Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Jan. 5: South)

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 Updated on January 10, 2002
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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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* 96P/Machholz 1
It is now in the field of SOHO LASCO. People can see the real time image on the WWW. It brightened rapidly. It is so bright as -2 mag, much brighter than expected on Jan. 8. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn in late January, but keeps locating very low. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5  19 38.32  -31 36.7   0.932   0.206    11    4.6    132.5 352.4  21:03 ( 44, -7)  
Jan. 12  19  4.45  -12 28.8   0.976   0.197    11    1.4     78.0 335.4   3:15 (303,-20)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  21 48.67  -53 40.8   0.759   0.684    43    5.7     51.6 250.0  21:03 ( 41, 25)  
Jan. 12  21  9.99  -54 37.1   0.870   0.607    37    5.6     48.0 271.1  21:00 ( 35, 18)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  19 36.69  -10 41.8   1.993   1.069    14   11.8     38.0 148.3  21:03 ( 58,-22)  
Jan. 12  19 46.00  -14 19.3   2.061   1.096     7   12.0     35.5 147.6  21:00 ( 53,-22)

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )
It has already passed the perihelion, but keeps as bright as 12 mag since November. 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)  
Jan.  5   0 19.55  -14 17.8   1.195   1.333    74   12.3     59.4  62.9  21:03 ( 98, 36)  
Jan. 12   0 44.56  -11  5.6   1.241   1.365    74   12.5     58.6  62.0  21:00 (102, 34)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  12 43.60   40 51.1   1.282   1.842   108   12.4     21.1  42.7   3:07 (209,  6)  
Jan. 12  12 51.26   42 42.0   1.287   1.891   112   12.7     19.0  32.1   3:15 (204,  7)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  23  0.18   54 22.6   3.527   3.699    92   12.8      1.9 169.6  21:03 (143,-20)  
Jan. 12  23  1.07   54 14.2   3.581   3.681    88   12.8      1.9 105.3  21:00 (141,-23)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  18 19.58   62 17.0   1.329   1.588    85   13.4      5.8 355.5   3:07 (214,-46)  
Jan. 12  18 18.67   63 10.8   1.368   1.631    86   13.9      9.6 351.6   3:15 (213,-42)

* 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. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5  11 30.37  -24 48.6   1.226   1.695    99   13.7     74.4 220.5   3:07 (247, 68)  
Jan. 12  10 59.96  -31 42.2   1.119   1.694   107   13.5     90.2 227.3   3:15 (233, 84)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  19 45.30  -23 40.1   6.839   5.872     9   13.9     12.2  77.0  21:03 ( 51,-11)  
Jan. 12  19 51.39  -23 20.4   6.850   5.870     4   13.9     12.3  76.6  21:00 ( 47,-14)

* 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)  
Jan.  5   9 15.77   32 51.6   0.512   1.446   149   14.1     21.8  53.1   2:18 (180, 22)  
Jan. 12   9 24.59   34 21.0   0.495   1.440   152   13.9     18.7  48.6   2:00 (180, 21)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  20 42.00  -20 21.4   1.971   1.135    23   14.8     57.8  74.3  21:03 ( 62, -3)  
Jan. 12  21  9.95  -18 20.3   1.935   1.099    22   14.5     60.4  72.0  21:00 ( 64, -4)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  11 39.48   75 25.7   4.418   4.944   117   14.7      5.7   3.3   3:07 (186,-21)  
Jan. 12  11 38.75   76  4.0   4.415   4.950   117   14.7      5.3 348.3   3:15 (184,-21)

* P/2001 TU80 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
It bursted out in early January. Now it is as bright as 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5   8 38.38   20  0.5   0.999   1.945   157   16.9      8.7 329.4   1:42 (180, 35)  
Jan. 12   8 35.56   20 55.3   0.985   1.952   165   14.9     10.5 320.2   1:11 (180, 34)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  21 24.64  -50 10.5   4.841   4.124    39   15.0      5.0  73.6  21:03 ( 43, 21)  
Jan. 12  21 28.33  -50  2.3   4.918   4.166    36   15.1      5.4  80.5  21:00 ( 41, 18)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  23 10.48  -34 54.4   4.164   3.685    54   15.3     20.7  34.9  21:03 ( 67, 32)  
Jan. 12  23 17.29  -32 57.4   4.268   3.719    50   15.4     20.6  36.9  21:00 ( 68, 27)

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )
It seems to be brightening rapidly. It will be observable at 15.5 mag until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5  23 22.53   -5  2.7   1.558   1.449    64   15.4     41.8  60.1  21:03 ( 98, 19)  
Jan. 12  23 39.90   -2 33.8   1.573   1.423    62   15.3     43.8  60.3  21:00 ( 99, 16)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  11 48.36   14 24.9   3.089   3.581   112   15.9      4.2  61.0   3:07 (211, 35)  
Jan. 12  11 49.70   14 42.1   2.977   3.560   119   15.8      3.4  32.6   3:15 (202, 38)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. It will be 15 mag in spring and summer. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5  16 35.02   -8 42.1   6.332   5.591    38   16.0     11.5  65.4   3:07 (282, -1)  
Jan. 12  16 39.87   -8  6.9   6.239   5.571    43   15.9     11.4  62.3   3:15 (277,  5)

