Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Oct. 5: North)

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Updated on October 4, 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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* 46P/Wirtanen


It bursted out on Sept. 24 and reached to 8.5 mag. It is now fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  5  10 26.02   15  2.1   1.776   1.181    39    9.9     51.7 103.9   4:33 (266, 21)  
Oct. 12  10 49.49   13 33.1   1.803   1.224    40   11.0     49.1 105.1   4:39 (269, 22)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  14 54.86  -13 47.7   2.460   1.722    33   12.2     39.2 108.9  19:03 ( 70,  3)  
Oct. 12  15 13.06  -15 14.2   2.464   1.697    31   12.1     40.3 107.5  18:53 ( 69,  3)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   8 26.18   49 36.8   2.423   2.408    77   12.7     29.4  87.1   4:33 (232, 54)  
Oct. 12   8 47.39   49 43.0   2.326   2.367    80   12.6     29.4  88.9   4:39 (231, 56)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   9 21.25   20 10.4   1.717   1.411    55   12.6     42.8 102.7   4:33 (270, 37)  
Oct. 12   9 41.34   19  2.2   1.715   1.445    57   12.7     40.6 104.0   4:39 (273, 39)  

* C/2002 O4 ( Hoenig )


It is fading and being diffused very rapidly since mid September. It was reported fainter than 10 mag in late September. It may disappear soon. 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)  
Oct.  5  12 29.72   32 31.4   1.286   0.778    37   12.9     46.6 191.7   4:33 (235,  7)  
Oct. 12  12 25.16   27 15.9   1.351   0.800    36   13.2     45.2 189.6   4:39 (244, 11)  

