Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Dec. 29: North)

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Updated on December 31, 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 has been at 5.5 mag since late November. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not obesrvable until late February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  22 26.48  -50 35.8   0.643   0.782    52    5.7     62.6 234.2  18:27 ( 23, -2)  
Jan.  5  21 48.70  -53 40.8   0.759   0.685    43    5.7     51.6 249.9  18:32 ( 30,-11)  

* 96P/Machholz 1


It was observed at 13.5 mag visually on Dec. 16, but still unofficial. Unfortunately it is already unobservable. 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. 29  19 30.39  -40 18.6   1.163   0.430    21    9.5     50.0  31.8  18:27 ( 52,-16)  
Jan.  5  19 38.32  -31 36.7   0.932   0.206    11    6.2    132.5 352.4  18:32 ( 63,-16)  

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )


It bursted out and reached to 11 mag around Dec. 8. Then it faded a bit, but kept 11 mag. Unfortunately it is already unobservable. It will appear at dawn in late February in the Southern Hemisphere, but 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. 29  19 26.95   -6 44.6   1.910   1.054    21   11.6     41.5 149.0  18:27 ( 80,  2)  
Jan.  5  19 36.69  -10 41.8   1.993   1.069    14   11.8     38.0 148.3  18:32 ( 80, -5)  

* 19P/Borrelly


It will be fading now. But it was observed at 11 mag in December, brighter than expected. 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. 29  12 33.62   39  5.4   1.281   1.795   104   12.2     23.5  51.3   5:36 (231, 83)  
Jan.  5  12 43.60   40 51.1   1.282   1.842   108   12.4     21.1  42.7   5:38 (195, 84)  

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )


It has passed the perihelion and is expected to be fading after this. 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. 29  23 53.66  -17 24.4   1.157   1.306    74   12.8     59.8  64.3  18:27 ( 19, 36)  
Jan.  5   0 19.55  -14 17.8   1.195   1.333    74   13.1     59.4  62.9  18:32 ( 22, 38)  

* 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. 29  23  0.58   54 39.9   3.473   3.717    96   12.8      3.4 204.0  18:27 (143, 62)  
Jan.  5  23  0.18   54 22.6   3.527   3.699    92   12.8      1.9 169.6  18:32 (138, 57)  

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


Fading now, 11 mag in November and 12 mag in December. 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. 29  18 19.77   61 49.8   1.284   1.549    85   13.0      1.9 359.5   5:36 (213, 29)  
Jan.  5  18 19.58   62 17.0   1.329   1.588    85   13.4      5.8 355.5   5:38 (213, 32)  

* C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Now it has a long folded tail. Although it reaches to 13.4 mag in January, it locates very low in the Northern Hemisphere after mid January. It closes down to 18 arcmin to C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch ) on Jan. 2
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  11 50.99  -18 38.6   1.359   1.700    91   14.0     59.8 214.8   5:21 (  0, 36)  
Jan.  5  11 30.37  -24 48.6   1.226   1.695    99   13.7     74.4 220.5   4:34 (  0, 30)  

* 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. 29  19 39.25  -23 59.2   6.816   5.874    15   13.9     12.1  77.3  18:27 ( 65, -6)  
Jan.  5  19 45.30  -23 40.1   6.839   5.872     9   13.9     12.2  77.0  18:32 ( 68,-11)  

* 2001 TX16


Asteroid with a cometary orbit of 6.8 year period. 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. 29   9  5.28   31 20.2   0.536   1.456   145   14.2     24.3  57.7   2:35 (  0, 86)  
Jan.  5   9 15.77   32 51.6   0.512   1.446   149   14.1     21.8  53.1   2:18 (  0, 88)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


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)  
Dec. 29  11 37.62   74 44.9   4.429   4.939   115   14.7      6.2  16.1   5:08 (180, 50)  
Jan.  5  11 39.48   75 25.7   4.418   4.944   117   14.7      5.7   3.3   4:42 (180, 50)  

* 15P/Finlay


Not yet observed in this return. It keeps brighter than 16 mag until April. But the condition is worst. It always locates very low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  20 14.69  -22  1.3   2.009   1.178    23   15.1     55.0  76.7  18:27 ( 61,  2)  
Jan.  5  20 42.00  -20 21.4   1.971   1.135    23   14.8     57.8  74.3  18:32 ( 63,  2)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


