Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Feb. 3: North)

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 Updated on February 4, 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/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It keeps brighter than 9 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  16 28.53   16 35.7   1.287   1.422    76    8.1     72.3  33.2   5:31 (296, 57)  
Feb. 10  16 47.74   23 38.3   1.298   1.484    79    8.3     70.6  31.9   5:25 (285, 61)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  19 54.68  -23 35.3   1.825   0.942    18    8.3     71.4  85.3   5:31 (294, -8)  
Feb. 10  20 30.18  -22 37.6   1.853   0.958    17    8.5     69.4  81.8   5:25 (291,-10)

* C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )
Extremely diffused and hardly to see even on the CCD images. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  17 13.29  -18 12.1   1.187   1.027    55   11.0     40.0 268.5   5:31 (316, 23)  
Feb. 10  16 51.77  -18 14.2   1.099   1.164    67   11.4     48.3 270.5   5:25 (325, 29)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It was very diffused and hard to see in mid January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  18  5.86  -17  3.1   1.605   1.114    43   11.9     56.6  89.4   5:31 (305, 16)  
Feb. 10  18 32.74  -16 50.9   1.634   1.147    43   12.5     53.6  87.3   5:25 (304, 15)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  23 56.86    5  0.9   3.712   3.128    47   12.6     10.4 144.9  18:56 ( 75, 28)  
Feb. 10  23 59.85    4  5.0   3.803   3.118    40   12.6     10.1 137.9  19:02 ( 79, 22)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  17  4.11   25 54.0   3.264   3.116    72   13.5      5.8 327.1   5:31 (274, 54)  
Feb. 10  17  1.94   26 32.0   3.188   3.132    77   13.5      8.0 318.8   5:25 (277, 60)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
It hardly faded out since the perihelion passage in 2000 June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   5  8.88  -60 12.3   3.701   3.825    89   13.9     23.4 351.0  20:13 (  0, -5)  
Feb. 10   5  6.45  -57 28.1   3.738   3.859    89   14.0     23.8 355.8  19:44 (  0, -2)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  18 37.65  -28 33.0   6.745   5.979    36   14.0     10.8  86.3   5:31 (308,  3)  
Feb. 10  18 43.25  -28 28.0   6.673   5.977    42   13.9     10.3  86.1   5:25 (311,  5)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   3 47.02   26 13.4   2.034   2.493   106   14.0     12.0 107.4  18:56 (  6, 81)  
Feb. 10   3 53.53   25 50.7   2.114   2.488   100   14.0     13.9 102.0  19:02 ( 38, 79)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
It will not be observable soon, but will appear again at dawn in July as 15.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  23 13.55   -5 20.5   3.077   2.314    33   14.2     30.7  61.0  18:56 ( 73, 14)  
Feb. 10  23 26.16   -3 35.7   3.126   2.319    29   14.2     30.9  61.0  19:02 ( 78, 11)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   4 23.05  -78 41.3  13.014  12.836    77   14.7      4.3 332.6  19:28 (  0,-24)  
Feb. 10   4 19.08  -78 13.6  13.047  12.880    78   14.7      4.3 340.8  19:02 (  0,-23)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  17 28.00  -59 16.2   3.835   3.418    58   14.8     23.9 120.0   5:31 (338,-12)  
Feb. 10  17 47.48  -60 37.6   3.751   3.393    61   14.7     23.9 118.8   5:25 (339,-13)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  22 15.32    0 32.0   3.601   2.731    24   14.8     28.9  79.5  18:56 ( 87,  5)  
Feb. 10  22 28.47    1  9.8   3.669   2.766    20   14.9     28.4  78.7  19:02 ( 90,  2)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  20 50.89  -23 21.2   2.644   1.673     7   15.0     42.8  76.7   5:31 (286,-18)  
Feb. 10  21 11.65  -22  7.9   2.663   1.697     9   15.2     41.9  75.0   5:25 (285,-17)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  12  5.62    8 40.9   2.774   3.547   135   15.2      4.1 321.1   3:13 (  0, 64)  
Feb. 10  12  3.97    9  5.3   2.709   3.548   143   15.2      5.8 310.5   2:44 (  0, 64)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   2 18.91   51 35.0   5.143   5.332    95   15.3      2.9  97.9  18:56 (142, 67)  
Feb. 10   2 21.52   51 33.8   5.214   5.312    90   15.3      4.1  88.8  19:02 (137, 62)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2
It will appear at dawn in July as 16.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  21 54.33   -9 40.2   2.840   1.895    13   15.4     38.5  67.8  18:56 ( 82, -5)  
Feb. 10  22 11.16   -7 56.2   2.851   1.892    11   15.4     38.7  67.0  19:02 ( 85, -7)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  16  4.85   10 20.1   7.491   7.373    79   15.5      1.7 105.1   5:31 (311, 56)  
Feb. 10  16  5.40   10 18.1   7.400   7.385    85   15.5      0.7 102.2   5:25 (319, 59)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
New comet. Because it is far away, it keeps 15 mag until June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  11 56.67  -21 22.5   4.688   5.298   123   15.6     14.4 291.9   3:04 (  0, 34)  
Feb. 10  11 49.61  -20 40.5   4.580   5.289   131   15.5     16.3 294.0   2:30 (  0, 34)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )
Recently it is fading rapidly. It should be fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   1 45.90  -10  9.4   5.102   4.818    67   15.8      9.4  80.3  18:56 ( 39, 36)  
Feb. 10   1 50.47   -9 57.5   5.223   4.846    62   15.9     10.2  79.8  19:02 ( 46, 32)

