Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Jan. 15: North)

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 Updated on January 22, 2000
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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 Dec. 30
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. 15   1 12.61  -14 17.3   0.319   0.967    77    9.8    171.0  86.5  18:39 ( 18, 39)  
Jan. 22   2 32.02  -12 14.5   0.333   1.039    90   10.0    157.5  81.8  18:45 (  4, 43)

* 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. 15  18  3.86  -24 15.6   2.358   1.505    23   11.8     47.3  95.4   5:38 (300, -1)  
Jan. 22  18 27.93  -24 39.0   2.347   1.513    24   11.8     46.8  93.1   5:37 (300, -1)

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 1
It is brightest now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15  11  0.04    5 39.5   1.211   1.993   130   12.4     77.1 300.9   3:26 (  0, 61)  
Jan. 22  10 24.29   10 46.3   1.099   2.000   147   12.2     97.7 299.3   2:24 (  0, 66)

* 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. 15  20 28.03  -67 48.5   4.060   3.465    47   12.8     22.2  48.8  18:39 ( 26,-31)  
Jan. 22  20 47.21  -66  5.9   4.077   3.474    46   12.8     21.3  47.2  18:45 ( 29,-32)

* 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. 15   5  4.76  -77 22.6  10.384  10.234    78   13.2      5.7 301.6  21:26 (  0,-22)  
Jan. 22   4 55.30  -76 59.4  10.430  10.284    78   13.2      5.5 311.0  20:50 (  0,-22)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

 Image: 2000 Jan. 3
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. 15   3 18.44   21 23.6   0.840   1.570   118   14.0     32.0 121.7  19:42 (  0, 76)  
Jan. 22   3 32.54   19 34.4   0.887   1.573   114   14.1     32.7 116.1  19:29 (  0, 74)

* 63P/Wild 1

 Image: 2000 Jan. 1
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. 15  13 35.91   -8 36.5   1.728   1.970    88   14.0     27.2 133.3   5:38 (352, 46)  
Jan. 22  13 44.84  -10 47.0   1.663   1.978    93   14.0     25.8 136.2   5:37 (358, 44)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 3
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. 15   1 54.63   30  6.8   2.724   3.092   102   14.1     17.7 239.5  18:39 ( 45, 83)  
Jan. 22   1 47.27   29  6.8   2.774   3.007    94   14.0     14.6 236.5  18:45 ( 70, 75)

* 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. 15  16 43.19  -30  0.2   6.803   6.100    41   14.1     10.2 100.3   5:38 (316,  8)  
Jan. 22  16 48.46  -30 12.7   6.722   6.098    47   14.0      9.7 100.5   5:37 (320, 11)

* 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. 15   0 16.52  -63 41.0   2.373   2.088    61   14.1     10.1  34.0  18:39 ( 13,-11)  
Jan. 22   0 23.15  -62 46.3   2.495   2.174    59   14.6     10.2  44.6  18:45 ( 16,-12)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 30
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. 15  22 27.25   13 44.9   4.800   4.284    53   14.2     16.7 101.1  18:39 ( 82, 35)  
Jan. 22  22 35.21   13 24.8   4.866   4.273    48   14.2     16.9  98.5  18:45 ( 86, 29)

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 30
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. 15  20 34.47   55 42.6   2.022   2.052    77   14.8     12.5  23.5  18:39 (139, 31)  
Jan. 22  20 38.90   57 11.4   2.068   2.085    77   15.2     14.9  21.3  18:45 (142, 28)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 1
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. 15  14 23.90   33 35.8   3.563   3.759    93   14.8     11.8 318.0   5:38 (271, 75)  
Jan. 22  14 18.79   34 40.5   3.482   3.783   100   14.8     14.2 313.4   5:37 (270, 82)

* 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. 15  19 32.57  -40 45.6   4.547   3.636    19   14.9     16.3 115.1   5:38 (303,-25)  
Jan. 22  19 41.86  -41 34.9   4.495   3.608    22   14.8     16.8 115.5   5:37 (306,-23)

* 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. 15   1 25.98   16  7.4   1.209   1.581    91   14.9     39.4  47.6  18:39 ( 34, 68)  
Jan. 22   1 40.61   19  7.0   1.276   1.598    88   15.1     39.4  50.9  18:45 ( 48, 68)