Fading rapidly, as expected. 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. 29  21 21.39  -50 22.0   4.752   4.082    42   14.8      4.5  65.4  18:27 ( 32, -8)  
Jan.  5  21 24.64  -50 10.5   4.841   4.124    39   15.0      5.0  73.6  18:32 ( 35,-11)  

* 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. 29  23  3.82  -36 55.2   4.057   3.652    59   15.2     20.8  32.8  18:27 ( 23, 13)  
Jan.  5  23 10.48  -34 54.4   4.164   3.685    54   15.3     20.7  34.9  18:32 ( 29, 13)  

* 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. 29  11 46.18   14 13.6   3.206   3.601   105   16.0      5.5  77.4   5:16 (  0, 69)  
Jan.  5  11 48.36   14 24.9   3.089   3.581   112   15.9      4.2  61.0   4:51 (  0, 69)  

* 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 in November. Now it is fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29   4 42.97   12 57.2   1.380   2.296   152   15.9      7.0 284.5  22:10 (  0, 68)  
Jan.  5   4 40.40   13 12.1   1.455   2.329   144   16.2      4.6 302.2  21:40 (  0, 68)  

* 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. 29   5 56.45   28 18.4   2.281   3.255   170   16.1     12.6 270.4  23:23 (  0, 83)  
Jan.  5   5 49.93   28 17.5   2.278   3.230   162   16.0     11.9 268.4  22:49 (  0, 83)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps the same brightness until 2002 September when it becomes low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  15 36.91   -9 19.7   8.850   8.172    44   16.4      5.5 128.1   5:36 (301, 23)  
Jan.  5  15 38.84   -9 42.7   8.785   8.193    50   16.4      5.0 129.9   5:38 (307, 28)  

* 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. 29  13 37.28   -9 48.7   5.055   4.829    71   16.4      5.6 192.8   5:36 (330, 40)  
Jan.  5  13 36.38  -10 25.5   4.980   4.876    78   16.4      5.7 207.0   5:38 (340, 42)  

* 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. It closes down to 18 arcmin to C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR ) on Jan. 2
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  11 44.33  -22 52.7   2.538   2.741    91   16.4     21.0 279.1   5:15 (  0, 32)  
Jan.  5  11 32.82  -22 22.4   2.439   2.788   100   16.4     25.5 282.2   4:36 (  0, 33)  

* 2001 OG108


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. 29  21 32.10   23 34.5   1.707   1.554    64   16.6      7.9 325.4  18:27 ( 90, 44)  
Jan.  5  21 30.33   24 26.3   1.715   1.477    59   16.5      8.8 342.9  18:32 ( 96, 37)  

* 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. 29  23  5.99   -7 24.8   1.543   1.477    67   16.6     39.6  60.0  18:27 ( 38, 40)  
Jan.  5  23 22.53   -5  2.7   1.558   1.449    64   16.6     41.8  60.1  18:32 ( 44, 40)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh


Appearing at dawn. It reaches to 16 mag in 2002 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  15  8.19  -13 43.7   4.309   3.738    48   16.6     16.2 106.0   5:36 (310, 25)  
Jan.  5  15 15.53  -14 13.6   4.234   3.745    54   16.6     15.5 105.3   5:38 (315, 28)  

* 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. 29   1  7.82   21 50.3   4.273   4.645   106   16.8      0.3 257.3  18:36 (  0, 77)  
Jan.  5   1  8.05   21 51.7   4.321   4.586    99   16.8      1.3  68.4  18:32 ( 23, 76)  

* 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. 29  14 14.17    8 59.8   2.089   1.994    70   17.1     34.2 100.7   5:36 (304, 51)  
Jan.  5  14 30.28    8 16.2   1.977   1.941    73   16.8     35.2  99.9   5:38 (309, 53)  

* P/2001 TU80 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


New periodic comet. A bit brighter than discovered. It is at the peak now, but as faint as 17 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29   8 39.89   19 10.9   1.024   1.939   149   16.9      6.8 346.7   2:11 (  0, 74)  
Jan.  5   8 38.38   20  0.5   0.999   1.945   157   16.9      8.7 329.4   1:42 (  0, 75)  

