Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Jan. 22: South)

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 Updated on January 26, 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: 2000 Jan. 8
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. 22   2 32.02  -12 14.5   0.333   1.039    90   10.9    157.5  81.8  20:53 (117, 51)  
Jan. 29   3 38.77   -9 18.3   0.377   1.115   100   11.6    126.9  78.2  20:47 (134, 56)

* 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. 22  18 27.93  -24 39.0   2.347   1.513    24   11.8     46.8  93.1   3:28 (298,  3)  
Jan. 29  18 51.82  -24 48.9   2.338   1.523    26   11.9     46.2  90.8   3:37 (296,  6)

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 15
It is brightest now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22  10 24.28   10 46.4   1.099   2.000   147   12.2     97.7 299.3   2:24 (180, 44)  
Jan. 29   9 39.37   16 31.4   1.039   2.010   166   12.1    111.8 296.5   1:12 (180, 39)

* 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. 22  20 47.21  -66  5.9   4.077   3.474    46   12.8     21.3  47.2  20:53 ( 21, 20)  
Jan. 29  21  4.12  -64 24.9   4.090   3.485    46   12.8     20.5  46.2  20:47 ( 22, 19)

* 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. 22   4 55.30  -76 59.4  10.430  10.284    78   13.2      5.5 311.0  20:53 (  0, 48)  
Jan. 29   4 47.49  -76 31.9  10.475  10.334    79   13.2      5.4 320.1  20:47 (  3, 48)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
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. 22   1 47.27   29  6.8   2.774   3.007    94   14.0     14.6 236.5  20:53 (138, 12)  
Jan. 29   1 41.55   28 14.0   2.826   2.922    85   13.9     11.7 233.3  20:47 (133,  8)

* 63P/Wild 1

 Image: 2000 Jan. 1
It is 13 mag visually, but it is faint as 16 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22  13 44.84  -10 47.0   1.663   1.978    93   14.0     25.8 136.2   3:28 (240, 51)  
Jan. 29  13 52.83  -12 56.9   1.601   1.988    97   14.0     24.2 139.9   3:37 (234, 58)

* 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. 22  16 48.46  -30 12.7   6.722   6.098    47   14.0      9.7 100.5   3:28 (291, 25)  
Jan. 29  16 53.46  -30 24.8   6.634   6.096    53   14.0      9.1 100.8   3:37 (287, 31)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
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. 22   3 32.54   19 34.4   0.887   1.573   114   14.1     32.7 116.1  20:53 (156, 32)  
Jan. 29   3 47.42   18  1.5   0.940   1.579   110   14.3     33.3 111.4  20:47 (154, 33)

* 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. 22  22 35.21   13 24.8   4.866   4.273    48   14.2     16.9  98.5  20:53 ( 98,-12)  
Jan. 29  22 43.33   13  9.6   4.928   4.262    43   14.3     17.2  96.2  20:47 ( 96,-15)

* 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. 22   0 23.16  -62 46.2   2.495   2.174    59   14.6     10.2  44.6  20:53 ( 34, 40)  
Jan. 29   0 30.96  -61 59.2   2.608   2.260    58   15.0     10.4  53.7  20:47 ( 35, 39)

* 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. 22  14 18.79   34 40.5   3.482   3.783   100   14.8     14.2 313.4   3:28 (214, 10)  
Jan. 29  14 12.14   35 51.4   3.406   3.807   106   14.8     16.7 309.0   3:37 (206, 13)

* 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. 22  19 41.86  -41 34.9   4.495   3.608    22   14.8     16.8 115.5   3:28 (321,  3)  
Jan. 29  19 51.50  -42 26.7   4.433   3.580    26   14.8     17.3 116.2   3:37 (318,  7)

* 106P/Schuster

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
Rapidly fading since December. It will be fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22   1 40.61   19  7.0   1.276   1.598    88   15.1     39.4  50.9  20:53 (131, 18)  
Jan. 29   1 56.17   21 54.5   1.346   1.617    86   15.3     39.3  54.0  20:47 (132, 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)  
Jan. 22   1 11.52  -39 17.9   4.656   4.345    65   15.2      6.9  29.3  20:53 ( 67, 45)  
Jan. 29   1 13.95  -38 35.2   4.656   4.275    61   15.1      7.8  37.5  20:47 ( 67, 42)

