Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Dec. 18: South)

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 Updated on December 30, 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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* 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. 18  21  8.28  -12  3.4   0.535   0.764    50   10.8     80.6  94.2  20:58 ( 84, 12)  
Dec. 25  21 50.85  -12 53.8   0.453   0.796    52   10.8     99.5  95.1  21:02 ( 85, 15)

* 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. 18   0 11.32  -68 50.1   1.796   1.744    70   11.5     14.7 341.2  20:58 ( 21, 50)  
Dec. 25   0  7.80  -67 17.9   1.953   1.830    68   11.8     12.5 355.0  21:02 ( 25, 48)

* 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. 18  16 28.81  -20 28.9   2.422   1.508    16   11.9     47.7 104.2   2:54 (303, -9)  
Dec. 25  16 52.11  -21 44.5   2.403   1.503    18   11.8     47.9 102.2   2:57 (303, -7)

* 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. 18  12  9.94   -5 18.6   1.898   2.001    81   12.7     21.0 304.6   2:54 (252, 33)  
Dec. 25  12  0.16   -3 40.5   1.713   1.993    91   12.5     29.7 303.3   2:57 (242, 39)

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
It is getting diffused in December visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  20 25.02   52 45.6   1.788   1.950    84   12.7      1.0 352.9  20:58 (136,-30)  
Dec. 25  20 25.69   53  2.1   1.855   1.971    81   12.8      4.1  25.4  21:02 (135,-35)

* 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. 18  18 35.37  -74 13.5   3.969   3.441    51   12.7     25.0  63.5  20:58 ( 15, 26)  
Dec. 25  19 10.58  -72 47.2   3.994   3.446    50   12.7     24.4  58.1  21:02 ( 16, 25)

* 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. 18   5 54.86  -77 56.3  10.180  10.034    78   13.1      6.1 262.2   0:12 (  0, 47)  
Dec. 25   5 41.27  -77 58.2  10.234  10.084    78   13.1      6.0 272.1  23:25 (  0, 47)

* 106P/Schuster

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
It was 12-13 mag visually in October and November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18   0 38.45    2 21.9   0.981   1.550   104   13.3     37.8  31.9  20:58 (135, 42)  
Dec. 25   0 48.49    6  2.6   1.031   1.552   100   13.4     38.4  36.4  21:02 (133, 36)

* 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. 18  16 20.09  -29  5.8   7.030   6.108    18   14.1     11.5 100.3   2:54 (308, -2)  
Dec. 25  16 26.09  -29 20.0   6.989   6.106    24   14.1     11.3 100.3   2:57 (305,  3)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. It was 13.5-14.0 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  21 57.74   16  1.0   4.501   4.336    74   14.1     15.4 115.2  20:58 (114,  5)  
Dec. 25  22  4.69   15 18.0   4.579   4.322    68   14.2     15.8 111.2  21:02 (109,  1)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
Now at the peak. It is around 13 mag visually, much brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18   2 34.82   31 30.7   0.714   1.590   138   14.3     28.9 151.6  20:58 (178, 24)  
Dec. 25   2 43.31   28 36.8   0.735   1.580   133   14.3     29.9 143.5  21:02 (172, 26)

* 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. 18   2 42.03   34 34.8   2.612   3.422   139   14.4     28.3 252.0  20:58 (179, 20)  
Dec. 25   2 27.55   33 30.0   2.620   3.341   130   14.3     26.3 248.6  21:02 (169, 21)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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. 18  23  3.27  -18 38.6   1.776   1.784    74   14.7     38.2  64.5  20:58 ( 94, 39)  
Dec. 25  23 19.92  -16 42.6   1.869   1.820    71   15.2     37.5  63.7  21:02 ( 94, 35)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
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. 18  14 32.61   30 42.1   3.885   3.674    70   14.9      3.6 348.6   2:54 (243,-16)  
Dec. 25  14 31.85   31 11.6   3.809   3.694    75   14.9      5.3 336.7   2:57 (239,-11)

* 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. 18  18 59.21  -37 44.6   4.652   3.758    22   15.1     14.2 115.9  20:58 ( 45,  4)  
Dec. 25  19  6.95  -38 28.1   4.642   3.727    19   15.0     14.7 115.3  21:02 ( 41,  1)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 30
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. 18  10 51.65  -16 18.2   3.975   4.168    94   15.2     12.1 212.0   2:54 (247, 55)  
Dec. 25  10 48.08  -17 27.9   3.929   4.231   101   15.2     12.7 220.5   2:57 (238, 62)

* 63P/Wild 1

 Image: 1999 Nov. 30
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. 18  12 52.93    0  8.7   2.000   1.963    73   15.3     31.6 126.4   2:54 (254, 21)  
Dec. 25  13  4.58   -2  2.7   1.930   1.961    77   15.2     30.8 127.6   2:57 (253, 26)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 30
Appearing at dawn. No observations reported after Aug. 10. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  14  8.15  -19 23.8   3.279   2.742    49   15.4      1.9 266.6   2:54 (282, 17)  
Dec. 25  14  6.79  -19 23.0   3.228   2.812    56   15.4      3.7 275.5   2:57 (278, 23)

* 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. 18  16 20.08   35 18.8   7.559   7.145    61   15.4      6.6 111.8   2:54 (250,-38)  
Dec. 25  16 23.52   35  4.0   7.519   7.141    63   15.4      6.1 106.7   2:57 (248,-33)

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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. 18  22 30.65    1 30.1   2.798   2.707    74   15.5      9.3 132.0  20:58 (107, 21)  
Dec. 25  22 34.11    0 52.9   3.010   2.796    68   15.8      9.1 119.6  21:02 (102, 15)

