Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Mar. 17: South)

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 Updated on March 28, 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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* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova
Not observable before the perihelion passage. It will appear at dusk in April at 10 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 17   0 13.44   -0 14.4   1.572   0.595     6   10.2     94.5  65.4  19:40 ( 81,-13)  
Mar. 24   0 55.29    4 33.0   1.486   0.543    11    8.9    102.3  65.4  19:30 ( 88,-11)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It keeps brighter than 11 mag until late April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 17  18 12.76   52 51.4   1.594   1.838    87    9.6     42.4  25.4   4:35 (197, -1)  
Mar. 24  18 26.08   57  2.8   1.687   1.914    87    9.9     36.7  23.1   4:41 (193, -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)  
Mar. 17  22 58.31  -13 17.8   2.081   1.166    16   10.3     54.4  70.1   4:35 (287, -1)  
Mar. 24  23 21.95  -11  7.8   2.136   1.224    17   10.7     51.3  69.0   4:41 (284,  0)

* 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. 17   0 18.77    0 36.0   4.073   3.092     8   12.7     10.3 119.8  19:40 ( 81,-13)  
Mar. 24   0 22.96    0  0.6   4.086   3.091     2   12.7     10.3 119.3  19:30 ( 79,-15)

* 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. 17   3 31.24   21 54.8   1.547   1.348    59   13.5     42.1  65.9  19:40 (127, 11)  
Mar. 24   3 51.53   23 52.5   1.541   1.311    57   13.1     44.8  68.3  19:30 (129, 10)

* 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. 17  16 29.02   31 11.6   2.793   3.232   107   13.3     22.2 293.0   4:35 (184, 24)  
Mar. 24  16 16.79   32  9.9   2.729   3.256   113   13.3     25.3 288.3   4:11 (180, 23)

* 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. 17  19  6.58  -28  5.3   6.200   5.966    71   13.8      7.0  85.9   4:35 (272, 53)  
Mar. 24  19 10.04  -28  2.1   6.090   5.963    77   13.7      6.1  86.2   4:41 (267, 59)

* 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. 17   4 39.53   24 48.4   2.533   2.476    75   14.2     21.3  93.1  19:40 (142, 19)  
Mar. 24   4 50.75   24 40.1   2.616   2.476    70   14.3     22.4  93.0  19:30 (140, 18)

* 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. 17  19 41.20  -66 22.6   3.351   3.285    77   14.3     23.1 110.3   4:35 (333, 47)  
Mar. 24  20  6.87  -67 14.1   3.278   3.267    80   14.2     22.6 108.1   4:41 (334, 47)

* 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. 17   6 16.12   -2 50.0   0.956   1.464    97   14.6     23.5 229.1  19:40 (151, 55)  
Mar. 24   6  8.93   -4 37.9   0.950   1.368    89   14.2     20.3 220.2  19:30 (141, 53)

* 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. 17   5 14.96  -43 50.4   4.033   4.039    83   14.4     22.8  15.7  19:40 ( 61, 64)  
Mar. 24   5 19.24  -41 19.9   4.112   4.076    80   14.5     22.2  19.3  19:30 ( 67, 62)

* 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. 17   0 29.53    5  7.6   3.320   2.358    12   14.5     30.9  61.5  19:40 ( 87,-13)  
Mar. 24   0 42.26    6 50.0   3.348   2.369     9   14.6     30.7  61.8  19:30 ( 88,-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. 17   4 18.65  -75 52.0  13.182  13.104    83   14.8      4.0  18.8  19:40 ( 14, 44)  
Mar. 24   4 21.49  -75 26.3  13.205  13.148    84   14.8      4.0  25.9  19:30 ( 15, 44)

* 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. 17  23 30.16    4 38.6   3.944   2.960     7   15.0     25.6  76.2   4:35 (277,-18)  
Mar. 24  23 41.66    5 21.1   3.984   3.003     8   15.2     24.9  76.0   4:41 (273,-14)

* 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. 17  11 45.87   11 31.4   2.569   3.553   169   15.1     10.0 291.7   0:09 (180, 44)  
Mar. 24  11 41.48   11 55.3   2.583   3.555   164   15.1      9.6 288.9  23:32 (180, 43)

* 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. 17   2 46.69   52 22.2   5.548   5.216    65   15.4      9.3  73.4  19:40 (144,-16)  
Mar. 24   2 53.83   52 42.4   5.604   5.199    61   15.4     10.2  72.1  19:30 (143,-17)

