Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Oct. 19: South)

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Updated on October 22, 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/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. 19   9  8.53   49 42.8   2.232   2.328    82   11.9     29.2  90.6   3:44 (212, -7)  
Oct. 26   9 29.43   49 36.5   2.142   2.291    85   11.8     28.8  92.3   3:34 (212, -7)  

* 22P/Kopff


It will appear at dawn in next June at 15.5 mag, then it will be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  15 32.02  -16 36.2   2.468   1.673    29   12.0     41.3 106.1  19:46 ( 76,  9)  
Oct. 26  15 51.73  -17 52.7   2.471   1.652    27   11.8     42.3 104.4  19:54 ( 72,  6)  

* 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. 19  11 11.50   12  3.1   1.829   1.271    41   12.2     46.5 105.9   3:44 (257, -2)  
Oct. 26  11 32.13   10 34.3   1.853   1.321    43   13.4     43.9 106.5   3:34 (259, -2)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It brightened rapidly and reached to 13 mag. But 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. 19  16 48.37    0  7.1   1.746   1.332    49   12.9     27.9 211.0  19:46 (100, 14)  
Oct. 26  16 42.46   -2 28.0   1.867   1.297    41   12.7     23.4 208.5  19:54 ( 92,  7)  

* 116P/Wild 4


Appearing at dawn. It is expected to be bright as 10-11 mag for a long time from winter to spring. But it was much fainter than this ephemeris, 15.5 mag in mid October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  11 42.24    3 47.3   3.066   2.271    31   12.8     31.2 114.3   3:44 (268, -4)  
Oct. 26  11 55.53    2 16.9   3.007   2.257    34   12.7     31.3 114.5   3:34 (269, -2)  

* 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. 19  10  0.15   17 52.5   1.712   1.483    59   12.8     38.4 105.0   3:44 (242,  8)  
Oct. 26  10 17.69   16 43.1   1.706   1.523    62   13.0     36.1 105.7   3:34 (243,  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. Akimasa Nakamura reported that it was so faint as 17.4 mag on July 31. Recent brightness is uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  17 24.74  -33  9.2   2.079   1.761    57   13.4     35.7  84.0  19:46 ( 73, 39)  
Oct. 26  17 44.93  -32 37.6   2.090   1.724    54   13.4     37.5  82.2  19:54 ( 72, 36)  

* 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. 19  20 32.63  -18 18.1   5.533   5.798   100   13.4      2.7  61.6  19:46 (135, 68)  
Oct. 26  20 34.06  -18  8.4   5.643   5.797    93   13.5      3.8  66.2  19:54 (121, 62)  

* 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. 19  12 21.77   22  7.0   1.400   0.843    36   13.8     44.1 187.5   3:44 (258,-22)  
Oct. 26  12 19.26   17  4.0   1.434   0.904    38   14.4     43.1 185.9   3:34 (260,-16)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Strongly condensed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  16 42.40   18 15.3   5.703   5.185    54   13.9     10.2  89.5  19:46 (114,  2)  
Oct. 26  16 47.58   18 17.3   5.749   5.185    51   14.0     10.9  87.3  19:54 (110, -4)  

* 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. 19  10  3.32   -3 36.7   4.351   3.829    52   14.1      3.5 180.5   3:44 (260, 20)  
Oct. 26  10  2.99   -4  1.6   4.194   3.784    59   14.0      3.8 201.8   3:34 (257, 24)  

* 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. 19  14  5.21   47 27.9   4.309   3.870    57   14.0     16.7 137.2  19:46 (126,-40)  
Oct. 26  14 12.84   46  6.2   4.322   3.895    58   14.1     15.7 134.9  19:54 (123,-44)  

* 92P/Sanguin


It became brighter than expected, reached to 13 mag. But it has already begun to be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  22 19.65   -8 17.7   1.034   1.827   128   14.5     23.0 121.6  20:29 (180, 63)  
Oct. 26  22 29.36   -9 31.5   1.097   1.840   123   14.8     23.3 112.9  20:11 (180, 65)  

* 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. 19  13 51.68   -6 17.7   3.728   2.738     5   14.9     26.2 114.1  19:46 ( 69,-17)  
Oct. 26  14  3.02   -7 31.9   3.710   2.721     4   14.9     26.5 113.4  19:54 ( 64,-21)  

* 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. 19  15 18.13  -13 29.5   3.606   2.743    25   15.1     11.0 166.7  19:46 ( 76,  4)  
Oct. 26  15 19.50  -14 43.2   3.679   2.761    19   15.1     10.8 163.1  19:54 ( 70, -2)  

* 2002 RP120


New asteroid with a cometary orbit. It is at the peak now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19   2 50.93   19 56.6   1.522   2.477   158   15.9     61.7 283.4   1:04 (180, 35)  
Oct. 26   2 19.92   21 24.4   1.498   2.483   169   15.6     64.5 279.9   0:06 (180, 34)  

* 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. 19  19 47.26  -15 54.5   1.236   1.593    90   15.7     54.2 156.6  19:46 (120, 59)  
Oct. 26  19 57.63  -20 56.2   1.410   1.652    84   16.1     42.6 151.0  19:54 (106, 57)  

