Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Sept. 2: South)

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Updated on September 2, 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


Not observable. In the southern hemisphere, it will appear at dusk in October as 10 mag. It will be in the SOHO's real time web image.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  10  3.12   14 21.1   1.318   0.395    12    5.5    137.1 118.2   4:54 (261,-13)  
Sept. 9  11  1.65    6  5.7   1.342   0.339     2    4.6    145.4 120.9   4:44 (274,-17)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   8  6.79  -42  3.1   2.198   1.936    61   10.1     43.9  97.7   4:54 (299, 39)  
Sept. 9   8 34.42  -42 36.6   2.154   1.859    59    9.9     44.1  95.4   4:44 (300, 37)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


It keeps brighter than 13.5 mag until December, and the altitude will be higher slowly to 30 deg.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  20  0.65  -35 22.1   1.666   2.471   133   13.1      7.7 337.1  21:12 (  0, 90)  
Sept. 9  19 59.73  -34 29.3   1.711   2.454   127   13.1      7.9 358.5  20:44 (180, 89)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 30
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 14 mag until late 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2   1 54.10    6 15.9   3.613   4.341   130   13.2     10.6 184.7   3:09 (180, 49)  
Sept. 9   1 53.37    4 59.1   3.554   4.356   138   13.1     11.5 191.2   2:41 (180, 50)  

* 2000 QW7


New near-earth asteroid. It will fade out soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  23 58.16   -4 15.2   0.032   1.039   161   13.1    404.6  89.8   1:04 (180, 59)  
Sept. 9   2 29.29   -3 12.2   0.042   1.035   130   14.6    220.3  87.3   3:13 (180, 58)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It will be observable as 12 mag under good condition from October to December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2   3  8.26   50  8.7   3.363   3.659    98   13.4     12.7 267.5   4:23 (180,  5)  
Sept. 9   2 57.94   49 59.6   3.211   3.624   106   13.2     15.9 262.5   3:45 (180,  5)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be observable in good condition as 13.5 mag until October. 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)  
Sept. 2  17 21.14   53 49.1   3.001   3.147    88   13.4     30.4 216.6  19:05 (175,  1)  
Sept. 9  17  8.75   50 56.0   3.042   3.129    85   13.4     28.7 210.2  19:10 (168,  3)  

* (4486) Mithra


Near-earth asteroid. It will fade out soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  22 40.07  -27 58.1   0.199   1.198   159   13.4     47.0 344.5  23:51 (180, 83)  
Sept. 9  22 35.67  -23 55.5   0.276   1.269   159   14.2     27.3 348.9  23:19 (180, 79)  

* (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)  
Sept. 2  23  5.93   11 46.6   0.192   1.191   159   13.8    113.9 219.2   0:23 (180, 43)  
Sept. 9  22 32.03    0 56.5   0.191   1.195   168   13.5    117.4 216.8  23:13 (180, 55)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   8 32.81  -70 23.2   3.301   3.305    81   13.6      8.9  77.4   4:54 (336, 38)  
Sept. 9   8 43.75  -70 14.0   3.350   3.317    79   13.6      7.2  85.1   4:44 (336, 39)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

Image: 1998 Dec. 5
Fading now. In the northern hemisphere, it will be higher than 20 deg only in October and November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  20 48.31  -44 15.2   3.493   4.272   135   13.6     16.8 312.0  21:59 (  0, 81)  
Sept. 9  20 40.90  -42 54.1   3.593   4.309   129   13.7     15.8 318.4  21:25 (  0, 82)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
It will not be observable soon. Now it is not in outburst.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  16 40.69  -29 40.7   5.894   6.029    92   13.7      4.0  73.7  19:05 (104, 74)  
Sept. 9  16 43.00  -29 33.6   6.002   6.026    86   13.7      4.9  79.0  19:10 ( 97, 68)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   6 45.83  -73 17.0  11.797  11.828    89   14.1      5.4 154.9   4:54 (343, 45)  
Sept. 9   6 49.26  -73 52.1  11.859  11.875    88   14.1      5.4 160.3   4:44 (344, 46)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3


It may keep the brightness of the outburst in the last return and reach to 6 mag. However, it locates extremely low, only 8 deg at best from November to December in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  10 54.84   15 15.0   3.073   2.078     7   14.8     30.8 113.6  19:05 ( 95,-20)  
Sept. 9  11  8.70   13 46.0   3.006   2.015     8   14.5     32.1 114.0   4:44 (268,-22)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   1 43.36   19 52.8   1.592   2.354   128   15.2      5.3  36.5   2:58 (180, 35)  
Sept. 9   1 44.31   20 19.0   1.499   2.319   134   15.0      3.3  11.6   2:31 (180, 35)  

