Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Feb. 23: North)

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Updated on February 24, 2002
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )


New comet. It will reach to 3 mag in late March. It locates in the evening sky until March, then it locates in the morning sky after April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   0 49.21   -4 43.4   1.266   0.750    36    5.8     54.2  34.3  19:13 ( 74, 14)  
Mar.  2   1  3.50    0 58.3   1.146   0.645    34    4.9     61.1  29.5  19:19 ( 82, 14)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


It suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it faded and now it is 6 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  19 25.23  -27 37.9   1.224   0.884    45    5.1     49.4 356.2   5:13 (309,  5)  
Mar.  2  19 23.89  -21 55.1   1.233   0.996    51    5.6     48.7 357.3   5:05 (309, 13)  

* C/2001 OG108 ( LONEOS )


Although it had been regarded as an asteroid, it was revealed as a comet. It brightened rapidly in February. It will reach to 9 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  21 33.41   38  5.5   1.373   1.049    49   10.9     28.0   3.7   5:13 (236, 19)  
Mar.  2  21 34.58   41 39.8   1.262   1.018    52   10.6     33.6   3.5   5:05 (235, 24)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at 13 mag until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  23 26.14   56 51.2   3.848   3.597    68   12.9     10.9  43.1  19:13 (141, 29)  
Mar.  2  23 32.81   57 51.3   3.877   3.586    65   12.9     12.2  40.6  19:19 (144, 26)  

* 6P/d'Arrest


The condition in this return is bad. It is not observable until June in the Southern Hemisphere, until August in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  22 22.37  -12 55.4   2.358   1.371     2   13.1     51.6  78.7   5:13 (273,-19)  
Mar.  2  22 46.33  -11 41.1   2.372   1.387     4   13.0     50.9  77.6   5:05 (271,-20)  

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )


It bursted out and reached to 11 mag around Dec. 8. Then it faded a bit, but kept 11 mag until mid December. It was very faint in late December by Yusuke Ezaki's observations. It is getting observable 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)  
Feb. 23  20 41.66  -33 17.0   2.147   1.425    33   13.2     32.6 146.8   5:13 (303,-11)  
Mar.  2  20 51.88  -36 31.5   2.118   1.497    39   13.4     33.7 147.7   5:05 (307,-11)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Now observable. it will appear again at dawn in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  20 26.72  -21 12.1   6.691   5.858    30   13.9     11.4  74.0   5:13 (295, -1)  
Mar.  2  20 32.11  -20 50.1   6.628   5.856    36   13.9     11.0  73.6   5:05 (297,  2)  

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )


Fading now. But it was as bright as 13.0 mag in early February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   2 57.00    6 14.7   1.678   1.628    69   13.9     46.9  64.7  19:13 ( 59, 46)  
Mar.  2   3 16.62    8 27.9   1.775   1.680    68   14.2     44.8  66.2  19:19 ( 64, 45)  

* 19P/Borrelly


Fading now. But it was brighter than the ephemeris recently, 12.5 mag in mid January. 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)  
Feb. 23  12 40.61   52 25.9   1.425   2.191   129   14.2     14.5 302.1   2:31 (180, 73)  
Mar.  2  12 30.47   53  7.3   1.472   2.241   129   14.4     14.4 286.7   1:53 (180, 72)  

* 2001 TX16


Asteroid with a cometary orbit of 6.8 year period. Fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   9 48.22   37  1.7   0.546   1.493   151   14.2      8.4 148.5  23:35 (180, 88)  
Mar.  2   9 51.09   36  0.4   0.580   1.515   148   14.4     11.7 151.4  23:10 (180, 89)  

* 15P/Finlay


It was 13.5 mag in early February, brighter than expected. 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)  
Feb. 23   0  2.28   -0 26.0   1.852   1.058    26   14.2     67.6  64.5  19:13 ( 84,  8)  
Mar.  2   0 30.63    2 56.0   1.869   1.083    26   14.4     66.7  64.7  19:19 ( 88,  8)  

* C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR )


It was as bright as 14 mag with a long folded tail in December. However, it was reported as 15 mag in January and 16 mag in February, much fainter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   5 43.73  -41 19.4   1.376   1.801    97   14.2     53.5 299.5  19:29 (  0, 14)  
Mar.  2   5 19.91  -38 17.0   1.523   1.834    91   14.5     41.2 307.3  19:19 (  8, 16)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It is observable until autumn at 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  10 42.69   77 25.5   4.537   5.000   112   14.8      6.6 246.7   0:34 (180, 48)  
Mar.  2  10 30.12   77  0.9   4.579   5.010   110   14.8      7.2 233.1  23:48 (180, 48)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be observable at 15 mag until August 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)  
Feb. 23  11 38.17   18  1.2   2.488   3.436   160   15.2     10.7 301.3   1:28 (  0, 73)  
Mar.  2  11 33.41   18 39.0   2.449   3.415   164   15.1     11.4 297.1   0:56 (  0, 74)  

