Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Dec. 8: South)

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 Updated on December 9, 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 )
Although it brightened rapidly in November and reached to 5.5 mag, the brightening stopped and it stays at 5.5 mag after late November. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will soon be unobservable 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.  8   0 36.76  -18 45.3   0.340   1.116   103    5.5    209.1 211.2  20:50 (122, 66)  
Dec. 15  23 47.09  -35 19.3   0.420   1.002    80    5.6    134.2 216.3  20:56 ( 75, 56)

* 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.  8  11 51.77   34 28.3   1.292   1.659    92   11.6     31.5  68.0   2:53 (224,  2)  
Dec. 15  12  7.53   35 53.7   1.286   1.703    96   11.8     28.8  63.7   2:53 (222,  3)

* 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.  8  18 21.42   63 32.8   1.113   1.457    87   11.9     12.7 189.5  20:50 (147,-42)  
Dec. 15  18 20.07   62 24.1   1.176   1.483    86   12.3      7.2 185.4  20:56 (146,-46)

* 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.  8  18 52.02    8 12.2   1.600   1.081    41   12.2     59.5 150.3  20:50 ( 87,-18)  
Dec. 15  19  5.00    2 34.2   1.709   1.060    34   12.2     52.0 150.0  20:56 ( 79,-19)

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )
It became brighter than expected and reached to 12 mag. It locates in the evening sky until 2002 April. It may fade out rapidly after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  22 31.82  -25 21.5   1.084   1.258    74   12.2     57.1  71.3  20:50 ( 88, 45)  
Dec. 15  22 59.60  -23  1.1   1.103   1.268    74   12.3     58.6  68.6  20:56 ( 90, 43)

* 96P/Machholz 1
It is observable in the Southern Hemisphere and the comet must be bright now, but not yet observed in this return. 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.  8  18 38.20  -47  7.3   1.637   0.949    31   13.4     25.1  67.9  20:50 ( 41, 13)  
Dec. 15  18 54.86  -45 48.5   1.508   0.795    28   12.5     29.2  62.9  20:56 ( 40, 10)

* 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.  8  23 11.44   56 14.9   3.321   3.779   110   12.8      9.5 234.2  20:50 (158, -8)  
Dec. 15  23  6.00   55 37.7   3.368   3.757   105   12.8      7.4 227.1  20:56 (153,-11)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Now observable. 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.  8  19 21.65  -24 51.6   6.686   5.880    32   13.9     11.2  78.1  20:50 ( 64,  7)  
Dec. 15  19 27.39  -24 34.9   6.739   5.878    26   13.9     11.6  77.9  20:56 ( 61,  2)

* 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.  8  21 15.41  -51 14.0   4.418   3.959    56   14.5      3.2  19.3  20:50 ( 49, 38)  
Dec. 15  21 16.65  -50 54.1   4.540   4.000    51   14.6      3.5  40.0  20:56 ( 48, 33)

* 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.  8  11 19.25   72 39.9   4.499   4.926   110   14.7      8.1  44.0   2:53 (194,-23)  
Dec. 15  11 27.25   73 21.1   4.469   4.929   112   14.7      7.4  36.2   2:53 (193,-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)  
Dec.  8   8 26.43   27 17.6   0.653   1.508   133   14.9     28.9  70.3   2:53 (187, 27)  
Dec. 15   8 40.36   28 30.4   0.607   1.487   137   14.7     27.7  66.4   2:53 (183, 26)

* 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.  8  22 45.14  -43 20.2   3.732   3.557    72   14.9     21.1  25.3  20:50 ( 63, 52)  
Dec. 15  22 51.08  -41  8.2   3.840   3.588    67   15.0     21.0  28.0  20:56 ( 65, 47)

* 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.  8   4 57.58   12 48.1   1.223   2.200   170   15.3     12.6 265.8  23:47 (180, 42)  
Dec. 15   4 51.82   12 44.7   1.263   2.231   166   15.5     11.4 270.0  23:14 (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.  8  10 39.08  -10 42.3   1.271   1.613    90   16.2     13.9 143.3   2:53 (246, 46)  
Dec. 15  10 42.09  -11 54.5   1.262   1.680    95   16.6     10.4 155.6   2:53 (241, 52)

* 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.  8  11 35.23   14 13.6   3.572   3.661    87   16.3      9.6  96.7   2:53 (236, 19)  
Dec. 15  11 39.54   14  8.2   3.448   3.641    93   16.2      8.3  92.7   2:53 (232, 23)

* 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.  8  20  8.94   17 55.1   4.086   3.722    61   16.3      8.9 171.4  20:50 (106, -8)  
Dec. 15  20  9.86   16 57.7   4.132   3.675    56   16.2      8.0 162.5  20:56 (101,-14)

* 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.  8  13 36.50   -7 44.3   5.248   4.688    50   16.3      6.7 161.4   2:53 (273,  9)  
Dec. 15  13 37.28   -8 28.0   5.191   4.735    57   16.3      6.2 169.3   2:53 (270, 15)

* 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.  8  12  7.38  -23 18.6   2.841   2.606    66   16.4     10.2 268.4   2:53 (275, 36)  
Dec. 15  12  1.43  -23 17.9   2.743   2.650    74   16.4     13.3 272.3   2:53 (271, 42)

