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

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 Updated on December 1, 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/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )
New come. It locates only 4 deg high in the evening sky between Dec. 10 and 15 in the Norhtern Hemisphere. Even in the southern hemisphere, it is observable only until early December. After conjunction, it appears at dawn in late January as 10 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  19 10.23  -50 19.9   0.390   0.741    41    7.2    247.3  19.2  20:43 ( 46, 23)  
Dec.  9  19 34.80  -32 10.2   0.614   0.591    34    7.2    100.4   6.9  20:51 ( 60, 12)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It is expected to reach to 7.8 mag in December and January. Appearing at dawn also in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  13 31.83  -29 20.9   1.729   1.186    41    8.1     45.2  57.0   2:55 (294, 18)  
Dec.  9  13 51.89  -26 15.6   1.669   1.174    43    7.9     47.5  53.7   2:53 (290, 17)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It is brightening extremely rapidly. KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan, reported it was 16 mag on Nov. 17. However, Katsumi Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, reported it was 10 mag on Nov. 27 visually. It will be bright and observable visually in December and January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  13 26.91   -6 18.8   1.563   1.158    47   10.5     66.8 106.5   2:55 (273,  6)  
Dec.  9  13 57.51   -8 28.2   1.533   1.123    47    8.1     68.2 105.4   2:53 (276,  6)

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
It was 10.4 mag on Nov. 23. Although it locates very low in the morning sky, it will be observable as 10 mag until mid December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  14 52.69  -11 15.3   2.039   1.237    26   10.7     58.8 111.6   2:55 (290, -8)  
Dec.  9  15 19.66  -13 45.1   1.975   1.178    26   10.3     61.9 110.1   2:53 (292, -7)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable as 12 mag under good condition until December. Strange tail was observed. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   0  3.54   22 16.2   2.698   3.278   117   12.2     29.6 205.6  20:43 (157, 29)  
Dec.  9  23 58.00   19 17.6   2.796   3.256   109   12.2     26.1 201.3  20:51 (146, 28)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Dec.  2  16 53.88   27  6.2   3.588   3.038    49   13.6      8.7 149.2  20:43 ( 94,-46)  
Dec.  9  16 56.22   26 18.9   3.592   3.041    49   13.6      7.5 143.5   2:53 (269,-49)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 16 mag until late 2001. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   1 26.91   -9 11.0   3.957   4.589   124   13.6      4.9 193.5  20:43 (178, 64)  
Dec.  9   1 26.68   -9 40.6   4.072   4.612   117   13.7      3.7 177.3  20:51 (158, 63)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
It will be observable as brighter than 14 mag in the evening sky until December. It will be lower and fainter in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  21 23.90  -19 56.9   2.519   2.319    67   13.8     26.0  61.4  20:43 ( 89, 34)  
Dec.  9  21 35.40  -18 28.1   2.589   2.314    62   13.8     26.9  61.5  20:51 ( 87, 29)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  17 41.35  -29  3.9   6.937   5.999    16   14.0     11.8  88.9  20:43 ( 51, -3)  
Dec.  9  17 47.69  -29  2.1   6.959   5.997    11   14.0     12.0  88.7  20:51 ( 47, -7)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Dec.  2   7 39.77  -75  0.1   3.613   3.554    78   14.1     13.9 272.7   2:55 (  0, 50)  
Dec.  9   7 13.95  -74 44.2   3.614   3.581    80   14.1     15.3 284.2   2:03 (  0, 50)

* 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)  
Dec.  2  17 20.77  -25 58.0   2.513   1.559    11   14.2     46.2  98.1  20:43 ( 50, -8)  
Dec.  9  17 44.69  -26 35.7   2.521   1.560     9   14.3     46.3  95.6  20:51 ( 48, -9)

* 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)  
Dec.  2   6  1.12  -80 14.0  12.610  12.428    77   14.4      5.0 247.3   1:18 (  0, 45)  
Dec.  9   5 47.94  -80 24.6  12.665  12.474    76   14.5      5.0 257.0   0:37 (  0, 45)

* 110P/Hartley 3
Brightened rapidly and reached to 14 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   3 48.85   33  9.3   1.600   2.565   165   14.7     12.4 236.1  23:01 (180, 22)  
Dec.  9   3 43.46   32 18.0   1.608   2.555   159   14.6     11.8 229.6  22:28 (180, 23)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage and reached to 14 mag. It may be brighter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  20  8.30   -2 14.0   2.915   2.495    55   14.7     31.1  91.7  20:43 ( 94,  9)  
Dec.  9  20 22.82   -2 17.1   2.993   2.513    52   14.9     31.1  90.0  20:51 ( 91,  5)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
It will not be observable soon. But it will appear at dawn as 16.5 mag in 2001 May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  20 38.04  -27 25.9   5.274   4.780    55   15.1     11.7  37.7  20:43 ( 75, 28)  
Dec.  9  20 41.95  -26 21.9   5.407   4.821    49   15.2     11.9  40.8  20:51 ( 72, 22)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
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)  
Dec.  2   2 40.08   52 38.4   4.721   5.535   142   15.3      8.3 273.3  21:52 (180,  2)  
Dec.  9   2 34.04   52 38.9   4.732   5.511   138   15.3      7.4 267.8  21:19 (180,  2)

