Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Dec. 7: South)

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 Updated on December 7, 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/2002 V1 ( NEAT )
Brightening very rapidly. It will be bright locating high, so good target in December. It is also observable in January in the evening sky. It will approach to the sun down to 0.1 AU in February. But it will collapse and disappear before the perihelion passage. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   3 20.36   16 25.7   0.884   1.833   157   11.6     75.9 267.4  22:13 (180, 39)  
Dec. 14   2 41.61   15 48.8   0.827   1.709   141   10.6     83.0 265.4  21:06 (180, 39)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
Brightening was slow in November. It is still 11.5-12.0 mag, a bit fainter than this ephemeris. It will be observable in the good condition for a long time from winter to next spring, but maybe around 11 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  11 19.01   47 32.2   1.679   2.120   102   10.9     21.5  99.9   2:53 (212, -4)  
Dec. 14  11 32.83   47  6.0   1.614   2.102   105   10.8     19.3 100.9   2:53 (210, -3)

* 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)  
Dec.  7  18  3.05  -22 24.0   2.508   1.584    16   11.5     45.9  92.2  20:48 ( 56, -7)  
Dec. 14  18 26.26  -22 28.8   2.519   1.584    14   11.5     46.0  89.9  20:55 ( 54, -9)

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )
It will appear at dawn at 14 mag in late December. Then it will fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  16 22.71  -13 14.2   2.221   1.273    11   12.8     13.9 203.6   2:53 (304,-20)  
Dec. 14  16 19.92  -14 42.9   2.206   1.300    17   13.1     14.0 205.6   2:53 (300,-14)

* 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)  
Dec.  7   9 40.42   -6  3.9   3.150   3.526   104   13.0     17.1 265.0   2:53 (226, 52)  
Dec. 14   9 31.50   -6 10.9   2.982   3.485   112   12.8     21.1 268.6   2:53 (213, 57)

* 28P/Neujmin 1
It was much fainter than this ephemeris, 17.4 mag on July 31 by Akimasa Nakamura. No further observations were reported, so the current brightness is uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  19 56.65  -25 26.0   2.163   1.572    41   13.1     46.1  70.2  20:48 ( 69, 15)  
Dec. 14  20 18.93  -23 30.1   2.181   1.561    39   13.1     46.9  68.4  20:55 ( 70, 12)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
It brightened about 1 mag after perihelion passage and reached to 12 mag. Now already getting fainter, but still bright as 13.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  11 36.41   11 14.7   1.607   1.804    84   13.7     19.9 104.0   2:53 (239, 20)  
Dec. 14  11 44.90   10 45.3   1.580   1.855    89   13.8     16.7 102.2   2:53 (236, 24)

* 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)  
Dec.  7  20 52.58  -16 32.5   6.276   5.788    56   13.7      9.3  71.0  20:48 ( 84, 21)  
Dec. 14  20 56.99  -16 10.6   6.365   5.786    50   13.7      9.9  70.9  20:55 ( 81, 15)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
Although it becomes low for a while in early December, it will be getting higher after mid December. It is observable in good condition at 14-15 mag until 2003 autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  17 24.19   19 46.9   5.879   5.202    42   14.0     14.0  73.3  20:48 ( 86,-41)  
Dec. 14  17 30.89   20 17.5   5.876   5.206    43   14.1     14.4  70.7  20:55 ( 83,-47)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
Getting fainter very slowly. It keeps 14-15 mag until 2003 summer. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  14 51.01   40 53.4   4.303   4.065    69   14.3      9.0 114.6   2:53 (240,-32)  
Dec. 14  14 55.81   40 31.2   4.284   4.096    72   14.3      7.8 109.2   2:53 (238,-28)

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )
It suddenly brightened in late November and reached to 14.5 mag. It will be 13.5 mag or so in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  21 21.22  -14 11.6   1.994   1.789    63   14.5     32.7  58.1  20:48 ( 91, 26)  
Dec. 14  21 34.89  -12  7.5   2.021   1.756    60   14.4     34.4  58.3  20:55 ( 90, 21)

* 65P/Gunn
Appearing at dawn. It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August in 2003. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  15 14.98  -14 19.2   3.486   2.624    24   14.5     27.3 108.6   2:53 (293, -7)  
Dec. 14  15 27.50  -15 18.4   3.431   2.609    28   14.5     27.3 107.7   2:53 (292, -4)

* C/2002 U2 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will keep 15 mag until February. But it was a bit fainter than this ephemeris in November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  16  8.97   51 53.2   1.094   1.270    75   14.7     50.7 153.9   2:53 (229,-47)  
Dec. 14  16 23.29   46 51.9   1.132   1.241    71   14.7     44.3 155.9   2:53 (236,-44)

* 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)  
Dec.  7  10 32.41   10 11.3   1.464   1.884    98   15.0     25.5  99.3   2:53 (227, 32)  
Dec. 14  10 43.94    9 45.8   1.395   1.880   103   14.8     23.7  97.5   2:53 (224, 34)

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )
Although it will be at the peak in 2003 January and be observable in good condition, it may reach to 14.5 mag at best. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   9 18.47   17 41.6   1.130   1.816   118   15.0     20.9  90.0   2:53 (204, 34)  
Dec. 14   9 28.05   17 45.6   1.078   1.814   123   14.9     18.2  86.2   2:53 (199, 35)

* 116P/Wild 4
Although it was expected to be 11 mag, the brightening pace is very slow in this return. It is still 15 mag. It will be 13.5 mag at best in 2003 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  13 14.65   -6 37.0   2.606   2.194    54   15.1     30.2 113.7   2:53 (270, 12)  
Dec. 14  13 27.57   -8  0.5   2.533   2.187    58   15.0     29.7 113.3   2:53 (269, 16)

