Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Feb. 26: South)

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 Updated on March 6, 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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* 9P/Tempel 1
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere in the low sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn in 2000 June, when it will be already fainter than 15 mag. It was fainter than 12.0 mag on Feb. 11 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  20 22.83  -23 29.6   2.311   1.596    34   12.4     42.6  82.5   4:14 (288, 16)  
Mar.  4  20 43.92  -22 46.0   2.304   1.620    36   12.6     41.4  80.8   4:22 (286, 18)

* 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)  
Feb. 26  21 55.91  -58 17.8   4.094   3.537    49   12.9     16.7  45.4   4:14 (328, 20)  
Mar.  4  22  5.95  -56 58.4   4.081   3.552    51   12.9     15.6  45.7   4:22 (325, 22)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 12
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It will not be observable soon. Actually, it is fainter than this ephemeris, about 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   1 31.67   26  3.7   2.998   2.573    55   13.5      2.5 198.6  20:10 (119, -4)  
Mar.  4   1 31.67   25 50.8   3.020   2.484    48   13.4      1.5 153.5  19:59 (117, -7)

* 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)  
Feb. 26   4 32.33  -74 19.4  10.639  10.533    81   13.4      5.0 353.7  20:10 ( 12, 48)  
Mar.  4   4 31.97  -73 44.6  10.676  10.582    81   13.4      4.9   1.5  19:59 ( 14, 48)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 23 deg at best in the Northern Hemisphere. It was fainter than 15.3 mag on Feb. 11 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  17  9.76  -31  9.2   6.222   6.087    77   13.9      6.1 104.1   4:14 (274, 58)  
Mar.  4  17 12.71  -31 19.3   6.109   6.085    83   13.8      5.1 106.1   4:22 (271, 64)

* 63P/Wild 1

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
It is 15 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  14 12.27  -21 23.5   1.386   2.051   118   14.1     17.8 168.1   3:52 (180, 76)  
Mar.  4  14 13.24  -23 23.4   1.344   2.071   124   14.1     16.8 179.5   3:25 (180, 78)

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 17
It faded out extremely rapidly in February and reached to 15 mag by CCD at the end of February. It will be 13 mag visually still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   6 39.38   29 37.5   1.387   2.085   121   14.2     56.2 277.4  20:14 (180, 25)  
Mar.  4   6 13.68   30  9.7   1.567   2.111   109   15.1     40.5 274.1  19:59 (171, 24)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It is expected to be bright as 7 mag in late 2000. Northern people cannot observe it until December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   1 30.91  -35 44.9   4.581   3.991    48   14.3     11.3  59.0  20:10 ( 65, 30)  
Mar.  4   1 36.76  -35  5.0   4.542   3.919    46   14.2     12.1  62.7  19:59 ( 65, 28)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 30
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 mag until late 2000. It will not be observable until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  23 16.76   12 47.9   5.111   4.229    24   14.3     17.7  89.5  20:10 ( 90,-23)  
Mar.  4  23 25.23   12 50.1   5.139   4.222    20   14.3     17.7  88.4  19:59 ( 89,-24)

* 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)  
Feb. 26  20 33.75  -46 28.7   4.103   3.479    45   14.5     19.5 120.7   4:14 (311, 25)  
Mar.  4  20 45.33  -47 40.7   4.005   3.457    50   14.4     20.1 122.3   4:22 (310, 29)

* 141P/Machholz 2

 Image: 2000 Jan. 22
It was 10 mag in early January, however, it faded out rapidly. In mid February, it could not be detected by CCD because too diffused. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   6  3.62   -0  6.2   0.722   1.428   112   14.6     49.6  74.9  20:10 (168, 54)  
Mar.  4   6 24.33    1 15.3   0.832   1.507   111   15.3     42.6  75.8  19:59 (170, 53)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 17
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)  
Feb. 26  13 27.79   40 41.4   3.200   3.913   130   14.8     25.4 290.3   3:08 (180, 14)  
Mar.  4  13 12.38   41 36.1   3.186   3.941   134   14.8     26.7 284.9   2:25 (180, 13)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 28
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)  
Feb. 26  16 39.41   36  5.2   6.974   7.115    94   15.2      3.0 346.5   4:14 (205, 13)  
Mar.  4  16 38.69   36 26.6   6.906   7.113    98   15.2      3.6 330.3   4:22 (198, 16)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

 Image: 2000 Feb. 12
Rapidly fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   4 51.72   13 51.8   1.195   1.636    96   15.4     35.2 100.6  20:10 (150, 36)  
Mar.  4   5  8.39   13  8.8   1.268   1.657    93   15.8     35.4  99.4  19:59 (149, 36)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 28
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)  
Feb. 26   9 45.63  -22 23.4   3.938   4.794   146   15.8     15.2 273.7  23:21 (180, 77)  
Mar.  4   9 38.24  -22 12.7   4.010   4.856   145   15.9     14.2 278.1  22:47 (180, 77)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 2000 Jan. 15
Actually, it will be brighter than this ephemeris. It is 14 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   6 50.41   27 47.3   3.066   3.715   124   15.8      1.3 268.0  20:27 (180, 27)  
Mar.  4   6 50.22   27 46.1   3.148   3.709   117   15.9      0.7 116.0  20:00 (180, 27)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
Gradually fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  13  0.24  -14 22.4   2.654   3.442   136   15.9     29.6 292.1   2:41 (180, 69)  
Mar.  4  12 46.64  -12 59.1   2.637   3.512   147   16.0     31.6 293.4   2:00 (180, 68)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 5
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)  
Feb. 26   2 20.10   57 51.2   4.860   4.806    81   16.3     12.1 174.8  20:10 (150,-17)  
Mar.  4   2 21.52   56 30.8   4.914   4.757    75   16.2     11.2 168.6  19:59 (148,-18)

