Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Mar. 11: North)

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 Updated on May 2, 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. 11  21  4.20  -21 55.9   2.298   1.647    38   12.7     40.2  79.3   4:52 (297,  0)  
Mar. 18  21 23.65  -21  0.7   2.290   1.676    41   12.9     38.9  78.0   4:42 (296,  0)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
Only southern people can observe it. Recently it was observed as 12 mag. 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. 11  22 15.06  -55 44.7   4.062   3.569    53   13.0     14.5  46.1   4:52 (320,-29)  
Mar. 18  22 23.30  -54 37.0   4.036   3.587    56   13.0     13.4  46.6   4:42 (319,-28)

* 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. 11   1 32.35   25 44.9   3.030   2.393    42   13.2      2.0 100.4  19:27 (106, 24)  
Mar. 18   1 33.64   25 45.7   3.027   2.302    36   13.0      3.0  79.5  19:34 (110, 17)

* 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. 11   4 32.72  -73 10.5  10.712  10.631    82   13.4      4.9   9.2  19:27 ( 10,-20)  
Mar. 18   4 34.44  -72 37.5  10.747  10.680    83   13.4      4.8  16.7  19:34 ( 12,-21)

* 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. 11  17 15.13  -31 29.1   5.995   6.083    90   13.8      4.1 109.3   4:52 (345, 22)  
Mar. 18  17 16.98  -31 38.4   5.881   6.081    96   13.7      3.1 114.5   4:42 (348, 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. 11   1 43.19  -34 27.1   4.495   3.847    44   14.1     13.0  66.2  19:27 ( 54, -9)  
Mar. 18   1 50.18  -33 51.5   4.440   3.774    43   14.0     13.8  69.3  19:34 ( 58,-13)

* 63P/Wild 1

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
It is 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11  14 12.40  -25 17.6   1.310   2.094   130   14.2     16.2 192.1   2:57 (  0, 30)  
Mar. 18  14  9.75  -27  4.0   1.282   2.119   136   14.3     16.0 204.8   2:27 (  0, 28)

* 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. 11  20 57.38  -48 58.6   3.904   3.435    55   14.3     20.8 123.9   4:52 (319,-16)  
Mar. 18  21  9.98  -50 22.9   3.799   3.415    60   14.2     21.6 125.6   4:42 (321,-16)

* 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. 11  23 33.71   12 54.5   5.159   4.217    16   14.3     17.7  87.5  19:27 (111, -7)  
Mar. 18  23 42.15   13  0.6   5.170   4.212    14   14.3     17.6  86.8   4:42 (248, -8)

* 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. 11  12 55.78   42 15.2   3.190   3.970   136   14.8     27.4 279.3   1:41 (180, 83)  
Mar. 18  12 38.53   42 35.8   3.214   4.000   137   14.9     27.4 273.4   0:57 (180, 82)

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels
Not observable at all in this return. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11  23 50.34    3 39.4   2.405   1.434     9   15.1     49.4  64.7  19:27 (101, -9)  
Mar. 18   0 11.55    6  8.1   2.382   1.406     8   14.8     50.6  65.0  19:34 (105,-10)

* 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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11   5 55.18   30 21.1   1.760   2.140    98   15.0     28.7 271.8  19:27 ( 70, 78)  
Mar. 18   5 42.13   30 23.8   1.958   2.172    88   15.4     20.0 270.3  19:34 ( 84, 69)

* 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. 11  16 37.34   36 48.6   6.840   7.112   101   15.2      4.3 317.7   4:52 (251, 84)  
Mar. 18  16 35.35   37 10.3   6.778   7.111   105   15.2      5.0 307.6   4:42 (223, 87)

* 141P/Machholz 2

 Image: 2000 Jan. 22
It was diffused in mid February. No observations reported after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11   6 42.46    2 20.9   0.949   1.584   109   15.9     37.6  77.2  19:27 (  1, 57)  
Mar. 18   6 58.80    3 12.9   1.072   1.660   106   16.5     34.1  78.9  19:34 (  9, 58)

* 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. 11   6 51.07   27 43.1   3.235   3.702   110   15.9      2.6 101.9  19:33 (  0, 83)  
Mar. 18   6 52.91   27 38.6   3.327   3.696   103   16.0      4.5  99.7  19:34 ( 39, 81)

* 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. 11   9 31.47  -21 55.7   4.096   4.918   142   16.0     13.1 282.4  22:12 (  0, 33)  
Mar. 18   9 25.44  -21 34.0   4.196   4.979   137   16.1     11.7 286.7  21:39 (  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. 11  12 32.57  -11 27.0   2.643   3.581   157   16.1     32.7 294.6   1:18 (  0, 43)  
Mar. 18  12 18.49   -9 48.9   2.672   3.650   167   16.2     32.7 295.8   0:37 (  0, 45)

* 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. 11   5 25.14   12 29.9   1.345   1.680    90   16.2     35.5  98.6  19:27 ( 43, 61)  
Mar. 18   5 41.89   11 53.3   1.424   1.706    87   16.6     35.5  98.2  19:34 ( 49, 58)