* 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. 22  20 38.90   57 11.4   2.068   2.085    77   15.2     14.9  21.3  20:53 (139,-47)  
Jan. 29  20 43.82   58 57.1   2.109   2.120    77   15.7     17.2  19.2  20:47 (142,-49)

* 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. 22  16 34.70   34 52.6   7.309   7.126    75   15.3      3.8  76.9   3:28 (234,-10)  
Jan. 29  16 36.62   35  0.7   7.245   7.124    79   15.3      3.3  64.5   3:37 (229, -4)

* 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. 22   3 59.25   40 33.9   1.239   1.953   122   15.4     24.3 133.7  20:53 (169, 13)  
Jan. 29   4 10.40   38 40.8   1.312   1.977   118   15.5     24.7 128.8  20:47 (166, 15)

* 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. 22  10 25.08  -21  6.1   3.810   4.483   127   15.4     15.5 248.9   2:23 (180, 76)  
Jan. 29  10 17.57  -21 40.6   3.806   4.546   133   15.5     16.0 254.5   1:48 (180, 77)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
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. 22  22 14.63   24 34.3   4.741   4.226    53   15.6      4.3  54.1  20:53 (105,-22)  
Jan. 29  22 16.57   24 55.1   4.766   4.182    48   15.6      5.3  49.8  20:47 (103,-26)

* 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. 22  13 50.75  -18 33.7   2.950   3.093    88   15.7     13.8 285.1   3:28 (252, 55)  
Jan. 29  13 43.49  -18  4.2   2.875   3.163    97   15.7     17.0 286.5   3:37 (238, 63)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 2000 Jan. 15
It is observed as bright as 15-16 mag now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22   7  5.59   27 19.2   2.799   3.750   162   15.7      9.4 280.9  23:00 (180, 28)  
Jan. 29   7  0.98   27 30.2   2.829   3.743   154   15.7      8.3 279.5  22:28 (180, 27)

* 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. 22   8 15.84   23  3.0   1.552   2.535   176   16.0     12.0 260.5   0:14 (180, 32)  
Jan. 29   8  9.98   22 47.9   1.578   2.555   170   16.1     11.4 258.3  23:36 (180, 32)

* 84P/Giclas

 Image: 2000 Jan. 3
After the perihelion passage, it has been getting brighter. But now it is fading since January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22   4 46.16   18 22.1   1.475   2.248   131   16.1      6.7  32.7  20:53 (176, 37)  
Jan. 29   4 48.65   19  1.4   1.571   2.280   124   16.3      8.5  49.3  20:47 (171, 35)

* 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. 22  10 37.60   30  4.3   3.872   4.720   146   16.2     11.2 339.2   2:36 (180, 25)  
Jan. 29  10 35.15   31 17.0   3.859   4.748   151   16.2     11.4 334.0   2:06 (180, 24)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
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. 22   2 30.77   65 52.2   4.607   5.026   109   16.3     16.9 202.8  20:53 (165,-15)  
Jan. 29   2 24.63   64  3.7   4.644   4.979   104   16.3     16.0 196.8  20:47 (162,-15)

* 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. 22  14 47.09  -35 12.0   3.660   3.487    72   16.7     12.9 127.3   3:28 (285, 50)  
Jan. 29  14 52.58  -36  5.7   3.607   3.528    77   16.8     11.6 130.4   3:37 (284, 57)

* C/1999 XS87 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 15
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. 22   6 15.39   17 50.6   2.284   3.186   151   16.8      5.9 236.2  22:10 (180, 37)  
Jan. 29   6 13.42   17 28.9   2.366   3.218   144   16.9      4.2 226.8  21:40 (180, 38)

