Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Apr. 27: North)

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Updated on May 1, 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 F1 ( Utsunomiya )


It brightened rapidly after early April and reached to 4.5-5.0 mag in mid April. It is still 4 mag and strongly condensed after the perihelion passage. After now, it locates just on the horizon at dusk until early May in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in May and June, but it only locates very low in the evening sky. It approaches to Mercury on May 4 down to 3 arcmin.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   3  8.45   29 59.8   1.233   0.451    20    4.0    135.8 109.1  20:13 (125,  2)  
May   4   4  6.57   23 37.2   1.318   0.522    20    5.7    111.6 122.0  20:21 (117,  2)  

* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )


The return of comet in 1661 with 340 year period. It has been 0.5 mag brighter than this ephemeris since the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  20 21.10   61 14.8   0.406   1.001    77    4.8    135.8 263.9   3:42 (210, 55)  
May   4  18 25.13   55 44.2   0.410   1.119    94    5.3    135.7 238.7   3:32 (184, 69)  

* C/2001 OG108 ( LONEOS )


After it brightened rapidly and reached to 10 mag in February, it did not brightened more and kept 10 mag all over though it became closer to the earth. However, they say it suddenly faded rapidly in late April. It is moving fast towards south and will be low in the evening sky in mid June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   9 26.55   40 39.3   0.614   1.213    93   10.5    148.7 175.2  20:13 (113, 76)  
May   4   9 33.07   25 40.6   0.722   1.279    93   11.1    109.6 174.1  20:21 ( 71, 67)  

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )


It keeps observable until it fades out in the Northerm Hemisphere. It keeps brighter than 12 mag until May. It will approach to C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang ) in early May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  19 26.00   53  6.9   1.458   1.720    86   10.7     63.8 358.8   3:42 (214, 67)  
May   4  19 23.23   60  8.5   1.531   1.772    85   10.9     56.7 354.9   3:32 (198, 63)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


It suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it had been fading rapidly down to 9.5 mag. But the fading became slower in April. It must be 1 mag or more brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  18 36.94   21 20.0   1.318   1.880   107   11.0     46.7 325.3   3:42 (327, 74)  
May   4  18 22.65   25 31.2   1.365   1.983   112   11.4     44.3 318.7   3:32 (354, 80)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27   1 36.35   -0 48.6   2.570   1.639    17   12.0     41.6  75.7   3:42 (257,-20)  
May   4   1 54.85    0 20.9   2.598   1.682    19   12.3     40.2  76.2   3:32 (255,-19)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at 13 mag until September. It is fainter than 14 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   0 53.79   70 48.6   3.964   3.544    58   12.9     20.7  30.8   3:42 (201, 29)  
May   4   1 10.28   72 55.1   3.963   3.544    58   12.9     21.6  31.4   3:32 (199, 30)  

