Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Aug. 4: North)

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Updated on August 5, 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 bursted out and reached to 4.5-5.0 mag on July 12, then it faded to 7.5-8.0 mag now. It will fade out rapidly after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  20 41.18   21 23.9   0.573   1.504   141    8.1     39.6 271.5  23:46 (  0, 76)  
Aug. 11  20 24.69   21 11.0   0.681   1.600   140    8.7     27.2 261.4  23:03 (  0, 76)  

* 19P/Borrelly


It reaches to 8 mag in autumn. But it is 1.5 mag fainter than this ephemeris recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   5 12.42    7 59.3   1.753   1.441    55    9.7     48.0  69.4   3:35 (274, 19)  
Aug. 11   5 33.82    9 56.2   1.705   1.417    56    9.4     48.6  70.0   3:42 (274, 23)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. But it will not be observable soon in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   0 37.71  -31 50.1   2.626   3.350   128   12.3     34.9 208.4   3:35 (357, 23)  
Aug. 11   0 27.46  -35 26.2   2.590   3.376   134   12.3     36.7 212.6   3:10 (  0, 20)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Mitsunori Tsumura reported it is in outburst at 14.0 mag on July 14.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  18 44.33  -28 14.1   5.035   5.918   147   13.3      5.2 279.2  21:51 (  0, 27)  
Aug. 11  18 41.87  -28  7.8   5.097   5.915   140   13.3      4.3 283.2  21:21 (  0, 27)  

* 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)  
Aug.  4   8 45.84   15 44.5   2.505   1.492     2   13.3     47.3 106.3   3:35 (236,-17)  
Aug. 11   9  7.46   14  7.7   2.526   1.516     4   13.5     46.4 107.8   3:42 (239,-16)  

* 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)  
Aug.  4   0 32.73  -74  8.0   2.608   3.186   116   13.6      7.8 257.3   3:35 (359,-19)  
Aug. 11   0 17.98  -74 13.5   2.615   3.196   116   13.6      9.5 270.9   3:01 (  0,-19)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable brighter than 15 mag until the end of 2002. It is brighter than 14.0 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   2 18.39   41 35.4   4.254   4.295    85   14.5     14.9 359.6   3:35 (245, 67)  
Aug. 11   2 17.82   43 21.0   4.122   4.261    90   14.4     15.4 353.6   3:42 (235, 73)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


The brightening is slower than expected. It reaches to 6.5 mag in winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   4  0.52   48 45.0   3.195   2.944    66   14.6     13.3  76.6   3:35 (234, 49)  
Aug. 11   4  9.56   49  6.3   3.019   2.854    70   14.4     12.9  76.4   3:42 (233, 53)  

* 51P/Harrington


KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan, observed it at 15.1 mag on July 1.It will fade gradually after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   4  9.89   12 34.8   1.750   1.680    69   15.0     33.8  83.0   3:35 (279, 35)  
Aug. 11   4 25.51   12 59.8   1.724   1.706    71   15.1     31.9  84.5   3:42 (282, 39)  

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )


It reaches to 13.7 mag in November. It locates in the evening sky until 2002 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  18 26.95  -16 31.2   0.966   1.885   144   15.2     18.1 227.3  21:33 (  0, 38)  
Aug. 11  18 21.25  -17 59.3   0.956   1.829   136   15.0     16.2 217.6  21:00 (  0, 37)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


It was 15 mag in July, 1.5 mag brighter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  21 24.31   -2  6.7   5.348   6.327   163   15.1     10.5 277.7   0:35 (  0, 53)  
Aug. 11  21 19.45   -1 58.0   5.382   6.373   166   15.1     10.4 276.0   0:03 (  0, 53)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )


It will set in the evening sky soon, then appear in the morning sky at 16 mag in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  12 58.06   11 25.9   4.325   3.894    58   15.1     12.6 176.2  20:36 ( 87, 25)  
Aug. 11  12 58.74    9 59.8   4.465   3.934    52   15.2     12.2 170.6  20:26 ( 88, 20)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


Getting higher in the morning sky. 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)  
Aug.  4   6 47.82   63 32.1   5.532   4.960    51   15.2     16.2  73.4   3:35 (210, 29)  
Aug. 11   7  4.28   64  3.5   5.477   4.953    54   15.1     16.1  74.0   3:42 (211, 31)  

