Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Jan. 13: South)

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 Updated on January 13, 2001
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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 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)  
Jan. 13  15 29.95   -3 21.6   1.363   1.267    62    7.8     66.3  39.2   3:17 (262, 18)  
Jan. 20  15 49.54    2 53.9   1.322   1.312    67    7.9     69.8  36.9   3:26 (254, 17)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  18  3.57  -23 15.5   1.800   0.962    22    8.5     72.8  96.6   3:17 (300, -1)  
Jan. 20  18 40.68  -23 55.8   1.798   0.944    20    8.3     73.2  92.9   3:26 (300, -1)

* C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )
Appearing at dawn. KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan, observed it on Jan. 11 as 11.9 mag. It passes 1 deg from 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak on Jan. 26. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13  18  6.44  -17 38.4   1.370   0.588    22    8.9     38.3 267.8   3:17 (296, -6)  
Jan. 20  17 48.74  -17 50.3   1.331   0.738    33    9.8     34.8 266.9   3:26 (288,  5)

* 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. It passes 1 deg from C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones ) on Jan. 26. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13  16 36.95  -16  4.2   1.529   1.055    43   10.1     64.8  96.1   3:17 (282, 11)  
Jan. 20  17  7.78  -16 41.6   1.551   1.067    42   10.3     62.4  93.8   3:26 (282, 13)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
The altitude is getting lower gradually. It seemed to be fading recently. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13  23 50.83    8 40.5   3.386   3.166    68   12.5     13.0 170.0  20:59 (109, 11)  
Jan. 20  23 52.25    7 17.0   3.502   3.152    61   12.5     11.7 161.5  20:54 (104,  8)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  17  5.06   24 52.1   3.456   3.076    59   13.6      1.8  57.0   3:17 (252,-18)  
Jan. 20  17  5.51   25  3.6   3.400   3.088    63   13.6      2.3   5.8   3:26 (247,-11)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  18 19.61  -28 46.7   6.905   5.986    19   14.0     11.7  87.2   3:17 (306,  0)  
Jan. 20  18 25.79  -28 42.4   6.862   5.984    24   14.0     11.5  86.9   3:26 (302,  5)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
Getting lower in the evening sky, it will not be observable soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13  22 35.96  -10 29.1   2.913   2.306    43   14.0     29.9  61.2  20:59 ( 82,  7)  
Jan. 20  22 48.43   -8 47.5   2.970   2.308    40   14.1     30.2  61.1  20:54 ( 82,  4)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   3 34.91   27 55.3   1.816   2.511   124   14.1      7.2 148.7  20:59 (166, 26)  
Jan. 20   3 37.60   27 15.3   1.884   2.504   118   14.0      8.3 129.2  20:54 (161, 25)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   5 30.85  -67 42.1   3.635   3.728    87   14.3     21.3 332.8  21:57 (  0, 57)  
Jan. 20   5 20.61  -65 22.3   3.651   3.759    88   14.4     22.2 339.6  21:20 (  0, 60)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  21 34.43   -1  4.7   3.383   2.636    34   14.5     30.1  82.7  20:59 ( 81,-11)  
Jan. 20  21 48.28   -0 35.9   3.458   2.666    31   14.6     29.8  81.5  20:54 ( 80,-13)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   4 44.88  -79 52.0  12.903  12.700    75   14.6      4.6 306.0  21:11 (  0, 45)  
Jan. 20   4 35.90  -79 31.3  12.942  12.746    76   14.6      4.5 315.1  20:54 (  1, 45)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  19 44.30  -26  8.0   2.589   1.611     4   14.6     44.9  83.0  20:59 ( 44,-14)  
Jan. 20  20  7.15  -25 22.7   2.607   1.629     5   14.7     44.3  80.7   3:26 (315,-14)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  16 35.51  -55  0.2   4.084   3.499    47   15.0     23.4 122.3   3:17 (319, 30)  
Jan. 20  16 52.08  -56 26.8   4.002   3.471    51   14.9     23.6 121.7   3:26 (319, 33)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   1 44.45    5 12.5   1.468   1.813    93   15.6     15.8  37.8  20:59 (127, 34)  
Jan. 20   1 49.84    6 43.7   1.489   1.755    87   15.2     19.0  44.3  20:54 (125, 30)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   2 16.90   51 55.7   4.942   5.396   112   15.3      1.8 218.7  20:59 (160, -2)  
Jan. 20   2 16.56   51 46.4   5.005   5.374   106   15.3      1.2 168.9  20:54 (157, -3)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  12  5.22    7 56.1   3.023   3.547   114   15.4      3.3  72.6   3:17 (207, 43)  
Jan. 20  12  6.26    8  5.7   2.933   3.547   121   15.3      2.2  35.2   3:26 (195, 46)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )
Recently it seems to be fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13   1 34.70  -10 31.2   4.716   4.737    85   15.5      6.4  86.8  20:59 (110, 43)  
Jan. 20   1 37.97  -10 26.9   4.847   4.764    79   15.6      7.5  83.4  20:54 (107, 39)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
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)  
Jan. 13  16  0.86   10 39.9   7.742   7.338    62   15.6      4.2 111.2   3:17 (255,  3)  
Jan. 20  16  2.55   10 30.8   7.664   7.349    67   15.6      3.4 109.2   3:26 (250, 10)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   3 11.12  -25 34.0   1.796   2.190    99   16.3     34.1 267.7  20:59 (113, 70)  
Jan. 20   2 55.52  -25 33.4   1.936   2.192    91   16.4     26.4 272.5  20:54 (102, 63)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   0 48.94    9 13.4   5.493   5.444    82   16.6      4.9   2.3  20:59 (119, 21)  
Jan. 20   0 49.31    9 48.8   5.567   5.401    75   16.6      5.4  14.5  20:54 (115, 17)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  16 28.89   18  6.1   7.253   6.831    61   16.6      8.3  31.7   3:17 (253, -7)  
Jan. 20  16 30.88   18 57.5   7.188   6.850    66   16.6      8.5  25.7   3:26 (247, -1)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  13  0.75   -0  0.5   1.849   2.223    98   16.7     15.0  97.1   3:17 (229, 43)  
Jan. 20  13  7.12   -0  9.1   1.791   2.247   104   16.7     12.4  92.8   3:26 (220, 48)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   3 43.80   12 10.4   3.515   4.138   123   16.9     10.8 317.7  20:59 (164, 41)  
Jan. 20   3 40.85   13  5.7   3.676   4.200   115   17.1      9.3 326.9  20:54 (157, 39)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   5  6.23   39 37.1   1.505   2.366   142   17.0      4.1 223.0  21:33 (180, 15)  
Jan. 20   5  5.41   39 14.5   1.586   2.397   136   17.2      3.4 178.4  21:05 (180, 16)

