Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Dec. 14: South)

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Updated on December 19, 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 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )


New comet. It locates in the morning sky until early January. It will reach to 1 mag in late January, but it is too close to the sun at that time. It appears at dusk in March, then it slowly fades out. Southern people cannot see it until mid February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 14  15 45.97   45 20.5   1.130   1.249    72    7.9     92.6 108.8   2:53 (236,-38)  
Dec. 21  16 44.30   40 34.9   1.041   1.105    66    7.3    107.1 117.8   2:55 (244,-41)  

* 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. 14   2 41.61   15 48.8   0.827   1.709   141   10.6     83.0 265.4  21:06 (180, 39)  
Dec. 21   2  1.22   14 49.7   0.799   1.580   124    9.5     83.6 263.5  21:00 (161, 38)  

* 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. 14  11 32.83   47  6.0   1.614   2.102   105   10.8     19.3 100.9   2:53 (210, -3)  
Dec. 21  11 44.87   46 40.7   1.554   2.086   108   10.7     16.7 102.1   2:55 (208,  0)  

* 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. 14  18 26.26  -22 28.8   2.519   1.584    14   11.5     46.0  89.9  20:55 ( 54, -9)  
Dec. 21  18 49.51  -22 20.8   2.532   1.586    12   11.5     46.1  87.6  21:00 ( 53,-11)  

* 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. 14   9 31.49   -6 10.9   2.981   3.484   112   12.8     21.1 268.6   2:53 (213, 57)  
Dec. 21   9 20.56   -6 10.3   2.823   3.444   121   12.7     25.5 271.6   2:55 (195, 60)  

* 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. 14  16 19.92  -14 42.9   2.206   1.300    17   13.1     14.0 205.6   2:53 (300,-14)  
Dec. 21  16 16.79  -16 11.5   2.170   1.335    24   13.4     14.5 208.6   2:55 (296, -7)  

* 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. 14  20 18.93  -23 30.1   2.181   1.561    39   13.1     46.9  68.4  20:55 ( 70, 12)  
Dec. 21  20 40.95  -21 23.0   2.203   1.554    38   13.2     47.5  66.7  21:00 ( 70,  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)  
Dec. 14  20 56.99  -16 10.6   6.365   5.786    50   13.7      9.9  70.9  20:55 ( 81, 15)  
Dec. 21  21  1.67  -15 47.2   6.447   5.785    44   13.8     10.5  70.8  21:00 ( 77,  9)  

* 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. 14  11 44.90   10 45.3   1.580   1.855    89   13.8     16.7 102.2   2:53 (236, 24)  
Dec. 21  11 51.93   10 25.4   1.552   1.906    94   13.9     13.4  99.2   2:55 (232, 28)  

* 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. 14  17 30.89   20 17.5   5.876   5.206    43   14.1     14.4  70.7  20:55 ( 83,-47)  
Dec. 21  17 37.67   20 53.2   5.867   5.211    44   14.1     14.7  68.1   2:55 (275,-45)  

* 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. 14  14 55.81   40 31.2   4.284   4.096    72   14.3      7.8 109.2   2:53 (238,-28)  
Dec. 21  15  0.04   40 17.3   4.260   4.127    75   14.3      6.6 102.3   2:55 (236,-23)  

* 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. 14  21 34.89  -12  7.5   2.021   1.756    60   14.4     34.4  58.3  20:55 ( 90, 21)  
Dec. 21  21 49.13   -9 57.8   2.046   1.725    57   14.3     36.0  58.4  21:00 ( 89, 16)  

* 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. 14  15 27.50  -15 18.4   3.431   2.609    28   14.5     27.3 107.7   2:53 (292, -4)  
Dec. 21  15 40.11  -16 14.5   3.370   2.595    32   14.4     27.2 106.7   2:55 (290,  0)  

* 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. 14  10 43.94    9 45.8   1.395   1.880   103   14.8     23.7  97.5   2:53 (224, 34)  
Dec. 21  10 54.58    9 28.2   1.330   1.878   107   14.7     21.6  95.0   2:55 (219, 37)  

* 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. 14   9 28.05   17 45.6   1.078   1.814   123   14.9     18.2  86.2   2:53 (199, 35)  
Dec. 21   9 36.20   17 58.4   1.032   1.815   128   14.8     15.3  80.6   2:55 (193, 36)  

* 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. 14  13 27.57   -8  0.5   2.533   2.187    58   15.0     29.7 113.3   2:53 (269, 16)  
Dec. 21  13 40.36   -9 21.3   2.458   2.181    62   14.9     29.2 112.9   2:55 (267, 20)  

* 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. 14  16 23.29   46 51.9   1.132   1.241    71   15.2     44.3 155.9   2:53 (236,-44)  
Dec. 21  16 34.00   42 25.4   1.169   1.221    68   15.3     38.7 157.4   2:55 (241,-40)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will keep 14-15 mag until the end of 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 14  10 25.41   20 47.9   2.863   3.344   110   15.5     18.6 295.1   2:53 (213, 27)  
Dec. 21  10 15.81   21 48.1   2.688   3.297   120   15.3     23.5 293.4   2:55 (203, 30)  

