Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Dec. 16: South)

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 Updated on December 17, 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 )
Extremely low in the evening sky. It will not be observable soon. 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. 16  19 33.28  -23 53.4   0.868   0.447    26    6.7     52.4 341.3  20:57 ( 62,  1)  
Dec. 23  19 18.15  -19 41.3   1.117   0.339    17    6.0     49.9 298.9  21:01 ( 57,-10)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It keeps the recent magnitude until the end of January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  14 11.66  -22 44.3   1.605   1.172    46    7.8     50.5  50.5   2:53 (286, 17)  
Dec. 23  14 31.28  -18 43.9   1.540   1.181    50    7.8     54.0  47.5   2:56 (281, 17)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It bursted out again in mid December. Now it is so bright as 8 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  14 28.94  -10 29.3   1.513   1.094    46    7.9     68.9 104.0   2:53 (278,  7)  
Dec. 23  15  0.94  -12 18.3   1.504   1.072    45    7.9     68.9 102.3   2:56 (280,  8)

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
The component C is bright as 10 mag. The component E at 13 mag and the component B at 15 mag are also observed by CCD. It locates in the low at dawn and will be set under the horizon soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  15 48.60  -16  9.9   1.920   1.122    26    9.8     64.9 108.2   2:53 (294, -5)  
Dec. 23  16 19.58  -18 25.1   1.874   1.072    25    9.4     67.6 105.9   2:56 (296, -4)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
It keeps the recent magnitude until the end of February, but the altitude is getting lower gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  23 54.09   16 36.4   2.906   3.236   100   12.3     22.7 196.6  20:57 (136, 25)  
Dec. 23  23 51.61   14 13.0   3.023   3.216    92   12.3     19.6 191.2  21:01 (127, 22)

* 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. 16  16 58.50   25 41.7   3.585   3.045    49   13.6      6.3 136.9   2:53 (266,-43)  
Dec. 23  17  0.63   25 14.6   3.569   3.050    51   13.6      5.0 128.9   2:56 (263,-37)

* 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. 16   1 27.07  -10  2.8   4.195   4.636   110   13.8      3.1 150.8  20:57 (142, 60)  
Dec. 23   1 28.09  -10 18.3   4.322   4.660   104   13.9      3.3 122.1  21:01 (130, 56)

* 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. 16  21 47.15  -16 56.9   2.658   2.311    59   13.8     27.7  61.6  20:57 ( 85, 24)  
Dec. 23  21 59.13  -15 23.2   2.725   2.308    55   13.9     28.4  61.5  21:01 ( 84, 19)

* 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. 16  17 54.09  -28 59.9   6.970   5.995     7   14.0     12.0  88.4  20:57 ( 42,-11)  
Dec. 23  18  0.52  -28 57.2   6.971   5.993     5   14.0     12.1  88.1   2:56 (320,-13)

* 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. 16   6 47.93  -74  5.1   3.614   3.608    81   14.2     16.7 295.6   1:10 (  0, 51)  
Dec. 23   6 23.54  -73  1.8   3.615   3.637    83   14.2     18.0 306.3   0:18 (  0, 52)

* 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. 16  18  8.83  -26 58.9   2.532   1.565     8   14.3     46.2  93.0  20:57 ( 46,-10)  
Dec. 23  18 33.02  -27  7.4   2.544   1.572     7   14.4     46.1  90.4  21:01 ( 45,-11)

* 110P/Hartley 3
Brightened rapidly and reached to 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16   3 39.01   31 22.8   1.628   2.545   153   14.4     10.7 221.6  21:56 (180, 24)  
Dec. 23   3 35.78   30 26.7   1.660   2.535   145   14.3      9.3 210.5  21:26 (180, 25)

* 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. 16   5 34.25  -80 29.3  12.718  12.519    76   14.5      4.9 266.8  23:50 (  0, 45)  
Dec. 23   5 20.58  -80 28.1  12.768  12.565    75   14.5      4.8 276.8  23:09 (  0, 45)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage and reached to 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  20 37.33   -2 13.8   3.071   2.534    48   15.0     31.0  88.3  20:57 ( 88,  1)  
Dec. 23  20 51.79   -2  4.5   3.150   2.556    45   15.2     30.9  86.8  21:01 ( 86, -3)

* 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. 16  15 37.18  -49 12.1   4.385   3.620    34   15.3     22.2 123.8   2:53 (319, 17)  
Dec. 23  15 50.69  -50 38.5   4.315   3.589    37   15.2     22.5 123.6   2:56 (319, 20)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
It will be observable in good condition as 15 mag until February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16   2 28.71   52 34.7   4.755   5.487   134   15.3      6.5 262.2  20:57 (178,  2)  
Dec. 23   2 24.24   52 26.9   4.789   5.464   129   15.3      5.4 256.1  21:01 (173,  2)

