Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Feb. 17: North)

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 Updated on February 20, 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. 17  17  6.28   30 24.5   1.325   1.549    82    8.5     66.5  30.6   5:19 (272, 65)  
Feb. 24  17 24.37   36 51.1   1.372   1.618    84    8.8     61.2  29.6   5:12 (257, 66)

* 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. 17  21  3.97  -21 14.2   1.888   0.984    16    8.8     66.9  78.6   5:19 (288,-11)  
Feb. 24  21 35.73  -19 30.7   1.930   1.019    16    9.1     64.0  75.8   5:12 (285,-13)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
After conjunction, it appears again at dawn in June. However, it never locates high and will not be observable after August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17   0  3.18    3 15.5   3.883   3.110    33   12.6     10.0 131.9  19:08 ( 83, 15)  
Feb. 24   0  6.80    2 30.9   3.951   3.103    27   12.7     10.0 127.1  19:14 ( 87,  9)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It was very diffused and hard to see in mid January. Recent magnitude is uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  18 58.05  -16 26.6   1.664   1.187    44   13.1     50.6  85.3   5:19 (303, 15)  
Feb. 24  19 21.76  -15 52.5   1.692   1.231    46   13.8     47.5  83.5   5:12 (302, 15)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
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. 17  16 58.56   27 17.9   3.107   3.149    83   13.4     10.5 312.6   5:19 (280, 65)  
Feb. 24  16 53.77   28 10.7   3.025   3.168    89   13.4     13.2 307.2   5:12 (284, 70)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  18 48.60  -28 23.0   6.592   5.975    47   13.9      9.8  85.9   5:19 (313,  8)  
Feb. 24  18 53.64  -28 18.1   6.503   5.972    53   13.9      9.2  85.8   5:12 (315, 10)

* 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. 17   4  1.07   25 32.6   2.196   2.484    94   14.0     15.7  98.4  19:08 ( 56, 74)  
Feb. 24   4  9.53   25 18.2   2.280   2.481    89   14.1     17.3  96.0  19:14 ( 67, 70)

* 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. 17   5  5.77  -54 41.4   3.782   3.894    89   14.0     23.9   0.2  19:15 (  0,  0)  
Feb. 24   5  6.52  -51 54.3   3.833   3.929    88   14.1     23.9   4.4  19:14 (  4,  3)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
Not observable. It will appear 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. 17  23 38.79   -1 50.6   3.172   2.325    26   14.3     31.0  61.0  19:08 ( 83,  7)  
Feb. 24  23 51.46   -0  5.4   3.214   2.331    22   14.3     31.0  61.0  19:14 ( 87,  4)

* 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. 17  12 45.34   47  8.3   0.146   1.089   131   15.2     79.5  73.1   2:56 (180, 78)  
Feb. 24  14  8.60   48 59.8   0.093   1.039   119   14.4    181.5  90.0   3:49 (180, 76)

* 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. 17  18  8.05  -61 55.9   3.668   3.369    64   14.6     23.9 117.5   5:19 (340,-14)  
Feb. 24  18 29.73  -63 10.3   3.585   3.346    68   14.5     23.9 116.0   5:12 (341,-15)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It does not start fading after perihelion passage, still keeps 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  22 41.35    1 49.7   3.733   2.802    16   14.6     27.9  78.0  19:08 ( 94, -2)  
Feb. 24  22 53.97    2 30.9   3.793   2.840    13   14.7     27.4  77.4  19:14 ( 98, -6)

* 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. 17   4 16.59  -77 45.0  13.077  12.925    79   14.7      4.2 348.8  19:08 (  2,-23)  
Feb. 24   4 15.45  -77 16.0  13.106  12.970    79   14.7      4.1 356.6  19:14 (  5,-23)

* C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )
It was reported as a 15-mag extremely diffused object in mid February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  16 25.20  -18  1.8   1.009   1.296    80   14.7     60.7 272.9   5:19 (337, 34)  
Feb. 24  15 51.69  -17 23.2   0.926   1.423    95   15.1     77.0 275.9   5:12 (352, 37)

* 2001 CP36
New near earth asteroid. It will be brighter than 15 mag only two days between Feb. 19 and 20. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  12 43.21   18  1.5   0.020   1.003   140   16.5    569.2 275.4   3:05 (  0, 73)  
Feb. 24   5 24.24   -1 10.3   0.024   0.996   103   18.0    372.4 251.2  19:14 (  7, 53)

* 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. 17  12  1.49    9 33.1   2.654   3.549   150   15.1      7.3 304.5   2:14 (  0, 65)  
Feb. 24  11 58.28   10  3.1   2.612   3.549   157   15.1      8.6 300.4   1:43 (  0, 65)

* 71P/Clark
It is not observable at all until 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. 17  21 31.65  -20 48.3   2.682   1.724    11   15.3     41.0  73.5   5:19 (284,-17)  
Feb. 24  21 50.89  -19 23.7   2.700   1.753    13   15.5     40.1  72.1   5:12 (283,-16)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
Although it will be lower after this for a while, it is observable until 2002 autumn at 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17   2 24.99   51 36.2   5.285   5.292    85   15.4      5.2  83.4  19:08 (133, 58)  
Feb. 24   2 29.30   51 42.2   5.355   5.272    79   15.4      6.3  79.7  19:14 (132, 54)

