Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Mar. 4: North)

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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 Northern 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)  
Mar.  4  20 43.92  -22 46.0   2.304   1.620    36   12.6     41.4  80.8   5:01 (298,  0)  
Mar. 11  21  4.20  -21 55.9   2.298   1.647    38   12.7     40.2  79.3   4:52 (297,  0)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  22  5.95  -56 58.4   4.081   3.552    51   12.9     15.6  45.7   5:01 (321,-31)  
Mar. 11  22 15.06  -55 44.7   4.062   3.569    53   13.0     14.5  46.1   4:52 (320,-29)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   1 31.67   25 50.8   3.020   2.484    48   13.4      1.5 153.5  19:21 (102, 30)  
Mar. 11   1 32.35   25 44.9   3.030   2.393    42   13.2      2.0 100.4  19:27 (106, 24)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   4 31.97  -73 44.6  10.676  10.582    81   13.4      4.9   1.5  19:21 (  7,-20)  
Mar. 11   4 32.72  -73 10.5  10.712  10.631    82   13.4      4.9   9.2  19:27 ( 10,-20)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  17 12.71  -31 19.3   6.109   6.085    83   13.8      5.1 106.1   5:01 (341, 21)  
Mar. 11  17 15.13  -31 29.1   5.995   6.083    90   13.8      4.1 109.3   4:52 (345, 22)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   1 36.76  -35  5.0   4.542   3.919    46   14.2     12.1  62.7  19:21 ( 50, -5)  
Mar. 11   1 43.19  -34 27.1   4.495   3.847    44   14.1     13.0  66.2  19:27 ( 54, -9)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  14 13.24  -23 23.4   1.344   2.071   124   14.1     16.8 179.5   3:25 (  0, 32)  
Mar. 11  14 12.40  -25 17.6   1.310   2.094   130   14.2     16.2 192.1   2:57 (  0, 30)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  23 25.23   12 50.1   5.139   4.222    20   14.3     17.7  88.4  19:21 (107, -2)  
Mar. 11  23 33.71   12 54.5   5.159   4.217    16   14.3     17.7  87.5  19:27 (111, -7)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  20 45.33  -47 40.7   4.005   3.457    50   14.4     20.1 122.3   5:01 (318,-16)  
Mar. 11  20 57.38  -48 58.6   3.904   3.435    55   14.3     20.8 123.9   4:52 (319,-16)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  13 12.38   41 36.1   3.186   3.941   134   14.8     26.7 284.9   2:25 (180, 83)  
Mar. 11  12 55.78   42 15.2   3.190   3.970   136   14.8     27.4 279.3   1:41 (180, 83)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   6 13.68   30  9.7   1.567   2.111   109   15.1     40.5 274.1  19:22 (  0, 85)  
Mar. 11   5 55.18   30 21.1   1.760   2.140    98   16.1     28.7 271.8  19:27 ( 70, 78)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  16 38.69   36 26.6   6.906   7.113    98   15.2      3.6 330.3   5:01 (258, 80)  
Mar. 11  16 37.34   36 48.6   6.840   7.112   101   15.2      4.3 317.7   4:52 (251, 84)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   6 24.33    1 15.3   0.832   1.507   111   15.3     42.6  75.8  19:35 (  0, 56)  
Mar. 11   6 42.46    2 20.9   0.949   1.584   109   15.9     37.6  77.2  19:27 (  1, 57)