* 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. 19   2 41.06  -39 13.6   6.111   6.777   128   15.7     10.3 232.4   0:53 (  0, 86)  
Oct. 26   2 35.96  -39 54.4   6.069   6.716   127   15.7     10.2 238.1   0:20 (  0, 85)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It will be observable in good condition at 14 mag in winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19   8 55.34   14 57.4   2.005   1.967    73   15.9     32.0 101.0   3:44 (233, 21)  
Oct. 26   9 10.40   14 13.8   1.923   1.950    76   15.8     31.7 101.5   3:34 (233, 22)  

* P/2002 T1 ( LINEAR )


New periodic comet. Now it is passing near by the earth. It will fade out rapidly after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19   1 25.17   34 17.8   0.221   1.200   155   16.0     98.0 350.6  23:32 (180, 20)  
Oct. 26   1 16.38   43 52.4   0.253   1.214   147   16.4     69.1 349.5  22:56 (180, 10)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps 16 mag until 2003 June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  12 43.08   37 51.7   6.226   5.625    49   16.1     11.9 118.0   3:44 (244,-33)  
Oct. 26  12 49.17   37 14.6   6.204   5.651    52   16.1     11.3 116.0   3:34 (244,-31)  

* 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. 19  19 46.10  -15 17.6   1.230   1.586    90   16.2     55.3 156.5  19:46 (121, 59)  
Oct. 26  19 56.67  -20 25.3   1.403   1.645    84   16.6     43.4 151.0  19:54 (107, 57)  

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )


It keeps 16 mag since August unexpectedly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  15 32.73   72  3.6   3.331   3.379    84   16.2     15.0  79.6  19:46 (158,-33)  
Oct. 26  15 56.07   72 22.9   3.358   3.448    86   16.3     16.0  79.2  19:54 (159,-34)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


Although it was expected to be 10 mag in winter, it does not brighten at all. It will be 15 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  20  8.46  -26 25.4   1.761   2.071    93   16.4     18.2  44.0  19:46 (109, 69)  
Oct. 26  20 15.69  -24 52.3   1.797   2.026    88   16.3     20.4  48.6  19:54 (104, 63)  

* 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. 19   7 44.50   19 23.9   1.621   1.915    90   16.8     31.4  94.5   3:44 (215, 27)  
Oct. 26   7 59.80   19  5.6   1.539   1.892    94   16.6     30.7  95.0   3:34 (215, 28)  

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte


It brightened rapidly and reached to 14 mag. Now it is fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19  21  4.03  -14 58.4   1.303   1.876   108   16.7     24.5  79.3  19:46 (158, 69)  
Oct. 26  21 15.87  -14 23.2   1.389   1.901   104   17.2     25.6  77.7  19:54 (145, 66)  

* 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. 19   3 33.24   21 17.9   3.496   4.382   149   16.9     24.7 265.3   1:45 (180, 34)  
Oct. 26   3 20.41   21  0.2   3.411   4.354   159   16.9     26.8 263.7   1:05 (180, 34)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19   0 54.52   -0 45.4   4.466   5.436   165   17.1     10.0 277.4  23:02 (180, 56)  
Oct. 26   0 50.04   -0 35.5   4.548   5.483   158   17.2      9.3 279.6  22:30 (180, 56)  

* 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. 19   5 36.18   33 15.4   2.460   3.081   119   17.1      4.9  28.2   3:44 (181, 22)  
Oct. 26   5 36.85   33 45.4   2.398   3.095   126   17.1      4.2   0.8   3:21 (180, 21)  

* 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. 19   9 20.47    8 22.0   5.655   5.324    65   17.3      8.8  83.9   3:44 (243, 21)  
Oct. 26   9 24.42    8 29.6   5.565   5.337    71   17.3      8.0  80.9   3:34 (240, 23)  

* 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. 19  18 33.70   12 53.6   6.342   6.207    77   17.4      1.8 208.3  19:46 (129, 25)  
Oct. 26  18 33.55   12 43.6   6.421   6.189    72   17.5      1.3 171.2  19:54 (122, 19)  

* 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. 19   4 42.83   -3 59.0   2.989   3.719   131   17.5     26.2 216.2   2:55 (180, 59)  
Oct. 26   4 35.09   -6 26.8   2.959   3.751   137   17.5     27.3 219.8   2:19 (180, 61)  

* 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. 19  23 59.39   -7 52.7   1.893   2.804   150   17.6     10.2 240.4  22:07 (180, 63)  
Oct. 26  23 55.60   -8 23.8   1.917   2.774   142   17.6      8.1 241.8  21:36 (180, 63)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


Appearing at dawn. It is getting fainter gradually. It keeps brighter than 18 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19   9 40.82   20  5.1   8.082   7.709    64   17.6      2.2  22.4   3:44 (237,  9)  
Oct. 26   9 41.05   20 20.7   7.999   7.744    71   17.6      2.4   2.2   3:34 (234, 12)  

* 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. 19  18 56.62   61 32.3   4.259   4.445    94   17.6     23.1 167.1  19:46 (162,-12)  
Oct. 26  19  1.94   58 56.7   4.286   4.453    93   17.6     22.8 164.1  19:54 (157,-12)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It will be observable until next spring when it becomes 13 mag in the evening sky. However, it is not observable around the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct. 19   4 55.45   18 31.7   2.493   3.231   130   17.9      3.1 244.9   3:07 (180, 36)  
Oct. 26   4 53.48   18 21.6   2.385   3.194   138   17.7      5.4 253.5   2:37 (180, 37)  

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