* 116P/Wild 4


Appearing at dawn. 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)  
Oct.  5  11 15.59    6 45.7   3.174   2.301    24   13.1     31.0 113.9   4:33 (266,  6)  
Oct. 12  11 28.92    5 17.0   3.121   2.286    27   12.9     31.2 114.1   4:39 (270,  9)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  20 31.48  -18 32.0   5.322   5.802   114   13.4      0.7 360.0  19:35 (  0, 36)  
Oct. 12  20 31.77  -18 26.0   5.426   5.800   107   13.4      1.5  49.9  19:08 (  0, 37)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  19 58.29  -29 23.2   1.690   2.162   104   13.7     13.9  27.9  19:03 (  0, 26)  
Oct. 12  20  2.60  -27 55.7   1.725   2.116    98   13.5     16.0  37.3  18:53 (  3, 27)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  16 47.13  -33 48.5   2.054   1.843    63   13.6     31.7  86.7  19:03 ( 38,  8)  
Oct. 12  17  5.44  -33 32.3   2.067   1.801    60   13.5     33.7  85.5  18:53 ( 38,  8)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Strongly condensed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  5  16 33.15   18 19.2   5.591   5.185    61   13.9      8.6  93.9  19:03 ( 84, 42)  
Oct. 12  16 37.58   18 16.0   5.650   5.184    57   13.9      9.4  91.7  18:53 ( 86, 39)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  13 48.94   50 35.7   4.272   3.821    56   14.0     18.6 141.5  19:03 (135, 25)  
Oct. 12  13 57.25   48 57.8   4.292   3.845    57   14.0     17.6 139.4  18:53 (135, 23)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  22  3.49   -4 47.8   0.933   1.812   139   14.2     23.0 140.7  21:08 (  0, 50)  
Oct. 12  22 10.96   -6 42.9   0.979   1.818   133   14.3     22.9 131.1  20:48 (  0, 48)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  10  2.30   -2 47.9   4.634   3.921    39   14.4      4.0 148.4   4:33 (285, 15)  
Oct. 12  10  3.06   -3 12.1   4.498   3.875    46   14.2      3.7 162.1   4:39 (290, 22)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  17  6.47    6 48.4   1.477   1.421    66   14.4     42.9 216.8  19:03 ( 65, 41)  
Oct. 12  16 56.10    3  9.6   1.614   1.373    57   14.4     34.2 213.8  18:53 ( 67, 33)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  19 25.76   -0  1.1   0.929   1.487   100   14.8     93.5 165.1  19:03 ( 14, 54)  
Oct. 12  19 36.70   -9  9.0   1.073   1.538    95   15.2     70.8 161.4  18:53 ( 14, 44)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable again at 15 mag in 2003 after the conjunction.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  5  15 16.54  -10 53.1   3.421   2.713    38   14.9     11.7 176.9  19:03 ( 70,  9)  
Oct. 12  15 17.11  -12 13.0   3.520   2.727    32   15.0     11.3 171.3  18:53 ( 71,  5)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  13 29.61   -3 46.2   3.746   2.774    11   15.0     25.6 115.3  19:03 ( 91, -8)  
Oct. 12  13 40.54   -5  2.4   3.740   2.756     8   14.9     25.9 114.7  18:53 ( 91,-10)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  19 24.00    0 52.2   0.926   1.481   100   15.2     94.9 164.8  19:03 ( 15, 54)  
Oct. 12  19 35.29   -8 24.5   1.068   1.532    95   15.7     72.2 161.2  18:53 ( 14, 45)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   2 50.05  -37 34.7   6.231   6.898   128   15.9     10.3 221.2   1:57 (  0, 17)  
Oct. 12   2 45.79  -38 26.6   6.165   6.837   128   15.8     10.4 226.8   1:25 (  0, 17)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  20 42.01  -15 48.4   1.144   1.831   117   15.9     21.4  83.2  19:47 (  0, 39)  
Oct. 12  20 52.69  -15 26.9   1.221   1.853   112   16.3     23.1  81.1  19:30 (  0, 40)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   8 24.55   16 18.7   2.172   2.006    67   16.2     32.5  99.5   4:33 (284, 46)  
Oct. 12   8 40.04   15 39.3   2.088   1.986    70   16.1     32.3 100.3   4:39 (288, 49)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   3 43.05   16 18.3   1.671   2.474   134   16.4     47.7 289.9   2:51 (  0, 71)  
Oct. 12   3 19.03   18 11.0   1.581   2.475   146   16.1     55.6 286.7   1:59 (  0, 73)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  5   1  4.19   -1  0.2   4.349   5.342   172   17.0     10.6 274.7   0:12 (  0, 54)  
Oct. 12   0 59.27   -0 53.5   4.399   5.389   171   17.0     10.5 275.8  23:34 (  0, 54)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   7 13.08   19 53.7   1.796   1.968    84   17.2     32.1  92.9   4:33 (296, 62)  
Oct. 12   7 28.90   19 40.3   1.707   1.940    87   17.0     31.8  93.8   4:39 (302, 65)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   3 55.37   21 35.2   3.726   4.439   130   17.1     19.4 268.6   3:02 (  0, 77)  
Oct. 12   3 44.96   21 29.3   3.602   4.410   139   17.0     22.1 266.9   2:25 (  0, 77)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   5 31.12   32 13.2   2.602   3.056   107   17.1      8.1  56.1   4:33 (342, 87)  
Oct. 12   5 34.25   32 44.6   2.529   3.068   113   17.1      6.4  45.8   4:13 (  0, 88)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   5 25.24  -21 54.7   1.169   1.735   106   17.2     30.7 155.9   4:31 (  0, 33)  
Oct. 12   5 30.49  -25  5.2   1.178   1.770   108   17.3     27.5 163.0   4:09 (  0, 30)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   9 11.43    8 12.5   5.821   5.298    54   17.4     10.3  87.5   4:33 (284, 32)  
Oct. 12   9 16.13    8 16.4   5.741   5.311    59   17.3      9.6  86.0   4:39 (289, 38)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  18 35.61   13 19.2   6.176   6.246    89   17.4      3.8 237.5  19:03 ( 46, 61)  
Oct. 12  18 34.37   13  5.6   6.260   6.227    83   17.4      2.7 227.1  18:53 ( 53, 58)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   4 55.16    0 53.8   3.097   3.658   116   17.5     23.1 207.9   4:02 (  0, 56)  
Oct. 12   4 49.55   -1 31.2   3.035   3.688   124   17.5     24.8 212.2   3:29 (  0, 54)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  18  7.55   26 27.4   2.799   2.876    84   17.5      3.4 245.4  19:03 ( 78, 65)  
Oct. 12  18  6.62   26 19.3   2.903   2.895    79   17.6      1.1 214.0  18:53 ( 82, 61)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5  18 48.29   66 52.5   4.234   4.431    94   17.6     23.2 173.5  19:03 (167, 57)  
Oct. 12  18 51.99   64 11.5   4.242   4.438    94   17.6     23.2 170.2  18:53 (163, 58)  

* 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)  
Oct.  5   0  8.93   -6 27.6   1.883   2.864   166   17.8     13.0 237.7  23:12 (  0, 48)  
Oct. 12   0  3.92   -7 13.5   1.882   2.834   158   17.7     11.9 239.1  22:39 (  0, 48)  

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