* 71P/Clark


It is not observable at all until 2001 summer when it becomes fainter than 19 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  13  7.53   -4 20.6   2.475   1.783    37   15.5     36.2 118.1  19:05 ( 97, 18)  
Sept. 9  13 22.78   -6 20.4   2.481   1.753    34   15.3     37.3 117.4  19:10 ( 93, 16)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2  15 13.07   23 19.8   7.530   7.175    65   15.4      9.6 168.3  19:05 (141, 20)  
Sept. 9  15 14.25   22 14.6   7.613   7.181    61   15.5      9.6 163.5  19:10 (134, 17)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2  17 31.84    7 36.8   2.082   2.471   100   15.4     18.3 122.0  19:05 (172, 47)  
Sept. 9  17 39.67    6 28.6   2.130   2.458    96   15.5     20.3 118.7  19:10 (163, 47)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   4 41.61   25  5.4   1.762   1.993    87   15.7     26.2  67.2   4:54 (196, 28)  
Sept. 9   4 53.75   26 15.3   1.700   1.997    91   15.7     24.7  66.4   4:44 (194, 27)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   3 35.82   43 56.6   5.674   5.879    96   16.0      8.5   5.1   4:50 (180, 11)  
Sept. 9   3 35.94   44 56.0   5.548   5.851   102   15.9      8.5 357.4   4:23 (180, 10)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


Although brightening now, it will be lower than 20 deg in October and than 15 deg in mid November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  16 29.55  -24 38.0   2.124   2.347    89   16.2     15.5  87.1  19:05 (114, 69)  
Sept. 9  16 38.06  -24 33.2   2.179   2.316    84   16.2     17.6  88.2  19:10 (107, 65)  

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable as 17 mag even in 2001 spring because it is very far.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  15 45.77   13 35.9   6.739   6.528    73   16.3      0.7 175.8  19:05 (142, 33)  
Sept. 9  15 46.02   13 31.2   6.848   6.541    68   16.3      1.2 124.0  19:10 (135, 28)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
It will not be observable soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  16 42.26  -17  0.6  10.160  10.237    91   16.6      1.9 107.9  19:05 (134, 66)  
Sept. 9  16 43.31  -17  5.1  10.288  10.250    85   16.6      2.6 105.1  19:10 (122, 61)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   3  8.42   39 44.2   1.876   2.322   103   16.9     15.7  30.3   4:23 (180, 15)  
Sept. 9   3 12.51   41 16.9   1.825   2.340   107   16.8     14.0  22.6   3:59 (180, 14)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   0 27.33  -14 43.8   1.668   2.613   154   17.0     14.5 243.9   1:43 (180, 70)  
Sept. 9   0 20.73  -15 25.9   1.684   2.653   160   17.2     15.3 248.4   1:08 (180, 70)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


It will not be observable soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  15 43.26    2 41.3   5.743   5.555    74   17.1      5.3 225.2  19:05 (134, 42)  
Sept. 9  15 41.80    2 15.2   5.866   5.562    67   17.2      4.5 214.1  19:10 (125, 37)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   3 32.35  -15  8.1   4.942   5.365   109   17.3     14.5 189.2   4:47 (180, 70)  
Sept. 9   3 30.87  -16 50.3   4.856   5.366   115   17.2     15.3 194.3   4:18 (180, 72)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach


Although it is in the evening low sky as 17 mag in 2000 autumn, it will be observable again as 16.5 mag in 2001 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2  20  6.22  -15 22.5   2.011   2.861   140   17.4      6.2 232.1  21:18 (180, 70)  
Sept. 9  20  4.41  -15 48.0   2.052   2.837   133   17.4      4.2 216.6  20:49 (180, 71)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2  19 17.64   39 39.0   5.991   6.445   112   17.5      7.0 248.3  20:29 (180, 15)  
Sept. 9  19 14.08   39 19.1   6.064   6.473   109   17.5      6.2 240.0  19:58 (180, 16)  

* 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)  
Sept. 2   0 19.85   40 50.0   5.463   6.119   126   17.6     15.0 262.5   1:35 (180, 14)  
Sept. 9   0 10.49   40 31.3   5.410   6.132   132   17.5     15.8 257.9   0:58 (180, 14)  

* P/1993 X1 ( Kushida-Muramatsu )


Unrecovered periodic comet in first return. It will locate high as 16.7 mag in November and December. 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)  
Sept. 2   2 49.76   13 29.3   2.453   3.030   115   17.9      4.4  80.3   4:04 (180, 42)  
Sept. 9   2 51.36   13 32.4   2.357   3.016   122   17.7      2.3  87.0   3:38 (180, 41)  

* 24P/Schaumasse


It will be observable as 9-10 mag from 2001 March to June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 2   2 52.82    3 33.4   2.301   2.905   117   18.1      4.3 115.6   4:07 (180, 51)  
Sept. 9   2 54.12    3 18.0   2.168   2.851   123   17.8      3.0 147.0   3:41 (180, 52)  

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