Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 June 8: South)

Japanese version
Home page
 Updated on June 11, 2002
Last week North Next week

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )
The fading pace was very slow in May, and the comet is still 7 mag. But now it is diffused. The anti-tail was observed in early June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  15 33.12   13 23.2   0.792   1.687   137    7.3     48.4 200.8  22:25 (180, 42)  
June 15  15 26.70    8 38.4   0.921   1.794   135    7.9     37.9 195.5  21:51 (180, 47)

* C/2002 F1 ( Utsunomiya )
It did not fade at all in May and kept 8 mag until late May. Although it is observable only in the Southern Hemisphere in the evening low sky, it will be brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   6 17.72   -3 47.3   1.859   1.136    32    9.5     49.0 133.5  18:25 ( 93, 12)  
June 15   6 33.63   -7 32.1   1.963   1.260    34   10.1     44.6 133.4  18:25 ( 89, 12)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It faded down to 12 mag until mid May. No visual observation was reported after that, but it will keep brighter than 13 mag for some more while. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  17  0.88   36  2.2   1.795   2.477   121   12.2     25.6 278.9  23:52 (180, 19)  
June 15  16 47.22   36 14.7   1.915   2.572   119   12.5     21.9 269.7  23:11 (180, 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)  
June  8   4 26.50   83  0.1   3.953   3.561    60   12.9     24.7  61.8   5:32 (189,-34)  
June 15   6  4.54   83 49.8   3.954   3.567    60   12.9     25.1  82.4  18:25 (173,-34)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
They say it is in outburst now, 12.8 mag on June 9. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  21 10.32  -17 32.4   5.225   5.830   122   13.3      1.4 278.5   4:06 (180, 73)  
June 15  21  9.39  -17 32.1   5.134   5.829   129   13.3      2.5 267.7   3:38 (180, 73)

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )
Fading rapidly. It is already a hard object to see visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  16 54.19   80 52.7   2.057   2.067    76   13.4     26.1 297.9  23:40 (180,-26)  
June 15  15 42.56   81 37.0   2.171   2.132    74   13.8     22.2 274.4  22:02 (180,-27)

* C/2002 H2 ( LINEAR )
It was 12 mag in May, but now it is fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  15 14.24   69 13.6   1.708   1.923    85   13.5     44.6 271.7  22:02 (180,-14)  
June 15  14 21.85   68 36.7   1.841   1.971    81   13.8     37.0 255.0  20:44 (180,-14)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
It is at the peak now, but only 13-14 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  22 46.79  -18 25.4   0.628   1.290   100   13.7     54.3 116.4   5:32 (188, 73)  
June 15  23  9.86  -21 15.0   0.628   1.311   103   13.8     50.5 119.1   5:35 (182, 76)

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )
The brightening seems slow, so it reaches only up to 14 mag in June and July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  18 55.07   21 47.5   2.034   2.774   127   13.9     45.6 266.8   1:52 (180, 33)  
June 15  18 31.02   21 13.6   1.958   2.755   133   13.8     50.6 262.1   1:01 (180, 34)

* 46P/Wirtanen
Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. It is getting brighter rapidly now. It will be 10 mag in August in the morning low sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   2 19.02    5  9.3   2.035   1.474    43   14.6     50.4  69.3   5:32 (244, 24)  
June 15   2 41.74    7 14.7   1.960   1.417    44   14.1     52.8  70.1   5:35 (241, 24)

* 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)  
June  8   3 18.78    4 39.8   2.710   1.915    31   14.1     33.2  81.1   5:32 (255, 13)  
June 15   3 33.88    5 12.3   2.724   1.964    33   14.5     31.9  82.4   5:35 (252, 16)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable at around 14.5 mag in good position until September. It was reported as 13 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  16 40.57   15 34.0   4.437   5.267   141   14.2     12.0 311.2  23:33 (180, 39)  
June 15  16 36.23   16 25.7   4.459   5.257   137   14.2     11.1 308.0  23:01 (180, 39)

* 28P/Neujmin 1
Stellar object. 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)  
June  8  15 10.58  -39 51.2   1.807   2.738   150   14.6     12.7 287.0  22:03 (  0, 85)  
June 15  15  3.71  -39 21.5   1.787   2.681   144   14.5     11.5 294.3  21:28 (  0, 86)

* 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)  
June  8  11 40.17    7 57.0   2.029   2.350    95   14.6     10.4 121.6  18:34 (180, 47)  
June 15  11 44.89    7 15.2   2.074   2.309    89   14.5     12.9 119.9  18:25 (175, 48)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. It will reach to 13.5 mag between July and October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   2 15.14    9 52.1   2.131   1.539    42   14.8     48.1  67.9   5:32 (240, 22)  
June 15   2 36.72   11 57.6   2.066   1.498    43   14.5     49.5  68.9   5:35 (236, 22)

* 116P/Wild 4
After conjunction, it will appear at dawn at 13 mag in October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   7 32.73   24 29.8   3.441   2.662    34   14.8     24.1 100.2  18:25 (128,  8)  
June 15   7 45.03   23 57.6   3.464   2.637    30   14.7     24.8 101.3  18:25 (125,  6)

