Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Jan. 8: South)

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Updated on January 11, 2000
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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 Dec. 23
The component A brightened in late December and reached to 9 mag. On the other hand, the component D will be fainter than 16 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  23 52.73  -14 43.8   0.337   0.901    66   10.0    156.1  91.1  21:02 ( 93, 30)  
Jan. 15   1 12.58  -14 17.2   0.319   0.967    77   10.3    171.0  86.5  20:58 (102, 41)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8  17 39.77  -23 38.6   2.371   1.501    21   11.8     47.6  97.7   3:10 (301, -2)  
Jan. 15  18  3.86  -24 15.6   2.358   1.505    23   11.8     47.3  95.4   3:18 (300,  1)  

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 21
Rapidly brightening. It will be 11 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  11 26.83    1 36.0   1.360   1.989   115   12.6     57.4 301.7   3:10 (208, 50)  
Jan. 15  11  0.04    5 39.5   1.211   1.993   130   12.4     77.1 300.9   3:18 (183, 49)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8  20  6.02  -69 31.1   4.040   3.458    47   12.8     23.0  51.0  21:02 ( 19, 23)  
Jan. 15  20 28.04  -67 48.4   4.060   3.465    47   12.8     22.2  48.8  20:58 ( 20, 22)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8   5 15.77  -77 40.8  10.335  10.184    78   13.2      5.8 292.0  22:05 (  0, 47)  
Jan. 15   5  4.76  -77 22.6  10.384  10.234    78   13.2      5.7 301.6  21:26 (  0, 48)  

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 24
Only southern people can observe it. Northern people can never see it again. Fading out very slowly after the approach to the earth, however, it faded out rapidly in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   0 11.38  -64 44.1   2.242   2.002    63   13.7     10.4  22.0  21:02 ( 31, 44)  
Jan. 15   0 16.52  -63 41.0   2.373   2.088    61   14.1     10.1  34.0  20:58 ( 33, 42)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 1999 Dec. 23
Now at the peak. It is around 13 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   3  5.37   23 30.7   0.798   1.570   123   13.8     31.3 128.3  21:02 (163, 30)  
Jan. 15   3 18.44   21 23.6   0.840   1.570   118   14.0     32.0 121.7  20:58 (159, 31)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Image: 1999 Dec. 21
It keeps 15 mag until April. It is about 13.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  13 26.16   -6 25.5   1.794   1.964    84   14.1     28.6 131.0   3:10 (248, 38)  
Jan. 15  13 35.91   -8 36.5   1.728   1.970    88   14.0     27.2 133.3   3:18 (244, 44)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
Appearing at dawn, however, it is too low to observe.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  16 37.68  -29 47.2   6.874   6.102    35   14.1     10.6 100.3   3:10 (298, 13)  
Jan. 15  16 43.19  -30  0.2   6.803   6.100    41   14.1     10.2 100.3   3:18 (294, 18)  

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 23
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It keeps a good position until 2000 February when it will be 13 mag. It keeps the same brightness recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   2  3.74   31 12.4   2.679   3.175   111   14.2     20.8 242.4  21:02 (151, 17)  
Jan. 15   1 54.62   30  6.8   2.724   3.092   102   14.1     17.7 239.5  20:58 (144, 15)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 10
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. It is diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  22 19.49   14 10.2   4.729   4.296    58   14.2     16.4 104.1  21:02 (103, -6)  
Jan. 15  22 27.26   13 44.9   4.800   4.284    53   14.2     16.7 101.1  20:58 (100, -9)  

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 23
It has got diffused in December and now fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  20 30.66   54 31.0   1.972   2.022    78   14.3      9.9  25.5  21:02 (135,-42)  
Jan. 15  20 34.47   55 42.6   2.022   2.052    77   14.8     12.5  23.5  20:58 (137,-45)  