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

 Image: 2000 Feb. 12
Rapidly fading now. It may be brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  4   5  8.39   13  8.8   1.268   1.657    93   15.8     35.4  99.4  19:21 ( 37, 64)  
Mar. 11   5 25.14   12 29.9   1.345   1.680    90   16.2     35.5  98.6  19:27 ( 43, 61)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   6 50.22   27 46.1   3.148   3.709   117   15.9      0.7 116.0  20:00 (  0, 83)  
Mar. 11   6 51.07   27 43.1   3.235   3.702   110   15.9      2.6 101.9  19:33 (  0, 83)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   9 38.24  -22 12.7   4.010   4.856   145   15.9     14.2 278.1  22:47 (  0, 33)  
Mar. 11   9 31.47  -21 55.7   4.096   4.918   142   16.0     13.1 282.4  22:12 (  0, 33)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  12 46.64  -12 59.1   2.637   3.512   147   16.0     31.6 293.4   2:00 (  0, 42)  
Mar. 11  12 32.57  -11 27.0   2.643   3.581   157   16.1     32.7 294.6   1:18 (  0, 43)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   2 21.52   56 30.8   4.914   4.757    75   16.2     11.2 168.6  19:21 (138, 46)  
Mar. 11   2 23.74   55 18.2   4.967   4.709    69   16.2     10.3 162.2  19:27 (136, 42)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  10 17.71   36 16.8   4.018   4.891   148   16.4      8.7 315.0  23:26 (180, 89)  
Mar. 11  10 14.29   36 56.0   4.092   4.921   142   16.5      7.5 312.1  22:55 (180, 88)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  17  4.40  -18 10.9   9.923   9.920    86   16.5      2.5  80.2   5:01 (338, 34)  
Mar. 11  17  5.42  -18  7.6   9.818   9.932    93   16.4      1.8  73.9   4:52 (343, 35)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  12  9.93    7 40.6   1.132   2.099   162   16.5      9.3 323.3   1:23 (  0, 63)  
Mar. 11  12  6.89    8 33.0   1.114   2.097   168   16.4     10.3 316.0   0:52 (  0, 64)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   3 25.66   32 40.9   1.743   1.753    74   16.6     37.7  68.5  19:21 ( 98, 56)  
Mar. 11   3 45.38   34 10.4   1.830   1.786    71   16.9     37.3  71.3  19:27 (102, 54)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   9 38.44    3 47.6   2.157   3.105   159   16.6     11.8 304.5  22:47 (  0, 59)  
Mar. 11   9 34.32    4 33.2   2.233   3.146   152   16.7     10.0 308.9  22:16 (  0, 60)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  10 42.98   29 44.7   1.696   2.634   156   16.7     61.7 282.8  23:49 (  0, 85)  
Mar. 11  10 11.68   30 54.7   1.773   2.666   147   16.9     55.4 277.3  22:51 (  0, 86)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   7 54.27   21  0.6   1.893   2.668   132   16.9      3.6 181.0  21:04 (  0, 76)  
Mar. 11   7 54.88   20 34.5   1.986   2.693   126   17.1      4.6 146.6  20:37 (  0, 76)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   7  2.33   34 44.9   0.997   1.710   118   17.3     24.7 129.5  20:12 (  0, 90)  
Mar. 11   7 13.76   32 54.4   1.050   1.719   114   17.5     26.7 126.2  19:56 (  0, 88)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  17 26.58   19  5.4   6.369   6.375    85   17.4      9.8  30.7   5:01 (300, 63)  
Mar. 11  17 28.79   20  5.0   6.322   6.409    90   17.4      9.5  24.6   4:52 (305, 67)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   5 13.33   31 20.8   1.769   2.119    96   17.4     26.2 112.7  19:21 ( 77, 77)  
Mar. 11   5 26.59   30 11.8   1.875   2.152    91   17.7     26.4 111.1  19:27 ( 79, 73)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   5 18.64   21 52.4   2.125   2.448    96   17.5     16.9  76.3  19:21 ( 45, 73)  
Mar. 11   5 27.25   22 18.7   2.246   2.483    91   17.7     18.1  78.6  19:27 ( 58, 69)

* (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)  
Mar.  4   9 43.45    0 15.4  12.410  13.346   159   17.5      3.3 285.9  22:52 (  0, 55)  
Mar. 11   9 42.00    0 22.0  12.445  13.344   153   17.5      3.1 287.9  22:23 (  0, 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)  
Mar.  4   9 29.69    0 32.2   2.162   3.097   156   17.6      7.9 272.4  22:38 (  0, 56)  
Mar. 11   9 26.40    0 35.4   2.213   3.114   149   17.7      6.2 275.2  22:08 (  0, 56)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   6 18.14   16 18.2   2.911   3.388   110   17.6      6.8 102.0  19:28 (  0, 71)  
Mar. 11   6 21.78   16  8.7   3.039   3.424   104   17.8      8.4  99.0  19:27 ( 17, 70)

* 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)  
Mar.  4   8 56.49    9 38.2   2.211   3.105   149   17.6      7.9 292.3  22:05 (  0, 65)  
Mar. 11   8 53.48    9 58.3   2.243   3.085   141   17.6      6.0 297.1  21:35 (  0, 65)

* 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)  
Mar.  4  21 12.15   71 36.7   2.281   2.324    80   18.3     26.9   8.2   5:01 (203, 36)  
Mar. 11  21 17.67   74 48.5   2.317   2.370    80   18.8     28.3   5.9   4:52 (199, 37)

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