Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Mar. 16: South)

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 Updated on March 22, 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 )
The return of comet in 1661 with 340 year period. Long tail over 3 degree is visible. 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. 16   1 25.41   15 41.6   0.876   0.512    30    3.9     73.8   8.4  19:42 (105, -8)  
Mar. 23   1 25.44   24 38.4   0.742   0.516    30    3.6     80.4 351.8  19:32 (110,-16)

* 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 8.5 mag. But it still has a long tail about 30 arcmin. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  19 20.85  -10 38.0   1.237   1.224    65    8.1     48.4 354.3   4:34 (253, 40)  
Mar. 23  19 17.96   -5  1.0   1.237   1.337    72    8.7     48.7 351.0   4:40 (240, 43)

* C/2001 OG108 ( LONEOS )
It brightened rapidly and reached to 10 mag in February. Then it keeps 10 mag, the brightening is a bit slower. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  21 38.33   51 27.1   1.009   0.994    59    9.5     52.9   4.0   4:34 (222,-23)  
Mar. 23  21 42.17   58 33.0   0.875   1.002    64    9.2     70.4   4.7   4:40 (213,-22)

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )
New comet. It will move northwards after this. It keeps observable until it fades out in the Northerm Hemisphere. It keeps brighter than 12 mag until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  19  0.05    3 39.2   1.497   1.500    70   10.1     64.5  14.3   4:34 (236, 34)  
Mar. 23  19  7.16   11 18.1   1.432   1.524    75   10.1     69.9  11.7   4:40 (224, 32)

* 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. 16  23 32.57   -8 58.4   2.410   1.430     7   12.8     49.2  75.9   4:34 (290,-12)  
Mar. 23  23 54.77   -7 33.4   2.433   1.458     9   12.7     48.1  75.3   4:40 (287,-10)

* 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. 16  23 48.01   60 18.5   3.922   3.569    62   12.9     14.7  36.5  19:42 (143,-41)  
Mar. 23  23 56.58   61 45.0   3.938   3.562    60   12.9     15.8  34.8   4:40 (215,-39)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Appearing at dawn. It will be observable in April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  20 42.19  -20  7.2   6.477   5.853    47   13.8     10.1  72.7   4:34 (276, 28)  
Mar. 23  20 46.81  -19 46.5   6.390   5.851    53   13.8      9.5  72.2   4:40 (271, 34)

* 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. 16   1 26.32    9 17.0   1.933   1.156    28   13.9     63.4  66.2  19:42 ( 99, -3)  
Mar. 23   1 53.53   12  8.5   1.980   1.202    28   14.2     61.2  67.4  19:32 (103, -3)

* 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. 16  12  8.19   53 12.8   1.590   2.342   128   14.0     14.4 257.1   0:36 (180,  2)  
Mar. 23  11 57.75   52 38.1   1.662   2.392   126   14.2     14.4 243.0  23:53 (180,  2)

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )
Fading rapidly after February. It will be fainter than 16 mag in May when it becomes low. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   3 54.24   12 14.3   1.982   1.787    64   14.7     40.9  69.5  19:42 (125, 23)  
Mar. 23   4 12.33   13 48.2   2.091   1.842    61   15.0     39.2  71.3  19:32 (126, 22)

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )
It appeared at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere and observed as 14.7 mag on Mar. 14. 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. 16  21 14.10  -43 32.3   2.041   1.648    53   14.7     36.9 150.2   4:34 (303, 32)  
Mar. 23  21 26.45  -47 23.8   1.998   1.725    59   15.0     39.0 151.5   4:40 (307, 37)

* 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. 16  10  9.79   75 37.8   4.681   5.032   105   14.9      8.5 210.3  22:33 (180,-21)  
Mar. 23  10  2.87   74 41.8   4.738   5.044   102   14.9      9.2 200.9  21:59 (180,-20)

* 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. 16   9 59.31   33  2.4   0.667   1.569   140   14.9     17.3 148.2  22:23 (180, 22)  
Mar. 23  10  4.87   31 14.4   0.722   1.600   136   15.2     19.5 145.4  22:02 (180, 24)

* 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. 16  11 22.84   19 42.8   2.414   3.373   161   15.0     11.5 289.0  23:46 (180, 35)  
Mar. 23  11 17.54   20  5.3   2.418   3.352   155   15.0     10.7 284.5  23:13 (180, 35)

* 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. 16  20 35.06   15  2.7   3.681   3.125    49   15.3      4.0  13.4   4:34 (244,  9)  
Mar. 23  20 35.17   15 32.3   3.559   3.089    54   15.2      4.6 353.4   4:40 (238, 15)

* 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. 16  10 40.99  -10  2.4   4.403   5.352   160   15.4     19.4 291.2  23:04 (180, 65)  
Mar. 23  10 32.51   -9 11.7   4.382   5.301   154   15.3     19.2 292.9  22:28 (180, 64)

* C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR )
Japanese observers reported that it faded rapidly in January and February, so it must be fainter than 17 mag now. However, southern observers report that it is bright around 14 mag still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   4 53.39  -33  8.5   1.836   1.909    78   15.3     24.2 321.0  19:42 ( 83, 60)  
Mar. 23   4 46.59  -31  7.8   1.991   1.951    73   15.6     18.5 328.1  19:32 ( 84, 55)

