Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Oct. 7: South)

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Updated on October 10, 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 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)  
Oct.  7  10 25.51  -42 29.3   2.029   1.568    49    9.0     42.8  84.0   4:02 (303, 30)  
Oct. 14  10 51.74  -41 52.4   2.003   1.502    46    8.8     42.5  80.5   3:51 (304, 28)  

* 2P/Encke


Not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. It is low in the evening sky in the southern hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7  14 30.63  -20 53.1   1.446   0.741    28   11.4     97.4 110.8  19:34 ( 72, 11)  
Oct. 14  15 14.40  -24 13.7   1.527   0.866    32   12.6     85.2 106.4  19:41 ( 70, 14)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  12  9.29    6 55.9   2.694   1.757    16   12.9     38.4 115.0   4:02 (273,-17)  
Oct. 14  12 26.03    4 58.9   2.608   1.691    18   12.4     40.4 115.1   3:51 (275,-16)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It will be observable as 12 mag under good condition from October to December. Strange tail was observed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   1 56.17   46 28.4   2.698   3.493   136   12.6     30.9 241.8   0:54 (180,  8)  
Oct. 14   1 37.58   44 30.5   2.611   3.463   143   12.5     34.2 236.5   0:08 (180, 10)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   1 45.04   -0 39.8   3.449   4.423   165   13.1     13.7 206.3   0:42 (180, 56)  
Oct. 14   1 42.12   -2  4.5   3.461   4.441   168   13.2     13.5 208.2   0:12 (180, 57)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  20 11.33  -30 17.6   1.946   2.395   104   13.1     14.3  46.9  19:34 (127, 82)  
Oct. 14  20 17.55  -29  8.0   2.014   2.382    98   13.2     16.2  51.5  19:41 (112, 77)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  16 46.09   40  7.1   3.261   3.075    70   13.4     20.8 189.1  19:34 (139, -2)  
Oct. 14  16 44.68   37 48.7   3.320   3.065    66   13.5     19.0 184.3  19:41 (133, -6)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   9  7.39  -71  4.5   3.509   3.378    74   13.8      4.1 163.3   4:02 (338, 42)  
Oct. 14   9  7.91  -71 35.2   3.537   3.396    73   13.9      4.8 185.8   3:51 (339, 43)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
Very low in the evening sky. It will appear at dawn in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7  16 57.09  -29 15.7   6.415   6.017    62   13.9      8.2  87.4  19:34 ( 81, 43)  
Oct. 14  17  1.66  -29 13.3   6.508   6.015    56   13.9      8.9  88.1  19:41 ( 77, 37)  

* 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 one reported it was too faint to catch.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   1 35.41   20 31.2   1.213   2.184   161   14.3      9.4 253.6   0:33 (180, 34)  
Oct. 14   1 30.52   20  7.0   1.167   2.152   167   14.2     11.3 247.9   0:00 (180, 35)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  20 24.97  -37 15.6   4.099   4.460   104   14.2     12.2 347.7  19:34 ( 53, 86)  
Oct. 14  20 23.98  -35 53.6   4.243   4.499    98   14.3     11.6 355.7  19:41 ( 82, 80)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   6 54.75  -76 21.0  12.116  12.061    84   14.2      5.4 183.7   4:02 (351, 47)  
Oct. 14   6 53.43  -76 58.2  12.181  12.107    83   14.3      5.3 190.2   3:51 (353, 47)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  14 30.45  -14 17.5   2.491   1.650    25   14.8     41.5 113.5  19:34 ( 77,  7)  
Oct. 14  14 49.17  -16 11.3   2.492   1.630    23   14.6     42.4 112.2  19:41 ( 73,  4)  

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )


Brightened rapidly. It may be brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7  18 20.18    2 11.9   2.353   2.432    82   14.9     26.4 108.1  19:34 (131, 41)  
Oct. 14  18 32.20    1 17.0   2.416   2.431    79   15.0     27.4 105.8  19:41 (125, 38)  

* 2000 DP107


Near earth asteroid. It will fade out rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7  22 37.65    7 11.2   0.136   1.116   146   15.2     70.4  49.4  21:33 (180, 47)  
Oct. 14  22 57.62   11  1.6   0.188   1.158   145   16.0     41.4  55.5  21:25 (180, 44)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
It will set down soon. However, it will be observable as 15.5 mag again in 2001 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7  15 22.14   18 16.2   7.893   7.208    44   15.6      9.3 147.0  19:34 (111, -2)  
Oct. 14  15 24.72   17 23.1   7.945   7.216    40   15.6      9.2 143.4  19:41 (106, -8)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   3 28.20   48 42.6   5.101   5.740   125   15.6      9.1 324.9   2:25 (180,  6)  
Oct. 14   3 24.07   49 32.7   5.010   5.714   130   15.6      9.3 317.3   1:54 (180,  5)  

