Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Nov. 24: South)

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Updated on November 25, 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/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


It brightened rapidly in November. Now it is as bright as 6 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be unobservable after mid December until late February when it appears at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24   2 31.12   26 28.1   0.374   1.343   159    5.1    181.5 215.9  22:12 (180, 30)  
Dec.  1   1 33.43    4 56.6   0.318   1.230   134    4.4    245.7 210.6  20:47 (180, 52)  

* 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. 24  11 15.71   31 55.0   1.308   1.577    85   11.1     36.7  73.5   3:00 (228,  2)  
Dec.  1  11 34.44   33  9.2   1.299   1.617    88   11.3     34.2  71.2   2:55 (226,  2)  

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


New periodic comet. It bursted out and reached to 10 mag, then fade a bit to 11 mag. Very diffused. 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. 24  18 32.44   67 57.2   0.974   1.421    92   11.3     27.2 198.6  20:33 (153,-34)  
Dec.  1  18 24.89   65 21.9   1.045   1.436    89   11.6     19.3 193.7  20:42 (149,-37)  

* 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. 24  21 36.23  -28 50.4   1.061   1.257    75   12.6     52.7  77.9  20:33 ( 85, 50)  
Dec.  1  22  3.92  -27 18.6   1.071   1.254    75   12.6     55.1  74.5  20:42 ( 86, 47)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at 13 mag until 2002 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  23 28.64   57 33.2   3.244   3.824   119   12.8     13.5 247.1  20:33 (169, -4)  
Dec.  1  23 18.95   56 54.5   3.279   3.801   114   12.8     11.5 240.7  20:42 (163, -6)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It bursted out in early November. Now it is 13 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  19 10.75  -25 22.7   6.551   5.884    44   13.9     10.3  78.2  20:33 ( 72, 19)  
Dec.  1  19 16.09  -25  7.5   6.623   5.882    38   13.9     10.8  78.2  20:42 ( 68, 13)  

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTERS )


New comet. Now it is at the peak and will fade out after this. Because it moves southwards, Northern people can observe it only until mid December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  18 18.94   22  7.7   1.414   1.166    54   13.9     78.7 149.8  20:33 (104,-18)  
Dec.  1  18 36.98   14 41.0   1.509   1.125    48   13.9     68.6 150.2  20:42 ( 95,-17)  

* 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. 24  18  9.26  -48 54.8   1.831   1.224    38   14.6     19.5  70.7  20:33 ( 44, 20)  
Dec.  1  18 23.01  -48  6.1   1.743   1.091    34   14.0     22.0  70.2  20:42 ( 42, 17)  

* 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. 24  21 15.98  -51 59.3   4.149   3.880    67   14.2      3.9 330.0  20:33 ( 49, 49)  
Dec.  1  21 15.13  -51 36.0   4.288   3.919    61   14.4      3.3 354.0  20:42 ( 49, 43)  

* 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. 24  22 34.50  -47 53.7   3.520   3.499    80   14.7     21.1  19.2  20:33 ( 52, 62)  
Dec.  1  22 39.58  -45 35.4   3.625   3.528    76   14.8     21.1  22.3  20:42 ( 59, 57)  

* 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. 24  10 58.86   71 21.8   4.575   4.920   104   14.7      9.5  55.6   3:00 (197,-24)  
Dec.  1  11  9.71   71 60.0   4.534   4.922   107   14.7      8.8  50.3   2:55 (196,-23)  

* 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. 24   7 56.83   25 20.1   0.765   1.560   125   15.4     30.2  76.2   3:00 (192, 29)  
Dec.  1   8 11.84   26 14.4   0.705   1.532   129   15.2     29.7  73.5   2:55 (189, 28)  

* P/2001 Q2 ( Petriew )


Fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  10 27.55   -7 44.2   1.278   1.481    80   15.3     21.4 131.7   3:00 (251, 38)  
Dec.  1  10 34.20   -9 18.5   1.277   1.547    85   15.8     17.6 136.2   2:55 (249, 42)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps the same brightness until 2002 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  13 33.67   -6 11.0   5.334   4.595    37   16.3      7.9 151.4   3:00 (278, -1)  
Dec.  1  13 35.28   -6 58.7   5.296   4.641    44   16.3      7.3 155.6   2:55 (276,  4)  

* 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. 24  20  8.91   20 14.9   3.977   3.817    73   16.3     11.3 187.0  20:33 (118,  4)  
Dec.  1  20  8.59   19  0.8   4.034   3.769    67   16.3     10.0 179.6  20:42 (112, -2)  

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )


It had been in the southern sky, but appearing at dawn also in the Northern Hemisphere. It keeps the same brightness until 2002 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  12 15.16  -23  7.6   3.014   2.523    51   16.4      5.5 257.9   3:00 (282, 24)  
Dec.  1  12 11.88  -23 14.6   2.932   2.564    58   16.4      7.6 263.8   2:55 (279, 29)  

* 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. 24  11 24.96   14 38.6   3.816   3.700    75   16.5     11.9 101.6   3:00 (242, 12)  
Dec.  1  11 30.35   14 23.9   3.695   3.681    81   16.4     10.8  99.5   2:55 (239, 15)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


Fading out slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  20 51.03   -0 49.6   7.270   7.060    73   16.4      3.8  62.2  20:33 (108, 25)  
Dec.  1  20 52.76   -0 36.3   7.423   7.106    67   16.5      4.5  63.3  20:42 (103, 18)  