* P/2001 TU80 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It bursted out and reached to 15 mag in early January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   8 17.18   25 16.4   1.135   2.033   146   15.4      2.7 353.9  22:04 (  0, 80)  
Mar.  2   8 17.81   25 30.1   1.196   2.052   139   15.5      3.0  64.7  21:37 (  0, 81)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


Getting higher in the morning sky. It will be 13 mag in June and July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  20 31.36   14  1.8   3.977   3.240    36   15.6      4.3  64.5   5:13 (266, 19)  
Mar.  2  20 33.04   14 17.2   3.890   3.201    40   15.5      4.0  50.4   5:05 (268, 22)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be 11 mag in 2003 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  11  6.40  -12  7.6   4.589   5.504   155   15.6     17.6 285.6   0:57 (  0, 43)  
Mar.  2  10 58.12  -11 31.4   4.507   5.454   161   15.5     18.6 287.5   0:21 (  0, 43)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Feb. 23  17  2.83   -3 13.7   5.549   5.464    79   15.6     10.4  32.9   5:13 (324, 45)  
Mar.  2  17  5.24   -2 10.2   5.425   5.448    86   15.5     10.5  26.2   5:05 (328, 48)  

* 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)  
Feb. 23   5 30.31   27 29.2   2.577   3.048   109   15.7      3.1 108.1  19:17 (  0, 82)  
Mar.  2   5 32.50   27 22.7   2.646   3.022   102   15.6      5.4  99.3  19:19 ( 39, 80)  

* 125P/Spacewatch


Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. It will fade out while getting higher.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  19  5.96  -15  5.3   2.016   1.550    48   15.8     43.8  83.6   5:13 (304, 17)  
Mar.  2  19 26.67  -14 26.7   1.994   1.563    50   15.9     42.7  82.0   5:05 (303, 18)  

* 96P/Machholz 1


It reached to -1 mag at the perihelion passage in the field of SOHO LASCO. Now it is getting higher in the morning sky, but it is fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  19 44.91  -10 14.2   1.813   1.219    39   15.9     13.6  96.2   5:13 (293, 14)  
Mar.  2  19 50.85  -10 23.9   1.858   1.344    44   16.5     11.6  96.5   5:05 (295, 16)  

* P/2001 WF2 ( LONEOS )


New periodic comet. It passed near by the earth and must have been as bright as 15 mag in January. But it will fade out rapidly after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  17 31.58   58 38.3   0.301   1.034    89   16.0     53.2 239.3   5:13 (212, 58)  
Mar.  2  16 55.15   55 18.4   0.320   1.070    95   16.3     49.5 234.4   5:05 (206, 66)  

* 77P/Longmore


It reaches only to 16 mag in spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  11 19.39   31 40.5   1.705   2.635   154   16.3     14.0 271.9   1:10 (  0, 87)  
Mar.  2  11 11.40   31 37.4   1.681   2.614   155   16.2     15.1 264.8   0:34 (  0, 87)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )


No observations have been reported since 2001 August. It keeps the same brightness until 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)  
Feb. 23  15 43.58  -11 49.3   8.158   8.349    97   16.3      2.5 214.6   5:13 (353, 43)  
Mar.  2  15 42.70  -12  3.1   8.062   8.371   104   16.3      3.0 230.4   5:05 (  0, 43)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh


It keeps brighter than 16 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  15 54.23  -16 26.6   3.593   3.797    94   16.4      7.1 101.3   5:13 (351, 38)  
Mar.  2  15 57.23  -16 35.1   3.497   3.805   100   16.3      5.4 101.0   5:05 (356, 38)  

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


Fading rapidly. It was so faint as 13.5 mag visually, 16.5 mag by CCD in mid January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  16 59.40   74 58.0   1.547   1.940    97   16.4     28.4 310.3   5:13 (189, 48)  
Mar.  2  16 11.36   76 47.3   1.580   1.998    99   16.8     30.6 295.0   5:05 (183, 48)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )


