Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 May 26: North)

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 Updated on June 3, 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/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )
It is brightening rapidly after the nucleus splitted. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until it appears at dawn as 4 mag in late June. In the Southern Hemisphere, now it is a naked-eye object. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26   5 18.31  -25 45.1   0.543   0.780    49    4.2     44.3 246.3  20:46 ( 81,-35)  
June  2   4 52.20  -27 17.5   0.462   0.796    49    3.9     60.7 262.5  20:53 ( 87,-48)

* 24P/Schaumasse
Diffused and hard to see. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26   8  8.84   29 42.4   1.536   1.243    53   11.2     60.1 100.3  20:46 (107, 29)  
June  2   8 40.10   28 12.4   1.561   1.269    54   11.6     59.9 103.9  20:53 (106, 28)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It locates good position, however it is getting diffused and will not be obervable soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  18 12.08   76 33.2   2.584   2.618    80   12.3     10.6 297.7   1:59 (180, 48)  
June  2  17 52.27   76 55.7   2.674   2.696    80   12.5     10.0 279.3   1:12 (180, 48)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. 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)  
May  26   0 56.42   -7 22.9   3.610   3.152    55   12.6     12.3 154.2   3:07 (280,  1)  
June  2   0 58.69   -8 45.6   3.505   3.166    62   12.5     13.3 161.3   3:03 (284,  4)

* 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)  
May  26   2  1.07  -11 26.8   2.398   1.838    45   13.0     39.6  66.8   3:07 (274,-15)  
June  2   2 18.55   -9 36.1   2.322   1.791    47   12.7     40.5  66.9   3:03 (273,-12)

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova
It was observed at 12 mag visually in mid May. Now it is fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26   7 57.49   23 54.4   1.514   1.194    51   12.7     68.6 100.0  20:46 (103, 25)  
June  2   8 29.74   22 21.3   1.621   1.292    52   13.2     61.3 103.2  20:53 (102, 23)

* 144P/2000 O2 ( 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)  
May  26   4 45.31   21 47.6   2.476   1.479     7   13.2     47.5  84.6  20:46 (128,-12)  
June  2   5  9.34   22 11.8   2.463   1.461     6   13.1     48.2  86.8  20:53 (130,-14)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan, caught the outburst on May 17. It is now bright at 12 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  19 16.22  -28 11.4   5.151   5.939   137   13.4      3.7 261.2   3:02 (  0, 27)  
June  2  19 14.04  -28 15.3   5.079   5.937   144   13.3      4.6 263.1   2:33 (  0, 27)

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )
It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere until when it locates low in the evening sky at 15 mag in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  23 46.46  -70 37.7   2.788   3.165   102   13.7     13.3  97.2   3:07 (340,-26)  
June  2   0  3.90  -70 49.5   2.753   3.160   104   13.7     11.7  99.3   3:03 (341,-25)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
It is much brighter visually, around 12 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  13 46.35   28 37.5   2.913   3.520   119   13.8     28.0 238.8  21:28 (  0, 83)  
June  2  13 34.63   26 52.2   3.025   3.554   113   13.9     25.7 233.1  20:53 (  5, 82)

* 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)  
May  26   1 57.39    4 22.8   2.519   1.809    36   14.1     30.0  69.8   3:07 (261, -5)  
June  2   2 10.19    5 31.9   2.537   1.874    39   14.4     28.1  70.5   3:03 (262, -2)

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )
In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable, will appear at dawn in November at 16.5 mag and fade. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates high. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  17  9.32  -56 10.3   1.431   2.323   143   14.4     75.5 256.9   0:59 (  0, -1)  
June  2  16  3.29  -56 52.2   1.393   2.296   144   14.3     79.7 272.5  23:13 (  0, -2)

