Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Dec. 1: South)

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Updated on December 3, 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 5.5 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)  
Dec.  1   1 33.43    4 56.6   0.318   1.230   134    4.9    245.7 210.6  20:47 (180, 52)  
Dec.  8   0 36.76  -18 45.3   0.340   1.116   103    4.7    209.1 211.2  20:50 (122, 66)  

* 19P/Borrelly


It has passed the peak and is fading now, but still bright. 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)  
Dec.  1  11 34.44   33  9.2   1.299   1.617    88   11.3     34.2  71.2   2:55 (226,  2)  
Dec.  8  11 51.77   34 28.3   1.292   1.659    92   11.6     31.5  68.0   2:53 (224,  2)  

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


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)  
Dec.  1  18 24.89   65 21.9   1.045   1.436    89   11.6     19.3 193.7  20:42 (149,-37)  
Dec.  8  18 21.42   63 32.8   1.113   1.457    87   11.9     12.7 189.5  20:50 (147,-42)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  22  3.92  -27 18.6   1.071   1.254    75   12.6     55.1  74.5  20:42 ( 86, 47)  
Dec.  8  22 31.82  -25 21.5   1.084   1.258    74   12.7     57.1  71.3  20:50 ( 88, 45)  

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )


New comet. It brightened a bit after the discovery and now it is 12 mag. 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)  
Dec.  1  18 36.96   14 41.1   1.495   1.114    48   12.8     68.6 150.3  20:42 ( 95,-17)  
Dec.  8  18 52.02    8 12.2   1.600   1.081    41   12.7     59.5 150.3  20:50 ( 87,-18)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  23 18.95   56 54.5   3.279   3.801   114   12.8     11.5 240.7  20:42 (163, -6)  
Dec.  8  23 11.44   56 14.9   3.321   3.779   110   12.8      9.5 234.2  20:50 (158, -8)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  18 23.01  -48  6.1   1.743   1.091    34   14.0     22.0  70.2  20:42 ( 42, 17)  
Dec.  8  18 38.20  -47  7.3   1.637   0.949    31   13.4     25.1  67.9  20:50 ( 41, 13)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Low in the evening sky. It will appear again at dawn in 2001 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  1  19 16.09  -25  7.5   6.623   5.882    38   13.9     10.8  78.2  20:42 ( 68, 13)  
Dec.  8  19 21.65  -24 51.6   6.686   5.880    32   13.9     11.2  78.1  20:50 ( 64,  7)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


Some reported it at 12 mag. Northern people can never see it again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  1  21 15.13  -51 36.0   4.288   3.919    61   14.4      3.3 354.0  20:42 ( 49, 43)  
Dec.  8  21 15.41  -51 14.0   4.418   3.959    56   14.5      3.2  19.3  20:50 ( 49, 38)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  11  9.71   71 60.0   4.534   4.922   107   14.7      8.8  50.3   2:55 (196,-23)  
Dec.  8  11 19.25   72 39.9   4.499   4.926   110   14.7      8.1  44.0   2:53 (194,-23)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  22 39.58  -45 35.4   3.625   3.528    76   14.8     21.1  22.3  20:42 ( 59, 57)  
Dec.  8  22 45.14  -43 20.2   3.732   3.557    72   14.9     21.1  25.3  20:50 ( 63, 52)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1   8 11.84   26 14.4   0.705   1.532   129   15.2     29.7  73.5   2:55 (189, 28)  
Dec.  8   8 26.43   27 17.6   0.653   1.508   133   14.9     28.9  70.3   2:53 (187, 27)  

* 16P/Brooks 2


It has been 16 mag since July. Then it must have fade out, but on the contraty it brightened and reached to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  1   5  3.66   12 57.7   1.195   2.169   167   15.1     12.9 261.9   0:25 (180, 42)  
Dec.  8   4 57.58   12 48.1   1.223   2.200   170   15.3     12.6 265.8  23:47 (180, 42)  

* P/2001 Q2 ( Petriew )


