Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Mar. 2: South)

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 Updated on March 2, 2002
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

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* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )
It may be in a return of comet in 1661 with 340 year period. Already visible by naked eyes. 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)  
Mar.  2   1  3.50    0 58.0   1.146   0.645    34    5.2     61.0  29.5  20:03 ( 94,  3)  
Mar.  9   1 16.57    7 44.2   1.015   0.560    32    4.3     67.8  21.3  19:53 ( 99, -1)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it is fading rapidly, and now it is 6.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  19 23.89  -21 55.1   1.233   0.996    51    7.0     48.7 357.3   4:20 (276, 31)  
Mar.  9  19 22.66  -16 15.7   1.237   1.110    58    7.8     48.4 356.5   4:27 (265, 36)

* 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 8 mag in April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  21 34.58   41 39.8   1.262   1.018    52   10.1     33.6   3.5   4:20 (237,-29)  
Mar.  9  21 36.10   46  0.2   1.140   0.999    55    9.8     41.4   3.7   4:27 (230,-25)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  23 32.81   57 51.3   3.877   3.586    65   12.9     12.2  40.6  20:03 (140,-38)  
Mar.  9  23 40.09   59  0.5   3.902   3.577    63   12.9     13.5  38.4  19:53 (141,-40)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  22 46.33  -11 41.1   2.372   1.387     4   13.0     50.9  77.6   4:20 (296,-14)  
Mar.  9  23  9.75  -10 21.5   2.390   1.406     5   12.9     50.1  76.6   4:27 (293,-13)

* 15P/Finlay
It bursted out in early February and reached to 13.5 mag. 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)  
Mar.  2   0 30.63    2 56.0   1.869   1.083    26   13.4     66.7  64.7  20:03 ( 91, -4)  
Mar.  9   0 58.66    6 11.7   1.896   1.117    27   13.6     65.3  65.2  19:53 ( 95, -4)

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )
It appears at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. But no observations have been reported since late December. So the current brightness is quite uncertain. Northern people can never see it again. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  20 51.88  -36 31.5   2.118   1.497    39   13.4     33.7 147.7   4:20 (301, 21)  
Mar.  9  21  2.65  -39 55.7   2.082   1.572    46   13.6     35.1 148.9   4:27 (301, 27)

* 19P/Borrelly
Fading now. But it was brighter than the ephemeris recently, 13 mag in mid February. 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)  
Mar.  2  12 30.47   53  7.3   1.472   2.241   129   13.5     14.4 286.7   1:53 (180,  2)  
Mar.  9  12 19.37   53 23.0   1.527   2.292   129   13.7     14.4 271.7   1:15 (180,  2)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  20 32.11  -20 50.1   6.628   5.856    36   13.9     11.0  73.6   4:20 (284, 17)  
Mar.  9  20 37.27  -20 28.4   6.557   5.855    41   13.8     10.6  73.2   4:27 (280, 23)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   3 16.62    8 27.9   1.775   1.680    68   14.2     44.8  66.2  20:03 (122, 25)  
Mar.  9   3 35.69   10 27.7   1.876   1.733    66   14.5     42.8  67.8  19:53 (124, 24)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   9 51.09   36  0.4   0.580   1.515   148   14.4     11.7 151.4  23:10 (180, 19)  
Mar.  9   9 54.74   34 39.2   0.620   1.540   144   14.7     14.7 150.6  22:46 (180, 20)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  10 30.12   77  0.9   4.579   5.010   110   14.8      7.2 233.1  23:48 (180,-22)  
Mar.  9  10 18.96   76 24.7   4.627   5.021   107   14.8      7.9 221.0  23:09 (180,-21)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  11 33.41   18 39.0   2.449   3.415   164   15.1     11.4 297.1   0:56 (180, 36)  
Mar.  9  11 28.22   19 13.5   2.425   3.394   165   15.1     11.7 293.1   0:23 (180, 36)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  20 33.04   14 17.2   3.890   3.201    40   15.5      4.0  50.4   4:20 (255, -3)  
Mar.  9  20 34.31   14 37.6   3.791   3.162    44   15.4      3.9  33.3   4:27 (250,  3)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  10 58.12  -11 31.4   4.507   5.454   161   15.5     18.6 287.5   0:21 (180, 67)  
Mar.  9  10 49.59  -10 49.4   4.445   5.403   163   15.4     19.2 289.4  23:40 (180, 66)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  17  5.24   -2 10.2   5.425   5.448    86   15.5     10.5  26.2   4:20 (229, 46)  
Mar.  9  17  7.13   -1  2.5   5.301   5.432    92   15.5     10.6  19.2   4:27 (218, 50)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   8 17.81   25 30.1   1.196   2.052   139   15.5      3.0  64.7  21:37 (180, 29)  
Mar.  9   8 19.97   25 34.5   1.265   2.072   132   15.7      5.6  90.0  21:12 (180, 29)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   5 32.36   27 22.6   2.647   3.023   102   15.6      5.4  99.2  20:03 (163, 25)  
Mar.  9   5 35.75   27 16.8   2.719   2.996    96   15.6      7.6  95.9  19:53 (159, 25)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  19 26.67  -14 26.7   1.994   1.563    50   15.9     42.7  82.0   4:20 (269, 27)  
Mar.  9  19 46.70  -13 41.1   1.973   1.579    52   15.9     41.5  80.5   4:27 (266, 30)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  11 11.40   31 37.4   1.681   2.614   155   16.2     15.1 264.8   0:34 (180, 23)  
Mar.  9  11  3.06   31 20.6   1.669   2.594   153   16.1     15.7 257.4  23:53 (180, 24)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
It was as faint as 17.5 mag in late February. 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)  
Mar.  2  16 58.42    3 43.1   1.202   1.538    88   16.6     45.1  95.7   4:20 (222, 42)  
Mar.  9  17 19.74    3 10.1   1.126   1.494    89   16.2     46.6  96.0   4:27 (219, 44)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  15 57.23  -16 35.1   3.497   3.805   100   16.3      5.4 101.0   4:20 (220, 67)  
Mar.  9  15 59.42  -16 41.2   3.402   3.813   106   16.3      3.7 101.0   4:27 (200, 71)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  12 20.78    3 57.7   1.988   2.928   157   16.6     10.8 304.1   1:43 (180, 51)  
Mar.  9  12 16.12    4 42.4   1.917   2.888   165   16.4     12.7 301.5   1:11 (180, 50)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   1 35.00   24 31.6   4.659   4.111    51   16.5     12.3  65.6  20:03 (117, -4)  
Mar.  9   1 41.01   25  8.8   4.678   4.052    46   16.4     13.4  65.4  19:53 (116, -7)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  13  2.50  -13 28.7   4.451   5.260   141   16.5     14.8 265.7   2:25 (180, 68)  
Mar.  9  12 55.19  -13 34.2   4.429   5.308   149   16.5     15.7 268.2   1:50 (180, 69)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   2  3.59   15 56.3   1.709   1.368    53   16.5     52.2  66.1  20:03 (115,  7)  
Mar.  9   2 27.13   18 19.1   1.741   1.379    52   16.6     52.4  67.8  19:53 (118,  6)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   6 31.40   -6 17.6   4.680   5.162   113   16.8     10.1   3.8  20:03 (174, 61)  
Mar.  9   6 32.04   -5  7.3   4.761   5.159   108   16.8     10.2  11.5  19:53 (166, 59)

