Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Sept. 28: South)

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Updated on September 30, 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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* 46P/Wirtanen


It bursted out on Sept. 24 and reached to 8.5 mag now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  10  1.02   16 27.3   1.748   1.144    38    8.9     54.2 102.4   4:16 (251, -1)  
Oct.  5  10 26.02   15  2.1   1.776   1.181    39    9.9     51.7 103.9   4:06 (253, -2)  

* 22P/Kopff


It is very low in the evening sky. It will appear at dawn in next June at 15.5 mag and will be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  14 37.43  -12 18.1   2.454   1.750    36   12.4     38.0 110.0  19:25 ( 86, 16)  
Oct.  5  14 54.86  -13 47.7   2.460   1.722    33   12.2     39.2 108.9  19:31 ( 82, 14)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It brightened about 1 mag after perihelion passage, and reached to 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   8 59.86   21 14.8   1.718   1.380    53   12.5     44.9 101.2   4:16 (238,  7)  
Oct.  5   9 21.25   20 10.4   1.717   1.411    55   12.6     42.8 102.7   4:06 (239,  7)  

* C/2002 O4 ( Hoenig )


It is fading rapidly before the perihelion passage. Although it was expected to be 7 mag by the original ephemeris, it was actually as faint as 8.5 mag in early September. It was reported fainter than 10 mag in late September. It may disappear after this. It turns to be in the morning sky after October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  12 35.68   37 56.3   1.207   0.780    40   12.6     48.7 193.6  19:25 (115,-35)  
Oct.  5  12 29.72   32 31.4   1.286   0.778    37   12.9     46.6 191.7   4:06 (252,-35)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


Getting brighter as expected. 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)  
Sept.28   8  5.07   49 24.3   2.524   2.451    74   12.9     29.4  85.3   4:16 (210, -6)  
Oct.  5   8 26.18   49 36.8   2.423   2.408    77   12.7     29.4  87.1   4:06 (211, -6)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It will be bright as 10-11 mag for a long time from winter to spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  11  2.26    8 12.8   3.223   2.318    21   13.2     30.9 113.5   4:16 (266, -9)  
Oct.  5  11 15.59    6 45.7   3.174   2.301    24   13.1     31.0 113.9   4:06 (267, -7)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It seems to keep 12 mag recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  20 31.77  -18 36.2   5.223   5.803   120   13.3      1.3 291.5  20:03 (180, 74)  
Oct.  5  20 31.48  -18 32.0   5.322   5.802   114   13.4      0.7 360.0  19:35 (180, 74)  

* 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. Akimasa Nakamura reported that it was so faint as 17.4 mag on July 31.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  16 29.93  -33 59.4   2.039   1.887    66   13.6     29.6  87.7  19:25 ( 76, 49)  
Oct.  5  16 47.13  -33 48.5   2.054   1.843    63   13.6     31.7  86.7  19:31 ( 75, 45)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


Recovered as bright as expected on Aug. 26. However, it did not come to bright after this, and still keeps 16.5 mag. It is expected to reach to 10-11 mag in the evening sky during winter and spring, but...
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  19 55.67  -30 47.8   1.657   2.209   109   13.9     12.3  15.2  19:27 (180, 86)  
Oct.  5  19 58.29  -29 23.2   1.690   2.162   104   13.7     13.9  27.9  19:31 (131, 82)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Strongly condensed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  16 29.15   18 24.2   5.526   5.185    65   13.9      7.7  96.1  19:25 (129, 18)  
Oct.  5  16 33.15   18 19.2   5.591   5.185    61   13.9      8.6  93.9  19:31 (124, 13)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It is as faint as 15 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  13 40.29   52 21.4   4.250   3.797    56   13.9     19.4 143.4  19:25 (136,-29)  
Oct.  5  13 48.94   50 35.7   4.272   3.821    56   14.0     18.6 141.5  19:31 (132,-32)  