Faded rapidly and reached to 16.4 mag. But it suddenly brightened again to 14.7 mag on Nov. 27.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  1  10 34.20   -9 18.5   1.277   1.547    85   15.8     17.6 136.2   2:55 (249, 42)  
Dec.  8  10 39.08  -10 42.3   1.271   1.613    90   16.2     13.9 143.3   2:53 (246, 46)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  20  8.59   19  0.8   4.034   3.769    67   16.3     10.0 179.6  20:42 (112, -2)  
Dec.  8  20  8.94   17 55.1   4.086   3.722    61   16.3      8.9 171.4  20:50 (106, -8)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  13 35.28   -6 58.7   5.296   4.641    44   16.3      7.3 155.6   2:55 (276,  4)  
Dec.  8  13 36.50   -7 44.3   5.248   4.688    50   16.3      6.7 161.4   2:53 (273,  9)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  11 30.35   14 23.9   3.695   3.681    81   16.4     10.8  99.5   2:55 (239, 15)  
Dec.  8  11 35.23   14 13.6   3.572   3.661    87   16.3      9.6  96.7   2:53 (236, 19)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  12 11.88  -23 14.6   2.932   2.564    58   16.4      7.6 263.8   2:55 (279, 29)  
Dec.  8  12  7.38  -23 18.6   2.841   2.606    66   16.4     10.2 268.4   2:53 (275, 36)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


Fading out slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  1  20 52.76   -0 36.3   7.423   7.106    67   16.5      4.5  63.3  20:42 (103, 18)  
Dec.  8  20 54.79   -0 21.1   7.570   7.152    61   16.6      5.2  63.7  20:50 ( 98, 12)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  21 52.79   22 12.1   1.586   1.873    90   16.7     17.6 269.4  20:42 (130, 14)  
Dec.  8  21 44.98   22 15.5   1.626   1.793    82   16.7     13.5 275.2  20:50 (123,  7)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1   7 18.26  -20 40.8   5.079   5.646   120   16.8      9.3 279.7   2:39 (180, 76)  
Dec.  8   7 13.49  -20 26.6   5.060   5.693   125   16.9     10.3 284.1   2:07 (180, 75)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Dec.  1   1 14.63   22 16.9   4.129   4.879   135   17.0      6.4 255.7  20:42 (177, 33)  
Dec.  8   1 11.82   22  6.5   4.153   4.821   127   16.9      5.1 254.5  20:50 (167, 32)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  10 46.82    2 58.9   6.252   6.276    86   16.9      4.5 313.3   2:55 (240, 31)  
Dec.  8  10 45.02    3 22.2   6.148   6.302    94   16.9      5.7 309.0   2:53 (234, 35)  

* (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)  
Dec.  1   3  2.91   35 57.8   1.108   2.050   156   17.2     42.3 245.3  22:19 (180, 19)  
Dec.  8   2 41.87   33 41.1   1.101   2.006   148   17.1     41.0 239.5  21:31 (180, 21)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  11 46.16   -8  7.2   3.093   2.890    69   17.2     17.6 125.8   2:55 (261, 27)  
Dec.  8  11 52.58   -9 18.0   3.021   2.910    74   17.2     16.3 127.6   2:53 (259, 31)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1   5 21.05   29 46.6   1.914   2.880   165   17.3     13.6 260.2   0:43 (180, 25)  
Dec.  8   5 13.76   29 28.1   1.934   2.913   172   17.4     13.9 257.9   0:08 (180, 26)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1  11 54.37  -12 23.0   6.454   6.115    65   17.4      2.7 182.6   2:55 (266, 27)  
Dec.  8  11 54.07  -12 40.9   6.285   6.064    72   17.3      2.7 205.3   2:53 (262, 33)  

* P/2001 Q5 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Fading now and it 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)  
Dec.  1   1 20.69   25  9.7   1.599   2.415   137   17.3      3.7 175.9  20:42 (179, 30)  
Dec.  8   1 21.54   24 46.5   1.684   2.442   130   17.5      4.2 133.9  20:50 (170, 30)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1   4 55.92   68 55.8   1.843   2.614   132   17.5     15.5 297.4   0:18 (180,-14)  
Dec.  8   4 36.86   69 32.7   1.797   2.572   133   17.4     15.4 283.2  23:25 (180,-15)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1   6 20.99   27 54.2   2.443   3.357   153   17.5      9.3 279.1   1:42 (180, 27)  
Dec.  8   6 15.72   28  3.7   2.381   3.331   161   17.4     10.8 276.6   1:10 (180, 27)  

* 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)  
Dec.  1   9 31.44   15 38.2   2.968   3.414   108   17.5      4.9  94.5   2:55 (214, 32)  
Dec.  8   9 33.34   15 37.9   2.873   3.413   115   17.5      3.0  84.0   2:53 (208, 35)  

* C/2001 W1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Now it is at the peak.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  1   7 17.35   18 29.0   1.572   2.415   140   17.8     53.1 309.6   2:39 (180, 37)  
Dec.  8   6 54.72   22 36.3   1.487   2.408   153   17.7     61.7 306.5   1:49 (180, 33)  

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