* 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)  
Jan.  5   5 49.93   28 17.5   2.278   3.230   162   16.0     11.9 268.4  22:49 (180, 27)  
Jan. 12   5 43.90   28 13.8   2.289   3.204   154   15.9     10.7 266.3  22:16 (180, 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 in November. Now it is fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5   4 40.40   13 12.1   1.455   2.329   144   16.2      4.6 302.2  21:40 (180, 42)  
Jan. 12   4 39.22   13 31.6   1.540   2.363   137   16.4      3.2 342.3  21:12 (180, 41)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  21 30.33   24 26.3   1.715   1.477    59   16.5      8.8 342.9  21:03 (106,-20)  
Jan. 12  21 29.40   25 31.9   1.710   1.401    54   16.3     10.4 353.9  21:00 (104,-26)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  15 38.84   -9 42.7   8.785   8.193    50   16.4      5.0 129.9   3:07 (274, 11)  
Jan. 12  15 40.52  -10  4.5   8.712   8.215    56   16.3      4.4 132.8   3:15 (270, 18)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  13 36.38  -10 25.5   4.980   4.876    78   16.4      5.7 207.0   3:07 (256, 36)  
Jan. 12  13 34.80  -10 59.9   4.901   4.924    85   16.4      6.2 220.9   3:15 (250, 44)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  11 32.82  -22 22.4   2.439   2.788   100   16.4     25.5 282.2   3:07 (243, 67)  
Jan. 12  11 19.19  -21 35.5   2.347   2.837   109   16.4     30.3 285.3   3:15 (216, 74)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  14 30.28    8 16.2   1.977   1.941    73   16.8     35.2  99.9   3:07 (249, 14)  
Jan. 12  14 46.86    7 35.1   1.867   1.888    76   16.5     36.2  99.0   3:15 (247, 18)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  15 15.53  -14 13.6   4.234   3.745    54   16.6     15.5 105.3   3:07 (275, 18)  
Jan. 12  15 22.54  -14 40.8   4.153   3.752    59   16.6     14.6 104.6   3:15 (271, 24)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2
It is a bit brighter than the ephemeris after November. It will be observable for some more time. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5   4 49.45   27 47.2   2.157   3.046   149   16.6      8.7 244.3  21:49 (180, 27)  
Jan. 12   4 45.96   27 21.5   2.246   3.079   141   16.8      6.5 237.0  21:18 (180, 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)  
Jan.  5   1  8.05   21 51.7   4.321   4.586    99   16.8      1.3  68.4  21:03 (137, 20)  
Jan. 12   1  9.04   21 57.1   4.372   4.527    92   16.8      2.9  68.5  21:00 (133, 16)

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
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)  
Jan.  5  11 46.97  -13 30.5   5.583   5.861   101   16.9      6.6 262.2   3:07 (234, 58)  
Jan. 12  11 43.46  -13 34.7   5.411   5.810   109   16.8      8.1 267.9   3:15 (218, 64)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  10 31.89    5 36.6   5.775   6.412   126   16.9     11.2 302.1   3:07 (191, 49)  
Jan. 12  10 27.14    6 20.3   5.704   6.441   135   16.9     12.5 301.4   3:03 (180, 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)  
Jan.  5   9 31.33   16 26.9   2.560   3.409   144   17.2      5.8 302.2   2:34 (180, 39)  
Jan. 12   9 28.50   16 50.5   2.506   3.409   152   17.1      7.6 298.7   2:04 (180, 38)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  12 10.99  -13 29.9   2.716   2.989    96   17.2      9.9 142.3   3:07 (241, 54)  
Jan. 12  12 13.43  -14 22.4   2.640   3.009   102   17.2      8.2 150.6   3:15 (231, 61)

* 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)  
Jan.  5  13 51.81   -1 15.4   3.671   3.601    78   17.3     12.8 101.9   3:07 (251, 27)  
Jan. 12  13 57.43   -1 31.8   3.555   3.585    83   17.2     11.7 100.1   3:15 (245, 33)

* C/2001 W1 ( LINEAR )
Fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  5   4 48.41   36 59.1   1.513   2.403   147   17.2     58.1 288.8  21:46 (180, 18)  
Jan. 12   4 17.98   38 43.6   1.609   2.408   135   17.3     48.9 284.3  21:00 (178, 16)

* 77P/Longmore
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)  
Jan.  5  11 40.58   29 24.2   2.186   2.787   118   17.6      4.4  60.9   3:07 (203, 22)  
Jan. 12  11 41.96   29 41.7   2.091   2.765   124   17.4      3.1  24.4   3:15 (195, 24)

* 11P/2001 X3 ( Tempel-Swift-LINEAR )
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)  
Jan.  5   0 29.74    7  9.5   1.328   1.585    85   17.6     39.8  82.9  21:03 (119, 25)  
Jan. 12   0 48.49    7 46.4   1.381   1.589    82   17.7     40.6  81.9  21:00 (119, 23)

* (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)  
Jan.  5   1 50.19   23 55.4   1.214   1.796   109   17.6     21.4 214.4  21:03 (147, 23)  
Jan. 12   1 45.43   22  0.7   1.259   1.735   100   17.7     16.5 204.1  21:00 (140, 21)

* 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)  
Jan.  5   1 28.46    4 18.1   2.190   2.516    97   17.8     17.1  38.6  21:03 (129, 37)  
Jan. 12   1 33.96    5 52.5   2.271   2.512    92   17.9     18.6  43.2  21:00 (126, 32)

* 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)  
Jan.  5   4 59.50   15 18.9   1.628   2.528   150   17.8      9.4 297.3  21:59 (180, 40)  
Jan. 12   4 56.16   15 49.6   1.720   2.571   142   18.2      7.0 309.5  21:28 (180, 39)

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