* 51P/Harrington
Two nucleus A and D were discovered on Dec. 6. They are 16.5 mag, much brighter than expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8   5 24.30   13 33.8   1.380   2.354   169   16.6     16.1 280.4   0:18 (180, 41)  
Dec. 15   5 16.82   13 55.9   1.422   2.397   170   16.9     15.5 282.7  23:39 (180, 41)

* 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.  8  20 54.79   -0 21.1   7.570   7.152    61   16.6      5.2  63.7  20:50 ( 98, 12)  
Dec. 15  20 57.10   -0  4.0   7.711   7.198    55   16.7      5.8  63.6  20:56 ( 93,  5)

* 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.  8  21 44.98   22 15.5   1.626   1.793    82   16.7     13.5 275.2  20:50 (123,  7)  
Dec. 15  21 39.14   22 29.6   1.661   1.713    75   16.7     10.2 286.2  20:56 (118,  0)

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )
It will be observable at 16.5 mag until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  22 21.75  -13 43.9   1.491   1.581    76   16.9     32.0  59.6  20:50 (100, 37)  
Dec. 15  22 35.53  -11 45.8   1.510   1.544    73   16.8     34.7  59.8  20:56 ( 98, 32)

* 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.  8   7 13.49  -20 26.6   5.060   5.693   125   16.9     10.3 284.1   2:07 (180, 75)  
Dec. 15   7  8.34  -20  5.4   5.052   5.740   130   16.9     11.2 288.3   1:35 (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.  8   1 11.82   22  6.5   4.153   4.821   127   16.9      5.1 254.5  20:50 (167, 32)  
Dec. 15   1  9.73   21 58.1   4.186   4.762   120   16.9      3.6 253.4  20:56 (158, 30)

* 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.  8  10 45.02    3 22.2   6.148   6.302    94   16.9      5.7 309.0   2:53 (234, 35)  
Dec. 15  10 42.64    3 49.6   6.046   6.330   102   16.9      7.1 306.2   2:53 (226, 40)

* 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.  8  11 52.58   -9 18.0   3.021   2.910    74   17.2     16.3 127.6   2:53 (259, 31)  
Dec. 15  11 58.34  -10 26.1   2.946   2.929    79   17.2     14.9 129.9   2:53 (256, 36)

* 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.  8  11 54.07  -12 40.9   6.285   6.064    72   17.3      2.7 205.3   2:53 (262, 33)  
Dec. 15  11 53.24  -12 57.1   6.112   6.013    79   17.2      3.2 227.0   2:53 (258, 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)  
Dec.  8   2 41.87   33 41.1   1.101   2.006   148   17.2     41.0 239.5  21:31 (180, 21)  
Dec. 15   2 23.69   31  9.0   1.112   1.959   138   17.3     37.5 233.9  20:56 (178, 24)

* 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.  8   4 36.86   69 32.7   1.797   2.572   133   17.4     15.4 283.2  23:25 (180,-15)  
Dec. 15   4 16.60   69 42.9   1.760   2.529   132   17.3     15.0 268.3  22:38 (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.  8   6 15.72   28  3.7   2.381   3.331   161   17.4     10.8 276.6   1:10 (180, 27)  
Dec. 15   6  9.68   28 11.3   2.333   3.306   169   17.3     12.0 274.4   0:36 (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.  8   9 33.34   15 37.9   2.873   3.413   115   17.5      3.0  84.0   2:53 (208, 35)  
Dec. 15   9 34.30   15 42.6   2.783   3.411   122   17.4      1.4  42.8   2:53 (200, 37)

* 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.  8   5 13.76   29 28.1   1.934   2.913   172   17.4     13.9 257.9   0:08 (180, 26)  
Dec. 15   5  6.59   29  5.7   1.968   2.946   172   17.5     13.5 255.3  23:28 (180, 26)

* 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.  8   1 21.54   24 46.5   1.684   2.442   130   17.5      4.2 133.9  20:50 (170, 30)  
Dec. 15   1 23.79   24 28.9   1.776   2.468   124   17.7      6.0 110.2  20:56 (162, 28)

* P/2001 T3 ( NEAT )
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.  8   1 17.35   -1 38.3   1.900   2.549   120   17.6     11.8   3.8  20:50 (162, 55)  
Dec. 15   1 18.34   -0 14.0   1.965   2.539   114   17.6     12.8  15.7  20:56 (149, 51)

* 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.  8   6 54.72   22 36.3   1.487   2.408   153   17.7     61.7 306.5   1:49 (180, 33)  
Dec. 15   6 27.19   26 53.6   1.435   2.403   166   17.6     67.6 302.8   0:55 (180, 28)

* (10199) Chariklo
It locates at 45 deg high at 17.5 mag until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  10 48.76  -10 10.4  13.103  13.113    88   17.7      2.2 163.1   2:53 (248, 44)  
Dec. 15  10 48.94  -10 24.3  12.987  13.111    95   17.7      1.9 176.3   2:53 (241, 49)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
Not yet observed in this return. Good target for first observation. It will brighten in the morning sky until May when it reaches to 11.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  8  13 28.43   11 23.9   2.437   2.153    61   17.9     31.6 103.3   2:53 (256,  0)  
Dec. 15  13 43.28   10 33.8   2.320   2.100    64   17.7     32.5 102.4   2:53 (255,  3)

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