* 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. 14   2  0.28  -41 10.2   6.036   6.285   100   15.4      6.6 288.7  20:55 ( 39, 82)  
Dec. 21   1 56.70  -40 52.4   6.055   6.222    95   15.3      6.1 299.0  21:00 ( 60, 76)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. 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. 14  15 31.58  -22 39.2   3.786   2.932    25   15.4      9.8 165.9   2:53 (298,  0)  
Dec. 21  15 32.59  -23 46.4   3.744   2.963    32   15.4      9.8 170.9   2:55 (295,  6)  

* 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. 14   4 13.74   16 44.1   1.972   2.925   162   15.6     14.1 262.7  22:41 (180, 38)  
Dec. 21   4  7.22   16 32.7   1.970   2.885   153   15.5     12.8 263.6  22:07 (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. 14  13 23.06   35  7.6   5.903   5.841    81   16.0      6.0  91.7   2:53 (233, -9)  
Dec. 21  13 26.21   35  8.6   5.847   5.869    86   16.0      5.1  84.6   2:55 (230, -5)  

* 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. 14   5 21.55   28 38.2   5.360   6.341   174   16.2     13.0 269.3  23:48 (180, 26)  
Dec. 21   5 14.56   28 35.9   5.307   6.277   169   16.1     13.2 267.9  23:14 (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. 14  15 24.00   27 32.1   4.457   4.030    58   16.3      9.4 101.7   2:53 (254,-27)  
Dec. 21  15 28.77   27 22.2   4.322   3.955    61   16.1      8.9  95.8   2:55 (251,-22)  

* 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. 14  19 30.04   73 38.9   3.653   3.930    99   16.3     20.5  93.7  20:55 (160,-37)  
Dec. 21  20  3.70   73 24.2   3.722   3.998    99   16.4     20.5  96.8  21:00 (160,-37)  

* 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. 14   1 47.72   16 40.1   3.489   4.179   128   16.3     22.1 255.0  20:55 (168, 37)  
Dec. 21   1 38.02   16  1.8   3.583   4.157   119   16.4     19.3 254.4  21:00 (155, 35)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


Appearing at dawn. It will be 14 mag from spring to summer. No observations have been reported since 2002 June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 14  14 26.73   -9 37.0   3.975   3.344    44   17.0     20.1 105.3   2:53 (278,  5)  
Dec. 21  14 35.86  -10 12.7   3.868   3.311    49   16.9     19.8 104.4   2:55 (276,  9)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 14   9 38.34   10 55.3   4.908   5.447   118   17.1      5.0   1.3   2:53 (205, 41)  
Dec. 21   9 38.11   11 32.5   4.829   5.464   125   17.1      5.7 349.1   2:55 (195, 42)  

* 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. 14  23 41.65   22 26.1   2.181   2.579   102   17.2     19.4 267.4  20:55 (139, 20)  
Dec. 21  23 33.21   22 23.1   2.339   2.601    94   17.4     14.2 270.3  21:00 (131, 14)  

* 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. 14   5 11.67   35 45.9   2.241   3.208   167   17.4      9.4 269.3  23:39 (180, 19)  
Dec. 21   5  6.42   35 42.2   2.270   3.227   163   17.5      8.8 264.2  23:06 (180, 19)  

* 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. 14   7 26.84   64  9.6   2.050   2.827   134   17.5     47.2 303.6   2:00 (180, -9)  
Dec. 21   6 37.46   66 39.7   1.986   2.781   136   17.4     50.3 289.8   0:44 (180,-12)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


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. 14   9 30.12   23 21.4   7.395   7.987   123   17.5      8.1 306.8   2:53 (198, 29)  
Dec. 21   9 26.58   23 56.1   7.331   8.022   131   17.5      9.0 304.3   2:55 (189, 31)  

* 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. 14  23 43.25    8 41.3   1.223   1.670    97   17.9     20.5  77.8  20:55 (131, 32)  
Dec. 21  23 53.55    9 16.6   1.249   1.634    93   17.7     24.2  76.2  21:00 (126, 28)  

* P/2002 X2 ( NEAT )


New comet. It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 14   2 15.56   -6 21.9   1.927   2.622   125   17.8     13.7 340.1  20:55 (174, 61)  
Dec. 21   2 14.02   -4 48.6   1.985   2.610   119   17.9     13.8 352.0  21:00 (158, 58)  

* 46P/Wirtanen


It kept around 11.5 mag until early November. It still keeps 15 mag in mid December, however, now it is extremely diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 14  13 23.43    2 34.5   1.910   1.722    63   17.9     26.7 103.5   2:53 (259, 11)  
Dec. 21  13 35.00    1 55.2   1.898   1.782    68   17.9     24.2 102.0   2:55 (257, 15)  

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