Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Aug. 12: South)

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 Updated on August 13, 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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* 2P/Encke
It will brighten rapidly in the morning low sky until mid August. It is not observable after perihelion passage. It was 10.5-11.0 mag visually around Aug. 1, 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   7 15.32   28 54.4   1.360   0.762    33   11.1     99.4 100.4   5:18 (234, -1)  
Aug. 19   8  9.18   25 53.3   1.315   0.635    27    9.8    111.9 107.0   5:11 (241, -5)

* 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)  
Aug. 12   6 48.66  -39 27.8   2.377   2.170    65   10.7     41.4 102.3   5:18 (295, 41)  
Aug. 19   7 13.70  -40 26.2   2.309   2.091    64   10.5     42.5 101.1   5:11 (296, 41)

* (4486) Mithra
Near-earth asteroid at the peak now. Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   9 12.40  -44 42.0   0.052   0.988    59   13.8    593.2 199.8   5:18 (311, 18)  
Aug. 19  23 44.07  -57 49.4   0.066   1.056   130   11.6    375.1 332.1   2:01 (  0, 66)

* (433) Eros
Bright Amor asteroid. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  19 13.93  -22 10.2   0.843   1.783   147   13.0     17.1 293.0  21:48 (180, 77)  
Aug. 19  19  7.34  -21 23.7   0.888   1.782   139   13.2     12.3 302.1  21:14 (180, 76)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
It will be 13-14 mag from August to November. But the altitude keeps lower than 20 deg until late August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  20 12.27  -37 15.9   1.585   2.525   152   13.3     10.3 289.3  22:46 (  0, 88)  
Aug. 19  20  7.10  -36 46.9   1.602   2.506   146   13.2      9.3 301.4  22:13 (  0, 88)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
It is extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere. The altitude will be higher than 10 deg after September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  21 18.56  -47 40.8   3.277   4.165   147   13.3     18.7 294.8  23:52 (  0, 77)  
Aug. 19  21  7.30  -46 40.6   3.334   4.200   144   13.4     18.3 300.3  23:13 (  0, 78)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be observable in good condition at the same magnitude until October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  18 25.14   61 19.7   2.945   3.206    95   13.4     34.0 241.7  20:58 (180, -6)  
Aug. 19  17 58.76   59 10.0   2.951   3.185    93   13.4     33.2 232.2  20:04 (180, -4)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 24 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)  
Aug. 12  16 37.15  -30  9.6   5.579   6.035   112   13.6      1.7  18.7  19:12 (180, 85)  
Aug. 19  16 37.74  -29 58.8   5.681   6.033   105   13.6      2.2  48.5  18:56 (155, 84)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 31
It is only observable in the Southern Hemisphere until the end of 2001. Recently it is brighter than this ephemeris, around 13.0 mag 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   7 45.54  -71 45.2   3.144   3.276    88   13.6     14.6  67.5   5:18 (338, 37)  
Aug. 19   8  4.02  -71  9.2   3.197   3.284    85   13.7     12.6  69.0   5:11 (337, 37)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Aug. 4
The nucleus has broken and the comet vanished. No observations reported since Aug. 3 when it was 10 mag. The current brightness is quite uncertain. Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  12 33.56   -5 40.2   0.936   0.833    50   13.7     57.5 163.6  18:52 (106, 31)  
Aug. 19  12 38.97  -10 39.3   1.188   0.894    47   14.6     34.1 166.4  18:56 ( 97, 29)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 30
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 mag until late 2000. Very diffused. It is around 13.0 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   1 52.26    9 31.6   3.845   4.300   110   13.8      8.7 156.4   4:29 (180, 45)  
Aug. 19   1 53.56    8 32.6   3.760   4.313   116   13.7      9.1 167.1   4:03 (180, 46)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )

