Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Dec. 30: North)

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 Updated on January 3, 2001
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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/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in late January as 10 mag. It passes in the SOHO field from late December to early January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30  18 52.45  -17 56.1   1.297   0.338     6    6.4     56.3 277.4  18:28 ( 77,-13)  
Jan.  6  18 27.04  -17 33.5   1.369   0.444    10    7.7     46.7 270.4   5:38 (286, -7)

* 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. 30  14 50.83  -14 11.3   1.475   1.201    54    7.8     58.0  44.5   5:37 (315, 28)  
Jan.  6  15 10.38   -9  4.1   1.415   1.229    58    7.8     62.2  41.8   5:38 (314, 33)

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
Not observable. It will appear at dawn as 16 mag in July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30  16 52.57  -20 25.1   1.838   1.027    24    9.0     69.9 103.2   5:37 (298,  4)  
Jan.  6  17 27.35  -22  3.8   1.814   0.990    23    8.7     71.7 100.1   5:38 (298,  1)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It bursted out again in mid December and reached to 7 mag. However, it faded again and now it is 9.5 mag and diffused. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30  15 33.19  -13 51.9   1.505   1.058    44    9.4     68.2 100.4   5:37 (306, 22)  
Jan.  6  16  5.31  -15  7.6   1.513   1.052    43    9.7     66.7  98.3   5:38 (307, 20)

* 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. 30  23 50.36   12  6.8   3.144   3.198    84   12.4     16.9 185.0  18:28 ( 41, 62)  
Jan.  6  23 50.16   10 16.6   3.266   3.181    76   12.4     14.7 177.9  18:33 ( 51, 55)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
Being higher in the morining sky. It is observable as 13.5 mag until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30  17  2.50   24 57.5   3.541   3.058    53   13.6      3.8 117.8   5:37 (258, 28)  
Jan.  6  17  4.01   24 50.0   3.504   3.066    56   13.6      2.5  98.5   5:38 (261, 33)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
Getting lower in the evening sky, but it is a bit brighter than this ephemeris visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30  22 11.28  -13 47.2   2.790   2.306    51   13.9     29.0  61.5  18:28 ( 48, 26)  
Jan.  6  22 23.57  -12  9.0   2.852   2.306    47   14.0     29.5  61.3  18:33 ( 53, 24)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 16 mag until late 2001. It is a bit fainter than the ephemeris recently. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30   1 29.72  -10 27.6   4.452   4.685    97   14.0      4.2 103.1  18:53 (  0, 45)  
Jan.  6   1 31.93  -10 31.7   4.584   4.711    91   14.0      5.3  92.6  18:33 (  2, 44)

* 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. 30  18  6.94  -28 54.2   6.960   5.990     8   14.0     12.0  87.8   5:37 (295,-15)  
Jan.  6  18 13.32  -28 50.7   6.938   5.988    13   14.0     11.9  87.5   5:38 (298,-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. 30   3 33.97   29 32.0   1.703   2.526   138   14.2      7.8 194.6  20:57 (  0, 84)  
Jan.  6   3 33.68   28 41.1   1.756   2.518   131   14.1      7.0 172.6  20:29 (  0, 84)

* 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. 30  21  6.15   -1 49.5   3.228   2.581    41   14.2     30.7  85.3  18:28 ( 70, 23)  
Jan.  6  21 20.38   -1 29.4   3.306   2.607    38   14.3     30.5  83.9  18:33 ( 73, 20)

* 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. 30   6  2.20  -71 35.2   3.618   3.666    85   14.2     19.2 316.2  23:23 (  0,-16)  
Jan.  6   5 44.61  -69 47.5   3.624   3.697    86   14.3     20.3 325.0  22:38 (  0,-15)

* 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. 30  18 57.11  -27  1.4   2.557   1.582     5   14.4     45.8  87.8  18:28 ( 68,-16)  
Jan.  6  19 20.91  -26 41.3   2.572   1.595     5   14.5     45.4  85.3  18:33 ( 69,-18)

* 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. 30   5  7.50  -80 21.1  12.815  12.610    75   14.5      4.7 286.8  22:29 (  0,-25)  
Jan.  6   4 55.48  -80  8.9  12.860  12.655    75   14.6      4.7 296.5  21:49 (  0,-25)

* 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. 30  16  4.88  -52  5.5   4.241   3.558    41   15.1     22.9 123.3   5:37 (328,-11)  
Jan.  6  16 19.80  -53 32.9   4.164   3.528    44   15.1     23.1 122.9   5:38 (330,-10)

* 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. 30   2 20.75   52 17.0   4.832   5.441   123   15.3      4.2 248.9  19:43 (180, 73)  
Jan.  6   2 18.30   52  6.2   4.884   5.418   118   15.3      3.0 238.6  19:13 (180, 73)

