Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Oct. 21: North)

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Updated on October 24, 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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* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


It is expected to reach to 7.8 mag in December and January. 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. 21  11 17.47  -40 54.0   1.976   1.439    44    9.1     41.9  77.3   4:46 (315, -8)  
Oct. 28  11 42.14  -39 40.7   1.947   1.379    41    8.9     41.5  74.1   4:52 (315, -6)  

* 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. 21  12 43.56    2 55.8   2.522   1.625    20   12.0     42.5 115.1   4:46 (268,  2)  
Oct. 28  13  2.01    0 46.5   2.436   1.559    21   11.5     44.8 115.0   4:52 (272,  4)  

* 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. 21   1 19.16   42  2.8   2.547   3.433   148   12.4     36.9 231.4  23:16 (180, 83)  
Oct. 28   1  1.72   39  8.2   2.509   3.405   149   12.3     38.5 226.5  22:31 (180, 86)  

* 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. 21  20 24.83  -27 56.3   2.084   2.370    93   13.2     18.0  54.8  18:42 (  4, 27)  
Oct. 28  20 33.03  -26 42.4   2.156   2.359    89   13.2     19.7  57.1  18:35 (  8, 28)  

* 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. 21   1 39.13   -3 25.7   3.489   4.461   165   13.2     13.0 209.5  23:37 (  0, 51)  
Oct. 28   1 36.21   -4 41.8   3.533   4.480   160   13.3     12.1 210.2  23:07 (  0, 50)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 8
Although it will be low around December, it is observable again in 2001 spring as 13.5 mag in good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21  16 44.32   35 42.0   3.377   3.056    63   13.5     17.3 179.5  18:42 (109, 42)  
Oct. 28  16 44.78   33 47.1   3.429   3.049    59   13.5     15.6 174.7  18:35 (108, 38)  

* 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. 21  15 54.39  -26 27.8   1.626   0.985    34   13.6     74.6 102.0  18:42 ( 58, -1)  
Oct. 28  16 30.55  -27 49.9   1.738   1.099    35   14.4     65.5  97.9  18:35 ( 55,  0)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
It will be also observable in the Northern Hemisphere after 2001 October, but it will be fainter than 16.5 mag then.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21   9  5.85  -72 10.8   3.560   3.415    73   13.9      5.8 203.0   4:46 (349,-20)  
Oct. 28   9  0.83  -72 49.5   3.579   3.436    73   13.9      7.0 216.6   4:52 (352,-19)  

* 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. 21   1 25.17   19 32.3   1.133   2.120   170   14.0     12.4 242.9  23:23 (  0, 74)  
Oct. 28   1 19.80   18 49.1   1.111   2.090   166   13.9     12.5 237.7  22:50 (  0, 74)  

* 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. 21  17  6.58  -29 11.5   6.594   6.013    50   13.9      9.5  88.7  18:42 ( 46,  8)  
Oct. 28  17 11.80  -29 10.0   6.673   6.011    44   14.0     10.1  89.0  18:35 ( 48,  6)  

* 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. 21   6 50.76  -77 34.5  12.246  12.153    82   14.3      5.3 197.1   4:46 (  0,-23)  
Oct. 28   6 46.58  -78  9.1  12.310  12.199    81   14.3      5.3 204.4   4:20 (  0,-23)  

* 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. 21  20 23.94  -34 33.8   4.392   4.538    92   14.4     11.2   3.7  18:42 (  4, 20)  
Oct. 28  20 24.76  -33 16.5   4.542   4.577    85   14.5     11.1  11.2  18:35 (  9, 21)  

* 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. 21  15  8.66  -18  0.4   2.492   1.611    21   14.5     43.3 110.7  18:42 ( 71, -5)  
Oct. 28  15 28.93  -19 43.6   2.493   1.596    19   14.4     44.0 109.0  18:35 ( 70, -6)  

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )


Brightened rapidly and reached to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21  18 44.81    0 27.5   2.481   2.433    75   15.1     28.4 103.6  18:42 ( 45, 46)  
Oct. 28  18 57.92   -0 16.2   2.548   2.437    72   15.1     29.2 101.4  18:35 ( 46, 44)  

* 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. 21   3 19.11   50 18.3   4.931   5.687   135   15.5      9.6 310.1   1:21 (180, 75)  
Oct. 28   3 13.41   50 58.4   4.863   5.661   140   15.5      9.7 303.2   0:48 (180, 74)  