* 106P/Schuster

Image: 1999 Dec. 23
Although it was bright as 12 mag visually in October and November, it faded out in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   1 12.35   12 56.3   1.146   1.568    94   14.7     39.2  44.2  21:02 (130, 26)  
Jan. 15   1 25.98   16  7.3   1.209   1.581    91   14.9     39.4  47.6  20:58 (131, 22)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 9
It will keep 14 mag until 2000 March. It is 13 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  14 27.67   32 38.8   3.646   3.737    87   14.8      9.4 323.0   3:10 (229,  0)  
Jan. 15  14 23.90   33 35.8   3.563   3.759    93   14.8     11.8 318.0   3:18 (222,  5)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8  19 23.65  -39 58.2   4.590   3.665    17   15.0     15.8 114.9  21:02 ( 35, -3)  
Jan. 15  19 32.57  -40 45.6   4.547   3.636    19   14.9     16.3 115.1   3:18 (324, -1)  

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 7
Still brightening after perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   3 39.69   44 46.9   1.119   1.915   131   15.1     23.0 145.3  21:02 (174, 10)  
Jan. 15   3 48.92   42 37.4   1.176   1.934   126   15.2     23.7 139.2  20:58 (171, 12)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8   1  9.12  -40 38.9   4.640   4.484    74   15.3      5.5   5.7  21:02 ( 67, 54)  
Jan. 15   1  9.90  -39 59.3   4.650   4.415    70   15.3      6.1  18.9  20:58 ( 67, 49)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 9
Gradually fading. The altitude in the Northerm Hemisphere will not high after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  10 38.22  -19 31.2   3.852   4.357   114   15.3     14.1 236.0   3:10 (199, 74)  
Jan. 15  10 32.01  -20 22.7   3.826   4.420   121   15.4     14.9 242.8   2:58 (180, 75)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
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)  
Jan.  8  16 29.72   34 49.0   7.424   7.133    69   15.4      5.0  94.4   3:10 (242,-21)  
Jan. 15  16 32.39   34 48.6   7.368   7.130    72   15.4      4.4  86.6   3:18 (238,-16)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 21
Appearing at dawn. It was 15.3 mag on Dec. 21 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, as bright as the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  14  1.16  -19  9.7   3.099   2.953    72   15.6      8.1 281.7   3:10 (268, 38)  
Jan. 15  13 56.61  -18 55.1   3.026   3.023    80   15.6     10.8 283.6   3:18 (261, 46)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Nov. 28
It will be 13 mag at good position in 2000 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  22 11.88   24 12.4   4.662   4.315    63   15.7      1.9  71.4  21:02 (110,-14)  
Jan. 15  22 13.04   24 20.0   4.705   4.270    58   15.7      3.1  60.0  20:58 (107,-18)  

* 84P/Giclas

Image: 1999 Dec. 7
After the perihelion passage, it has been getting brighter. But now it is at peak as 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   4 45.58   17  2.7   1.307   2.185   144   15.7      6.2 335.6  21:35 (180, 38)  
Jan. 15   4 45.11   17 42.4   1.387   2.216   137   15.9      5.7   6.1  21:08 (180, 37)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Image: 1999 Dec. 7
It keeps 16 mag and the good position until February. It is 14 mag visually, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   8 27.64   23 26.8   1.540   2.496   162   15.9     10.8 262.0   1:21 (180, 32)  
Jan. 15   8 21.90   23 15.6   1.539   2.515   171   15.9     11.8 261.8   0:48 (180, 32)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 Dec. 23
It will be about 13 mag still now, however it is extremely diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  23 51.63  -12 50.1   2.063   1.897    66   16.1     36.1  62.9  21:02 ( 94, 28)  
Jan. 15   0  6.81  -10 55.3   2.163   1.936    63   16.6     35.5  62.7  20:58 ( 94, 25)  

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

Image: 1999 Dec. 9
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)  
Jan.  8  10 40.54   27 38.9   3.937   4.666   133   16.2     10.3 352.0   3:10 (186, 27)  
Jan. 15  10 39.42   28 51.0   3.898   4.693   139   16.2     10.8 345.1   3:05 (180, 26)  