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 3
Although it has been brightening after perihelion passage, it turned to be fading after mid January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15   3 48.94   42 35.9   1.174   1.932   126   15.2     23.8 139.2  20:12 (180, 83)  
Jan. 22   3 59.25   40 33.9   1.239   1.953   122   15.4     24.3 133.7  19:55 (180, 85)

* 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. 15   1  9.90  -39 59.4   4.651   4.415    70   15.3      6.1  18.9  18:39 ( 13, 14)  
Jan. 22   1 11.52  -39 17.9   4.656   4.345    65   15.2      6.9  29.3  18:45 ( 19, 12)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 1
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. 15  16 32.39   34 48.6   7.368   7.130    72   15.4      4.4  86.6   5:38 (255, 50)  
Jan. 22  16 34.70   34 52.6   7.309   7.126    75   15.3      3.8  76.9   5:37 (257, 54)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 27
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. 15  10 32.02  -20 22.7   3.826   4.420   121   15.4     14.9 242.8   2:58 (  0, 35)  
Jan. 22  10 25.08  -21  6.1   3.810   4.483   127   15.4     15.5 248.9   2:23 (  0, 34)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 27
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. 15  13 56.61  -18 55.1   3.026   3.023    80   15.6     10.8 283.6   5:38 (347, 35)  
Jan. 22  13 50.75  -18 33.7   2.950   3.093    88   15.7     13.8 285.1   5:37 (357, 36)

* 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. 15  22 13.04   24 20.0   4.705   4.270    58   15.7      3.1  60.0  18:39 ( 96, 37)  
Jan. 22  22 14.63   24 34.3   4.741   4.226    53   15.6      4.3  54.1  18:45 (100, 31)

* 84P/Giclas

 Image: 2000 Jan. 3
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. 15   4 45.11   17 42.4   1.387   2.216   137   15.9      5.7   6.1  21:08 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 22   4 46.16   18 22.1   1.475   2.248   131   16.1      6.7  32.7  20:41 (  0, 73)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

 Image: 1999 Dec. 29
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. 15   8 21.86   23 15.8   1.539   2.515   171   15.9     11.8 261.8   0:48 (  0, 78)  
Jan. 22   8 15.84   23  3.0   1.552   2.535   176   16.0     12.0 260.5   0:14 (  0, 78)

* 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. 15  10 39.42   28 51.0   3.898   4.693   139   16.2     10.8 345.1   3:05 (  0, 84)  
Jan. 22  10 37.60   30  4.3   3.872   4.720   146   16.2     11.2 339.2   2:36 (  0, 85)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 3
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. 15   2 39.76   67 41.6   4.584   5.076   114   16.4     17.8 209.3  19:02 (180, 57)  
Jan. 22   2 30.77   65 52.3   4.610   5.029   109   16.3     16.9 202.8  18:45 (176, 59)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 1999 Dec. 29
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. 15   7 10.64   27  5.4   2.784   3.757   170   16.5     10.1 282.4  23:32 (  0, 82)  
Jan. 22   7  5.59   27 19.2   2.799   3.750   162   16.5      9.4 280.9  23:00 (  0, 82)

* 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. 15   0  6.81  -10 55.3   2.163   1.936    63   16.6     35.5  62.7  18:39 ( 40, 35)  
Jan. 22   0 21.59   -9  2.6   2.264   1.976    60   17.0     34.8  62.8  18:45 ( 46, 34)

* C/1999 XS87 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It keeps the good condition until March, but it will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15   6 18.23   18 15.2   2.215   3.155   159   16.7      7.6 240.5  22:40 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 22   6 15.39   17 50.6   2.284   3.186   151   16.8      5.9 236.2  22:10 (  0, 73)

* 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. 15  14 40.86  -34 16.1   3.711   3.445    66   16.7     14.2 125.0   5:38 (341, 18)  
Jan. 22  14 47.09  -35 12.0   3.660   3.487    72   16.7     12.9 127.3   5:37 (346, 18)