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )
It will appear at dawn soon. It keeps 15 mag until spring, but it will be low for the northern observers. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  15 30.20  -21 32.6   3.815   2.903    19   15.4     10.0 162.2   2:53 (301, -6)  
Dec. 14  15 31.58  -22 39.2   3.786   2.932    25   15.4      9.8 165.9   2:53 (298,  0)

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )
It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates low in the evening sky until February, then it will not be observable until 2004 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   2  4.45  -41 21.9   6.020   6.347   105   15.4      7.2 279.4  20:59 (  0, 84)  
Dec. 14   2  0.28  -41 10.2   6.036   6.285   100   15.4      6.6 288.7  20:55 ( 39, 82)

* 81P/Wild 2
It is already 16 mag, brighter than expected. But it is only observable until next spring. 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)  
Dec.  7   4 20.71   16 57.7   1.988   2.964   170   15.8     14.6 262.0  23:15 (180, 38)  
Dec. 14   4 13.74   16 44.1   1.972   2.925   162   15.6     14.1 262.7  22:41 (180, 38)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
It keeps 16 mag until 2003 June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  13 19.40   35 11.2   5.957   5.813    76   16.1      6.9  97.1   2:53 (236,-13)  
Dec. 14  13 23.06   35  7.6   5.903   5.841    81   16.0      6.0  91.7   2:53 (233, -9)

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )
It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   5 28.39   28 38.3   5.433   6.406   170   16.2     12.6 270.7   0:27 (180, 26)  
Dec. 14   5 21.55   28 38.2   5.361   6.342   174   16.2     13.0 269.3  23:48 (180, 26)

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )
It will reach to 7 mag in 2003 autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until 2003 July, when it reaches to 10 mag. After that, only southern people can observe it until 2003 December, when it fades to 9 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  15 19.11   27 48.7   4.585   4.104    55   16.4      9.8 106.8   2:53 (256,-32)  
Dec. 14  15 24.00   27 32.1   4.457   4.030    58   16.3      9.4 101.7   2:53 (254,-27)

* C/2002 R3 ( LONEOS )
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)  
Dec.  7   1 58.75   17 21.7   3.410   4.202   138   16.3     24.6 255.7  20:53 (180, 38)  
Dec. 14   1 47.72   16 40.1   3.489   4.179   128   16.3     22.1 255.0  20:55 (168, 37)

* 92P/Sanguin
It became brighter than expected, reached to 13 mag. But it is fading rapidly after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  23 40.85  -10 37.1   1.590   1.965    96   16.7     27.5  81.0  20:48 (121, 51)  
Dec. 14  23 53.82  -10  2.0   1.688   1.994    92   17.1     28.0  78.4  20:55 (116, 47)

* 46P/Wirtanen
It kept around 11.5 mag until early November. But no observations have been reported since mid November. So current brightness is uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  13 10.78    3 22.1   1.916   1.663    60   16.9     29.1 104.6   2:53 (261,  7)  
Dec. 14  13 23.43    2 34.5   1.910   1.722    63   17.9     26.7 103.5   2:53 (259, 11)

* 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)  
Dec.  7  18 56.02   73 45.6   3.593   3.862    98   16.9     20.4  90.5  20:48 (160,-37)  
Dec. 14  19 30.04   73 38.9   3.653   3.930    99   17.1     20.5  93.7  20:55 (160,-37)

* 2002 RP120
Asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will be fading after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  23 52.98   22 35.2   2.028   2.559   111   17.0     25.7 266.4  20:48 (149, 26)  
Dec. 14  23 41.65   22 26.1   2.181   2.579   102   17.2     19.4 267.4  20:55 (139, 20)

* 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)  
Dec.  7   9 38.04   10 22.1   4.993   5.429   111   17.1      4.6  17.0   2:53 (213, 39)  
Dec. 14   9 38.39   10 55.0   4.907   5.446   118   17.1      5.0   1.3   2:53 (205, 41)

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )
It is observable at 17.5 mag in this winter and next winter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   4 20.01  -14  7.5   3.275   4.100   142   17.2      9.0 290.5  23:15 (180, 69)  
Dec. 14   4 16.06  -13 40.7   3.290   4.089   139   17.2      9.1 299.5  22:43 (180, 69)

* 90P/Gehrels 1
Now it is much brighter than expected, as bright as 16 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   5 17.13   35 43.8   2.226   3.190   165   17.4      9.5 274.4   0:16 (180, 19)  
Dec. 14   5 11.67   35 45.9   2.241   3.208   167   17.4      9.4 269.3  23:39 (180, 19)

* 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)  
Dec.  7   9 33.17   22 48.4   7.468   7.952   116   17.5      7.2 309.7   2:53 (206, 28)  
Dec. 14   9 30.12   23 21.4   7.395   7.987   123   17.5      8.1 306.8   2:53 (198, 29)

* 2002 CE10
Asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will be 15.7 mag at opposition in early September in 2003. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7   8  2.54   60 53.5   2.142   2.874   129   17.7     42.7 314.4   2:53 (181, -6)  
Dec. 14   7 26.84   64  9.6   2.050   2.827   134   17.5     47.2 303.6   2:00 (180, -9)

* D/1978 C2 ( Tritton )
The ephemeris says it is 17 mag at dusk in February. But it will not appear as predicted. It must have reached to 18 mag at meridian transit in the evening in 2002 autumn, but not recovered. It implies the comet is really fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec.  7  23 34.64    8 16.4   1.197   1.708   102   18.0     16.6  80.4  20:48 (136, 36)  
Dec. 14  23 43.25    8 41.3   1.223   1.670    97   17.9     20.5  77.8  20:55 (131, 32)

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