* 106P/Schuster

 Image: 2000 Feb. 5
Rapidly fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   3  6.44   30 58.0   1.658   1.721    76   16.3     38.2  65.6  20:10 (138,  8)  
Mar.  4   3 25.66   32 40.9   1.743   1.753    74   16.6     37.7  68.5  19:59 (139,  7)

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 28
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)  
Feb. 26  10 21.38   35 29.7   3.957   4.862   153   16.4      9.8 318.2   0:02 (180, 20)  
Mar.  4  10 17.71   36 16.8   4.018   4.891   148   16.4      8.7 315.0  23:26 (180, 19)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

 Image: 1999 June 12
Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since June. The altitude will be 38 deg at best after this in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  17  3.04  -18 13.5  10.027   9.908    80   16.5      3.1  83.9   4:14 (253, 53)  
Mar.  4  17  4.40  -18 10.9   9.923   9.920    86   16.5      2.5  80.2   4:22 (244, 60)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 2000 Feb. 9
It was fading gradually after November and still keeps 16.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   9 43.36    3  0.0   2.094   3.064   166   16.5     13.2 301.3  23:19 (180, 52)  
Mar.  4   9 38.44    3 47.6   2.157   3.105   159   16.6     11.8 304.5  22:47 (180, 51)

* P/2000 C1 ( Hergenrother )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
New comet. It keeps 16.5-17 mag until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  12 12.04    6 49.6   1.162   2.103   155   16.6      7.7 334.8   1:52 (180, 48)  
Mar.  4  12  9.93    7 40.6   1.132   2.099   162   16.5      9.3 323.3   1:23 (180, 47)

* 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)  
Feb. 26  11 15.65   27 48.4   1.656   2.604   158   16.7     64.8 288.0   0:57 (180, 27)  
Mar.  4  10 42.98   29 44.7   1.696   2.634   156   16.7     61.7 282.8  23:49 (180, 25)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

 Image: 1999 Dec. 29
Although it had been 16 mag for a while, it will fade out rapidly after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   7 54.96   21 25.4   1.809   2.644   139   16.7      4.4 218.0  21:32 (180, 34)  
Mar.  4   7 54.27   21  0.6   1.893   2.668   132   16.9      3.6 181.0  21:04 (180, 34)

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 12
Although it has been brightening after perihelion passage, it turned to be fading rapidly after mid January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   5  0.18   32 34.7   1.668   2.088   100   17.1     26.0 114.8  20:10 (160, 19)  
Mar.  4   5 13.33   31 20.8   1.769   2.119    96   17.4     26.2 112.7  19:59 (158, 20)

* P/2000 B3 ( LINEAR )
Brightened gradually and reached to 17 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26   6 52.18   36 34.9   0.949   1.704   122   17.2     22.5 133.9  20:30 (180, 19)  
Mar.  4   7  2.33   34 44.9   0.997   1.710   118   17.3     24.7 129.5  20:12 (180, 20)

* 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)  
Feb. 26   5 10.74   21 22.9   2.007   2.413   101   17.3     15.6  73.6  20:10 (158, 30)  
Mar.  4   5 18.64   21 52.4   2.125   2.448    96   17.5     16.9  76.3  19:59 (156, 29)

* 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)  
Feb. 26  17 23.88   18  7.6   6.418   6.341    81   17.4     10.1  36.5   4:14 (224, 23)  
Mar.  4  17 26.58   19  5.4   6.369   6.375    85   17.4      9.8  30.7   4:22 (216, 27)

* C/1999 XS87 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 5
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)  
Feb. 26   6 15.32   16 28.7   2.788   3.353   116   17.5      5.1 107.8  20:10 (175, 38)  
Mar.  4   6 18.14   16 18.2   2.911   3.388   110   17.6      6.8 102.0  19:59 (170, 38)

* (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)  
Feb. 26   9 44.99    0  9.2  12.390  13.349   164   17.5      3.5 284.0  23:21 (180, 55)  
Mar.  4   9 43.45    0 15.4  12.410  13.346   159   17.5      3.3 285.9  22:52 (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)  
Feb. 26   9 33.71    0 31.2   2.122   3.082   162   17.5      9.3 269.5  23:10 (180, 54)  
Mar.  4   9 29.69    0 32.2   2.162   3.097   156   17.6      7.9 272.4  22:38 (180, 54)

* 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)  
Feb. 26   9  0.33    9 16.7   2.191   3.126   156   17.7      9.4 289.3  22:37 (180, 46)  
Mar.  4   8 56.49    9 38.2   2.211   3.105   149   17.6      7.9 292.3  22:05 (180, 45)

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
Rapidly fading, but it may be brighter than 17 mag still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 26  21  6.35   68 36.7   2.248   2.280    79   17.7     25.2  10.3   4:14 (206,-35)  
Mar.  4  21 12.15   71 36.7   2.281   2.324    80   18.3     26.9   8.2   4:22 (202,-33)

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