* 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. 18   1 12.19  -42 16.4   4.588   4.689    89   15.5      5.2 313.7  20:58 ( 61, 71)  
Dec. 25   1 10.26  -41 48.4   4.607   4.621    84   15.5      5.0 331.7  21:02 ( 65, 64)

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 8
It was extremely diffused on Nov. 8 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo. No observations reported after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  15 11.96   64  8.0   2.293   2.529    92   15.6     33.5  21.0   2:54 (212,-35)  
Dec. 25  15 25.73   67 50.4   2.322   2.618    96   15.9     34.3  20.0   2:57 (207,-34)

* 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. 18   4 55.62   15 10.8   1.129   2.098   166   16.1     11.6 294.7  23:08 (180, 40)  
Dec. 25   4 51.00   15 46.1   1.177   2.126   159   16.3      9.9 302.0  22:36 (180, 39)

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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. 18   3 20.84   51 31.9   1.000   1.871   141   16.2     19.2 165.4  21:34 (180,  4)  
Dec. 25   3 25.43   49 18.4   1.030   1.883   138   16.3     20.9 158.3  21:11 (180,  6)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

 Image: 1999 Nov. 19
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. 18   8 39.31   23 59.8   1.614   2.446   139   16.3      4.2 244.3   2:54 (180, 31)  
Dec. 25   8 36.66   23 47.9   1.578   2.462   146   16.3      6.8 256.4   2:25 (180, 31)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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. 18  22 11.71   24 29.1   4.493   4.450    81   16.4      2.8 219.9  20:58 (122,  2)  
Dec. 25  22 11.14   24 17.1   4.554   4.405    75   16.4      1.3 199.9  21:02 (117, -3)

* C/1998 K2 ( LINEAR )
Although it has passed the perihelion in 1998 September, it is unexpectedly bright still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18   3 18.57  -25 19.9   4.753   5.318   120   16.5     11.6 316.1  21:31 (180, 80)  
Dec. 25   3 14.78  -24 19.2   4.872   5.373   115   16.6     11.2 323.2  21:02 (178, 79)

* 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. 18   7 30.24   25 50.8   2.872   3.787   155   16.6      8.2 290.5   1:46 (180, 29)  
Dec. 25   7 25.91   26 11.0   2.828   3.780   162   16.5      9.3 287.9   1:15 (180, 29)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1999 May 12
Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since June 13. It may be much fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  14  9.94  -30 11.3   3.868   3.279    47   16.6     18.6 120.1   2:54 (292, 22)  
Dec. 25  14 18.43  -31 15.6   3.836   3.320    51   16.6     17.6 120.9   2:57 (291, 27)

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

 Image: 1999 Apr. 8
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. 18  10 39.42   24 21.8   4.116   4.586   112   16.7      8.9  19.1   2:54 (210, 24)  
Dec. 25  10 40.54   25 23.2   4.048   4.612   119   16.7      9.2   9.1   2:57 (203, 26)

* C/1999 U1 ( Ferris )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 13
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. 18   3 37.39   11 52.2   4.796   5.658   148   16.9     13.9 286.5  21:50 (180, 43)  
Dec. 25   3 31.34   12 20.1   4.904   5.696   140   17.0     12.6 288.7  21:16 (180, 43)

* 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. 18   8 12.33   51 12.6   1.417   2.260   139   17.1      9.4 294.9   2:28 (180,  4)  
Dec. 25   8  5.02   51 33.7   1.418   2.291   144   17.2     11.1 280.6   1:54 (180,  3)

* P/1999 V1 ( Catalina )
Although the condition is good until April, it will be only 17 mag at best. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  10  2.94    5 10.6   2.451   2.996   114   17.2      8.3 159.6   2:54 (211, 45)  
Dec. 25  10  3.77    4 17.9   2.377   3.004   121   17.2      7.3 174.9   2:57 (201, 49)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1999 Nov. 19
It was 16.0 mag on Dec. 7 by Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 18  10 21.47   -0 20.1   2.171   2.646   108   17.2      3.8 144.9   2:54 (221, 48)  
Dec. 25  10 21.87   -0 37.8   2.123   2.689   114   17.4      2.0 194.0   2:57 (210, 52)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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. 18   1 47.56   20 38.5   6.167   6.795   126   17.3      3.8 281.7  20:58 (164, 33)  
Dec. 25   1 45.95   20 44.7   6.229   6.759   118   17.3      2.9 290.4  21:02 (155, 30)

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 13
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. 18   2 15.77    9 35.3   5.023   5.697   129   17.6     11.2 218.7  20:58 (170, 45)  
Dec. 25   2 12.75    8 36.4   5.110   5.680   121   17.6      9.9 215.4  21:02 (158, 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. 18   9 57.88    0  7.3  12.953  13.376   113   17.6      1.5 227.2   2:54 (212, 50)  
Dec. 25   9 57.27    0  1.1  12.846  13.374   120   17.6      1.7 243.2   2:57 (201, 53)

* (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. 18   0 37.50   26 17.6   1.733   2.293   112   17.6     13.3 174.3  20:58 (149, 22)  
Dec. 25   0 38.98   24 54.6   1.851   2.315   105   17.8     11.4 157.8  21:02 (142, 20)

* 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. 18   4 36.53   69 33.6   5.226   5.939   132   17.8     16.5 265.4  22:47 (180,-15)  
Dec. 25   4 15.35   69 15.6   5.277   5.968   130   17.9     15.8 257.0  21:59 (180,-14)

* 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. 18   2 39.09   10 52.1   4.086   4.832   135   18.2      4.5 274.8  20:58 (178, 44)  
Dec. 25   2 37.30   10 56.3   4.178   4.841   127   18.2      3.2 285.2  21:02 (167, 43)

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