Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 May 4: South)

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Updated on May 4, 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. It had been 0.5 mag brighter than this ephemeris from mid March to mid April. But now the brightness well corresponds to this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   4  18 25.13   55 44.2   0.410   1.119    94    5.3    135.7 238.7   3:42 (180, -1)  
May  11  17 10.69   45 57.8   0.440   1.236   110    5.8    122.9 223.4   1:59 (180,  9)  

* 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)  
May   4   4  6.57   23 37.2   1.318   0.522    20    5.7    111.6 122.0  18:41 (115, -5)  
May  11   4 47.00   16 44.1   1.421   0.630    23    8.0     90.2 128.9  18:35 (112,  2)  

* 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.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   4  18 22.65   25 31.2   1.365   1.983   112   10.6     44.3 318.7   3:37 (180, 30)  
May  11  18  6.78   29  3.5   1.425   2.085   116   11.0     41.2 311.6   2:54 (180, 26)  

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )


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)  
May   4  19 23.23   60  8.5   1.531   1.772    85   10.9     56.7 354.9   4:37 (180, -5)  
May  11  19 15.82   66 16.5   1.621   1.826    84   11.2     49.4 349.7   4:02 (180,-11)  

* 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)  
May   4   9 33.07   25 40.6   0.722   1.279    93   11.1    109.6 174.1  18:45 (180, 30)  
May  11   9 38.59   14 52.4   0.861   1.349    91   11.7     78.8 171.9  18:35 (176, 41)  

* 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)  
May   4   1 54.85    0 20.9   2.598   1.682    19   12.3     40.2  76.2   5:12 (269,  1)  
May  11   2 12.77    1 25.0   2.624   1.727    21   12.7     38.8  77.0   5:16 (266,  3)  

* 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)  
May   4   1 10.28   72 55.1   3.963   3.544    58   12.9     21.6  31.4   5:12 (199,-30)  
May  11   1 30.20   75  4.9   3.960   3.545    58   12.9     22.3  32.7   5:16 (197,-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)  
May   4  19  6.27   43 29.4   1.306   1.727    95   13.5     83.8 338.8   4:20 (180, 12)  
May  11  18 41.93   52 11.0   1.332   1.759    96   13.6     79.9 331.4   3:29 (180,  3)  

* 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)  
May   4  21  6.81  -18  6.4   5.760   5.840    89   13.5      4.5  67.4   5:12 (226, 67)  
May  11  21  8.58  -17 55.4   5.647   5.838    95   13.5      3.4  65.1   5:16 (209, 71)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke


It will be at the peak this month. But no observation was reported recently and the current brightness is uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   4  20 35.73   -6  1.4   0.707   1.266    93   13.8     59.8 106.7   5:12 (198, 60)  
May  11  21  2.72   -8  8.3   0.680   1.259    94   13.7     60.4 108.5   5:16 (197, 62)  

* 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)  
May   4  20 12.76   19 41.5   2.685   2.896    91   14.3     18.7 290.6   5:12 (184, 35)  
May  11  20  2.89   20 26.3   2.534   2.868    98   14.1     23.2 285.5   4:49 (180, 35)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at around 14.5 mag in good position until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   4  17  0.67    9 39.6   4.533   5.320   137   14.3     13.5 330.2   2:15 (180, 45)  
May  11  16 57.25   11  0.2   4.486   5.309   141   14.3     13.6 325.8   1:44 (180, 44)  

* 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)  
May   4   9 52.60   -4  0.8   4.597   4.997   107   15.0     11.5 303.8  19:03 (180, 59)  
May  11   9 48.52   -3 18.0   4.670   4.946   100   15.0      9.8 306.4  18:35 (178, 58)  

* 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)  
May   4  10 59.25   19 31.9   2.672   3.224   114   15.0      4.1 187.3  20:10 (180, 36)  
May  11  10 59.50   19  0.6   2.740   3.202   108   15.1      5.1 162.7  19:43 (180, 36)  

* 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)  
May   4  15 48.71  -39 59.2   2.091   3.018   151   15.2     10.7 252.4   1:03 (  0, 85)  
May  11  15 42.00  -40 17.4   2.009   2.962   156   15.1     11.9 260.4   0:29 (  0, 85)  

* 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)  
May   4  11 34.90    9 24.4   1.823   2.559   126   15.2      4.7 279.3  20:46 (180, 46)  
May  11  11 33.35    9 24.9   1.857   2.518   119   15.1      2.0 251.9  20:17 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
May   4   6 36.07   26 17.1   3.245   2.788    54   15.2     19.9  95.6  18:41 (140, 16)  
May  11   6 46.61   26  2.0   3.294   2.763    50   15.1     20.9  96.4  18:35 (138, 15)  

* 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)  
May   4  10  1.34   67  6.7   5.156   5.126    82   15.2     12.6 165.4  19:13 (180,-12)  
May  11  10  5.57   65 40.5   5.232   5.142    79   15.2     13.1 161.7  18:49 (180,-11)  

* 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)  
May   4  11 29.81   43 52.2   2.234   2.689   105   15.6     15.7 178.3  20:41 (180, 11)  
May  11  11 30.73   42  1.6   2.348   2.737   101   15.8     16.1 171.3  20:14 (180, 13)  

* 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)  
May   4  10 29.53   21 44.0   1.956   2.453   107   15.9     14.7 169.2  19:41 (180, 33)  
May  11  10 31.56   20  1.4   2.022   2.438   101   16.0     15.8 160.2  19:15 (180, 35)  

* 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)  
May   4  15 46.31  -16 19.4   2.895   3.878   164   16.1      9.1 277.2   1:01 (180, 71)  
May  11  15 41.77  -16 11.2   2.883   3.886   172   16.1      9.7 276.9   0:29 (180, 71)  

* 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)  
May   4  10 53.17   19 14.1   1.178   1.830   113   16.7     25.5 131.6  20:05 (180, 36)  
May  11  11  2.70   17 16.6   1.274   1.873   109   16.9     25.8 130.1  19:47 (180, 38)  

* 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)  
May   4   9  9.67   17 37.1   6.822   6.918    91   17.0      4.0 314.3  18:41 (174, 37)  
May  11   9  8.55   17 54.9   6.980   6.949    84   17.0      2.9 323.1  18:35 (167, 36)  

* 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)  
May   4  19 21.09  -18  0.4   1.259   1.906   113   17.2     21.4  75.5   4:34 (180, 73)  
May  11  19 30.82  -17 22.0   1.178   1.881   118   17.0     19.8  73.7   4:17 (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)  
May   4  11 57.45  -12 34.4   4.891   5.697   139   17.0     11.4 277.7  21:08 (180, 68)  
May  11  11 52.43  -12 24.4   5.021   5.746   131   17.1      9.8 277.6  20:35 (180, 67)  

* 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)  
May   4  18 37.17  -16 29.8  10.790  11.386   124   17.1      1.5 289.1   3:51 (180, 71)  
May  11  18 36.33  -16 26.5  10.712  11.400   131   17.1      2.0 282.2   3:22 (180, 71)  

* 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)  
May   4   9  6.88   19 30.1   3.284   3.436    90   17.8     10.0 107.1  18:41 (174, 35)  
May  11   9 11.92   19  7.9   3.386   3.440    84   17.9     11.4 107.4  18:35 (169, 35)  

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