 Image: 1997 Apr. 5
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)  
Aug. 12   6 32.19  -71 41.8  11.617  11.687    91   14.0      5.4 139.4   5:18 (339, 43)  
Aug. 19   6 37.21  -72 11.6  11.675  11.734    90   14.0      5.4 144.5   5:11 (340, 44)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It is around 13.5 mag visually. It will be observable as 13.5 mag under good condition from October to January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   3 27.00   49 54.4   3.831   3.767    78   14.2      5.2 286.3   5:18 (187,  4)  
Aug. 19   3 22.60   50  3.4   3.675   3.730    85   14.0      7.3 278.6   5:11 (183,  5)

* (4179) Toutatis
Approaching to the earth. It will reach to 14.2 mag in late September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  20 53.28  -17 45.2   0.428   1.438   171   14.7     25.1 251.5  23:26 (180, 73)  
Aug. 19  20 40.51  -18 44.1   0.379   1.376   161   14.7     29.3 252.4  22:46 (180, 74)

* (2100) Ra-Shalom
Approaching to the earth. It will reach to 13.5 mag in September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   0 28.85   32  4.2   0.261   1.152   116   15.4     45.1 228.6   3:07 (180, 23)  
Aug. 19   0  7.07   27 40.3   0.232   1.170   128   14.9     66.5 225.8   2:18 (180, 27)

* (1362) Griqua
Unusual asteroid. It reaches to 14.2 mag in November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   3 41.48   -8 18.4   1.787   2.037    88   15.3     26.2  99.5   5:18 (211, 60)  
Aug. 19   3 53.30   -8 51.9   1.728   2.036    92   15.2     24.7 102.3   5:11 (208, 61)

* 2000 LC16
New near-earth asteroid. It will be at the peak of 15 mag in mid August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  22 37.92    0 47.8   0.235   1.232   156   15.3     46.9  32.0   1:15 (180, 54)  
Aug. 19  22 48.77    5 14.0   0.235   1.232   157   15.3     41.9  30.9   0:59 (180, 50)

* 2000 NX3
New near-earth asteroid. It will be 15.2 mag until mid September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  22 53.70  -20 53.2   0.224   1.225   158   15.4     47.2  99.0   1:30 (180, 76)  
Aug. 19  23 17.50  -21 36.6   0.211   1.210   158   15.3     48.3  95.9   1:27 (180, 77)

* 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)  
Aug. 12  15 12.01   26 43.4   7.266   7.158    79   15.4      9.9 183.7  18:52 (164, 26)  
Aug. 19  15 11.91   25 34.5   7.356   7.163    75   15.4      9.8 178.4  18:56 (156, 25)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable as 16 mag until late October. It is 14.5-15.0 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  17 14.94   10 49.2   1.958   2.522   112   15.5     11.7 135.3  19:50 (180, 44)  
Aug. 19  17 19.43    9 48.7   1.995   2.503   108   15.5     14.0 130.0  19:27 (180, 45)

* 75P/Kohoutek
It reached to 13 mag at return in 1987, however, it was not observed at return in 1994. The ephemeris says it will reach to 13.7 mag in November, but it may be much fainter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   1 33.81   17 56.9   1.907   2.460   111   15.8     11.5  55.0   4:11 (180, 37)  
Aug. 19   1 37.99   18 40.8   1.797   2.424   116   15.6      9.6  51.8   3:48 (180, 36)

* P/1991 T1 ( Shoemaker-Levy 5 )
Unrecovered periodic comet in first return. It will locate overhead as 15.4 mag in October. However, it must be much fainter because not yet recovered. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   4  1.90   21 22.2   1.957   1.989    76   15.9     29.8  67.8   5:18 (202, 30)  
Aug. 19   4 15.56   22 39.2   1.891   1.989    80   15.9     28.8  67.9   5:11 (200, 30)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
It will be observable in good condition as 15 mag from autumn to winter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   3 31.44   41  0.1   6.065   5.966    79   16.2      9.1  24.4   5:18 (190, 13)  
Aug. 19   3 33.50   41 58.4   5.934   5.937    85   16.1      8.8  18.7   5:11 (186, 13)

