Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 June 15: North)

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Updated on June 15, 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 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 15  15 26.70    8 38.4   0.921   1.794   135    7.9     37.9 195.5  21:51 (  0, 63)  
June 22  15 23.24    4 46.8   1.062   1.900   132    8.4     30.3 189.2  21:21 (  0, 60)  

* 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 15   6 33.63   -7 32.1   1.963   1.260    34   10.1     44.6 133.4  21:02 (102,-29)  
June 22   6 48.38  -10 58.4   2.063   1.381    36   10.6     41.3 133.5  21:04 (101,-34)  

* 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 15  16 47.22   36 14.7   1.915   2.572   119   12.5     21.9 269.7  23:11 (180, 89)  
June 22  16 35.56   36  2.1   2.044   2.665   117   12.8     18.7 260.0  22:32 (180, 89)  

* 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 15   6  4.54   83 49.8   3.954   3.567    60   12.9     25.1  82.4  21:02 (174, 31)  
June 22   7 51.65   83 30.8   3.958   3.575    60   12.9     25.3 105.9  21:04 (173, 33)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


They say it is in very bright outburst now, 12.0 mag on June 9. It may be brighter than 11 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 15  21  9.39  -17 32.1   5.134   5.829   129   13.3      2.5 267.7   2:58 (348, 37)  
June 22  21  7.93  -17 33.7   5.051   5.827   136   13.3      3.5 263.9   2:59 (357, 37)  

* 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 15   2 41.74    7 14.7   1.960   1.417    44   14.1     52.8  70.1   2:58 (263,  2)  
June 22   3  5.74    9 20.1   1.891   1.363    44   13.5     55.1  71.1   2:59 (261,  4)  

* 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 15  18 31.02   21 13.6   1.958   2.755   133   13.8     50.6 262.1   1:01 (  0, 76)  
June 22  18  5.29   20  6.7   1.910   2.738   136   13.7     54.0 257.3   0:08 (  0, 75)  

* 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 15  15 42.56   81 37.0   2.171   2.132    74   13.8     22.2 274.4  22:02 (180, 43)  
June 22  14 38.84   81 17.4   2.283   2.197    72   14.1     18.8 251.9  21:04 (178, 44)  

* 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 15  14 21.85   68 36.7   1.841   1.971    81   13.8     37.0 255.0  21:02 (177, 56)  
June 22  13 43.27   67  6.6   1.979   2.023    77   14.0     30.6 241.3  21:04 (165, 56)  

* 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 15  23  9.86  -21 15.0   0.628   1.311   103   13.8     50.5 119.1   2:58 (320, 22)  
June 22  23 30.91  -24  6.4   0.633   1.337   105   14.0     46.1 122.3   2:59 (323, 21)  

* 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 15  16 36.23   16 25.7   4.459   5.257   137   14.2     11.1 308.0  23:01 (  0, 71)  
June 22  16 32.08   17  9.7   4.493   5.249   133   14.2     10.0 304.9  22:29 (  0, 72)  

* 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 15   2 36.72   11 57.6   2.066   1.498    43   14.5     49.5  68.9   2:58 (259,  6)  
June 22   2 59.23   13 60.0   2.007   1.459    44   14.3     50.8  70.1   2:59 (258,  8)  

* 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 15  15  3.71  -39 21.5   1.787   2.681   144   14.5     11.5 294.3  21:28 (  0, 16)  
June 22  14 58.07  -38 46.0   1.778   2.625   138   14.4      9.8 303.0  21:04 (  2, 16)  

* 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 15  11 44.89    7 15.2   2.074   2.309    89   14.5     12.9 119.9  21:02 ( 65, 42)  
June 22  11 50.69    6 26.7   2.119   2.267    84   14.4     15.3 118.8  21:04 ( 69, 37)  

* 6P/d'Arrest


It is not observable until August in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 15   3 33.88    5 12.3   2.724   1.964    33   14.5     31.9  82.4   2:58 (257,-10)  
June 22   3 48.39    5 38.4   2.734   2.013    36   14.8     30.5  83.8   2:59 (258, -7)  

* 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 15   7 45.03   23 57.6   3.464   2.637    30   14.7     24.8 101.3  21:02 (117,  4)  
June 22   7 57.54   23 21.4   3.482   2.613    26   14.6     25.4 102.3  21:04 (119,  0)  