* 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. 24   5  9.60   13 13.3   1.180   2.139   161   16.5     12.2 257.6   0:59 (180, 42)  
Dec.  1   5  3.66   12 57.7   1.195   2.169   167   16.6     12.9 261.9   0:25 (180, 42)  

* 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. 24   6 14.05   14 21.8   1.810   2.693   147   16.5      8.2 260.9   2:03 (180, 41)  
Dec.  1   6  9.65   14 14.4   1.791   2.716   154   16.6     10.1 265.5   1:31 (180, 41)  

* 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. 24  22  2.87   22 17.8   1.546   1.954    98   16.7     22.5 266.6  20:33 (139, 21)  
Dec.  1  21 52.79   22 12.1   1.586   1.873    90   16.7     17.6 269.4  20:42 (130, 14)  

* 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. 24   7 22.56  -20 48.6   5.107   5.599   115   16.8      8.1 274.8   3:00 (190, 76)  
Dec.  1   7 18.26  -20 40.8   5.079   5.646   120   16.8      9.3 279.7   2:39 (180, 76)  

* 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. 24  21 57.49  -17 14.5   1.448   1.662    83   17.0     26.3  58.3  20:33 (104, 48)  
Dec.  1  22  9.04  -15 33.4   1.470   1.620    79   16.9     29.2  59.1  20:42 (102, 43)  

* 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. 24  10 48.06    2 39.4   6.355   6.249    79   17.0      3.3 320.5   3:00 (245, 27)  
Dec.  1  10 46.82    2 58.9   6.252   6.276    86   16.9      4.5 313.3   2:55 (240, 31)  

* 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. 24   1 18.09   22 28.5   4.116   4.938   142   17.0      7.6 257.1  21:03 (180, 33)  
Dec.  1   1 14.63   22 16.9   4.129   4.879   135   17.0      6.4 255.7  20:42 (177, 33)  

* (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. 24   3 25.62   37 47.8   1.132   2.092   161   17.1     41.2 251.3  23:09 (180, 17)  
Dec.  1   3  2.91   35 57.8   1.108   2.050   156   17.1     42.3 245.3  22:19 (180, 19)  

* 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. 24  11 39.16   -6 54.2   3.162   2.871    64   17.2     18.8 124.4   3:00 (262, 23)  
Dec.  1  11 46.16   -8  7.2   3.093   2.890    69   17.2     17.6 125.8   2:55 (261, 27)  

* 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. 24   1 21.30   25 37.3   1.522   2.390   143   17.2      5.0 212.1  21:07 (180, 29)  
Dec.  1   1 20.69   25  9.7   1.599   2.415   137   17.3      3.7 175.9  20:42 (179, 30)  

* 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. 24   5 28.06   30  0.6   1.908   2.846   157   17.2     12.6 262.4   1:17 (180, 25)  
Dec.  1   5 21.05   29 46.6   1.914   2.880   165   17.3     13.6 260.2   0:43 (180, 25)  

* 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. 24   0 48.42  -13 54.9   1.433   2.128   121   17.4     17.1   9.3  20:34 (180, 69)  
Dec.  1   0 50.43  -11 54.1   1.500   2.135   116   17.5     18.4  17.7  20:42 (160, 66)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Appearing at dawn. It will be 12.4 mag in 2003 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  11 54.20  -12  3.7   6.616   6.165    58   17.5      2.9 164.2   3:00 (269, 23)  
Dec.  1  11 54.37  -12 23.0   6.454   6.115    65   17.4      2.7 182.6   2:55 (266, 27)  

* 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. 24   1 19.13   -4 11.4   1.790   2.574   133   17.5     11.0 335.6  21:05 (180, 59)  
Dec.  1   1 17.61   -2 57.8   1.841   2.561   127   17.5     11.1 350.1  20:42 (177, 58)  

* 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. 24   5 12.18   67 55.7   1.900   2.656   131   17.6     15.4 310.8   1:02 (180,-13)  
Dec.  1   4 55.92   68 55.8   1.843   2.614   132   17.5     15.5 297.4   0:18 (180,-14)  

* 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. 24   9 28.65   15 43.2   3.067   3.416   102   17.6      6.7  98.8   3:00 (219, 30)  
Dec.  1   9 31.44   15 38.2   2.968   3.414   108   17.5      4.9  94.5   2:55 (214, 32)  

* 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. 24   1 36.47    0 57.1   4.003   4.803   140   17.5      4.8 231.6  21:22 (180, 54)  
Dec.  1   1 35.01    0 39.1   4.134   4.858   132   17.7      3.3 228.8  20:53 (180, 54)  

* 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. 24   6 25.31   27 43.5   2.518   3.381   145   17.7      7.4 282.4   2:14 (180, 27)  
Dec.  1   6 20.99   27 54.2   2.443   3.357   153   17.5      9.3 279.1   1:42 (180, 27)  

* 151P/2001 M1 ( Helin )


It rapidly brightened and reached to 17 mag in October. Although now it should be fading out, it may keep 17 mag still now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 24  23 57.26   -5 39.8   1.998   2.579   115   17.8      9.8  63.0  20:33 (156, 58)  
Dec.  1   0  1.81   -5  5.5   2.089   2.591   109   18.0     11.9  63.3  20:42 (143, 55)  

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