It keeps the same brightness until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  13  9.29  -13 19.0   4.488   5.212   132   16.4     13.6 262.9   2:59 (  0, 42)  
Mar.  2  13  2.50  -13 28.7   4.451   5.260   141   16.5     14.8 265.7   2:25 (  0, 42)  

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )


It was reported as 16 mag in February, a bit brighter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   1 40.76   13 24.7   1.682   1.362    54   16.5     51.8  64.6  19:13 ( 82, 35)  
Mar.  2   2  3.59   15 56.3   1.709   1.368    53   16.5     52.2  66.1  19:19 ( 86, 35)  

* 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)  
Feb. 23   1 29.50   23 57.7   4.633   4.171    56   16.5     11.2  65.9  19:13 ( 95, 38)  
Mar.  2   1 35.00   24 31.6   4.659   4.111    51   16.5     12.3  65.6  19:19 ( 99, 33)  

* 22P/Kopff


The condition in this return is bad. We can observe it only until August before perihelion passage when it becomes to 13 mag in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  12 24.48    3 17.7   2.073   2.967   149   16.8      8.6 307.9   2:14 (  0, 58)  
Mar.  2  12 20.78    3 57.7   1.988   2.928   157   16.6     10.8 304.1   1:43 (  0, 59)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke


It was fainter than expected. It may reach only to 13.5 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23  16 37.79    4 14.0   1.283   1.585    87   17.0     43.6  95.7   5:13 (327, 55)  
Mar.  2  16 58.42    3 43.1   1.202   1.538    88   16.6     45.1  95.7   5:05 (327, 54)  

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )


Fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   9 30.66   -9 33.6   2.214   3.145   156   16.7     43.8 302.4  23:16 (  0, 46)  
Mar.  2   9 14.06   -6 49.6   2.290   3.199   152   16.8     40.6 304.8  22:32 (  0, 48)  

* C/2002 C2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It keeps 17 mag until 2002 November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   2 35.18   46 30.7   3.320   3.285    79   16.8     22.5 155.0  19:13 (123, 56)  
Mar.  2   2 41.76   44 14.7   3.423   3.276    73   16.8     21.2 150.8  19:19 (119, 51)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly. It keeps brighter than 17 mag until mid March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   6 23.67  -11 11.6   5.704   6.210   116   16.8     10.6 335.4  20:10 (  0, 44)  
Mar.  2   6 21.89  -10  4.8   5.835   6.257   110   16.9     10.0 341.9  19:41 (  0, 45)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


It will keep 17 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   9 51.16   11 29.7   5.633   6.614   171   17.1     15.2 299.5  23:37 (  0, 67)  
Mar.  2   9 44.95   12 21.1   5.689   6.643   163   17.1     14.6 299.5  23:03 (  0, 67)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2


Now it is at the peak.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   9  2.72   19 33.8   2.474   3.412   158   17.1      8.5 291.3  22:49 (  0, 75)  
Mar.  2   8 59.11   19 53.3   2.517   3.413   150   17.2      7.0 290.8  22:18 (  0, 75)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It keeps 17.5 mag until spring 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)  
Feb. 23   6 31.40   -7 28.4   4.606   5.165   119   17.4     10.1 356.2  20:18 (  0, 48)  
Mar.  2   6 31.41   -6 17.6   4.679   5.161   113   17.5     10.1   3.9  19:51 (  0, 49)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


It is a bit brighter than the ephemeris after November, but will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   4 50.65   25 42.7   2.949   3.272   100   17.8      7.7  98.9  19:13 ( 42, 78)  
Mar.  2   4 55.00   25 35.3   3.081   3.304    94   17.9      9.2  95.7  19:19 ( 60, 73)  

* C/2002 B1 ( LINEAR )


New periodic comet with 30 year period. It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   3 12.85   65 46.8   2.086   2.339    91   17.8      8.3  65.5  19:13 (158, 54)  
Mar.  2   3 23.06   66 13.1   2.133   2.323    88   17.8     11.0  68.2  19:19 (156, 51)  

* C/2002 A2 ( LINEAR )


New comet with 80 year period. C/2002 A1 and C/2002 A2 are pair, splitted from one comet. They show the same motion within 1 degree after this. C/2002 A1 is fainter than 18 mag. C/2002 A2 will be fainter than 18 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 23   6 49.76   30 54.6   4.084   4.736   126   17.8      0.6 326.2  20:37 (  0, 86)  
Mar.  2   6 49.97   30 57.2   4.178   4.742   119   17.9      1.1  77.7  20:09 (  0, 86)  

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