Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Nov. 10: North)

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 Updated on November 14, 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/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It was 10 mag in October and brightened from 9 to 8 mag in early November. It is brightening rapidly and will be 6.5 mag in late November. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable after mid December until late February when it appears at dawn at 9 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   3 59.62   45 36.6   0.631   1.565   148    9.1     60.7 232.4   0:45 (180, 79)  
Nov. 17   3 21.46   39 13.6   0.487   1.455   159    8.3    106.5 224.5  23:30 (180, 87)

* 19P/Borrelly
It has passed the peak and is fading now. It is observable in good condition until to fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  10 34.67   29 35.9   1.332   1.504    79   10.8     41.3  76.2   5:02 (271, 61)  
Nov. 17  10 55.74   30 44.4   1.319   1.539    82   10.9     39.1  75.2   5:08 (271, 64)

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )
New periodic comet. It bursted out and reached to 10 mag. It is fading after this, but keeps observable for a while in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  19 24.84   75 41.6   0.831   1.408   100   10.9     49.0 217.9  18:25 (168, 46)  
Nov. 17  18 48.41   71 24.5   0.902   1.412    96   11.1     37.0 205.6  18:21 (159, 45)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable at 12.5 mag until 2002 September. It is actually around 13.0 mag 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  23 54.58   58 32.9   3.202   3.873   126   12.3     17.0 260.6  20:34 (180, 66)  
Nov. 17  23 40.56   58  7.4   3.218   3.848   123   12.3     15.4 253.7  19:53 (180, 67)

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )
It became brighter than expected and reached to 12 mag. It will keep the current brightness until mid December. 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)  
Nov. 10  20 43.18  -30 36.7   1.048   1.280    77   12.7     46.9  85.3  18:25 ( 14, 23)  
Nov. 17  21  9.18  -29 56.2   1.054   1.265    76   12.7     50.0  81.5  18:21 ( 13, 24)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
It was observed at 11.5 mag visually in late August, but now it is not in outburst. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  19  0.87  -25 50.9   6.383   5.888    56   13.8      9.1  77.9  18:25 ( 38, 18)  
Nov. 17  19  5.66  -25 37.1   6.470   5.886    50   13.8      9.8  78.1  18:21 ( 42, 16)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. Northern people can never see it again. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  21 21.93  -52 46.5   3.855   3.803    79   13.9      6.8 298.2  18:25 (  3,  2)  
Nov. 17  21 18.17  -52 23.2   4.005   3.842    73   14.1      5.1 311.6  18:21 (  7,  2)

* P/2001 Q2 ( Petriew )
Fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  10  9.14   -4  5.8   1.266   1.352    72   14.3     28.8 126.2   5:02 (321, 43)  
Nov. 17  10 19.18   -5 59.8   1.275   1.416    76   14.8     25.1 128.5   5:08 (329, 44)

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )
It appears low in the evening sky from December to January even in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  22 26.26  -52 37.5   3.320   3.444    88   14.5     21.0  12.0  19:08 (  0,  3)  
Nov. 17  22 30.01  -50 14.7   3.418   3.471    84   14.6     21.1  15.7  18:44 (  0,  5)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
It is observable until 2002 autumn at 15 mag. But it is as faint as 16 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  10 33.88   70 11.1   4.671   4.916    98   14.8     10.9  63.7   5:02 (197, 50)  
Nov. 17  10 46.87   70 45.5   4.621   4.918   101   14.7     10.2  60.0   5:08 (195, 51)

* 96P/Machholz 1
Not yet observed in this return. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the evening sky until mid December when it will be 12 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears after perihelion passage, late January, but will be fainter than 12 mag. So visual observation will be impossible. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  17 45.91  -50 21.3   1.955   1.467    46   15.5     15.3  66.6  18:25 ( 34,-10)  
Nov. 17  17 56.90  -49 38.7   1.901   1.349    42   15.1     17.3  69.5  18:21 ( 36,-11)

* 2001 TX16
New asteroid. It will approach to the earth and reach to 13.8 mag in January and February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   7 26.10   23 54.3   0.902   1.623   118   15.9     30.8  80.1   4:09 (  0, 79)  
Nov. 17   7 41.55   24 33.8   0.830   1.590   121   15.7     30.6  78.4   3:57 (  0, 80)