* 92P/Sanguin


It became a bit brighter than expected, reached to 14 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  21 57.32   -2 34.9   0.895   1.808   144   14.0     23.3 149.7  21:29 (180, 58)  
Oct.  5  22  3.49   -4 47.8   0.933   1.812   139   14.2     23.0 140.7  21:08 (180, 60)  

* C/2002 O6 ( SWAN )


It rapidly faded and diffused in September. It will disappear soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  11 28.73   19 46.8   1.424   0.662    24   14.3     47.9 158.4   4:16 (259,-20)  
Oct.  5  11 37.00   14 49.4   1.549   0.774    25   17.2     43.6 158.0   4:06 (263,-16)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although it will keep the current magnitude for a while, it will not be observable in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  17 20.71   11 14.1   1.339   1.474    76   14.3     54.6 220.1  19:25 (134, 31)  
Oct.  5  17  6.47    6 48.4   1.477   1.421    66   14.4     42.9 216.8  19:31 (121, 27)  

* C/2002 Q2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Moving within 1 deg with C/2002 Q3 ( LINEAR ). Because it is extremely diffused, it is hard to observe. It will fade out quickly after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  19 14.09   12  4.1   0.817   1.441   104   14.3    119.7 167.6  19:25 (167, 43)  
Oct.  5  19 25.76   -0  1.1   0.929   1.487   100   14.8     93.5 165.1  19:31 (154, 53)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in early 2003 and 2003 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  10  1.14   -2 24.7   4.758   3.967    33   14.5      4.3 138.7   4:16 (266, 10)  
Oct.  5  10  2.30   -2 47.9   4.634   3.921    39   14.4      4.0 148.4   4:06 (264, 13)  

* C/2002 Q3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Moving within 1 deg with C/2002 Q2 ( LINEAR ). Because it is extremely diffused, it is hard to observe. It will fade out quickly after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  19 11.85   13  5.4   0.817   1.436   103   14.8    120.7 167.2  19:25 (167, 42)  
Oct.  5  19 24.00    0 52.2   0.926   1.481   100   15.2     94.9 164.8  19:31 (154, 52)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


It is fading now, but it will be observable again at 15 mag in 2003 after the conjunction. It was getting diffused these days. It was a bit fainter than this ephemeris in late August, around 15-16 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  15 16.54   -9 29.2   3.311   2.701    45   14.8     12.3 183.3  19:25 ( 94, 22)  
Oct.  5  15 16.54  -10 53.1   3.421   2.713    38   14.9     11.7 176.9  19:31 ( 88, 16)  

* 65P/Gunn


After conjunction, it will appear at dawn at 14 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  13 18.91   -2 29.5   3.746   2.793    15   15.0     25.2 115.9  19:25 ( 83, -5)  
Oct.  5  13 29.61   -3 46.2   3.746   2.774    11   15.0     25.6 115.3  19:31 ( 79, -9)  

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte


It brightened rapidly and reached to 14 mag. But it has already started to fade out. Total 20 nuclei have been discovered.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  20 32.15  -16  2.7   1.072   1.812   121   15.6     19.4  85.5  20:04 (180, 71)  
Oct.  5  20 42.01  -15 48.4   1.144   1.831   117   15.9     21.4  83.2  19:47 (180, 71)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will be naked eye object in 2004. It is only 16 mag now and locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   2 53.76  -36 38.8   6.308   6.958   127   15.9     10.1 215.7   2:28 (  0, 88)  
Oct.  5   2 50.05  -37 34.7   6.231   6.898   128   15.9     10.3 221.2   1:57 (  0, 87)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It will be observable in good condition at 14 mag in winter. No observations have been reported since 2001 November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   8  8.91   16 54.8   2.257   2.028    63   16.4     32.6  98.6   4:16 (232, 19)  
Oct.  5   8 24.55   16 18.7   2.172   2.006    67   16.2     32.5  99.5   4:06 (232, 19)  

