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

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Updated on May 3, 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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* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July, but it is a few mag fainter actually. Not observable now. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn in late May as 10 mag, then keeps observable until early August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates very low between late May and mid June, however, it locates high after late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22   1 46.46   27 18.0   2.788   1.838    15   11.9      6.9  50.2   5:04 (252,-23)  
Apr. 29   1 49.43   27 52.3   2.685   1.738    15   11.5      7.9  47.7   5:09 (248,-18)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22  22 52.05  -50 36.9   3.823   3.692    74   13.0      6.6  47.9   5:04 (309, 47)  
Apr. 29  22 55.18  -50  9.3   3.765   3.715    79   13.0      5.0  46.6   5:09 (309, 51)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22   2 33.07  -31 41.7   4.047   3.406    44   13.4     18.2  82.8  18:52 ( 61, 14)  
Apr. 29   2 43.22  -31 27.7   3.949   3.331    46   13.2     19.2  85.2  18:45 ( 60, 12)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 23 deg at best in the Northern Hemisphere. Now it is not in outburst.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  17 17.07  -32 14.6   5.367   6.070   130   13.5      2.8 256.4   3:16 (180, 87)  
Apr. 29  17 15.27  -32 18.6   5.285   6.068   137   13.5      3.8 263.2   2:47 (180, 87)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22   4 53.62  -70 22.5  10.917  10.924    87   13.6      4.7  51.6  18:52 ( 23, 43)  
Apr. 29   4 58.95  -70  3.4  10.951  10.972    88   13.6      4.7  58.1  18:45 ( 24, 41)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
It is only observable in the Southern Hemisphere until the end of 2001.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  22 25.52  -59 13.3   3.292   3.330    83   13.8     26.7 131.9   5:04 (323, 50)  
Apr. 29  22 44.64  -61 20.2   3.204   3.316    87   13.7     27.8 132.1   5:09 (327, 51)  

* 9P/Tempel 1


Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 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)  
Apr. 22  22 48.15  -15 56.2   2.224   1.845    55   13.9     31.7  74.5   5:04 (264, 37)  
Apr. 29  23  2.54  -14 58.0   2.204   1.882    58   14.1     30.1  74.4   5:09 (260, 40)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22   2  7.53   18  1.4   2.334   1.339     6   14.1     53.6  70.3  18:52 ( 99,-20)  
Apr. 29   2 32.57   20  1.1   2.340   1.342     5   14.2     53.4  72.2  18:45 (101,-20)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22   0 23.33   13 41.5   5.103   4.200    23   14.3     16.6  86.1   5:04 (253,  1)  
Apr. 29   0 31.21   13 48.9   5.064   4.201    27   14.3     16.3  86.5   5:09 (249,  5)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be 13 mag at good position in 2000 September. It was reported as 13.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  22 44.43   37 42.2   4.252   3.693    50   14.8     15.1   5.3   5:04 (220,  1)  
Apr. 29  22 44.93   39 31.3   4.151   3.656    54   14.7     16.1   0.8   5:09 (214,  4)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22  16 16.19   38 22.2   6.552   7.111   120   15.1      8.6 273.3   2:16 (180, 17)  
Apr. 29  16 10.87   38 22.7   6.530   7.112   121   15.1      9.2 267.7   1:43 (180, 17)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Image: 2000 Feb. 11
It will keep 20 deg high in the Northern Hemisphere until mid June, but it will fade out rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  13 37.60  -32 37.5   1.298   2.265   158   15.2     13.8 253.5  23:33 (180, 88)  
Apr. 29  13 30.60  -32 57.8   1.335   2.299   157   15.5     12.0 260.5  22:58 (180, 88)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
It will fade out gradually after this, but it can be observed as 17.5 mag in 2001 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  11 22.94   39 45.3   3.612   4.159   116   15.3     21.0 242.5  21:18 (180, 15)  
Apr. 29  11 12.56   38 33.5   3.736   4.192   110   15.4     19.2 236.1  20:40 (180, 17)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 2000 Jan. 15
It was reported as 13.5-14.0 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22   7 14.86   26 53.9   3.802   3.665    74   16.2     11.9  98.8  18:52 (156, 24)  
Apr. 29   7 21.30   26 40.2   3.893   3.659    69   16.2     13.0  99.1  18:45 (152, 23)  

* P/2000 G1 ( LINEAR )


New comet with a period of 5.4 years. It must be 12 mag and moving fast in March, when it was 0.1 AU from the earth. It will fade out soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  18  4.48    0  5.5   0.285   1.167   118   16.3     24.0 338.3   4:03 (180, 55)  
Apr. 29  17 59.10    2 18.6   0.318   1.217   124   17.1     21.2 318.7   3:31 (180, 53)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
No observations reported since 1999 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)  
Apr. 22  17  4.48  -17 39.0   9.265  10.004   135   16.3      2.4 289.5   3:04 (180, 73)  
Apr. 29  17  3.24  -17 33.3   9.201  10.016   142   16.3      2.9 286.2   2:35 (180, 73)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
It is fading out slowly now, but it will be too low to observe soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22   7  4.10    8 48.3   1.860   1.865    74   16.4     34.4  99.7  18:52 (144, 39)  
Apr. 29   7 19.99    8  6.2   1.953   1.901    71   16.5     34.0 100.4  18:45 (142, 39)  