* 1950 DA
Recovered asteroid after half of a century, which approaches to the earth and reaches to 14 mag in late February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  11 44.31   42 33.5   0.266   1.196   137   16.4     34.3  60.9   2:51 (180, 83)  
Feb. 10  12  7.21   44 39.8   0.204   1.142   135   15.8     47.2  65.0   2:46 (180, 80)

* C/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will approach to the earth and reach to 10 mag in June and July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   7 40.97    8 12.1   1.093   2.039   157   16.3     38.6 247.5  22:44 (  0, 63)  
Feb. 10   7 23.97    6 25.0   1.042   1.945   146   16.0     39.6 246.6  22:00 (  0, 61)

* 24P/Schaumasse
It will reach to 10 mag in 2001 April and May, however, it was much fainter than expected recently. Maybe it reaches only to 14 mag at best. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   2  5.57   10  6.9   1.524   1.642    78   16.6     25.2  52.4  18:56 ( 50, 56)  
Feb. 10   2 15.82   11 57.2   1.536   1.587    74   16.3     28.2  55.1  19:02 ( 60, 53)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   0 51.61   11  7.5   5.704   5.315    62   16.5      6.9  29.9  18:56 ( 71, 43)  
Feb. 10   0 53.47   11 50.6   5.764   5.273    55   16.5      7.7  34.4  19:02 ( 78, 37)

* C/2001 B1 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will only to fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   3 15.66  -22 55.5   3.139   3.217    85   16.6     25.9 345.3  18:56 ( 10, 32)  
Feb. 10   3 13.05  -20  5.3   3.272   3.251    80   16.7     23.9 350.6  19:02 ( 20, 32)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )
The condition is good in winter and spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  10 32.01    9  1.6   4.898   5.823   157   16.6     14.8 272.1   1:40 (  0, 64)  
Feb. 10  10 24.90    9  5.9   4.904   5.868   166   16.6     15.2 272.5   1:06 (  0, 64)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  16 33.80   20 53.7   7.048   6.888    76   16.6      9.2  13.5   5:31 (288, 58)  
Feb. 10  16 34.65   21 58.1   6.975   6.907    82   16.6      9.6   7.4   5:25 (292, 63)

* C/2001 A1 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It keeps 16 mag until late February, it will fade out rapidly after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3  11 17.97   40 41.4   2.034   2.882   142   16.6     24.3 256.2   2:26 (180, 84)  
Feb. 10  11  3.09   39 52.7   2.034   2.918   148   16.7     26.1 252.2   1:44 (180, 85)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  13 16.09    0  0.4   1.682   2.297   116   16.7      7.0  73.8   4:23 (  0, 55)  
Feb. 10  13 18.52    0 18.4   1.634   2.324   122   16.8      4.9  49.3   3:58 (  0, 55)

* 2000 DG8
Asteroid with cometary orbit. It has just passed the perihelion. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   2 34.74  -24 58.6   2.222   2.203    76   16.7     15.0 282.5  18:56 ( 20, 27)  
Feb. 10   2 28.36  -24 34.9   2.360   2.211    69   16.9     10.9 288.4  19:02 ( 29, 24)

* 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)  
Feb.  3  10 21.02    7 36.6   2.721   3.662   159   17.0      8.9 286.4   1:29 (  0, 63)  
Feb. 10  10 16.81    7 55.5   2.709   3.679   167   17.0      9.7 287.3   0:57 (  0, 63)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   7 53.49   31 17.3   3.446   4.374   157   17.2      9.6 280.8  22:57 (  0, 86)  
Feb. 10   7 48.59   31 27.6   3.477   4.362   150   17.2      8.6 277.9  22:25 (  0, 86)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   3 37.94   14 51.7   4.018   4.323   101   17.4      7.4 351.5  18:56 (  9, 70)  
Feb. 10   3 37.83   15 42.6   4.194   4.385    94   17.5      7.2   4.8  19:02 ( 32, 68)

* 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)  
Feb.  3   9 20.32    1 22.0   1.870   2.832   164   17.4      6.1 314.9   0:28 (  0, 56)  
Feb. 10   9 18.27    1 55.7   1.865   2.835   166   17.4      6.8 320.4  23:55 (  0, 57)

* (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)  
Feb.  3  10 16.29   -5 37.7  12.354  13.232   151   17.5      3.2 274.2   1:24 (  0, 49)  
Feb. 10  10 14.74   -5 35.2  12.312  13.230   157   17.5      3.4 277.7   0:55 (  0, 49)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Feb.  3   0 19.62   47  9.5   5.137   5.008    76   17.6     10.1 129.0  18:56 (124, 49)  
Feb. 10   0 25.26   46 27.7   5.153   4.936    71   17.5     10.3 122.5  19:02 (124, 44)

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5
Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  3   5  8.89   38 24.7   1.770   2.461   123   17.6      6.7 122.6  20:14 (180, 87)  
Feb. 10   5 12.95   37 59.8   1.873   2.494   118   17.8      8.7 113.6  19:50 (180, 87)

* 2000 VU2
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)  
Feb.  3   3 51.79   17 41.8   2.697   3.107   105   17.9      8.9  96.9  18:57 (  0, 73)  
Feb. 10   3 56.57   17 36.2   2.794   3.111    99   18.0     10.6  92.9  19:02 ( 22, 72)

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