* 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 15   3 51.68   37 41.3   4.113   3.230    25   15.2     22.9  67.4   2:58 (228,  7)  
June 22   4  4.40   38 42.4   4.021   3.173    29   15.0     23.4  68.0   2:59 (230, 10)  

* 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 15  11 14.44   15 10.0   3.106   3.096    79   15.2     13.0 127.9  21:02 ( 79, 41)  
June 22  11 19.72   14 12.5   3.178   3.075    74   15.2     14.4 125.9  21:04 ( 82, 35)  

* 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 15   9 38.90   -0 50.9   5.043   4.695    64   15.4      2.7 342.5  21:02 ( 80, 12)  
June 22   9 38.77   -0 34.8   5.106   4.646    57   15.4      2.0   6.5  21:04 ( 85,  6)  

* 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 15  10 35.30   58 22.2   5.611   5.227    62   15.4     14.6 148.2  21:02 (140, 45)  
June 22  10 42.25   56 55.7   5.683   5.246    59   15.5     14.8 146.1  21:04 (138, 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 15  20  2.73  -14 25.0   0.859   1.781   143   15.9      7.3  59.7   2:31 (  0, 41)  
June 22  20  5.08  -14  2.4   0.815   1.767   149   15.8      4.4  51.5   2:06 (  0, 41)  

* 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 15  10 57.11   11  4.1   2.375   2.374    77   15.8     21.7 136.4  21:02 ( 78, 35)  
June 22  11  4.53    9 13.7   2.446   2.364    73   15.8     22.7 134.1  21:04 ( 80, 29)  

* 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 15  15 20.49  -15 42.9   3.030   3.929   148   16.3      6.5 271.3  21:45 (  0, 39)  
June 22  15 17.70  -15 43.2   3.097   3.937   140   16.4      5.0 267.2  21:15 (  0, 39)  

* 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 15   0 32.67    1 31.7   2.203   2.185    75   16.8     26.8  63.2   2:58 (287, 25)  
June 22   0 43.68    2 55.5   2.123   2.176    79   16.7     26.0  63.0   2:59 (288, 29)  

* 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 15  21 27.91    7  1.0   2.185   2.773   115   16.8     32.3 320.7   2:58 (331, 59)  
June 22  21 17.22    9 58.1   2.095   2.767   121   16.7     35.6 315.8   2:59 (349, 64)  

* 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 15  11 49.37   32 54.1   2.959   2.972    80   16.9     17.9 147.3  21:02 ( 98, 56)  
June 22  11 54.95   31 10.0   3.084   3.018    76   17.0     18.1 144.1  21:04 ( 98, 50)  

* 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 15  15 20.83  -10 46.8   0.897   1.830   146   16.9      9.4   2.8  21:46 (  0, 44)  
June 22  15 21.83   -9 48.5   0.921   1.818   139   16.9      8.2  27.5  21:20 (  0, 45)  

* 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 15  18 29.02  -16 18.3  10.483  11.467   165   17.0      3.7 270.6   0:58 (  0, 39)  
June 22  18 27.17  -16 18.3  10.476  11.480   170   17.1      3.8 269.5   0:28 (  0, 39)  

* 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 15  15 30.79   -1  9.8   4.633   5.479   143   17.2      8.9 241.3  21:56 (  0, 54)  
June 22  15 27.35   -1 41.4   4.652   5.437   136   17.2      8.4 235.5  21:25 (  0, 53)  

* 92P/Sanguin


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 15  21 19.51   10 37.2   1.433   2.077   114   17.5     16.8  53.3   2:58 (332, 63)  
June 22  21 25.54   11 43.9   1.347   2.044   119   17.3     14.9  52.8   2:59 (344, 66)  

* 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 15  19 57.91   12  3.9   5.900   6.598   129   17.5     12.6 296.7   2:26 (  0, 67)  
June 22  19 52.30   12 41.6   5.817   6.574   134   17.5     13.2 292.8   1:53 (  0, 68)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


It keeps brightness around 17.5 mag still now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 15  21 42.63   14 16.3   8.008   8.382   108   17.8      5.5 317.6   2:58 (317, 64)  
June 22  21 40.67   14 43.2   7.958   8.427   114   17.8      5.7 309.5   2:59 (332, 68)  

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