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )
Although it reaches to 13.5 mag in 2001 summer, only southern people can observe it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  15 12.07  -46 22.8   4.512   3.686    29   15.4     21.3 124.1   2:55 (320, 11)  
Dec.  9  15 24.33  -47 46.8   4.451   3.653    31   15.4     21.7 124.0   2:53 (319, 14)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
Appearing at dawn. It is observable as 15.5 mag until 2001 autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  15 45.63   12 38.1   8.044   7.276    36   15.6      7.6 123.7   2:55 (278,-33)  
Dec.  9  15 48.58   12 10.5   8.017   7.286    39   15.6      7.1 121.4   2:53 (275,-28)

* 2000 DG8
Asteroid with cometary orbit. It will pass the perihelion in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   6  1.46  -11 56.0   1.383   2.230   139   15.7     74.8 238.6   1:19 (180, 67)  
Dec.  9   5 29.57  -16 14.9   1.367   2.217   140   15.7     76.1 242.8   0:20 (180, 71)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh
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)  
Dec.  2  11 42.70    8 51.0   3.627   3.550    77   15.8     12.5 105.6   2:55 (245, 18)  
Dec.  9  11 48.11    8 29.6   3.525   3.549    83   15.7     11.2 104.2   2:53 (242, 22)

* C/2000 U5 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It must be 13 mag in the southern sky in early 2000. Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   4 23.16    6 17.3   2.809   3.767   164   16.0     21.1 293.6  23:35 (180, 49)  
Dec.  9   4 14.37    7 16.8   2.887   3.829   160   16.1     19.9 295.4  22:59 (180, 48)

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5
It will fade out and be fainter than 18 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   5 39.03   39 11.6   1.252   2.197   157   16.1     12.1 297.7   0:56 (180, 16)  
Dec.  9   5 32.26   39 44.5   1.264   2.222   162   16.2     12.1 288.3   0:21 (180, 15)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Dec.  2   0 59.38    6 39.6   5.068   5.705   126   16.6      8.0 287.9  20:43 (168, 48)  
Dec.  9   0 56.09    6 58.2   5.126   5.661   118   16.6      7.0 294.2  20:51 (155, 45)

* 17P/Holmes
Although it has passed the perihelion, the fading is slower than expected and it still keeps 16.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   2 19.91   45 13.2   1.751   2.615   144   16.8     10.2 213.4  21:33 (180, 10)  
Dec.  9   2 17.07   44 11.8   1.812   2.641   139   16.9      9.4 198.8  21:02 (180, 11)

* P/2000 S1 ( Skiff )
It will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   0  7.35   -4 10.8   2.286   2.780   109   17.0     12.7  27.1  20:43 (144, 54)  
Dec.  9   0 10.52   -2 51.3   2.399   2.806   104   17.1     13.8  34.1  20:51 (134, 48)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Dec.  2  11 13.30    9 55.9   5.427   5.426    84   17.0      4.4 232.1   2:55 (239, 22)  
Dec.  9  11 11.32    9 38.4   5.343   5.469    92   17.0      5.4 244.9   2:53 (234, 27)

* 24P/Schaumasse
It will reach to 10 mag in 2001 April and May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   1 49.39   -0 34.6   1.362   2.167   134   17.7     13.2 284.5  21:02 (180, 56)  
Dec.  9   1 44.19   -0  5.1   1.370   2.107   126   17.4     10.8 298.4  20:51 (171, 55)

* 2000 VU2
New asteroid with short periodic cometary orbit. It will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2   3 52.27   22  4.8   2.127   3.103   170   17.4      9.9 229.2  23:05 (180, 33)  
Dec.  9   3 48.71   21 19.7   2.147   3.100   162   17.4      9.1 226.0  22:34 (180, 34)

* 65P/Gunn
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)  
Dec.  2   8 31.57   27 46.0   3.820   4.474   126   17.5      4.1 322.7   2:55 (193, 26)  
Dec.  9   8 29.83   28  9.8   3.727   4.464   133   17.5      5.4 311.0   2:53 (186, 27)

* 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)  
Dec.  2   0  7.00   -4 42.8   2.290   2.779   109   17.5      7.5  97.4  20:43 (143, 54)  
Dec.  9   0 10.95   -4 45.1   2.364   2.763   103   17.5      9.5  88.2  20:51 (132, 50)

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )
It will be 17.5 mag until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  10 26.48    8  7.5   3.297   3.518    94   17.6      7.7 117.9   2:55 (231, 32)  
Dec.  9  10 29.31    7 44.2   3.210   3.533   101   17.5      5.9 120.4   2:53 (226, 35)

* 70P/Kojima
Not yet observed in this return. It reches to 17.5 mag at best in December and January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  12  2.56    3 31.1   2.205   2.101    70   17.6     26.7 106.8   2:55 (253, 17)  
Dec.  9  12 14.18    2 39.8   2.147   2.119    75   17.6     25.2 106.0   2:53 (251, 21)

* (10199) Chariklo
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)  
Dec.  2  10 22.98   -4 45.2  13.202  13.251    90   17.6      1.9 164.2   2:55 (241, 42)  
Dec.  9  10 23.11   -4 57.3  13.084  13.249    97   17.6      1.6 179.7   2:53 (235, 46)

* 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)  
Dec.  2   9 31.54   12 35.0   2.964   3.414   108   17.7      4.4 128.7   2:55 (214, 35)  
Dec.  9   9 32.69   12 18.0   2.878   3.422   115   17.6      2.5 146.5   2:53 (208, 38)

* C/2000 O1 ( Koehn )
Fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  2  22 47.32   28 51.5   6.011   6.310   103   17.9      9.5 207.6  20:43 (144, 16)  
Dec.  9  22 45.33   27 55.1   6.138   6.327    96   18.0      8.3 202.0  20:51 (136, 11)

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