* 2002 RP120


New asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will be as bright as 15.5 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   4  2.66   14 27.3   1.784   2.476   122   16.6     39.4 293.2   3:37 (180, 41)  
Oct.  5   3 43.05   16 18.3   1.671   2.474   134   16.4     47.7 289.9   2:51 (180, 39)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   1  9.13   -1  5.9   4.314   5.295   166   16.9     10.5 274.2   0:44 (180, 56)  
Oct.  5   1  4.19   -1  0.2   4.349   5.342   172   17.0     10.6 274.7   0:12 (180, 56)  

* C/2002 R3 ( LONEOS )


New comet. It will be observable at 16-17 mag until the end of 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   4  4.41   21 36.4   3.863   4.467   121   17.2     16.6 270.4   3:39 (180, 33)  
Oct.  5   3 55.37   21 35.2   3.725   4.438   130   17.1     19.4 268.6   3:02 (180, 33)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1


It became 17 mag, brighter than expected. It keeps 17 mag in the high position until December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   5 26.86   31 41.5   2.679   3.044   101   17.1      9.9  62.4   4:16 (190, 23)  
Oct.  5   5 31.12   32 13.2   2.602   3.056   107   17.1      8.1  56.1   4:06 (187, 22)  

* P/2002 Q1 ( Van Ness )


New periodic comet. It will go southwards while fading out after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   5 17.87  -18 34.2   1.164   1.703   103   17.1     33.8 149.7   4:16 (208, 72)  
Oct.  5   5 25.24  -21 54.7   1.169   1.735   106   17.2     30.7 155.9   4:06 (205, 76)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


Recovered 3 mag fainter than expected. Although it will be at the peak in 2003 January and be observable in good condition, it may reach to 15 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   6 57.13   20  3.6   1.887   1.998    81   17.4     32.2  91.9   4:16 (215, 26)  
Oct.  5   7 13.08   19 53.7   1.796   1.968    84   17.2     32.1  92.9   4:06 (215, 27)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps 17 mag until next April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   9  6.40    8  9.9   5.895   5.286    48   17.4     11.0  88.4   4:16 (249, 14)  
Oct.  5   9 11.43    8 12.5   5.821   5.298    54   17.4     10.3  87.5   4:06 (247, 17)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Sept.28  18 37.44   13 33.8   6.092   6.266    95   17.4      4.9 244.4  19:25 (156, 38)  
Oct.  5  18 35.61   13 19.2   6.176   6.246    89   17.4      3.8 237.5  19:31 (146, 35)  

* C/2002 K4 ( NEAT )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  18  9.88   26 38.5   2.691   2.859    89   17.4      6.1 253.7  19:25 (155, 24)  
Oct.  5  18  7.55   26 27.4   2.799   2.876    84   17.5      3.4 245.4  19:31 (147, 20)  

* C/2002 C2 ( LINEAR )


It locates high until October at 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   4 59.62    3 13.7   3.170   3.629   109   17.5     21.2 203.1   4:16 (187, 51)  
Oct.  5   4 55.16    0 53.8   3.097   3.658   116   17.5     23.1 207.9   4:02 (180, 54)  

* C/2001 U6 ( LINEAR )


It locates high until December at 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  18 45.90   69 33.6   4.237   4.426    94   17.6     23.0 177.0  19:25 (174,-15)  
Oct.  5  18 48.29   66 52.5   4.234   4.431    94   17.6     23.2 173.5  19:31 (170,-13)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


It will be 17 mag in the evening sky until 2003 spring, then it will be in conjunction with the sun. After the perihelion passage, it will appear at dawn at 15.5 mag, then it will fade out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28   0 14.13   -5 37.1   1.897   2.894   172   17.9     13.3 236.1  23:44 (180, 61)  
Oct.  5   0  8.93   -6 27.6   1.883   2.864   166   17.8     13.0 237.7  23:12 (180, 62)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


It keeps brightness around 18 mag still now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.28  20 59.54   15 19.7   8.385   9.055   129   17.9      4.4 242.6  20:31 (180, 40)  
Oct.  5  20 57.84   15  5.4   8.505   9.100   123   18.0      3.7 236.6  20:02 (180, 40)  

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