* P/2000 B3 ( LINEAR )


It kept brightening even after perihelion passage and reached to 15.5 mag in mid April. But it began to fade out rapidly after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22   8 35.23   21 58.7   1.468   1.828    93   16.4     32.3 118.6  18:52 (175, 33)  
Apr. 29   8 49.47   20 10.4   1.551   1.854    90   16.9     32.5 118.3  18:45 (173, 35)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22   9  7.97  -19 24.5   4.856   5.283   109   16.7      4.4 319.4  19:04 (180, 74)  
Apr. 29   9  6.92  -19  2.4   5.009   5.344   104   16.8      3.3 334.7  18:45 (172, 74)  

* P/2000 C1 ( Hergenrother )

Image: 2000 Feb. 11
It was in fact a bit brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  11 50.51   11 15.0   1.238   2.110   140   16.7      1.2 192.1  21:46 (180, 44)  
Apr. 29  11 51.03   11  0.6   1.291   2.117   133   16.8      3.8 139.8  21:20 (180, 44)  

* 143P/Kowal-Mrkos


Recovered by LINEAR. It keeps 17 mag for a while, however, it will be lower. It may be fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  11 18.61   -2  3.1   1.751   2.593   138   16.9      3.6 338.3  21:15 (180, 57)  
Apr. 29  11 18.57   -1 43.0   1.800   2.584   131   16.9      2.7  26.0  20:47 (180, 57)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22  11 20.94   -2  8.7   3.175   3.992   139   16.9     20.6 300.9  21:16 (180, 57)  
Apr. 29  11 13.40   -0 59.7   3.333   4.059   130   17.1     17.3 302.0  20:41 (180, 56)  

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
It keeps 16 mag at good position until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  10  5.19   38 15.8   4.741   5.102   105   17.0      1.1 128.8  20:01 (180, 17)  
Apr. 29  10  6.06   38  8.7   4.869   5.133    99   17.0      2.4 123.1  19:35 (180, 17)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
Fading gradually. It keeps 17-18 mag at good position until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  20 37.23   25 25.6   6.114   5.959    76   17.2     12.0   2.7   5:04 (203, 26)  
Apr. 29  20 37.24   26 49.9   6.054   5.983    81   17.2     12.1 357.5   5:09 (195, 27)  

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
It is fading out not too rapidly now, but it will be too low to observe soon. It is 14 mag still now visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22   5 20.14   30 30.0   2.890   2.365    49   17.2      1.0 313.6  18:52 (136,  7)  
Apr. 29   5 20.20   30 35.4   3.048   2.410    42   17.5      1.2  43.4  18:45 (132,  4)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag at good position until August. It was bright as 16.4 mag on Apr. 15.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  17 55.25    2 26.7   4.942   5.510   119   17.4     14.4 291.1   3:54 (180, 53)  
Apr. 29  17 48.57    3  2.5   4.844   5.508   126   17.3     16.0 288.3   3:20 (180, 52)  

* 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)  
Apr. 22  17 31.02   26  5.3   6.117   6.619   115   17.4      8.2 343.6   3:30 (180, 29)  
Apr. 29  17 29.58   26 58.4   6.105   6.655   119   17.5      8.0 336.4   3:01 (180, 28)  

* (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)  
Apr. 22   9 36.81    0 58.4  12.897  13.328   113   17.6      0.8 320.8  19:33 (180, 54)  
Apr. 29   9 36.70    1  2.2  13.000  13.325   106   17.6      0.5 359.4  19:06 (180, 54)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 2000 Feb. 9
It was fading gradually after November, but now it is diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22   9 30.35    7 29.0   2.902   3.383   110   17.6      4.9  68.4  19:27 (180, 48)  
Apr. 29   9 32.90    7 39.0   3.036   3.422   103   17.8      6.3  80.3  19:02 (180, 47)  

* 1999 LD31


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)  
Apr. 22   8 25.67   28 53.0   2.709   2.884    89   18.0     15.0 245.5  18:52 (173, 26)  
Apr. 29   8 19.49   28  9.7   2.893   2.924    81   18.1     11.5 237.9  18:45 (166, 25)  

* 71P/Clark


It is not observable around the perihelion passage. In July when it will be lower than 20 deg, it reaches only to 16.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 22  10 29.18   22 15.6   1.860   2.494   117   18.1      5.1 213.1  20:25 (180, 33)  
Apr. 29  10 28.49   21 41.2   1.901   2.454   111   18.0      5.5 179.2  19:57 (180, 33)  

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