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

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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 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)  
Mar.  3  17 41.64   42 46.5   1.434   1.690    86    9.0     55.0  28.4   5:03 (242, 66)  
Mar. 10  17 57.84   48  6.6   1.509   1.763    87    9.3     48.6  27.1   4:54 (229, 65)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  22  5.34  -17 33.4   1.977   1.062    16    9.4     60.9  73.5   5:03 (282,-14)  
Mar. 10  22 32.83  -15 27.5   2.028   1.111    16    9.9     57.6  71.6   4:54 (279,-14)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  23  0.07   -8 19.8   1.754   0.764     1   13.7     77.0  67.3  19:20 ( 92,-18)  
Mar. 10  23 35.09   -4 33.9   1.661   0.673     3   11.9     85.6  66.1  19:26 ( 95,-15)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   0 10.65    1 50.2   4.005   3.098    20   12.7     10.1 123.6  19:20 ( 91,  2)  
Mar. 10   0 14.65    1 12.3   4.046   3.094    14   12.7     10.2 121.2  19:26 ( 94, -4)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  17 14.27    2  8.2   0.061   0.988    85   13.2    980.3 341.9   5:03 (324, 49)  
Mar. 10  15 14.08   57 15.9   0.141   1.050   110   14.2    186.0 324.7   4:06 (180, 68)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  16 47.38   29  8.8   2.944   3.188    95   13.4     16.1 302.3   5:03 (290, 76)  
Mar. 10  16 39.18   30 10.0   2.865   3.210   101   13.4     19.1 297.6   4:54 (301, 81)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  18 58.34  -28 13.4   6.408   5.970    59   13.9      8.6  85.7   5:03 (318, 12)  
Mar. 10  19  2.66  -28  9.1   6.307   5.968    65   13.8      7.8  85.7   4:54 (320, 14)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   2 56.08   17 51.8   1.553   1.435    64   14.4     36.7  61.6  19:20 ( 80, 45)  
Mar. 10   3 12.79   19 53.8   1.551   1.390    61   14.0     39.4  63.7  19:26 ( 86, 43)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   4 18.83   25  6.7   2.365   2.479    84   14.1     18.8  94.5  19:20 ( 74, 65)  
Mar. 10   4 28.86   24 57.0   2.449   2.477    79   14.1     20.2  93.6  19:26 ( 79, 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)  
Mar.  3   5  8.44  -49  8.9   3.893   3.965    86   14.2     23.7   8.3  19:20 (  9,  5)  
Mar. 10   5 11.32  -46 27.1   3.959   4.002    85   14.3     23.3  12.1  19:26 ( 15,  6)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  17 24.94   36  0.5   0.055   0.991    88   14.3    504.3 125.7   5:03 (258, 71)  
Mar. 10  20 18.77   -4 55.1   0.067   0.947    45   17.4    343.9 138.4   4:54 (290, 19)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  18 52.51  -64 20.1   3.505   3.325    71   14.4     23.7 114.3   5:03 (341,-16)  
Mar. 10  19 16.36  -65 24.4   3.427   3.304    74   14.4     23.4 112.4   4:54 (341,-17)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   0  4.14    1 39.7   3.253   2.339    19   14.4     31.0  61.1  19:20 ( 92,  1)  
Mar. 10   0 16.83    3 24.1   3.288   2.348    15   14.5     31.0  61.3  19:26 ( 96, -2)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  19 43.86  -15 11.0   1.718   1.280    47   14.5     44.5  81.9   5:03 (301, 15)  
Mar. 10  20  4.40  -14 24.1   1.740   1.331    49   15.2     41.6  80.4   4:54 (300, 15)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   4 15.50  -76 47.2  13.132  13.015    81   14.7      4.1   4.2  19:20 (  7,-23)  
Mar. 10   4 16.62  -76 19.1  13.158  13.059    82   14.8      4.0  11.6  19:26 (  9,-24)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  23  6.32    3 13.2   3.848   2.879    10   14.8     26.8  76.9  19:20 (101,-10)  
Mar. 10  23 18.38    3 55.9   3.899   2.919     8   14.9     26.2  76.5   4:54 (256,-13)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   6 37.37    0 48.0   0.968   1.656   115   15.1     31.9 240.2  19:51 (  0, 56)  
Mar. 10   6 25.59   -1  1.9   0.961   1.560   105   14.8     27.6 235.7  19:26 (  6, 54)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  11 54.48   10 33.9   2.584   3.550   164   15.1      9.6 297.2   1:12 (  0, 66)  
Mar. 10  11 50.28   11  3.8   2.569   3.552   170   15.1     10.0 294.4   0:40 (  0, 66)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   2 34.39   51 52.0   5.422   5.253    74   15.4      7.4  77.0  19:20 (131, 49)  
Mar. 10   2 40.20   52  5.3   5.487   5.235    70   15.4      8.4  75.0  19:26 (131, 45)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  16  4.33   10 21.4   7.124   7.422   103   15.5      2.3 279.6   5:03 (349, 65)  
Mar. 10  16  3.00   10 24.3   7.037   7.435   109   15.4      3.3 277.5   4:52 (  0, 65)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  15 10.20  -16  1.6   0.863   1.547   112   15.5     94.6 279.2   4:28 (  0, 39)  
Mar. 10  14 22.03  -13 43.5   0.832   1.667   131   15.9    107.3 282.6   3:13 (  0, 41)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
Because it is far away, it keeps 16 mag until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  11 26.04  -17 49.4   4.567   5.476   154   15.7     19.6 300.0   0:44 (  0, 37)  
Mar. 10  11 17.70  -16 37.5   4.550   5.489   159   15.7     20.2 302.0   0:08 (  0, 38)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  10  3.57    8 59.9   2.758   3.730   167   15.8      9.3 288.9  23:17 (  0, 64)  
Mar. 10   9 59.64    9 20.1   2.803   3.748   159   15.8      8.2 289.5  22:46 (  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)  
Mar.  3  16 34.22   25 31.7   6.765   6.967    97   16.6     10.9 350.1   5:03 (309, 76)  
Mar. 10  16 32.95   26 47.6   6.703   6.988   102   16.6     11.4 344.7   4:54 (322, 80)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  14 37.87  -12 19.3   5.296   5.874   121   16.8      6.1 230.5   3:55 (  0, 43)  
Mar. 10  14 35.29  -12 46.0   5.173   5.848   128   16.7      7.1 238.2   3:25 (  0, 42)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   9 13.66    4  7.4   1.848   2.776   154   16.8      7.0 347.2  22:28 (  0, 59)  
Mar. 10   9 13.34    4 54.8   1.878   2.772   148   16.8      6.7   2.1  22:00 (  0, 60)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  10  3.55    9 19.3   5.033   6.003   166   16.8     14.4 272.1  23:17 (  0, 64)  
Mar. 10   9 56.93    9 22.3   5.113   6.048   158   16.9     13.6 271.5  22:43 (  0, 64)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  17 51.32  -17 57.7  10.787  10.567    74   16.8      3.3  80.1   5:03 (326, 29)  
Mar. 10  17 52.77  -17 53.5  10.685  10.580    81   16.8      2.7  77.1   4:54 (330, 31)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   8  4.08   -9 54.6   0.933   1.772   134   16.8      3.0 187.5  21:18 (  0, 45)  
Mar. 10   8  4.94  -10  9.9   0.963   1.766   129   16.9      4.3 110.4  20:52 (  0, 45)