* 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)  
Mar.  2  16 11.36   76 47.3   1.580   1.998    99   16.8     30.6 295.0   4:20 (185,-22)  
Mar.  9  15  6.67   77 41.8   1.619   2.056   101   17.2     32.3 275.6   4:03 (180,-23)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   9 14.06   -6 49.6   2.290   3.199   152   16.8     40.6 304.8  22:32 (180, 62)  
Mar.  9   8 59.42   -4 11.1   2.393   3.253   144   17.0     36.4 307.1  21:50 (180, 59)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   6 21.89  -10  4.8   5.835   6.257   110   16.9     10.0 341.9  20:03 (167, 65)  
Mar.  9   6 20.73   -8 59.3   5.974   6.304   105   17.0      9.4 348.7  19:53 (158, 62)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   9 44.95   12 21.1   5.689   6.643   163   17.1     14.6 299.5  23:03 (180, 43)  
Mar.  9   9 39.02   13 10.2   5.764   6.673   154   17.2     13.8 299.5  22:30 (180, 42)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   8 59.11   19 53.3   2.517   3.413   150   17.2      7.0 290.8  22:18 (180, 35)  
Mar.  9   8 56.25   20  8.5   2.573   3.415   142   17.2      5.2 290.6  21:48 (180, 35)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   2 41.76   44 14.7   3.423   3.276    73   17.2     21.2 150.8  20:03 (141, -6)  
Mar.  9   2 48.56   42 11.5   3.526   3.269    67   17.3     20.0 146.7  19:53 (138, -6)

* C/2002 B2 ( LINEAR )
Moving northwards gradually. But it is at the peak now and will be fainter than 18 mag in May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  2  10 20.22  -26  0.6   2.996   3.856   145   17.2     33.9 288.4  23:37 (180, 81)  
Mar.  9  10  3.76  -24 37.1   2.990   3.851   145   17.2     34.0 292.4  22:54 (180, 80)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   3 23.06   66 13.1   2.133   2.323    88   17.8     11.0  68.2  20:03 (161,-18)  
Mar.  9   3 36.54   66 43.1   2.179   2.310    84   17.8     13.6  70.4  19:53 (161,-19)

* 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)  
Mar.  2   4 55.00   25 35.3   3.081   3.304    94   17.9      9.2  95.7  20:03 (153, 24)  
Mar.  9   5  0.10   25 29.7   3.214   3.335    88   18.1     10.6  93.8  19:53 (151, 23)

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