* 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. 17  16  1.18   10 27.3   6.954   7.448   116   15.4      4.4 275.5   4:23 (180, 45)  
Mar. 24  15 58.88   10 30.0   6.879   7.461   122   15.4      5.4 273.5   3:53 (180, 45)

* 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. 17  11  9.45  -15 20.3   4.553   5.503   160   15.7     20.3 304.0  23:27 (180, 70)  
Mar. 24  11  1.48  -13 59.3   4.578   5.517   158   15.7     20.0 306.0  22:52 (180, 69)

* 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. 17  20 23.45  -13 33.8   1.760   1.385    51   15.9     38.9  79.2   4:35 (266, 30)  
Mar. 24  20 41.05  -12 41.6   1.774   1.441    54   16.6     36.1  78.1   4:41 (262, 33)

* 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. 17   9 56.26    9 38.1   2.862   3.765   151   15.9      6.9 290.1  22:15 (180, 45)  
Mar. 24   9 53.54    9 53.1   2.933   3.783   143   16.0      5.3 291.1  21:45 (180, 45)

* 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. 17  13 31.70  -10 34.7   0.846   1.784   151   16.4    108.0 285.6   1:56 (180, 66)  
Mar. 24  12 45.23   -7  6.6   0.908   1.898   170   17.0     95.8 287.7   0:42 (180, 62)

* 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. 17  16 31.07   28  4.6   6.647   7.009   107   16.6     11.8 339.5   4:35 (184, 27)  
Mar. 24  16 28.57   29 21.8   6.599   7.030   111   16.6     12.2 334.4   4:23 (180, 26)

* C/2001 C1 ( LINEAR )
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. 17  14 32.08  -13 11.7   5.060   5.822   136   16.7      8.2 243.9   2:54 (180, 68)  
Mar. 24  14 28.26  -13 36.4   4.958   5.797   144   16.6      9.2 248.1   2:23 (180, 69)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 17  17 53.93  -17 49.2  10.582  10.593    87   16.8      2.1  72.6   4:35 (239, 62)  
Mar. 24  17 54.77  -17 44.6  10.478  10.606    94   16.8      1.5  64.6   4:41 (225, 67)

* 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. 17   9 13.92    5 40.4   1.920   2.769   141   16.8      6.7  19.6  21:33 (180, 49)  
Mar. 24   9 15.47    6 22.6   1.971   2.769   135   16.9      7.2  37.5  21:07 (180, 49)

* 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. 17   9 50.76    9 24.1   5.211   6.093   150   16.9     12.5 270.7  22:09 (180, 46)  
Mar. 24   9 45.14    9 24.4   5.324   6.138   141   17.0     11.2 269.6  21:36 (180, 46)

* 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. 17   8  7.85  -10 16.3   0.999   1.763   124   17.0      8.3  93.1  20:27 (180, 65)  
Mar. 24   8 12.73  -10 17.0   1.039   1.762   119   17.0     12.3  89.2  20:05 (180, 65)

* 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. 17  13  9.95    3 26.5   1.508   2.464   159   17.0     11.7 303.4   1:32 (180, 52)  
Mar. 24  13  5.07    4 10.6   1.515   2.493   165   17.1     12.6 299.0   1:00 (180, 51)

* 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. 17   9 57.48   32 17.3   2.289   3.115   139   17.2     23.3 226.2  22:16 (180, 23)  
Mar. 24   9 49.15   30 23.0   2.388   3.158   133   17.4     21.3 219.8  21:40 (180, 25)

* 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. 17  10 28.61   14 27.7   1.214   2.164   156   17.3      9.0 243.2  22:47 (180, 41)  
Mar. 24  10 25.31   13 56.0   1.257   2.175   149   17.4      7.4 228.0  22:16 (180, 41)

* 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. 17   7 35.07   31 21.2   3.802   4.299   113   17.3      1.6 213.8  19:54 (180, 24)  
Mar. 24   7 35.06   31 11.0   3.890   4.286   106   17.3      1.8 153.2  19:30 (179, 24)

* (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. 17  10  6.91   -5  5.0  12.317  13.220   154   17.5      3.2 290.9  22:26 (180, 60)  
Mar. 24  10  5.58   -4 56.9  12.361  13.218   148   17.5      2.9 293.7  21:57 (180, 60)

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