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )
It will be 17 mag until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13  10 30.36    7  1.8   2.838   3.613   136   17.1      4.3 278.8   3:01 (180, 48)  
Jan. 20  10 27.94    7  8.9   2.788   3.629   143   17.0      6.1 282.9   2:31 (180, 48)

* 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)  
Jan. 13  10 51.27    8 56.8   4.984   5.690   132   17.0     12.0 269.1   3:17 (182, 46)  
Jan. 20  10 45.32    8 56.6   4.940   5.734   140   17.1     13.2 270.6   2:48 (180, 46)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   8  9.74   30 21.8   3.441   4.409   168   17.2     10.5 288.9   0:41 (180, 25)  
Jan. 20   8  4.29   30 44.0   3.427   4.398   169   17.2     10.6 286.2   0:08 (180, 24)

* C/2000 Y2
New comet. It keeps 17.5 mag until late March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13   9 24.83    0 28.4   1.958   2.832   146   17.5      1.5 293.7   1:55 (180, 55)  
Jan. 20   9 23.83    0 37.4   1.917   2.830   153   17.4      3.4 304.5   1:27 (180, 54)

* (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)  
Jan. 13  10 20.27   -5 35.2  12.560  13.238   132   17.5      2.4 258.2   2:51 (180, 61)  
Jan. 20  10 19.09   -5 37.7  12.479  13.236   138   17.5      2.7 265.0   2:22 (180, 61)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   0  5.99   49 49.5   5.085   5.222    92   17.7     10.1 150.6  20:59 (143,-13)  
Jan. 20   0  9.91   48 50.5   5.102   5.151    87   17.7     10.0 143.2  20:54 (140,-15)

* 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)  
Jan. 13   3 43.07   18 25.5   2.429   3.098   124   17.7      4.3 138.4  20:59 (166, 35)  
Jan. 20   3 44.97   18  5.9   2.513   3.100   118   17.8      5.5 116.2  20:54 (160, 34)

* 17P/Holmes
Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13   2 27.12   39 36.0   2.245   2.775   112   17.7     10.8 123.7  20:59 (156, 10)  
Jan. 20   2 33.07   38 57.2   2.351   2.803   107   17.9     11.9 115.2  20:54 (153,  9)

* P/2000 Y3 ( Scotti )
New comet. Now it is at the peak and will never brighter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 13   5 48.20   26 16.8   3.143   4.052   154   18.1      7.1 265.5  22:15 (180, 29)  
Jan. 20   5 44.86   26 12.5   3.197   4.054   146   18.1      5.8 263.5  21:44 (180, 29)

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