* 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)  
Aug.  4   6 13.01  -74 49.0  13.846  13.982    95   15.2      4.4 135.0   3:35 (342,-33)  
Aug. 11   6 18.40  -75 11.8  13.902  14.025    94   15.2      4.4 140.0   3:42 (343,-31)  

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )


In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable, will appear at dawn in November at 16.5 mag and fade.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  12 14.76  -28  7.2   2.378   2.173    66   15.3     14.9 340.8  20:36 ( 61, -7)  
Aug. 11  12 12.81  -26 39.2   2.519   2.174    58   15.4     11.5 346.7  20:26 ( 64,-10)  

* 16P/Brooks 2


Yusuke Ezaki observed it at 16.8 mag on July 14. It will keep the current brightness until October. Not yet observed in this return. It appears at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   3 32.14   16 34.5   1.781   1.840    76   15.4     31.8  82.0   3:35 (282, 45)  
Aug. 11   3 47.21   17  1.1   1.728   1.845    80   15.3     30.5  83.8   3:42 (285, 49)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since 2001 Feb. 3.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   4 36.87   30 42.1   3.076   2.716    60   15.7     20.5  71.4   3:35 (256, 38)  
Aug. 11   4 47.20   31 26.7   3.021   2.739    64   15.8     19.4  71.2   3:42 (257, 43)  

* 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)  
Aug.  4  14 57.39    3 21.3   7.707   7.759    89   15.8      6.3 190.8  20:36 ( 57, 43)  
Aug. 11  14 57.04    2 38.1   7.835   7.777    82   15.9      6.2 182.8  20:26 ( 60, 39)  

* C/2001 K3 ( Skiff )


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)  
Aug.  4  20  7.44   13  4.9   2.321   3.222   147   15.9     17.5 302.2  23:14 (  0, 68)  
Aug. 11  20  0.62   14  3.5   2.367   3.244   144   16.0     15.5 299.0  22:39 (  0, 69)  

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


Fading out gradually. It locates in the northern sky and the northern people can observe it until it disappears. It keeps still 14.0 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  16 28.36   68  0.7   3.370   3.384    82   15.9     13.9 170.4  20:36 (170, 56)  
Aug. 11  16 32.01   66 23.7   3.439   3.459    82   16.1     14.5 164.9  20:26 (166, 57)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It reaches to 15 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)  
Aug.  4  15  5.07  -16  3.6   5.904   6.106    96   16.2      4.8  17.2  20:36 ( 40, 29)  
Aug. 11  15  6.02  -15 32.9   5.993   6.079    90   16.2      4.8  30.7  20:26 ( 44, 27)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach


Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since 200 Sept. 20.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   4 46.66   17 33.0   2.762   2.408    59   16.2     24.8  86.9   3:35 (269, 30)  
Aug. 11   4 58.59   17 39.9   2.703   2.421    63   16.3     23.9  88.4   3:42 (272, 35)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3


Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since 2001 Jan. 4.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   3 32.13   11 20.8   2.418   2.425    78   16.3     11.3  79.3   3:35 (287, 41)  
Aug. 11   3 36.91   11 33.2   2.379   2.482    83   16.5      9.0  80.9   3:42 (294, 47)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since Aug. 23, 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   4 31.90   27 41.0   2.630   2.321    61   16.6     23.2  79.5   3:35 (260, 38)  
Aug. 11   4 43.59   28  8.2   2.586   2.352    65   16.6     21.8  80.4   3:42 (262, 43)  

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )


No observations reported since 2001 Jan. 15. It will fade out gradually then it will be fainter than 18 mag in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4   2  6.51   11  1.6   3.659   3.937    98   16.7      5.6 119.9   3:35 (310, 57)  
Aug. 11   2  8.45   10 39.5   3.610   3.991   104   16.8      4.8 137.0   3:42 (323, 61)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron


Fading very slowly. It will be around 17 mag for a year after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  17 31.95  -16 59.6  10.169  10.865   131   16.8      1.9 262.5  20:39 (  0, 38)  
Aug. 11  17 31.15  -17  1.6  10.273  10.878   124   16.8      1.4 256.9  20:26 (  5, 38)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be 14.5 mag in 2002 July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  4  22 31.11   40 42.8   4.047   4.611   117   17.2     19.0 274.8   1:42 (180, 84)  
Aug. 11  22 18.93   40 46.8   3.934   4.559   122   17.1     20.6 268.8   1:02 (180, 84)  

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