* 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. 29  10 36.07    4 56.8   5.857   6.385   118   16.9      9.9 303.1   4:07 (  0, 60)  
Jan.  5  10 31.89    5 36.6   5.775   6.412   126   16.9     11.2 302.1   3:35 (  0, 61)  

* 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. 29  11 49.74  -13 22.4   5.759   5.911    94   17.0      5.2 254.5   5:20 (  0, 42)  
Jan.  5  11 46.97  -13 30.5   5.583   5.861   101   16.9      6.6 262.2   4:50 (  0, 41)  

* 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. 29   6 57.43  -19  1.2   5.073   5.833   137   17.0     12.5 296.6   0:29 (  0, 36)  
Jan.  5   6 51.93  -18 18.5   5.103   5.880   138   17.1     12.9 300.7  23:51 (  0, 37)  

* 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. 29   5 21.74   34 24.0   1.448   2.400   161   17.1     65.5 293.7  22:46 (  0, 90)  
Jan.  5   4 48.41   36 59.1   1.513   2.403   147   17.2     58.1 288.8  21:46 (180, 88)  

* 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. 29  12  7.62  -12 32.6   2.792   2.969    90   17.2     11.7 136.8   5:36 (  0, 42)  
Jan.  5  12 10.99  -13 29.9   2.716   2.989    96   17.2      9.9 142.3   5:13 (  0, 42)  

* 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. 29   9 33.27   16  7.3   2.625   3.410   136   17.2      3.9 309.0   3:04 (  0, 71)  
Jan.  5   9 31.33   16 26.9   2.560   3.409   144   17.2      5.8 302.2   2:34 (  0, 71)  

* P/1993 K2 ( Helin-Lawrence )


It was not recovered in early 2001 though the brightness was expected at 18 mag. It is probably fainter than 20 mag now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  13 45.73   -0 54.9   3.787   3.618    72   17.4     13.8 103.4   5:36 (322, 47)  
Jan.  5  13 51.81   -1 15.4   3.671   3.601    78   17.3     12.8 101.9   5:38 (330, 50)  

* (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. 29   1 57.92   26  7.6   1.172   1.854   118   17.5     26.9 222.0  19:25 (  0, 81)  
Jan.  5   1 50.19   23 55.4   1.214   1.796   109   17.6     21.4 214.4  18:50 (  0, 79)  

* 51P/Harrington


Two nucleus A and D were discovered on Dec. 6. They reached to 16 mag, then are fading at 17 mag now. But the total image of both was observed brighter than 16 mag still now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29   5  4.21   14 49.4   1.547   2.485   157   17.5     11.8 290.2  22:31 (  0, 70)  
Jan.  5   4 59.50   15 18.9   1.628   2.528   150   17.8      9.4 297.3  21:59 (  0, 70)  

* 11P/2001 X3 ( Tempel-Swift )


Recovered after 93 year gap. It will fade out after this and become fainter than 18 mag in late January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29   0 11.41    6 38.8   1.278   1.584    87   17.5     38.7  84.2  18:27 ( 23, 60)  
Jan.  5   0 29.74    7  9.5   1.328   1.585    85   17.6     39.8  82.9  18:32 ( 30, 59)  

* 77P/Longmore


Not yet observed in this return. It reaches only to 16 mag in 2002 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 29  11 37.90   29 12.0   2.286   2.810   112   17.8      6.3  77.6   5:08 (  0, 84)  
Jan.  5  11 40.58   29 24.2   2.186   2.787   118   17.6      4.4  60.9   4:43 (  0, 84)  

* 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. 29   1 23.98    2 45.1   2.111   2.523   103   17.7     15.7  32.8  18:52 (  0, 58)  
Jan.  5   1 28.46    4 18.1   2.190   2.516    97   17.8     17.1  38.6  18:32 (  1, 59)  

* 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. 29   4 54.16   28 13.9   2.081   3.013   157   17.8     10.7 249.0  22:21 (  0, 83)  
Jan.  5   4 49.45   27 47.2   2.157   3.046   149   17.9      8.7 244.3  21:49 (  0, 83)  

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