* 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. 16  17  8.47    0  9.2   5.179   5.416    98   15.4     10.8  12.0   4:34 (205, 52)  
Mar. 23  17  9.21    1 24.6   5.062   5.401   104   15.3     11.1   4.9   4:40 (192, 53)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
It was as faint as 16.5 mag in mid March. 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. 16  17 41.76    2 33.6   1.055   1.453    90   15.9     48.2  96.6   4:34 (215, 46)  
Mar. 23  18  4.48    1 51.7   0.989   1.414    90   15.5     49.9  97.5   4:40 (212, 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)  
Mar. 16   5 40.26   27 11.5   2.792   2.970    90   15.5      9.6  94.3  19:42 (156, 24)  
Mar. 23   5 45.81   27  6.4   2.864   2.944    84   15.5     11.5  93.6  19:32 (154, 23)

* 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. 16   8 23.61   25 30.3   1.341   2.093   126   15.8      8.5  97.9  20:48 (180, 30)  
Mar. 23   8 28.63   25 18.3   1.423   2.116   120   16.0     11.2 101.6  20:26 (180, 30)

* 77P/Longmore
Now it is at the peak. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  10 54.86   30 48.9   1.671   2.575   148   16.0     15.7 249.1  23:18 (180, 24)  
Mar. 23  10 47.29   30  2.3   1.684   2.556   143   16.0     15.3 239.9  22:43 (180, 25)

* 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. 16  12 10.67    5 30.3   1.859   2.847   172   16.2     14.1 299.5   0:38 (180, 50)  
Mar. 23  12  4.69    6 19.0   1.815   2.807   172   16.0     14.8 297.8   0:05 (180, 49)

* 28P/Neujmin 1
It will reach to 13 mag at the end of this year. In the northern hemisphere, it keeps low in the south after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  16  1.03  -35 30.2   2.946   3.405   109   16.3      7.6 147.5   4:28 (  0, 90)  
Mar. 23  16  2.89  -36 15.1   2.801   3.351   115   16.2      6.8 160.0   4:02 (  0, 89)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh
It keeps brighter than 17 mag until August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  16  0.75  -16 45.0   3.312   3.821   113   16.2      1.9 101.8   4:27 (180, 72)  
Mar. 23  16  1.19  -16 46.6   3.226   3.829   120   16.2      0.1 199.9   4:00 (180, 72)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
Fading. It will be about 18 mag in June when it becomes low in the evening. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  12 47.51  -13 35.6   4.423   5.357   157   16.5     16.3 270.3   1:15 (180, 69)  
Mar. 23  12 39.62  -13 33.1   4.436   5.405   165   16.6     16.5 272.0   0:40 (180, 69)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
Fading very slowly. It was brighter than the ephemeris recently, reported around 16 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   9 33.46   13 56.3   5.856   6.703   145   16.5     12.8 299.8  21:57 (180, 41)  
Mar. 23   9 28.36   14 38.9   5.964   6.733   137   16.6     11.6 300.2  21:24 (180, 40)

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )
It will be getting fainter and lower after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   6 33.29   -3 58.1   4.851   5.159   102   16.9     10.3  19.0  19:42 (159, 57)  
Mar. 23   6 35.16   -2 51.0   4.942   5.157    96   16.9     10.5  26.2  19:32 (153, 55)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
It keeps 17 mag locating at the same altitude until October in the Northerm Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16  18 34.99  -17  2.8  11.476  11.292    76   17.2      2.8  74.2   4:34 (251, 53)  
Mar. 23  18 36.18  -16 57.4  11.375  11.306    83   17.2      2.3  70.4   4:40 (242, 59)

* 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. 16   8 46.93   -1 43.6   2.519   3.308   135   17.2     31.6 309.5  21:10 (180, 57)  
Mar. 23   8 36.61    0 30.2   2.666   3.363   127   17.4     26.8 312.2  20:32 (180, 54)

* C/2002 B2 ( LINEAR )
Moving northwards gradually. But it 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. 16   9 48.14  -22 59.8   3.009   3.848   142   17.2     33.1 296.2  22:11 (180, 78)  
Mar. 23   9 33.78  -21 13.2   3.053   3.845   137   17.3     31.4 299.8  21:29 (180, 76)

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2
Already passed the peak and fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 16   8 54.28   20 19.1   2.639   3.416   135   17.3      3.2 291.2  21:18 (180, 35)  
Mar. 23   8 53.27   20 25.0   2.715   3.418   127   17.3      1.1 295.9  20:50 (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. 16   2 55.54   40 20.1   3.628   3.263    60   17.3     19.0 142.7  19:42 (136, -6)  
Mar. 23   3  2.64   38 39.2   3.727   3.259    54   17.4     18.2 138.9  19:32 (133, -7)

* 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. 16   3 53.30   67 15.3   2.222   2.298    81   17.8     16.0  72.7  19:42 (162,-19)  
Mar. 23   4 13.40   67 47.4   2.263   2.288    78   17.9     18.2  75.5  19:32 (162,-19)

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