Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Apr. 7: South)

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 Updated on April 8, 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/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )
It brightened rapidly between Mar. 29 and 20, and reached to 7 mag. Now it is diffused and may be fading a bit. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   6  0.28   -8 23.5   0.924   1.180    75    7.9     18.0 199.3  19:10 (123, 50)  
Apr. 14   5 57.96  -10 27.2   0.900   1.091    69    7.6     18.8 192.4  19:01 (115, 47)

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova
KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan, observed it at 10.5 mag by CCD on Apr. 4. It fades rapidly and reaches to 14 mag in late May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   2 28.44   14 26.3   1.334   0.556    22    9.0    109.6  68.4  19:10 (105, -5)  
Apr. 14   3 18.66   18 46.1   1.282   0.617    28   10.2    109.1  71.7  19:01 (113, -1)

* 24P/Schaumasse
Katsumi Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, observed it at 12 mag visually in mid March. It will be 10 mag in April and May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   4 37.91   27 26.7   1.525   1.251    54   10.8     49.8  73.7  19:10 (134, 10)  
Apr. 14   5  4.02   28 55.8   1.517   1.230    53   10.4     52.1  76.9  19:01 (136, 10)

* 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)  
Apr.  7  18 46.65   63 57.6   1.886   2.069    85   10.4     26.9  15.9   4:53 (186, -9)  
Apr. 14  18 53.17   66 47.1   1.990   2.148    84   10.7     23.0  10.6   4:58 (183,-12)

* 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)  
Apr.  7   0  4.41   -6 56.9   2.244   1.349    20   11.6     45.5  67.8   4:53 (277,  2)  
Apr. 14   0 23.57   -4 59.2   2.295   1.413    21   12.0     42.9  67.6   4:58 (274,  4)

* 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)  
Apr.  7   0 31.37   -1 11.8   4.069   3.094    11   12.7     10.4 121.0   4:53 (276, -7)  
Apr. 14   0 35.50   -1 50.6   4.040   3.098    17   12.7     10.5 123.2   4:58 (273, -1)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
It is observable as 13.5 mag until May. It was reported as 12-13 mag recently. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  15 46.36   33 38.0   2.640   3.308   124   13.3     30.6 278.1   2:46 (180, 21)  
Apr. 14  15 28.71   33 58.3   2.620   3.335   128   13.3     32.4 272.8   2:01 (180, 21)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  19 15.49  -27 58.0   5.865   5.959    90   13.7      4.2  87.7   4:53 (254, 71)  
Apr. 14  19 17.40  -27 57.3   5.751   5.956    96   13.6      3.1  89.4   4:58 (240, 77)

* 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)  
Apr.  7  20 59.75  -68 36.2   3.143   3.235    86   14.1     21.4 103.6   4:53 (337, 48)  
Apr. 14  21 26.34  -69  6.8   3.081   3.221    88   14.0     20.6 101.4   4:58 (338, 48)

* 144P/Kushida
Not observable until December when it becomes fainter than 17.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   2 17.05   14 33.8   2.604   1.695    19   14.8     39.8  72.9  19:10 (103, -7)  
Apr. 14   2 35.80   15 53.8   2.585   1.656    17   14.5     41.0  74.1  19:01 (104, -8)

* 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)  
Apr.  7   1  7.75   10  9.8   3.391   2.393     3   14.7     30.3  62.5  19:10 ( 89,-19)  
Apr. 14   1 20.51   11 46.7   3.407   2.407     3   14.8     30.1  62.9   4:58 (268,-18)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
It hardly faded out since the perihelion passage in 2000 June. But no observation has been reported since Jan. 5. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   5 29.26  -36 41.3   4.287   4.153    75   14.7     20.9  26.4  19:10 ( 75, 57)  
Apr. 14   5 34.80  -34 34.5   4.379   4.192    72   14.8     20.2  29.9  19:01 ( 78, 54)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 16 mag until August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  10 46.98  -11 13.4   4.688   5.546   146   14.8     18.3 310.1  21:43 (180, 66)  
Apr. 14  10 40.69   -9 52.0   4.771   5.561   138   14.8     17.0 312.4  21:09 (180, 65)

* 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)  
Apr.  7   4 29.20  -74 40.0  13.249  13.237    87   14.8      3.9  39.7  19:10 ( 17, 42)  
Apr. 14   4 33.87  -74 19.9  13.272  13.281    88   14.8      3.9  46.4  19:01 ( 18, 42)

* 19P/Borrelly
In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn at 10 mag in late July, then reaches to 8 mag in autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   0  6.62  -23  9.7   2.957   2.187    33   15.3     33.2  67.2   4:53 (291, 11)  
Apr. 14   0 22.23  -21 37.8   2.878   2.136    35   15.0     34.0  67.0   4:58 (287, 13)

* 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)  
Apr.  7  11 33.59   12 27.5   2.653   3.558   150   15.1      7.4 281.4  22:29 (180, 43)  
Apr. 14  11 30.45   12 34.5   2.706   3.560   143   15.2      5.9 275.3  21:59 (180, 42)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
It is observable as 15.5 mag until autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  15 52.90   10 32.0   6.754   7.489   134   15.4      7.2 269.3   2:52 (180, 44)  
Apr. 14  15 49.32   10 30.2   6.708   7.503   139   15.4      7.9 267.0   2:21 (180, 44)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in July, but will be fainter than 17 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   0  3.74    6 43.4   4.047   3.090    14   15.4     23.6  76.0   4:53 (266, -6)  
Apr. 14   0 14.33    7 22.6   4.069   3.135    18   15.5     22.8  76.1   4:58 (262, -2)