* 24P/Schaumasse


It will be observable as 9-10 mag from 2001 March to June. Not yet observed in this return.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21   2 35.98    0 26.2   1.546   2.516   163   16.0     15.5 252.7   0:38 (  0, 55)  
Oct. 28   2 28.60   -0  4.4   1.483   2.459   166   15.7     17.2 256.4   0:03 (  0, 55)  

* 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. 21   5 48.30   33  9.1   1.385   2.069   119   15.9     12.3  37.8   3:50 (  0, 88)  
Oct. 28   5 51.56   34 17.4   1.343   2.087   125   15.9     10.6  22.5   3:25 (  0, 89)  

* 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. 21   0 10.70  -11 28.5   1.744   2.641   147   16.0     12.1 316.7  22:09 (  0, 44)  
Oct. 28   0  7.28  -10 24.0   1.812   2.662   141   16.2     11.3 327.7  21:38 (  0, 45)  

* 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. 21  11  1.02   12 10.4   4.172   3.560    46   16.1     17.7 109.1   4:46 (275, 28)  
Oct. 28  11  8.84   11 30.7   4.093   3.558    51   16.1     17.0 108.9   4:52 (279, 33)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be observable as 14 mag for one year after 2001 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21   1 28.51    5 34.7   4.980   5.970   173   16.7     11.8 274.3  23:26 (  0, 61)  
Oct. 28   1 23.02    5 41.4   4.956   5.925   166   16.7     11.7 275.1  22:53 (  0, 61)  

* 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. 21   3  0.93   47 40.8   1.623   2.467   139   16.9     10.5 289.6   1:03 (180, 77)  
Oct. 28   2 53.56   47 56.5   1.617   2.491   144   17.0     11.2 274.9   0:28 (180, 77)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
The condition is good in winter and spring, but it is fading out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21  11 13.59   12 42.9   5.836   5.167    44   17.0      5.8 152.7   4:46 (272, 26)  
Oct. 28  11 14.68   12  8.2   5.787   5.210    50   17.0      5.1 158.4   4:52 (278, 32)  

* 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. 21  20 18.81  -16 58.2   2.419   2.697    95   17.2     11.9  88.7  18:42 (  7, 38)  
Oct. 28  20 25.09  -16 53.8   2.489   2.674    89   17.2     13.9  86.0  18:35 ( 11, 37)  

* 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. 21   0  4.79   -1 10.7   1.970   2.891   152   17.4     10.3 211.1  22:03 (  0, 54)  
Oct. 28   0  2.71   -2  8.9   2.001   2.871   144   17.4      8.5 204.7  21:33 (  0, 53)  

* 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. 21  23 16.37   35 36.6   5.435   6.215   138   17.6     16.2 233.2  21:14 (180, 89)  
Oct. 28  23  9.35   34 27.3   5.499   6.230   133   17.6     15.4 229.3  20:40 (  0, 89)  

* 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. 21   4 17.59   35 19.9   1.821   2.641   137   17.8      3.1 283.9   2:19 (180, 90)  
Oct. 28   4 15.14   35 21.3   1.756   2.627   144   17.7      5.5 265.9   1:49 (180, 90)  

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )


Appearing at dawn. It will be 17.5 mag for a while.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 21   9 54.91   11 37.7   3.801   3.432    61   17.8     15.9 112.2   4:46 (287, 41)  
Oct. 28  10  1.66   10 56.5   3.724   3.445    66   17.7     14.8 112.9   4:52 (293, 46)  

* 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. 21  19  7.39   36 53.1   6.582   6.645    89   17.8      3.4 154.7  18:42 (103, 71)  
Oct. 28  19  8.53   36 32.7   6.673   6.674    85   17.9      3.7 138.0  18:35 (102, 67)  

* 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. 21   0 45.33    5 43.8   1.360   2.335   164   17.8     11.2 263.5  22:43 (  0, 61)  
Oct. 28   0 40.45    5 36.6   1.369   2.314   156   17.8      9.5 265.6  22:11 (  0, 61)  

* 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. 21   8 24.67   26 24.1   4.495   4.532    85   17.9      6.4  84.0   4:46 (285, 67)  
Oct. 28   8 27.68   26 30.1   4.377   4.523    92   17.9      5.3  78.3   4:52 (295, 73)  

* P/1999 XN120 ( Catalina )


The condition is good in January and February, 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. 21   9  6.84   15 27.0   3.518   3.370    73   18.0     13.9 111.4   4:46 (293, 53)  
Oct. 28   9 12.79   14 52.3   3.427   3.377    78   18.0     12.6 112.5   4:52 (301, 57)  

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