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

Image: 1999 Dec. 10
Rapidly fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  22 42.13    0  9.4   3.415   2.970    55   16.3      9.4 101.9  21:02 ( 95,  6)  
Jan. 15  22 46.51   -0  0.8   3.605   3.056    49   16.5      9.6  96.1  20:58 ( 92,  2)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will reach to 13 mag in 2000 November. It will be brightening gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   2 52.28   69 28.7   4.587   5.142   119   16.4     18.5 216.4  21:02 (173,-15)  
Jan. 15   2 39.77   67 41.9   4.604   5.096   114   16.4     17.8 209.3  20:58 (169,-15)  

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

Image: 1999 Dec. 9
Extremely diffused and hard to observe. It is fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  16  1.01   75 25.9   2.413   2.793   102   16.4     34.5  19.7   3:10 (197,-33)  
Jan. 15  16 27.10   79  9.3   2.479   2.879   104   16.7     33.8  21.5   3:18 (193,-33)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 1999 Dec. 6
It is 15 mag recently, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   7 15.88   26 49.1   2.784   3.765   175   16.5     10.3 284.0   0:10 (180, 28)  
Jan. 15   7 10.64   27  5.4   2.784   3.757   170   16.5     10.1 282.4  23:32 (180, 28)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8  14 33.96  -33 18.0   3.757   3.404    61   16.7     15.4 123.3   3:10 (288, 38)  
Jan. 15  14 40.86  -34 16.1   3.711   3.445    66   16.7     14.2 125.0   3:18 (286, 44)  

* 50P/Arend

Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Fading out gradually. It was a bit brighter than the ephemeris recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8   7 46.47   51 28.5   1.451   2.356   150   16.7     13.4 257.6   0:40 (180,  4)  
Jan. 15   7 36.85   50 59.3   1.485   2.389   150   16.8     13.7 246.8   0:03 (180,  4)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8   3  9.37  -22  7.6   5.135   5.484   105   16.7     10.5 338.0  21:02 (129, 71)  
Jan. 15   3  7.75  -20 58.9   5.276   5.539   100   16.8     10.2 345.6  20:58 (120, 66)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1999 Nov. 19
Fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  10 18.92   -0 46.9   2.044   2.773   129   17.0      5.8 276.9   3:10 (181, 56)  
Jan. 15  10 15.66   -0 37.2   2.015   2.815   137   17.2      8.4 284.2   2:41 (180, 56)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8   3 21.31   13 18.0   5.160   5.771   124   17.2      9.9 295.4  21:02 (164, 40)  
Jan. 15   3 17.40   13 48.0   5.304   5.809   116   17.3      8.5 300.6  20:58 (156, 38)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8   1 44.31   21  2.6   6.373   6.689   104   17.3      1.7 340.2  21:02 (142, 24)  
Jan. 15   1 44.29   21 14.9   6.452   6.653    97   17.3      2.0  14.4  20:58 (137, 21)  

* 1999 LD31


Retrograde asteroid. It will be overhead as 17 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  8  13 38.10    9 20.8   2.268   2.440    87   17.4     22.4 310.9   3:10 (237, 25)  
Jan. 15  13 28.79   11 13.9   2.127   2.458    97   17.3     28.6 308.3   3:18 (226, 31)  

* (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)  
Jan.  8   9 55.42   -0  6.8  12.658  13.368   134   17.5      2.4 261.9   2:49 (180, 55)  
Jan. 15   9 54.22   -0  8.4  12.579  13.365   141   17.5      2.7 267.3   2:20 (180, 55)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8  10  2.24    2 46.5   2.250   3.024   134   17.6      6.9 213.9   2:55 (180, 52)  
Jan. 15   9 59.95    2  9.2   2.201   3.035   141   17.5      7.7 230.3   2:26 (180, 53)  

* 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)  
Jan.  8   2  8.67    6 54.3   5.308   5.647   105   17.6      7.2 204.4  21:02 (139, 39)  
Jan. 15   2  7.59    6 11.1   5.415   5.632    97   17.7      6.0 195.5  20:58 (132, 36)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.