* 51P/Harrington
Appearing at dawn. It will fade gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26   1  3.59    1 28.7   2.023   1.572    49   14.4     45.0  72.0   3:07 (271,  5)  
June  2   1 23.53    3  4.2   1.989   1.569    51   14.4     44.6  72.6   3:03 (271,  6)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It reaches to 13.5 mag in 2002 summer, and keeps observable for a long while. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  15 23.35  -23 43.1   5.396   6.392   168   14.7     10.6 315.3  23:06 (  0, 31)  
June  2  15 19.67  -22 50.2   5.394   6.363   161   14.7     10.4 317.0  22:35 (  0, 32)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
It hardly faded out since the perihelion passage in 2000 June, and still keeps 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26   6 11.65  -24 57.3   4.946   4.436    54   14.9     15.9  50.6  20:46 ( 75,-24)  
June  2   6 17.96  -23 50.6   5.033   4.478    51   15.0     15.2  54.0  20:53 ( 80,-29)

* 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)  
May  26   5  8.78  -73 11.2  13.425  13.547    94   15.0      4.1  83.2  20:46 ( 20,-41)  
June  2   5 15.36  -73  9.2  13.456  13.591    95   15.0      4.1  88.7  20:53 ( 19,-43)

* 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)  
May  26   2 37.11   20 31.9   3.414   2.504    22   15.2     27.8  66.3   3:07 (243, -3)  
June  2   2 49.78   21 48.2   3.399   2.522    25   15.2     27.3  66.9   3:03 (243,  0)

* 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)  
May  26  10 18.65   -3 15.7   5.522   5.663    92   15.2      7.8 335.0  20:46 ( 54, 36)  
June  2  10 17.42   -2 29.1   5.666   5.681    85   15.3      6.6 342.2  20:53 ( 62, 30)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
Although it is low right now, 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)  
May  26   4 23.27   57 28.0   5.841   5.062    36   15.4     15.1  68.8  20:46 (155, 12)  
June  2   4 35.75   58  6.2   5.835   5.049    35   15.4     15.4  69.0   3:03 (203, 11)

* 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)  
May  26  15 23.65    9 17.0   6.719   7.592   147   15.4      9.6 250.4  23:06 (  0, 64)  
June  2  15 19.45    8 52.6   6.772   7.608   143   15.5      9.4 246.8  22:34 (  0, 64)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh
It is observable in the evening sky until July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  11 28.37   11  8.5   3.202   3.575   103   15.6      6.1 134.4  20:46 ( 48, 58)  
June  2  11 30.82   10 36.5   3.301   3.578    97   15.7      7.7 129.5  20:53 ( 57, 52)

* C/2001 K3 ( Skiff )
New comet. It is observable at 16 mag in good condition until late August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  20 59.38   -5 23.0   2.593   3.072   108   15.9     18.1 356.1   3:07 (325, 43)  
June  2  20 58.25   -3 15.6   2.516   3.081   114   15.9     18.6 348.8   3:03 (332, 48)

* 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)  
May  26  13 41.59  -16 39.5   4.750   5.604   144   16.4      9.9 253.8  21:24 (  0, 38)  
June  2  13 37.22  -16 59.1   4.800   5.583   136   16.4      8.9 251.2  20:53 (  0, 38)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
Appearing at dawn. It will fade out gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  21 57.71   -5 58.9   5.690   5.872    95   16.4      5.5 339.0   3:07 (310, 35)  
June  2  21 56.51   -5 24.2   5.621   5.917   102   16.4      5.7 326.7   3:03 (316, 39)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  17 48.91  -17  7.0   9.796  10.733   156   16.7      3.6 277.0   1:35 (  0, 38)  
June  2  17 47.10  -17  4.1   9.771  10.747   163   16.7      3.8 275.7   1:06 (  0, 38)

* P/2001 K1 ( NEAT )
New periodic comet. It will fade out after this and be fainter than 18 mag in August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  15 22.81   -4 50.4   1.805   2.778   159   16.7     12.3 248.8  23:05 (  0, 50)  
June  2  15 17.76   -5 24.4   1.851   2.798   154   16.8     11.3 242.3  22:33 (  0, 50)

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )
Fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  14 23.15    8  6.0   5.304   6.119   140   17.0     15.3 275.1  22:05 (  0, 63)  
June  2  14 16.23    8 12.8   5.399   6.141   133   17.1     14.1 272.6  21:31 (  0, 63)

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )
Fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  26  15 43.30   38  2.5   6.661   7.228   120   17.1     11.0 291.1  23:25 (180, 87)  
June  2  15 37.27   38 26.3   6.725   7.251   117   17.1     10.4 286.0  22:52 (180, 87)

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