* 16P/Brooks 2
Although it has been 16 mag since July, it will fade out after this and will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   5 19.09   13 59.0   1.183   2.082   146   16.2      8.2 242.4   2:03 (  0, 69)  
Nov. 17   5 14.90   13 34.1   1.176   2.110   154   16.3     10.6 251.8   1:31 (  0, 69)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
After the small outburst up to 15 mag in July, it is fading out slowly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  20 48.68   -1 10.4   6.954   6.969    86   16.3      2.1  53.3  18:25 ( 22, 52)  
Nov. 17  20 49.66   -1  0.9   7.113   7.015    80   16.4      2.9  59.6  18:21 ( 31, 50)

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )
It will be 14.5 mag in 2002 July. Although it will be unobesrvable in January, it will appear again at dawn soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  20 11.99   23  7.9   3.856   3.913    85   16.4     14.3 199.9  18:25 ( 65, 67)  
Nov. 17  20 10.00   21 37.4   3.917   3.865    79   16.3     12.7 193.8  18:21 ( 70, 61)

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach
It was reported at 17.8 mag in October, a bit fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   6 19.52   14 46.4   1.880   2.650   132   16.5      3.7 234.1   3:03 (  0, 70)  
Nov. 17   6 17.41   14 32.5   1.840   2.671   139   16.5      6.0 252.8   2:34 (  0, 70)

* 2001 OG108
New asteroid with 50-year period. It closes to the earth down to 0.55 AU in 2001 April and reaches to 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  22 30.82   22 45.6   1.475   2.115   116   16.6     33.1 266.3  19:11 (  0, 78)  
Nov. 17  22 15.49   22 30.2   1.507   2.035   107   16.7     27.7 265.8  18:28 (  0, 77)

* 65P/Gunn
It will be 15 mag in next spring at opposition. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  11 12.88   15 19.8   4.051   3.739    64   16.7     13.7 104.5   5:02 (286, 46)  
Nov. 17  11 19.12   14 57.4   3.935   3.720    70   16.6     12.9 103.2   5:08 (292, 52)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
No observations reported recently. However, it had been hardly fading for almost one year after the perihelion passage in 2000 July, and was bright at 15 mag in 2001 May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   7 29.41  -20 47.7   5.182   5.506   104   16.7      5.6 262.6   4:13 (  0, 34)  
Nov. 17   7 26.30  -20 50.6   5.141   5.553   109   16.7      6.9 269.3   3:42 (  0, 34)

* 51P/Harrington
It bursted out in late September, with about 3 mag amplitude, and reached to 14 mag. Then it is fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   5 50.58   12 45.3   1.338   2.183   138   16.9      9.1 273.0   2:35 (  0, 68)  
Nov. 17   5 45.49   12 50.8   1.332   2.226   146   17.4     12.2 275.2   2:02 (  0, 68)

* P/2001 Q5 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
New periodic comet. It will fade out after this and will be fainter than 18 mag in late December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   1 26.99   26 38.7   1.399   2.340   156   16.9      9.2 242.3  22:07 (  0, 82)  
Nov. 17   1 23.41   26  7.8   1.455   2.364   150   17.1      7.1 231.1  21:36 (  0, 81)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
It will keep 17 mag until 2002 March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  10 49.03    2 10.3   6.551   6.197    64   17.0      1.7 359.0   5:02 (305, 42)  
Nov. 17  10 48.79    2 23.3   6.455   6.223    72   17.0      2.3 333.8   5:08 (314, 48)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will be 10.5 mag in 2003 February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   1 26.57   22 51.9   4.127   5.055   157   17.1      9.3 260.5  22:07 (  0, 78)  
Nov. 17   1 22.11   22 40.5   4.115   4.996   150   17.1      8.6 258.7  21:35 (  0, 78)

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )
New periodic comet. It will reach to 16 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  21 38.37  -20 11.6   1.397   1.749    92   17.2     19.9  54.9  18:25 (  1, 35)  
Nov. 17  21 47.23  -18 47.1   1.423   1.704    88   17.1     23.2  57.0  18:21 (  6, 36)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2
Fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   5 39.72   30 15.1   1.934   2.779   141   17.1      8.7 267.0   2:24 (  0, 85)  
Nov. 17   5 34.40   30 10.0   1.915   2.812   149   17.1     10.9 264.7   1:51 (  0, 85)