* 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. 15   3  7.75  -20 58.9   5.276   5.539   100   16.8     10.2 345.6  19:30 (  0, 34)  
Jan. 22   3  6.82  -19 49.4   5.422   5.594    94   16.9     10.0 353.1  19:02 (  0, 35)

* 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. 15   7 36.85   50 59.3   1.485   2.389   150   16.8     13.7 246.8   0:03 (180, 74)  
Jan. 22   7 28.07   50 13.4   1.530   2.423   148   17.0     13.5 235.8  23:22 (180, 75)

* C/1999 Y2 ( SOHO )
New comet. It is in the evening sky, but it will fade out rapidly. The poisition and brightness are both uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15  20 46.28   19 57.8   0.811   0.690    43   16.9    175.1  53.8  18:39 (103, 18)  
Jan. 22  21 54.00   29 31.3   0.911   0.877    54   18.2    134.1  62.2  18:45 (108, 30)

* 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. 15  10 15.66   -0 37.2   2.015   2.815   137   17.2      8.4 284.2   2:41 (  0, 54)  
Jan. 22  10 11.40   -0 18.2   1.996   2.857   144   17.3     10.6 288.4   2:10 (  0, 55)

* 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. 15  13 28.79   11 13.9   2.127   2.458    97   17.3     28.6 308.3   5:38 (350, 66)  
Jan. 22  13 16.51   13 29.4   1.992   2.478   107   17.2     35.9 305.8   5:14 (  0, 68)

* 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. 15   3 17.39   13 48.0   5.308   5.812   116   17.3      8.5 300.5  19:40 (  0, 69)  
Jan. 22   3 14.23   14 18.7   5.460   5.850   108   17.4      7.3 307.4  19:09 (  0, 69)

* C/1999 F2 ( Dalcanton )

 Image: 1999 June 30
It keeps the good condition until autumn. It will fade out gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15  16 59.22   13 24.0   6.676   6.139    53   17.3     11.8  63.8   5:38 (278, 35)  
Jan. 22  17  4.16   14  2.4   6.642   6.172    57   17.3     11.5  60.0   5:37 (281, 40)

* C/1999 F1 ( Catalina )
It will pass the perihelion in 2002 February and it will brighten gradually after this. But the altitude is highest now and keeps low after this for the Northern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15  13 18.73  -23  7.0   7.816   7.831    87   17.4      5.1 195.7   5:38 (359, 32)  
Jan. 22  13 17.78  -23 41.0   7.667   7.800    94   17.3      5.3 206.1   5:15 (  0, 31)

* 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. 15   9 59.71    2  8.1   2.170   3.006   141   17.5      7.8 231.0   2:25 (  0, 57)  
Jan. 22   9 56.44    1 36.7   2.130   3.016   149   17.4      8.8 242.8   1:55 (  0, 57)

* (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. 15   9 54.22   -0  8.4  12.579  13.365   141   17.5      2.7 267.3   2:20 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 22   9 52.87   -0  8.6  12.513  13.363   148   17.5      3.0 271.5   1:51 (  0, 55)

* 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. 15   1 43.61   21 13.9   6.746   6.942    97   17.6      1.9   5.1  18:39 ( 30, 74)  
Jan. 22   1 43.95   21 28.0   6.827   6.907    90   17.6      2.5  27.9  18:45 ( 51, 70)

* 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. 15   2  7.62    6 11.2   5.411   5.628    97   17.7      6.0 195.5  18:39 (  4, 61)  
Jan. 22   2  7.17    5 33.0   5.520   5.612    90   17.7      5.1 183.6  18:45 ( 21, 59)

* P/1998 U4 ( Spahr )
The best condition of this comet is until March, at 45 deg high as 18 mag for the Northern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15   8  1.27  -15 41.2   3.314   4.141   142   17.8      8.6 290.1   0:27 (  0, 39)  
Jan. 22   7 57.34  -15 15.7   3.311   4.153   144   17.8      9.2 297.9  23:51 (  0, 40)

* C/1999 J4 ( LINEAR )
Both the brightness and altitude are at best now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 15  14 30.84   62 37.8   3.462   3.815   103   17.8     25.5 352.5   5:38 (198, 60)  
Jan. 22  14 25.89   65 39.0   3.421   3.824   106   17.8     27.0 347.5   5:37 (189, 59)

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