Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Feb. 24: South)

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 Updated on March 11, 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 brighter than 9 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  17 24.37   36 51.1   1.372   1.618    84    8.8     61.2  29.6   4:13 (214,  8)  
Mar.  3  17 41.64   42 46.5   1.434   1.690    86    9.0     55.0  28.4   4:21 (208,  4)

* 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. 24  21 35.73  -19 30.7   1.930   1.019    16    9.1     64.0  75.8   4:13 (295, -2)  
Mar.  3  22  5.34  -17 33.4   1.977   1.062    16    9.4     60.9  73.5   4:21 (293, -2)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
Not observable. It will appear 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. 24   0  6.80    2 30.9   3.951   3.103    27   12.7     10.0 127.1  20:12 ( 89, -6)  
Mar.  3   0 10.65    1 50.2   4.005   3.098    20   12.7     10.1 123.6  20:01 ( 86, -8)

* 2000 PN9
Near-earth asteroid. It will be 13 mag in early March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  19 32.43  -59 21.2   0.132   0.930    59   15.9    210.1 320.3   4:13 (323, 36)  
Mar.  3  17 14.27    2  8.2   0.061   0.988    85   13.2    980.3 341.9   4:21 (230, 44)

* 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. 24  16 53.77   28 10.7   3.025   3.168    89   13.4     13.2 307.2   4:13 (213, 18)  
Mar.  3  16 47.38   29  8.8   2.944   3.188    95   13.4     16.1 302.3   4:21 (204, 21)

* 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. 24  22 28.03  -11 31.9   1.851   0.863     2   15.4     69.2  68.8   4:13 (298,-16)  
Mar.  3  23  0.07   -8 19.8   1.754   0.764     1   13.7     77.0  67.3  20:01 ( 68,-16)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It was very diffused and hard to see in mid January. No observation has been reported since Feb. 1. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  19 21.76  -15 52.5   1.692   1.231    46   13.8     47.5  83.5   4:13 (274, 23)  
Mar.  3  19 43.86  -15 11.0   1.718   1.280    47   14.5     44.5  81.9   4:21 (272, 25)

* 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. 24  18 53.64  -28 18.1   6.503   5.972    53   13.9      9.2  85.8   4:13 (283, 34)  
Mar.  3  18 58.34  -28 13.4   6.408   5.970    59   13.9      8.6  85.7   4:21 (279, 40)

* 110P/Hartley 3
Seems to be fading although it is ahead of the perihelion passage. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   4  9.53   25 18.2   2.280   2.481    89   14.1     17.3  96.0  20:12 (146, 21)  
Mar.  3   4 18.83   25  6.7   2.365   2.479    84   14.1     18.8  94.5  20:01 (145, 21)

* 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. 24   5  6.52  -51 54.3   3.833   3.929    88   14.1     23.9   4.4  20:12 ( 35, 68)  
Mar.  3   5  8.44  -49  8.9   3.893   3.965    86   14.2     23.7   8.3  20:01 ( 45, 67)

* 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. 24  23 51.46   -0  5.4   3.214   2.331    22   14.3     31.0  61.0  20:12 ( 85, -8)  
Mar.  3   0  4.14    1 39.7   3.253   2.339    19   14.4     31.0  61.1  20:01 ( 85,-10)

* 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. 24  14  8.60   48 59.8   0.093   1.039   119   14.4    181.5  90.0   3:49 (180,  6)  
Mar.  3  17 24.94   36  0.5   0.055   0.991    88   14.3    504.3 125.7   4:21 (207, 12)

* 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. 24  18 29.73  -63 10.3   3.585   3.346    68   14.5     23.9 116.0   4:13 (327, 44)  
Mar.  3  18 52.51  -64 20.1   3.505   3.325    71   14.4     23.7 114.3   4:21 (329, 45)

* 24P/Schaumasse
It became brighter than 15 mag in late February. It will be 11.5 mag in April and May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   2 41.04   15 50.7   1.551   1.484    67   14.9     34.0  59.6  20:12 (123, 16)  
Mar.  3   2 56.08   17 51.8   1.553   1.435    64   14.4     36.7  61.6  20:01 (124, 14)

* 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. 24  22 53.97    2 30.9   3.793   2.840    13   14.7     27.4  77.4  20:12 ( 78,-21)  
Mar.  3  23  6.32    3 13.2   3.848   2.879    10   14.8     26.8  76.9  20:01 ( 78,-22)

* 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. 24   4 15.45  -77 16.0  13.106  12.970    79   14.7      4.1 356.6  20:12 ( 10, 45)  
Mar.  3   4 15.50  -76 47.2  13.132  13.015    81   14.7      4.1   4.2  20:01 ( 11, 45)

* 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. 24  11 58.28   10  3.1   2.612   3.549   157   15.1      8.6 300.4   1:43 (180, 45)  
Mar.  3  11 54.48   10 33.9   2.584   3.550   164   15.1      9.6 297.2   1:12 (180, 44)

* C/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )
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. 24   6 51.36    2 39.9   0.981   1.752   125   15.4     35.9 243.3  20:32 (180, 52)  
Mar.  3   6 37.37    0 48.0   0.968   1.656   115   15.1     31.9 240.2  20:01 (176, 54)