* 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)  
June  8  11  9.83   16  4.2   3.033   3.117    85   15.1     11.5 130.6  18:25 (173, 39)  
June 15  11 14.44   15 10.0   3.106   3.096    79   15.2     13.0 127.9  18:25 (166, 39)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. It will be observable at 10 mag in the good condition for a long time from winter to next spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   3 39.46   36 40.2   4.199   3.287    22   15.3     22.4  66.9   5:32 (232,-10)  
June 15   3 51.68   37 41.3   4.113   3.230    25   15.2     22.9  67.4   5:35 (229, -8)

* 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)  
June  8  10 28.58   59 49.6   5.538   5.209    66   15.4     14.4 150.4  18:25 (172, -6)  
June 15  10 35.30   58 22.2   5.611   5.227    62   15.4     14.6 148.2  18:25 (169, -5)

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
It will be 12 mag in 2003 February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   9 39.55   -1 11.3   4.974   4.745    71   15.4      3.8 328.2  18:25 (136, 47)  
June 15   9 38.90   -0 50.9   5.043   4.695    64   15.4      2.7 342.5  18:25 (128, 43)

* 77P/Longmore
Now it is at the peak. It became brighter than expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  10 50.33   12 53.7   2.304   2.385    82   15.8     20.6 139.3  18:25 (167, 41)  
June 15  10 57.11   11  4.1   2.375   2.374    77   15.8     21.7 136.4  18:25 (159, 42)

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte
It was 15.5 mag in May, a bit brighter than this ephemeris. It will reach to 15 mag at best in July and August. However, 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)  
June  8  19 58.96  -14 53.8   0.910   1.797   137   16.1     10.3  64.2   2:55 (180, 70)  
June 15  20  2.73  -14 25.0   0.859   1.781   143   15.9      7.3  59.7   2:31 (180, 69)

* 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)  
June  8  15 23.96  -15 45.2   2.974   3.920   155   16.2      7.8 273.6  22:16 (180, 71)  
June 15  15 20.49  -15 42.9   3.030   3.929   148   16.3      6.5 271.3  21:45 (180, 71)

* 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)  
June  8  11 44.26   34 40.6   2.834   2.926    85   16.7     17.6 150.9  18:38 (180, 20)  
June 15  11 49.37   32 54.1   2.959   2.972    80   16.9     17.9 147.3  18:25 (178, 22)

* 54P/de Vico-Swift
It has been lost since last appearance in 1965. If it becomes bright, it will be 15.5 mag in good condition in autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8   0 21.31    0  6.3   2.284   2.196    72   16.9     27.6  63.5   5:32 (220, 47)  
June 15   0 32.67    1 31.7   2.203   2.185    75   16.8     26.8  63.2   5:35 (213, 48)

* P/2002 JN16 ( LINEAR )
New periodic comet. Now it is at the peak and it will soon fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  15 21.34  -11 59.0   0.880   1.845   153   16.9     11.5 347.4  22:14 (180, 67)  
June 15  15 20.83  -10 46.8   0.897   1.831   146   16.9      9.4   2.8  21:46 (180, 66)

* C/2002 K4 ( NEAT )
New comet. It keeps 17 mag until September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  21 36.52    4  9.5   2.344   2.831   108   17.1     29.1 326.1   4:32 (180, 51)  
June 15  21 27.95    7  2.1   2.236   2.820   115   16.9     32.4 321.0   3:56 (180, 48)

* 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)  
June  8  18 30.79  -16 18.9  10.503  11.454   158   17.0      3.5 271.9   1:27 (180, 71)  
June 15  18 29.02  -16 18.3  10.483  11.467   165   17.0      3.7 270.6   0:58 (180, 71)

* C/2002 J4 ( NEAT )
New comet. It will reach to 14 mag in the southern sky in 2003 summer. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  15 34.58   -0 41.9   4.626   5.521   149   17.2      9.2 246.2  22:27 (180, 56)  
June 15  15 30.79   -1  9.8   4.633   5.479   143   17.2      8.9 241.3  21:56 (180, 56)

* 92P/Sanguin
Not yet observed in this return. It will be 15.5 mag in September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  21 12.76    9 24.0   1.522   2.112   111   17.8     18.5  54.2   4:08 (180, 46)  
June 15  21 19.51   10 37.2   1.433   2.077   114   17.5     16.8  53.3   3:47 (180, 44)

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It is a far object. It will be 17 mag all through in 2003 and 2004. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  20  3.02   11 22.6   5.996   6.622   124   17.6     11.9 301.1   2:59 (180, 44)  
June 15  19 57.90   12  3.9   5.900   6.597   129   17.5     12.6 296.7   2:26 (180, 43)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
No observations have been reported since 2001 December. If it keeps the brightness of small outburst in 2001 autumn, it is probably brighter than 18 mag still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  8  21 44.22   13 46.8   8.063   8.337   102   17.7      5.3 326.4   4:40 (180, 41)  
June 15  21 42.63   14 16.3   8.008   8.382   108   17.8      5.5 317.6   4:11 (180, 41)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.