* 70P/Kojima
It will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3  13 17.18    1 57.9   1.530   2.406   144   16.8      8.1 318.1   2:35 (  0, 57)  
Mar. 10  13 14.08    2 41.4   1.514   2.435   151   16.9     10.1 309.2   2:04 (  0, 58)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  10 19.73   35 53.3   2.135   3.033   149   17.0     26.5 237.5  23:32 (180, 89)  
Mar. 10  10  7.70   34  8.6   2.203   3.074   145   17.1     25.1 232.0  22:53 (  0, 89)

* 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)  
Mar.  3  10 38.17   15 12.4   1.160   2.145   170   17.1     11.5 258.4  23:51 (  0, 70)  
Mar. 10  10 33.00   14 53.2   1.181   2.153   163   17.2     10.5 252.4  23:19 (  0, 70)

* 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)  
Mar.  3   7 37.88   31 34.0   3.645   4.325   127   17.2      4.3 263.4  20:52 (  0, 87)  
Mar. 10   7 36.01   31 29.0   3.720   4.312   120   17.3      2.7 250.2  20:23 (  0, 86)

* (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)  
Mar.  3  10  9.91   -5 19.9  12.271  13.224   163   17.5      3.5 285.9  23:24 (  0, 50)  
Mar. 10  10  8.37   -5 12.8  12.287  13.222   159   17.5      3.4 288.4  22:55 (  0, 50)

* C/2000 U5 ( LINEAR )
Fading now. It will be fainter than 18 mag in late March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  3   3 41.89   18  7.0   4.725   4.568    74   17.5      8.1  35.3  19:20 ( 72, 54)  
Mar. 10   3 44.45   18 52.5   4.897   4.629    68   17.6      8.6  41.6  19:26 ( 79, 48)

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