* 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. 17   7  7.16    4 33.3   1.006   1.850   136   15.7     38.6 245.3  21:15 (  0, 59)  
Feb. 24   6 51.42    2 40.3   0.983   1.754   125   15.4     35.8 243.3  20:32 (  0, 58)

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova
Not observable before the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in April at 10 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  21 58.60  -14 12.9   1.950   0.963     2   17.0     62.3  70.5   5:19 (275,-18)  
Feb. 24  22 28.03  -11 31.9   1.851   0.863     2   15.4     69.2  68.8   5:12 (271,-19)

* 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. 17  22 27.87   -6  8.8   2.861   1.890     8   15.4     38.8  66.4  19:08 ( 89,-10)  
Feb. 24  22 44.48   -4 18.5   2.870   1.890     6   15.4     38.8  65.8  19:14 ( 93,-12)

* 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. 17  11 41.88  -19 49.6   4.487   5.280   139   15.5     18.0 296.0   1:55 (  0, 35)  
Feb. 24  11 33.61  -18 49.6   4.411   5.273   147   15.4     19.5 298.1   1:19 (  0, 36)

* 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. 17  16  5.52   10 17.8   7.308   7.397    91   15.5      0.3 288.8   5:19 (328, 62)  
Feb. 24  16  5.17   10 19.1   7.215   7.409    97   15.5      1.3 282.0   5:12 (338, 64)

* 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. 17   2 27.63   13 52.1   1.545   1.534    70   16.1     31.1  57.5  19:08 ( 68, 50)  
Feb. 24   2 41.04   15 50.7   1.551   1.484    67   15.9     34.0  59.6  19:14 ( 74, 48)

* 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. 17  16 35.03   23  6.2   6.903   6.927    87   16.6     10.0   1.5   5:19 (296, 67)  
Feb. 24  16 34.90   24 17.6   6.832   6.947    92   16.6     10.4 355.7   5:12 (302, 72)

* P/2001 CV8 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It is at the peak now. It will be fainter than 18 mag in May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  10 49.11   15 34.8   1.155   2.132   168   16.6     10.7 264.5   1:02 (  0, 71)  
Feb. 24  10 43.71   15 25.8   1.152   2.137   173   16.6     11.6 262.3   0:29 (  0, 70)

* 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. 17  10 17.69    9 10.6   4.928   5.913   175   16.7     15.3 272.6   0:31 (  0, 64)  
Feb. 24  10 10.52    9 15.2   4.971   5.958   175   16.7     15.0 272.4  23:51 (  0, 64)

* 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. 17  10 47.97   38 48.0   2.050   2.955   151   16.8     27.1 247.6   1:01 (180, 86)  
Feb. 24  10 33.31   37 27.5   2.083   2.994   152   16.9     27.2 242.7   0:19 (180, 87)

* 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. 17  13 19.51    0 44.6   1.592   2.350   129   16.8      4.3   7.3   3:32 (  0, 56)  
Feb. 24  13 19.05    1 18.3   1.557   2.378   136   16.8      5.9 334.4   3:04 (  0, 56)

* C/2001 B1 ( LINEAR )
New comet. Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17   3 11.70  -17 25.4   3.408   3.286    74   16.8     22.1 355.8  19:08 ( 30, 32)  
Feb. 24   3 11.41  -14 56.0   3.547   3.322    68   17.0     20.6   1.1  19:14 ( 40, 30)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  17 47.56  -18  4.9  10.977  10.541    61   16.9      4.4  84.0   5:19 (318, 25)  
Feb. 24  17 49.58  -18  1.5  10.884  10.554    68   16.9      3.9  82.3   5:12 (322, 27)

* 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. 17  10 12.36    8 16.4   2.710   3.696   175   17.0     10.0 287.9   0:25 (  0, 63)  
Feb. 24  10  7.88    8 38.3   2.727   3.713   174   17.0      9.9 288.5  23:49 (  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)  
Feb. 17   7 44.26   31 33.7   3.522   4.350   142   17.2      7.3 274.5  21:53 (  0, 87)  
Feb. 24   7 40.65   31 35.7   3.578   4.338   135   17.2      5.8 270.1  21:22 (  0, 87)

* 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. 17   3 38.50   16 32.0   4.372   4.446    87   17.2      7.3  17.0  19:08 ( 49, 64)  
Feb. 24   3 39.88   17 20.1   4.549   4.507    81   17.4      7.6  27.2  19:14 ( 62, 59)

* C/2000 Y2
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. 17   9 16.35    2 34.9   1.874   2.840   165   17.4      7.0 327.1  23:25 (  0, 58)  
Feb. 24   9 14.78    3 17.8   1.895   2.848   160   17.4      6.9 335.9  22:56 (  0, 58)

* (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. 17  10 13.14   -5 31.3  12.283  13.228   162   17.5      3.5 280.6   0:26 (  0, 49)  
Feb. 24  10 11.52   -5 26.2  12.270  13.226   164   17.5      3.6 283.4  23:53 (  0, 50)

* C/2001 C1 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It keeps around 17 mag until 2002 autumn because it is far away. However, it goes to the southern sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 17  14 41.12  -11 22.7   5.695   6.056   106   17.6      4.6 205.4   4:53 (  0, 44)  
Feb. 24  14 39.87  -11 51.4   5.564   6.036   114   17.5      5.2 219.1   4:24 (  0, 43)

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