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable as 17 mag even in 2001 spring because it is very far. It is 14.5 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  15 47.98   13 45.6   6.390   6.490    91   16.2      3.2 267.4  18:52 (171, 41)  
Aug. 19  15 46.72   13 43.6   6.508   6.503    85   16.2      2.1 259.1  18:56 (160, 39)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2
In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps 16 mag and 25 deg high until late August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  16 11.07  -25  7.1   1.962   2.442   105   16.3      8.5  75.7  18:52 (173, 80)  
Aug. 19  16 15.98  -24 54.2   2.015   2.410   100   16.3     10.9  81.7  18:56 (143, 78)

* 110P/Hartley 3
It will reach to 14 mag and locate overhead in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   3 33.77   30 41.6   2.772   2.803    81   16.6     17.0  68.8   5:18 (192, 23)  
Aug. 19   3 42.14   31 23.2   2.668   2.785    85   16.5     15.9  68.6   5:11 (189, 23)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

 Image: 1999 June 12
It keeps over 30 deg high until end of August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  16 40.98  -16 50.9   9.787  10.200   111   16.5      0.3 197.8  19:16 (180, 72)  
Aug. 19  16 41.09  -16 53.5   9.909  10.212   104   16.5      0.7 127.6  18:56 (174, 72)

* 9P/Tempel 1
It was 15.8 mag on July 29 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   0 41.39  -12 25.7   1.687   2.492   133   16.5      8.6 223.3   3:19 (180, 67)  
Aug. 19   0 37.91  -13 10.9   1.671   2.532   140   16.7     10.9 232.5   2:48 (180, 68)

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )
It is observable around 17.0 mag until September when it becomes low. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  15 51.57    3 58.4   5.361   5.536    94   16.9      8.9 247.0  18:52 (170, 51)  
Aug. 19  15 48.10    3 33.3   5.489   5.542    87   16.9      7.6 241.3  18:56 (157, 49)

* 17P/Holmes
It has been already observed at this return, but no observations reported recently. It will be 17 mag at good position until November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   2 48.55   34 43.5   2.044   2.272    89   16.9     20.7  43.7   5:18 (182, 20)  
Aug. 19   2 56.25   36 26.9   1.986   2.287    93   16.9     19.2  40.5   5:06 (180, 19)

* 14P/Wolf
It was very faint as 19.2 mag on Aug. 4 by Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, Japan. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  22 41.82   25 26.5   1.687   2.515   135   17.1      5.4 234.7   1:20 (180, 30)  
Aug. 19  22 39.21   24 55.3   1.635   2.502   140   17.0      8.1 224.3   0:50 (180, 30)

* D/1984 W1 ( Shoemaker 2 )
Unrecovered periodic comet in return. It was missed in the last return. Appearing at dawn, however, already fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   5 47.73   22 54.7   1.836   1.459    52   17.3     41.0  71.7   5:18 (225, 17)  
Aug. 19   6  7.23   24 19.5   1.832   1.496    54   17.4     39.2  72.8   5:11 (223, 16)

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 13
It will be at peak of 17 mag in September and October, but the altitude is lower than 40 deg. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   3 32.77  -10 29.3   5.243   5.367    91   17.4     12.2 172.3   5:18 (209, 63)  
Aug. 19   3 33.26  -11 56.9   5.137   5.366    97   17.4     12.9 178.2   5:11 (200, 66)

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

 Image: 1999 May 31
Fading gradually. It keeps 17-18 mag at good position until October. No observations reported since 1999 August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12  19 32.14   40  9.7   5.814   6.362   118   17.4      9.2 269.3  22:06 (180, 15)  
Aug. 19  19 26.75   40  5.3   5.865   6.389   117   17.4      8.5 262.7  21:33 (180, 15)

* C/2000 O1 ( Koehn )
New comet. It keeps 17.5 mag until late October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 12   0 44.62   40 53.6   5.694   6.084   107   17.6     11.7 277.1   3:22 (180, 14)  
Aug. 19   0 37.05   41  0.3   5.607   6.095   114   17.6     12.9 272.0   2:47 (180, 14)

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.