (217, 22)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   3 51.11   10 58.6   4.631   5.584   163   16.8     15.8 283.6  22:58 (180, 44)  
Dec. 11   3 44.02   11 25.0   4.704   5.621   156   16.9     15.0 284.8  22:24 (180, 44)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   8 20.20   49 59.3   1.442   2.200   128   16.9      6.5 342.9   2:54 (186,  5)  
Dec. 11   8 17.51   50 39.8   1.426   2.229   134   17.0      7.6 314.7   2:53 (181,  4)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as faint as 16.2 mag on Oct. 20 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  4  10 16.97    0 38.6   2.273   2.561    95   17.0      9.0 125.1   2:54 (234, 39)  
Dec. 11  10 19.83    0  5.7   2.221   2.604   101   17.1      6.4 131.1   2:53 (228, 44)  

* (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)  
Dec.  4   0 40.04   30  2.5   1.514   2.243   126   17.3     20.1 199.0  20:45 (167, 24)  
Dec. 11   0 37.72   27 59.8   1.621   2.269   119   17.4     16.2 188.1  20:52 (157, 23)  

* P/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)  
Dec.  4   9 58.17    7  6.9   2.614   2.982   102   17.3     11.3 140.6   2:54 (224, 37)  
Dec. 11  10  1.06    6  7.1   2.530   2.988   108   17.3      9.8 148.5   2:53 (218, 41)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   1 52.22   20 30.3   6.071   6.866   141   17.3      5.6 274.6  21:00 (180, 34)  
Dec. 11   1 49.66   20 33.8   6.113   6.831   133   17.3      4.7 277.0  20:52 (174, 34)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4  20 52.85   29  8.7   2.691   2.695    79   17.5     27.8  95.4  20:45 (124, -2)  
Dec. 11  21  7.65   28 52.3   2.783   2.738    77   17.6     27.9  94.0  20:52 (121, -6)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   2 23.60   11 47.0   4.888   5.732   146   17.5     13.7 223.2  21:31 (180, 43)  
Dec. 11   2 19.40   10 39.0   4.949   5.714   137   17.5     12.5 221.3  21:00 (180, 44)  

* (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)  
Dec.  4   9 58.41    0 24.0  13.182  13.382    99   17.6      1.4 182.7   2:54 (229, 43)  
Dec. 11   9 58.27    0 14.9  13.065  13.379   106   17.6      1.3 205.7   2:53 (222, 47)  

* 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)  
Dec.  4   5 21.26   69 18.1   5.172   5.882   132   17.8     17.1 282.8   0:34 (180,-14)  
Dec. 11   4 58.87   69 34.8   5.191   5.910   133   17.8     16.9 274.1  23:37 (180,-15)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


Fading very slowly. Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, 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)  
Dec.  4   2 44.56   10 53.0   3.934   4.815   150   18.1      6.9 266.0  21:52 (180, 44)  
Dec. 11   2 41.53   10 51.0   4.004   4.824   142   18.1      5.8 269.3  21:22 (180, 44)  

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