* 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. 30  12  0.61    7 53.5   3.217   3.547   101   15.5      6.6  95.3   5:26 (  0, 63)  
Jan.  6  12  3.32    7 52.0   3.118   3.547   107   15.5      4.9  87.9   5:01 (  0, 63)

* 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. 30  15 56.61   11  6.8   7.878   7.316    52   15.6      5.5 115.1   5:37 (281, 34)  
Jan.  6  15 58.87   10 51.9   7.814   7.327    57   15.6      4.9 113.1   5:38 (286, 39)

* 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. 30   3 55.46  -24 16.5   1.549   2.194   118   16.0     53.5 257.9  21:16 (  0, 31)  
Jan.  6   3 30.98  -25 12.3   1.665   2.191   108   16.1     43.3 262.9  20:25 (  0, 30)

* 24P/Schaumasse
It will reach to 10 mag in 2001 April and May. It was 18.0 mag on Dec. 22 (Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma), that was 1 mag or more fainter than expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30   1 38.89    2 34.9   1.424   1.930   105   16.3     10.2  11.9  19:02 (  0, 58)  
Jan.  6   1 40.78    3 49.3   1.446   1.871    98   16.0     12.8  27.9  18:36 (  0, 59)

* 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. 30   0 49.93    8 10.8   5.339   5.530    96   16.6      4.7 330.1  18:28 (  8, 63)  
Jan.  6   0 49.13    8 40.7   5.416   5.487    88   16.6      4.6 346.9  18:33 ( 26, 62)

* 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. 30   3 52.91   10 15.7   3.223   4.015   138   16.6     14.6 305.1  21:15 (  0, 65)  
Jan.  6   3 47.81   11 13.7   3.364   4.076   130   16.7     12.6 310.6  20:43 (  0, 66)

* 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. 30   5 13.02   40  8.3   1.375   2.306   155   16.6      8.3 261.6  22:35 (180, 85)  
Jan.  6   5  8.80   39 55.8   1.435   2.335   149   16.8      6.1 247.8  22:03 (180, 85)

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 17 mag until June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30  16 24.13   16 37.0   7.364   6.794    51   16.7      7.8  43.2   5:37 (271, 31)  
Jan.  6  16 26.63   17 19.3   7.312   6.813    56   16.7      8.0  37.6   5:38 (274, 37)

* 70P/Kojima
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. 30  12 44.77    0 41.7   1.968   2.178    88   16.7     19.6 102.2   5:37 (346, 55)  
Jan.  6  12 53.26    0 16.6   1.908   2.200    93   16.7     17.4 100.0   5:38 (355, 55)

* 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. 30  11  1.34    9  4.6   5.106   5.601   115   17.0      9.3 264.1   4:27 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  6  10 56.63    8 59.3   5.040   5.646   123   17.0     10.7 267.0   3:55 (  0, 64)

* 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. 30   8 19.68   29 30.2   3.514   4.432   156   17.3      9.2 295.0   1:46 (  0, 84)  
Jan.  6   8 14.93   29 56.9   3.470   4.421   163   17.2     10.0 291.8   1:13 (  0, 85)

* 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. 30  10 32.63    7  3.0   2.968   3.580   121   17.4      1.0 211.3   3:58 (  0, 62)  
Jan.  6  10 31.93    6 59.7   2.899   3.596   128   17.4      2.4 268.0   3:30 (  0, 62)

* 17P/Holmes
Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30   2 18.68   41 12.2   2.049   2.721   123   17.4      9.0 148.9  19:42 (180, 84)  
Jan.  6   2 22.27   40 21.0   2.144   2.748   118   17.5      9.8 134.7  19:18 (180, 85)

* (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. 30  10 22.06   -5 25.0  12.749  13.243   118   17.5      1.8 236.5   3:48 (  0, 50)  
Jan.  6  10 21.26   -5 30.9  12.650  13.240   125   17.5      2.1 249.2   3:19 (  0, 49)

* 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. 30   3 42.39   19 21.0   2.285   3.096   139   17.5      4.9 197.0  21:05 (  0, 74)  
Jan.  6   3 42.20   18 50.6   2.352   3.097   131   17.6      4.0 170.2  20:37 (  0, 74)

* 97P/Metcalf-Brewington
Although it keeps the recent brightness for a while, it will be low in the evening sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30   0 28.16   -4  4.4   2.599   2.718    86   17.6     15.2  77.0  18:28 ( 14, 50)  
Jan.  6   0 35.45   -3 37.5   2.678   2.705    81   17.6     16.9  75.4  18:33 ( 24, 49)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will be a naked-eye comet in 2001 December and 2002 January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 30   0  0.36   52  2.3   5.060   5.362   102   17.8     10.4 165.4  18:28 (151, 70)  
Jan.  6   0  2.78   50 53.7   5.071   5.292    97   17.8     10.2 158.0  18:33 (140, 67)

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