* 110P/Hartley 3
It keeps 17 mag until 2002 February, but locates low in the south. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  11 23.59   -4 22.7   3.290   2.834    54   17.1     20.8 122.0   5:02 (303, 32)  
Nov. 17  11 31.62   -5 39.2   3.228   2.853    59   17.1     19.8 123.1   5:08 (309, 35)

* P/2001 R6 ( LINEAR-Skiff )
New periodic comet. It will fade out after this and will be fainter than 18 mag in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   0 48.60  -17 37.9   1.320   2.118   132   17.2     15.0 348.1  21:29 (  0, 38)  
Nov. 17   0 47.80  -15 50.3   1.373   2.122   127   17.3     16.0 359.3  21:01 (  0, 39)

* (3200) Phaethon
It will pass the perihelion in 2002 April. The condition in this return is bad. It is only observable at 17 mag at best before perihelion passage. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   4  9.55   39 46.7   1.237   2.166   152   17.5     33.0 263.6   0:55 (180, 85)  
Nov. 17   3 48.38   39  4.2   1.176   2.130   159   17.2     37.9 257.4   0:06 (180, 86)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It did not begin to fade out even after the perihelion passage. It had been at the conjunction for a while, and still keeps the brightness. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   1 41.04    1 49.7   3.777   4.694   155   17.3      7.5 232.7  22:21 (  0, 57)  
Nov. 17   1 38.50    1 20.6   3.884   4.749   147   17.4      6.2 232.6  21:51 (  0, 56)

* C/2001 K3 ( Skiff )
Fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  19 59.31   17 11.9   3.645   3.626    81   17.4     11.3  80.1  18:25 ( 59, 61)  
Nov. 17  20  5.02   17 27.3   3.758   3.662    76   17.5     12.4  78.5  18:21 ( 65, 58)

* P/2001 T3 ( NEAT )
New periodic comet. It will be fading after this and be fainter than 18 mag in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   1 25.68   -6 16.1   1.721   2.607   146   17.4     11.8 310.2  22:06 (  0, 49)  
Nov. 17   1 21.93   -5 18.4   1.753   2.593   140   17.5     11.2 322.0  21:35 (  0, 50)

* C/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )
Very diffused and hard to observe. Now it is very faint even by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  20 42.28   12 41.9   2.624   2.795    89   17.6     14.9  93.6  18:25 ( 35, 64)  
Nov. 17  20 49.51   12 38.1   2.795   2.881    84   17.8     15.4  90.5  18:21 ( 43, 62)

* 151P/2001 M1 ( Helin )
Although it rapidly brightened and reached to 17 mag, it will be fading out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  23 51.08   -6 27.2   1.833   2.560   127   17.6      4.9  62.7  20:32 (  0, 49)  
Nov. 17  23 53.66   -6  7.3   1.912   2.569   121   17.7      7.4  62.8  20:07 (  0, 49)

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2
It will be observable at 17 mag in January and February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   9 20.62   16  5.5   3.272   3.420    90   17.8     10.1 102.1   5:02 (320, 67)  
Nov. 17   9 25.03   15 52.4   3.169   3.418    96   17.7      8.5 101.0   5:08 (337, 70)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
Fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10  18 24.51   47 37.0   4.472   4.394    79   17.7     17.1 119.2  18:25 (125, 51)  
Nov. 17  18 34.81   46 41.6   4.567   4.464    77   17.8     16.9 116.1  18:21 (123, 49)

* 124P/Mrkos
It will be 15.5 mag in the evening sky in 2002 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   5 33.55   65  7.3   2.041   2.739   125   17.9     14.9 335.4   2:18 (180, 60)  
Nov. 17   5 24.79   66 37.6   1.966   2.698   128   17.8     15.2 323.4   1:42 (180, 58)

* 116P/Wild 4
It will be 10.5 mag in 2003 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 10   6 30.65   27 21.3   2.702   3.431   130   18.0      3.2 298.3   3:14 (  0, 82)  
Nov. 17   6 28.56   27 32.3   2.605   3.406   138   17.9      5.3 287.5   2:45 (  0, 83)

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