* 51P/Harrington
It will appear at dawn in June at 14 mag, then will fade gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  22 43.77  -10  5.9   2.344   1.683    38   15.6     43.7  72.6   4:53 (268, 20)  
Apr. 14  23  3.57   -8 31.9   2.289   1.659    40   15.4     44.2  72.0   4:58 (265, 22)

* 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)  
Apr.  7   3  9.93   53 31.8   5.700   5.165    53   15.4     11.7  70.2  19:10 (142,-20)  
Apr. 14   3 18.84   54  0.4   5.740   5.149    49   15.4     12.3  69.6  19:01 (142,-21)

* 110P/Hartley 3
It is fading gradually since some time before the perihelion passage. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   5 14.60   24 21.2   2.777   2.478    62   15.6     24.1  93.6  19:10 (138, 17)  
Apr. 14   5 27.08   24  9.3   2.854   2.480    58   15.7     24.8  94.2  19:01 (137, 16)

* 33P/Daniel
Takaaki Oribe, Saji Observatory, observed its outburst on Mar. 21 at 15.9 mag. But now it is fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  11 31.49   35 47.8   2.256   3.021   132   16.4      9.5 232.2  22:27 (180, 19)  
Apr. 14  11 27.70   35  1.6   2.340   3.053   127   16.5      9.2 218.0  21:56 (180, 20)

* 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)  
Apr.  7  14 19.03  -14 22.5   4.797   5.747   159   16.5     11.0 253.3   1:19 (180, 69)  
Apr. 14  14 13.79  -14 44.1   4.738   5.723   167   16.5     11.6 254.9   0:46 (180, 70)

* 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)  
Apr.  7  16 21.70   31 51.8   6.532   7.072   119   16.6     12.7 324.7   3:21 (180, 23)  
Apr. 14  16 17.37   33  2.5   6.515   7.094   121   16.6     12.8 319.9   2:49 (180, 22)

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )
It bursted out in mid February and reached to 15 mag, but now it is fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   9 50.46   10 12.3   3.108   3.818   129   16.6      1.7 298.1  20:47 (180, 45)  
Apr. 14   9 50.16   10 15.9   3.208   3.836   122   16.7      0.3  44.2  20:19 (180, 45)

* P/2001 BB50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
New periodic comet. It is at peak in April, then begins to fade after May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  13 54.58  -21 43.1   1.449   2.416   160   16.6      9.6 250.3   0:54 (180, 77)  
Apr. 14  13 49.80  -22  1.7   1.444   2.430   166   16.7     10.1 257.9   0:22 (180, 77)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  17 55.48  -17 35.3  10.276  10.631   108   16.8      0.7   6.1   4:53 (181, 73)  
Apr. 14  17 55.36  -17 30.6  10.181  10.644   115   16.7      0.9 319.0   4:27 (180, 73)

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )
It is still bright. Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, Japan, observed it at 16.9 mag on Mar. 21. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  15 18.01    5  6.1   5.132   5.974   144   16.9     16.5 289.1   2:18 (180, 50)  
Apr. 14  15 10.50    5 42.8   5.100   5.994   150   16.9     17.2 287.2   1:43 (180, 49)

* P/2000 WT168
It will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   8 27.86  -10 11.7   1.131   1.767   111   17.0     19.3  88.9  19:25 (180, 65)  
Apr. 14   8 37.71  -10 10.0   1.181   1.774   108   17.1     22.2  89.8  19:07 (180, 65)

* C/2000 Y2
Fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   9 21.64    7 31.6   2.100   2.774   122   17.0      9.6  64.8  20:18 (180, 47)  
Apr. 14   9 26.20    7 56.9   2.175   2.779   117   17.1     11.1  73.6  19:55 (180, 47)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )
Recently it was 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   9 35.81    9 19.7   5.589   6.228   125   17.2      8.5 266.0  20:32 (180, 46)  
Apr. 14   9 32.15    9 14.6   5.738   6.274   118   17.3      7.1 263.0  20:01 (180, 46)

* 70P/Kojima
Recently it was 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7  12 54.51    5 25.1   1.567   2.554   167   17.3     11.9 291.5  23:50 (180, 50)  
Apr. 14  12 49.55    5 51.4   1.612   2.584   161   17.4     10.5 287.3  23:17 (180, 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)  
Apr.  7   9 37.96   26 36.2   2.626   3.245   120   17.3     17.5 205.3  20:34 (180, 29)  
Apr. 14   9 34.81   24 47.2   2.759   3.290   113   17.5     16.0 197.2  20:03 (180, 30)

* 65P/Gunn
Although it is around the aphelion now, it is observable as 17 mag in good condition until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr.  7   7 37.71   30 44.6   4.073   4.259    93   17.4      4.5 118.0  19:10 (172, 24)  
Apr. 14   7 40.28   30 28.9   4.166   4.245    87   17.4      5.9 113.3  19:01 (168, 23)

* (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)  
Apr.  7  10  3.40   -4 40.4  12.485  13.214   135   17.5      2.2 300.8  21:00 (180, 60)  
Apr. 14  10  2.60   -4 32.5  12.564  13.212   128   17.5      1.8 306.2  20:31 (180, 60)

* 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)  
Apr.  7  10 22.81   12 35.0   1.372   2.202   135   17.6      6.5 176.8  21:19 (180, 42)  
Apr. 14  10 23.68   11 47.0   1.441   2.217   129   17.8      7.9 155.6  20:52 (180, 43)

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.