* 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. 24  15 51.69  -17 23.2   0.926   1.423    95   15.1     77.0 275.9   4:13 (232, 64)  
Mar.  3  15 10.20  -16  1.6   0.863   1.547   112   15.5     94.6 279.2   4:21 (186, 71)

* 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. 24   2 29.30   51 42.2   5.355   5.272    79   15.4      6.3  79.7  20:12 (147,-11)  
Mar.  3   2 34.39   51 52.0   5.422   5.253    74   15.4      7.4  77.0  20:01 (146,-13)

* 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. 24  22 44.48   -4 18.5   2.870   1.890     6   15.4     38.8  65.8  20:12 ( 71,-18)  
Mar.  3  23  0.97   -2 26.2   2.879   1.892     4   15.5     38.7  65.4  20:01 ( 72,-20)

* 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. 24  16  5.17   10 19.1   7.215   7.409    97   15.5      1.3 282.0   4:13 (211, 39)  
Mar.  3  16  4.33   10 21.4   7.124   7.422   103   15.5      2.3 279.6   4:21 (200, 42)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
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. 24  11 34.29  -18 54.6   4.604   5.464   147   15.7     18.7 298.0   1:20 (180, 74)  
Mar.  3  11 26.04  -17 49.4   4.567   5.476   154   15.7     19.6 300.0   0:44 (180, 73)

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )
It bursted out in mid February and reached to 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  10  7.88    8 38.3   2.727   3.713   174   15.7      9.9 288.5  23:49 (180, 46)  
Mar.  3  10  3.57    8 59.9   2.758   3.730   167   15.8      9.3 288.9  23:17 (180, 46)

* 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. 24  16 34.90   24 17.6   6.832   6.947    92   16.6     10.4 355.7   4:13 (211, 24)  
Mar.  3  16 34.22   25 31.7   6.765   6.967    97   16.6     10.9 350.1   4:21 (203, 26)

* 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. 24  10 10.52    9 15.2   4.971   5.958   175   16.7     15.0 272.4  23:51 (180, 46)  
Mar.  3  10  3.55    9 19.3   5.033   6.003   166   16.8     14.4 272.1  23:17 (180, 46)

* C/2000 Y2
It keeps 17 mag until late March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   9 14.74    3 20.1   1.829   2.782   160   16.8      7.3 335.6  22:56 (180, 52)  
Mar.  3   9 13.66    4  7.4   1.848   2.776   154   16.8      7.0 347.2  22:28 (180, 51)

* P/2000 WT168
New comet. It will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24   8  5.29   -9 27.3   0.908   1.781   139   16.8      6.8 223.4  21:47 (180, 65)  
Mar.  3   8  4.08   -9 54.6   0.933   1.772   134   16.8      3.0 187.5  21:18 (180, 65)

* 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. 24  13 19.05    1 18.3   1.557   2.378   136   16.8      5.9 334.4   3:04 (180, 54)  
Mar.  3  13 17.18    1 57.9   1.530   2.406   144   16.8      8.1 318.1   2:35 (180, 53)

* 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. 24  14 39.80  -11 51.5   5.426   5.900   114   16.9      5.3 219.9   4:13 (187, 67)  
Mar.  3  14 37.87  -12 19.3   5.296   5.874   121   16.8      6.1 230.5   3:55 (180, 67)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 24  17 49.58  -18  1.5  10.884  10.554    68   16.9      3.9  82.3   4:13 (263, 42)  
Mar.  3  17 51.32  -17 57.7  10.787  10.567    74   16.8      3.3  80.1   4:21 (256, 49)

* C/2001 A1 ( LINEAR )
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. 24  10 33.31   37 27.5   2.083   2.994   152   16.9     27.2 242.7   0:19 (180, 17)  
Mar.  3  10 19.73   35 53.3   2.135   3.033   149   17.0     26.5 237.5  23:32 (180, 19)

* P/2001 CV8 ( LINEAR )
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. 24  10 43.71   15 25.8   1.152   2.137   173   17.1     11.6 262.3   0:29 (180, 40)  
Mar.  3  10 38.17   15 12.4   1.160   2.145   170   17.1     11.5 258.4  23:51 (180, 40)

* 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. 24   7 40.65   31 35.7   3.578   4.338   135   17.2      5.8 270.1  21:22 (180, 23)  
Mar.  3   7 37.88   31 34.0   3.645   4.325   127   17.2      4.3 263.4  20:52 (180, 23)

* 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. 24   3 39.88   17 20.1   4.549   4.507    81   17.4      7.6  27.2  20:12 (135, 24)  
Mar.  3   3 41.89   18  7.0   4.725   4.568    74   17.5      8.1  35.3  20:01 (133, 21)

* (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. 24  10 11.52   -5 26.2  12.270  13.226   164   17.5      3.6 283.4  23:53 (180, 60)  
Mar.  3  10  9.91   -5 19.9  12.271  13.224   163   17.5      3.5 285.9  23:24 (180, 60)

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