* P/2000 S1 ( Skiff )


New comet. It is fading out after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   0 20.42  -13 19.7   1.643   2.603   159   15.8     13.6 300.7  23:13 (180, 68)  
Oct. 14   0 15.15  -12 27.4   1.688   2.622   154   15.9     13.0 307.8  22:41 (180, 67)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5


It is at best as 16 mag in October and November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   5 36.45   30 54.3   1.482   2.039   108   16.0     16.8  55.3   4:02 (187, 24)  
Oct. 14   5 43.20   32  1.3   1.431   2.053   114   16.0     14.5  48.3   3:51 (185, 23)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 2000 Jan. 15
It is observable in good condition as 15 mag from February to April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7  10 44.62   13 34.3   4.313   3.564    36   16.2     18.6 109.3   4:02 (256, -4)  
Oct. 14  10 52.93   12 51.7   4.245   3.562    41   16.2     18.2 109.3   3:51 (255, -2)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   2 47.32    1 32.5   1.711   2.629   150   16.6     10.5 243.4   1:44 (180, 53)  
Oct. 14   2 42.28    0 59.2   1.622   2.573   157   16.3     13.1 248.6   1:12 (180, 54)  

* 17P/Holmes


Although it keeps brighter than 17 mag in October, it is fading out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   3 11.88   46 19.3   1.663   2.422   129   16.7      9.8 324.3   2:09 (180,  9)  
Oct. 14   3  7.17   47  7.8   1.639   2.444   134   16.8     10.0 306.2   1:37 (180,  8)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   2 47.22   13  1.3   2.049   2.961   150   17.2      6.9 250.9   1:44 (180, 42)  
Oct. 14   2 43.67   12 44.0   1.998   2.948   158   17.1      8.7 252.1   1:13 (180, 42)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7   3 17.66  -23 54.6   4.631   5.372   133   17.1     17.4 211.9   2:15 (180, 79)  
Oct. 14   3 12.64  -25 36.0   4.611   5.374   136   17.1     17.5 216.0   1:42 (180, 81)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  20  9.30  -16 52.5   2.281   2.742   106   17.2      7.6  98.2  19:34 (158, 71)  
Oct. 14  20 13.52  -16 57.8   2.349   2.719   100   17.2      9.8  92.4  19:41 (139, 67)  

* 97P/Metcalf-Brewington


The condition is good until late December, but it reaches to 17.5 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   0 10.94    1  3.0   1.945   2.932   168   17.5     12.6 216.8  23:04 (180, 54)  
Oct. 14   0  7.60   -0  6.0   1.951   2.911   160   17.4     11.7 214.7  22:33 (180, 55)  

* C/2000 O1 ( Koehn )


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)  
Oct.  7  23 32.70   37 44.0   5.357   6.186   143   17.6     17.1 241.0  22:26 (180, 17)  
Oct. 14  23 24.18   36 42.8   5.387   6.200   141   17.6     16.8 237.1  21:50 (180, 18)  

* 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)  
Oct.  7  19  6.91   37 40.4   6.400   6.586    96   17.7      3.7 190.5  19:34 (161, 14)  
Oct. 14  19  6.84   37 15.9   6.490   6.615    92   17.8      3.4 172.8  19:41 (155, 12)  

* 113P/Spitaler


The condition is good until late January, but it reaches to 18 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   0 56.43    6  4.9   1.379   2.378   178   18.0     12.0 262.5  23:49 (180, 49)  
Oct. 14   0 50.79    5 53.9   1.363   2.356   173   17.9     12.1 262.6  23:16 (180, 49)  

* 110P/Hartley 3


It keeps 17.5 mag with a good condition until late January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   4 18.16   34 56.4   1.977   2.670   124   18.0      3.2  39.0   3:15 (180, 20)  
Oct. 14   4 18.60   35 11.2   1.895   2.655   130   17.9      1.8 344.1   2:48 (180, 20)  

* 65P/Gunn

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Although it is around the aphelion now, it is observable as 17 mag in good condition from December to March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   8 16.85   26 19.7   4.728   4.549    73   18.1      8.5  90.0   4:02 (223, 14)  
Oct. 14   8 21.04   26 20.7   4.613   4.541    79   18.0      7.5  87.6   3:51 (221, 15)  

* 146P/LINEAR-Shoemaker


Recovered lost comet D/Shoemaker 2. It will fade out soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  7   7 30.39   29 40.4   1.422   1.657    84   18.1     27.4  63.2   4:02 (212, 17)  
Oct. 14   7 42.85   31  7.9   1.403   1.705    88   18.2     25.0  59.3   3:51 (211, 16)  

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