* 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. 11   2 23.74   55 18.2   4.967   4.709    69   16.2     10.3 162.2  19:27 (136, 42)  
Mar. 18   2 26.62   54 13.3   5.016   4.662    63   16.2      9.6 155.7  19:34 (135, 37)

* 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. 11  17  5.42  -18  7.6   9.818   9.932    93   16.4      1.8  73.9   4:52 (343, 35)  
Mar. 18  17  6.11  -18  3.9   9.714   9.944   100   16.4      1.2  61.2   4:42 (348, 36)

* P/2000 C1 ( Hergenrother )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
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. 11  12  6.89    8 33.0   1.114   2.097   168   16.4     10.3 316.0   0:52 (  0, 64)  
Mar. 18  12  3.29    9 23.2   1.107   2.096   171   16.4     10.4 310.7   0:21 (  0, 64)

* 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. 11  10 14.29   36 56.0   4.092   4.921   142   16.5      7.5 312.1  22:55 (180, 88)  
Mar. 18  10 11.26   37 27.1   4.178   4.951   136   16.6      6.1 309.3  22:25 (180, 88)

* 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. 11   9 34.32    4 33.2   2.233   3.146   152   16.7     10.0 308.9  22:16 (  0, 60)  
Mar. 18   9 31.15    5 15.4   2.321   3.186   144   16.9      8.1 315.1  21:45 (  0, 60)

* 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. 11   3 45.38   34 10.4   1.830   1.786    71   16.9     37.3  71.3  19:27 (102, 54)  
Mar. 18   4  5.50   35 26.5   1.919   1.822    69   17.1     36.8  74.1  19:34 (105, 51)

* 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. 11  10 11.68   30 54.7   1.773   2.666   147   16.9     55.4 277.3  22:51 (  0, 86)  
Mar. 18   9 43.68   31 22.6   1.884   2.699   137   17.0     47.5 272.0  21:56 (  0, 86)

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

 Image: 1999 Dec. 29
Although it had been 16 mag for a while, it is fading out rapidly now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11   7 54.88   20 34.5   1.986   2.693   126   17.1      4.6 146.6  20:37 (  0, 76)  
Mar. 18   7 56.74   20  7.3   2.085   2.718   119   17.3      6.3 128.9  20:11 (  0, 75)

* 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. 11  17 28.79   20  5.0   6.322   6.409    90   17.4      9.5  24.6   4:52 (305, 67)  
Mar. 18  17 30.50   21  5.9   6.276   6.444    95   17.4      9.2  18.2   4:42 (310, 70)

* 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. 11   7 13.76   32 54.4   1.050   1.719   114   17.5     26.7 126.2  19:56 (  0, 88)  
Mar. 18   7 26.17   31  3.9   1.108   1.731   110   17.6     28.3 123.7  19:41 (  0, 86)

* (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. 11   9 42.00    0 22.0  12.445  13.344   153   17.5      3.1 287.9  22:23 (  0, 55)  
Mar. 18   9 40.68    0 28.8  12.493  13.341   147   17.5      2.8 290.0  21:55 (  0, 55)

* 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. 11   8 53.48    9 58.3   2.243   3.085   141   17.6      6.0 297.1  21:35 (  0, 65)  
Mar. 18   8 51.46   10 16.2   2.286   3.064   134   17.7      3.9 306.7  21:05 (  0, 65)

* 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. 11   9 26.40    0 35.4   2.213   3.114   149   17.7      6.2 275.2  22:08 (  0, 56)  
Mar. 18   9 23.99    0 39.6   2.277   3.130   143   17.7      4.2 278.5  21:38 (  0, 56)

* 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. 11   5 27.25   22 18.7   2.246   2.483    91   17.7     18.1  78.6  19:27 ( 58, 69)  
Mar. 18   5 36.47   22 41.8   2.367   2.518    86   17.9     19.0  80.7  19:34 ( 68, 65)

* 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. 11   5 26.59   30 11.8   1.875   2.152    91   17.7     26.4 111.1  19:27 ( 79, 73)  
Mar. 18   5 39.91   29  6.7   1.983   2.186    87   18.0     26.5 109.8  19:34 ( 81, 68)

* 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. 11   6 21.78   16  8.7   3.039   3.424   104   17.8      8.4  99.0  19:27 ( 17, 70)  
Mar. 18   6 26.16   15 59.6   3.170   3.461    98   17.9      9.8  97.5  19:34 ( 35, 68)

* 50P/Arend

 Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Fading very gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11   7 15.21   41 21.3   2.127   2.672   112   17.8     12.9 151.1  19:57 (180, 84)  
Mar. 18   7 19.66   40  3.1   2.241   2.709   107   17.9     13.7 143.3  19:34 (180, 85)

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 11
Rapidly fading, but it is observed as 13 mag visually still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 11  21 17.67   74 48.5   2.317   2.370    80   18.8     28.3   5.9   4:52 (199, 37)  
Mar. 18  21 22.45   78 10.5   2.355   2.418    81   19.4     29.5   3.5   4:42 (194, 37)

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