* 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. 16  20 46.12  -25 19.4   5.532   4.863    43   15.3     12.1  43.2  20:57 ( 70, 16)  
Dec. 23  20 50.48  -24 18.4   5.650   4.905    37   15.4     12.3  45.3  21:01 ( 67, 10)

* 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. 16  11 52.94    8 12.6   3.422   3.548    89   15.7      9.8 102.3   2:53 (238, 26)  
Dec. 23  11 57.12    8  0.5   3.319   3.548    95   15.6      8.3  99.5   2:56 (232, 31)

* 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. 16  15 51.42   11 46.0   7.980   7.296    43   15.6      6.7 119.3   2:53 (271,-23)  
Dec. 23  15 54.11   11 24.9   7.934   7.306    47   15.6      6.1 117.1   2:56 (268,-17)

* 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. 16   4 56.38  -19 52.4   1.393   2.207   135   15.7     71.9 247.6  23:11 (180, 75)  
Dec. 23   4 24.31  -22 33.2   1.455   2.200   127   15.8     63.7 252.7  22:12 (180, 78)

* C/2000 U5 ( LINEAR )
Fading now. It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16   4  6.29    8 16.8   2.983   3.891   153   16.3     18.4 297.8  22:23 (180, 47)  
Dec. 23   3 59.09    9 16.6   3.095   3.953   146   16.4     16.5 301.0  21:49 (180, 46)

* 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. 16   5 25.27   40  4.6   1.289   2.249   163   16.3     11.5 279.9  23:42 (180, 15)  
Dec. 23   5 18.66   40 12.0   1.326   2.277   160   16.5     10.2 271.3  23:08 (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. 16   0 53.40    7 19.6   5.192   5.617   110   16.6      6.0 302.8  20:57 (144, 41)  
Dec. 23   0 51.35    7 43.7   5.264   5.574   103   16.6      5.2 314.8  21:01 (135, 36)

* 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. 16   1 40.62    0 36.8   1.384   2.048   118   17.0      8.9 319.9  20:57 (156, 52)  
Dec. 23   1 38.84    1 30.4   1.402   1.989   111   16.7      8.7 347.6  21:01 (145, 48)

* 70P/Kojima
Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, Japan, observed it as 16.7 mag on Nov. 28. It is observable in good condition as 16.5 mag until February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  12 25.14    1 53.9   2.088   2.138    79   16.7     23.5 105.1   2:53 (249, 24)  
Dec. 23  12 35.37    1 14.3   2.028   2.157    83   16.7     21.7 103.8   2:56 (246, 29)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )
The condition is good in winter and spring. It is a bit brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 16  11  8.69    9 24.0   5.260   5.513    99   17.0      6.6 253.8   2:53 (227, 32)  
Dec. 23  11  5.36    9 12.8   5.181   5.557   107   17.0      7.9 259.9   2:56 (219, 37)

* 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. 16   2 15.96   43  9.4   1.882   2.667   134   17.1      8.9 182.6  20:57 (176, 12)  
Dec. 23   2 16.53   42  8.8   1.961   2.694   129   17.2      8.7 165.4  21:01 (170, 12)

* 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. 16   0 14.53   -1 31.2   2.517   2.833    98   17.3     14.8  39.5  20:57 (127, 43)  
Dec. 23   0 19.30   -0 10.9   2.637   2.861    92   17.5     15.9  43.7  21:01 (122, 37)

* 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. 16   8 27.24   28 35.7   3.644   4.453   141   17.4      6.8 303.9   2:48 (180, 26)  
Dec. 23   8 23.83   29  2.8   3.572   4.443   148   17.3      8.1 298.9   2:17 (180, 26)

* 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. 16  10 31.30    7 25.5   3.125   3.549   107   17.5      4.1 125.1   2:53 (219, 39)  
Dec. 23  10 32.42    7 11.6   3.044   3.565   114   17.4      2.1 138.5   2:56 (211, 43)

* 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. 16   3 45.76   20 36.5   2.181   3.098   154   17.4      7.9 221.0  22:03 (180, 34)  
Dec. 23   3 43.61   19 56.6   2.227   3.097   146   17.5      6.4 212.4  21:34 (180, 35)

* 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. 16   0 15.84   -4 38.9   2.441   2.747    97   17.5     11.5  82.8  20:57 (124, 45)  
Dec. 23   0 21.60   -4 25.1   2.520   2.732    91   17.6     13.4  79.3  21:01 (118, 40)

* 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. 16   9 32.87   12  5.4   2.797   3.430   122   17.6      1.6 203.5   2:53 (200, 41)  
Dec. 23   9 32.07   11 57.4   2.723   3.439   129   17.5      2.8 253.4   2:56 (190, 43)

* (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. 16  10 22.99   -5  8.1  12.968  13.247   104   17.6      1.5 199.1   2:53 (227, 51)  
Dec. 23  10 22.64   -5 17.3  12.856  13.245   111   17.6      1.6 219.5   2:56 (216, 55)

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