* 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. 22   3  6.81  -19 48.6   5.421   5.593    94   16.9     10.0 353.1  20:53 (114, 61)  
Jan. 29   3  6.54  -18 39.2   5.569   5.648    89   17.0      9.9   0.4  20:47 (110, 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)  
Jan. 22   7 28.07   50 13.4   1.530   2.423   148   17.0     13.5 235.8  23:22 (180,  5)  
Jan. 29   7 20.73   49 13.7   1.586   2.458   144   17.1     13.0 224.2  22:47 (180,  6)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Dec. 23
It was extremely diffused in December. No observations reported in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22   0 21.59   -9  2.6   2.264   1.976    60   17.0     34.8  62.8  20:53 ( 95, 22)  
Jan. 29   0 36.03   -7 12.3   2.365   2.017    57   17.5     34.1  62.9  20:47 ( 95, 20)

* 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. 22  13 16.51   13 29.4   1.992   2.478   107   17.2     35.9 305.8   3:28 (213, 35)  
Jan. 29  13  0.62   16  7.4   1.871   2.499   118   17.1     44.0 303.3   3:37 (196, 37)

* 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. 22  13 17.78  -23 41.0   7.667   7.800    94   17.3      5.3 206.1   3:28 (251, 64)  
Jan. 29  13 16.34  -24 13.6   7.519   7.769   101   17.3      5.6 216.2   3:37 (239, 72)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1999 Nov. 19
No observations reported since mid December. Only few observations reported even before that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22  10 11.40   -0 18.2   1.996   2.857   144   17.3     10.6 288.4   2:10 (180, 55)  
Jan. 29  10  6.32    0  9.6   1.988   2.899   152   17.4     12.5 291.4   1:37 (180, 55)

* 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. 22  17  4.16   14  2.4   6.642   6.172    57   17.3     11.5  60.0   3:28 (255, -3)  
Jan. 29  17  8.82   14 44.6   6.603   6.205    62   17.3     11.3  56.0   3:37 (250,  3)

* 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. 22   3 14.23   14 18.7   5.460   5.850   108   17.4      7.3 307.4  20:53 (149, 35)  
Jan. 29   3 11.79   14 50.0   5.618   5.889   101   17.4      6.2 316.4  20:47 (143, 32)

* 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. 22   9 56.44    1 36.7   2.130   3.016   149   17.4      8.8 242.8   1:55 (180, 53)  
Jan. 29   9 52.43    1 11.7   2.102   3.028   155   17.4      9.8 251.4   1:23 (180, 54)

* (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. 22   9 52.87   -0  8.6  12.513  13.363   148   17.5      3.0 271.5   1:51 (180, 55)  
Jan. 29   9 51.40   -0  7.3  12.459  13.360   155   17.5      3.3 274.8   1:22 (180, 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. 22   1 43.95   21 28.0   6.827   6.907    90   17.6      2.5  27.9  20:53 (133, 17)  
Jan. 29   1 44.77   21 44.4   6.908   6.873    83   17.6      3.3  39.9  20:47 (130, 14)

* 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. 22   2  7.17    5 33.0   5.520   5.612    90   17.7      5.1 183.6  20:53 (126, 33)  
Jan. 29   2  7.30    4 59.4   5.630   5.598    83   17.7      4.6 168.8  20:47 (121, 30)

* 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. 22   7 57.34  -15 15.7   3.311   4.153   144   17.8      9.2 297.9  23:51 (180, 70)  
Jan. 29   7 53.50  -14 41.3   3.320   4.165   144   17.8      9.5 305.5  23:20 (180, 70)

* 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. 22  14 25.89   65 39.0   3.421   3.824   106   17.8     27.0 347.5   3:28 (197,-16)  
Jan. 29  14 16.92   68 45.2   3.395   3.834   109   17.8     28.2 341.6   3:37 (192,-16)

* D/1984 H1 ( Kowal-Mrkos )
Only 8 observations reported during one month in 1984. The orbit and brightness are extremely uncertain. The ephemeris says it is highest and brightest until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 22   9 23.95    7 49.3   2.296   3.235   159   17.9      8.9 278.0   1:22 (180, 47)  
Jan. 29   9 19.51    8  0.3   2.246   3.212   166   17.8     10.1 280.8   0:50 (180, 47)

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