* C/2002 H2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although it will be observable all after this in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be fainter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  19 22.41   34 13.7   1.315   1.700    93   13.4     83.0 344.1   3:42 (268, 73)  
May   4  19  6.27   43 29.4   1.306   1.727    95   13.5     83.8 338.8   3:32 (225, 78)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Takuo Kojima reported that it was in outburst at 14.4 mag on Mar. 28.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  21  4.55  -18 19.3   5.872   5.841    83   13.6      5.5  68.8   3:42 (313, 21)  
May   4  21  6.81  -18  6.4   5.760   5.840    89   13.5      4.5  67.4   3:32 (316, 24)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  20  9.00   -4  8.7   0.740   1.279    92   14.0     58.6 104.9   3:42 (316, 41)  
May   4  20 35.73   -6  1.4   0.707   1.266    93   13.8     59.8 106.7   3:32 (315, 38)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  20 20.38   18 55.1   2.839   2.924    84   14.4     14.9 296.4   3:42 (288, 55)  
May   4  20 12.76   19 41.5   2.685   2.896    91   14.3     18.7 290.6   3:32 (294, 60)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be observable at 15 mag until August when it becomes low in the evening sky. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently, 14.5 mag even by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  11  0.01   19 56.8   2.609   3.245   121   15.0      4.0 219.8  20:38 (  0, 75)  
May   4  10 59.25   19 31.9   2.672   3.224   114   15.0      4.1 187.3  20:21 ( 10, 74)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It will be 15 mag in spring and summer. It was a bit brighter than this ephemeris recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  17  3.59    8 16.6   4.594   5.333   133   15.1     13.2 334.9   2:45 (  0, 63)  
May   4  17  0.67    9 39.6   4.533   5.320   137   15.0     13.5 330.2   2:15 (  0, 65)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be 11 mag in 2003 February. Although it was reported as 13.5 mag visually, it is fainter than this ephemeris recently, fainter than 16 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   9 57.46   -4 47.5   4.531   5.048   115   15.1     13.2 301.6  20:13 ( 14, 49)  
May   4   9 52.60   -4  0.8   4.597   4.997   107   15.0     11.5 303.8  20:21 ( 29, 47)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It is observable until autumn at 15 mag. It was reported as 14 mag visually, but as 16 mag by CCD, so there is a large difference.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   9 58.01   68 31.2   5.081   5.111    86   15.1     12.1 169.5  20:13 (174, 56)  
May   4  10  1.34   67  6.7   5.156   5.126    82   15.2     12.6 165.4  20:21 (168, 56)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  11 37.71    9 14.2   1.796   2.601   134   15.3      7.5 286.5  21:16 (  0, 64)  
May   4  11 34.90    9 24.4   1.823   2.559   126   15.2      4.7 279.3  20:46 (  0, 64)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It will be 10.5 mag in 2003 spring. It was fainter than this ephemeris, around 16 mag recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   6 26.05   26 29.6   3.191   2.814    59   15.3     18.8  94.9  20:13 ( 99, 37)  
May   4   6 36.07   26 17.1   3.245   2.788    54   15.2     19.9  95.6  20:21 (102, 32)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  15 54.31  -39 32.9   2.185   3.074   146   15.4      9.3 242.7   1:36 (  0, 15)  
May   4  15 48.71  -39 59.2   2.091   3.018   151   15.2     10.7 252.4   1:03 (  0, 15)  

* 19P/Borrelly


Fading now. 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)  
Apr. 27  11 30.21   45 40.4   2.124   2.640   109   15.4     15.3 186.4  21:09 (180, 79)  
May   4  11 29.81   43 52.2   2.234   2.689   105   15.6     15.7 178.3  20:41 (180, 81)  

* 77P/Longmore


It is brighter than this ephemeris recently, 15.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  10 28.82   23 23.4   1.894   2.468   113   15.9     13.9 179.8  20:13 (  7, 78)  
May   4  10 29.53   21 44.0   1.956   2.453   107   15.9     14.7 169.2  20:21 ( 36, 74)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  15 50.50  -16 27.1   2.922   3.869   157   16.1      8.2 277.3   1:32 (  0, 39)  
May   4  15 46.31  -16 19.4   2.895   3.878   164   16.1      9.1 277.2   1:01 (  0, 39)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  10 43.91   21 13.8   1.088   1.787   117   16.4     25.1 133.4  20:23 (  0, 76)  
May   4  10 53.17   19 14.1   1.178   1.830   113   16.7     25.5 131.6  20:21 ( 14, 74)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27   9 11.33   17 16.2   6.665   6.887    98   16.9      5.1 309.0  20:13 ( 52, 64)  
May   4   9  9.67   17 37.1   6.822   6.918    91   17.0      4.0 314.3  20:21 ( 65, 58)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  12  3.18  -12 45.5   4.774   5.649   147   16.9     12.8 277.4  21:41 (  0, 42)  
May   4  11 57.45  -12 34.4   4.891   5.697   139   17.0     11.4 277.7  21:08 (  0, 42)  

* 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)  
Apr. 27  18 37.73  -16 33.5  10.877  11.373   117   17.1      1.0 302.8   3:42 (349, 38)  
May   4  18 37.17  -16 29.8  10.790  11.386   124   17.1      1.5 289.1   3:32 (354, 38)  

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte


Not yet observed in this return. It is getting brighter in the morning sky. It will reach to 15.5 mag in July and August. It bursted out and became 6 mag brighter than this ephemeris in the previous return in 1996.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27  19 10.52  -18 37.0   1.344   1.932   109   17.4     22.8  77.2   3:42 (340, 34)  
May   4  19 21.09  -18  0.4   1.259   1.906   113   17.2     21.4  75.5   3:32 (342, 35)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2


It will be fainter than 18 mag and low in the evening sky at the end of this month.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 27   9  2.52   19 48.9   3.182   3.432    95   17.7      8.4 106.8  20:13 ( 59, 65)  
May   4   9  6.88   19 30.1   3.284   3.436    90   17.8     10.0 107.1  20:21 ( 68, 59)  

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