Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Dec. 21: North)

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 Updated on December 21, 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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* 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. 21  16 44.30   40 34.9   1.041   1.105    66    7.3    107.1 117.8   5:33 (239, 30)  
Dec. 28  17 40.09   33 27.7   0.989   0.953    57    6.6    118.2 126.1   5:36 (244, 22)

* 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. 21   2  1.22   14 49.7   0.799   1.580   124   10.0     83.6 263.5  19:59 (  0, 70)  
Dec. 28   1 22.46   13 35.3   0.798   1.446   108    9.6     78.0 261.9  18:53 (  0, 69)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable 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)  
Dec. 21  11 44.87   46 40.7   1.554   2.086   108   10.7     16.7 102.1   5:33 (192, 78)  
Dec. 28  11 54.95   46 16.6   1.496   2.074   111   10.5     13.8 103.9   5:30 (180, 79)

* 22P/Kopff
Not observable. 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. 21  18 49.51  -22 20.8   2.532   1.586    12   11.5     46.1  87.6  18:22 ( 68, -7)  
Dec. 28  19 12.66  -22  0.0   2.547   1.592    10   11.6     46.0  85.4  18:26 ( 69, -8)

* 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. 21   9 20.56   -6 10.3   2.823   3.444   121   12.7     25.5 271.6   3:24 (  0, 49)  
Dec. 28   9  7.50   -6  0.0   2.678   3.405   130   12.5     30.2 274.3   2:44 (  0, 49)

* 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. 21  20 40.95  -21 23.0   2.203   1.554    38   13.2     47.5  66.7  18:22 ( 52, 13)  
Dec. 28  21  2.61  -19  5.9   2.227   1.552    36   13.2     47.9  65.2  18:26 ( 55, 13)

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. Before the perihelion passage, it brightened rapidly and reached to 13 mag. However, no observations have been reported since Nov. 3. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 21  16 16.79  -16 11.5   2.170   1.335    24   13.4     14.5 208.6   5:33 (294,  5)  
Dec. 28  16 13.09  -17 41.5   2.115   1.377    31   13.8     15.5 212.5   5:36 (300, 10)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
It was almost always at 12 mag in 2002. But this observable season will end soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 21  21  1.67  -15 47.2   6.447   5.785    44   13.8     10.5  70.8  18:22 ( 52, 21)  
Dec. 28  21  6.58  -15 22.2   6.520   5.783    38   13.8     11.0  70.5  18:26 ( 57, 16)

* 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. 21  17 37.67   20 53.2   5.867   5.211    44   14.1     14.7  68.1   5:33 (252, 10)  
Dec. 28  17 44.49   21 34.1   5.852   5.217    46   14.1     15.0  65.4   5:36 (254, 15)

* 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. 21  21 49.13   -9 57.8   2.046   1.725    57   14.3     36.0  58.4  18:22 ( 46, 33)  
Dec. 28  22  3.92   -7 42.7   2.070   1.697    54   14.2     37.5  58.4  18:26 ( 51, 32)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
It brightened about 1 mag after perihelion passage and reached to 12 mag. Now already getting fainter, but still bright as 14 mag. Only a few observations have been reported despite of the brightness. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 21  11 51.93   10 25.4   1.552   1.906    94   14.2     13.4  99.2   5:33 (347, 65)  
Dec. 28  11 57.40   10 15.6   1.522   1.958   100   14.3      9.9  93.8   5:32 (  0, 65)

* 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. 21  15 40.11  -16 14.5   3.370   2.595    32   14.4     27.2 106.7   5:33 (300, 12)  
Dec. 28  15 52.80  -17  7.4   3.306   2.581    36   14.3     27.1 105.8   5:36 (303, 14)

* 81P/Wild 2
It brightened very rapidly since September and already reached to 14 mag. 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. 21   4  7.22   16 32.7   1.970   2.885   153   14.7     12.8 263.6  22:07 (  0, 72)  
Dec. 28   4  1.45   16 24.3   1.981   2.845   145   14.4     10.9 265.1  21:33 (  0, 71)

* 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. 21  10 54.58    9 28.2   1.330   1.878   107   14.7     21.6  95.0   4:57 (  0, 64)  
Dec. 28  11  4.20    9 19.8   1.268   1.878   112   14.6     19.2  91.4   4:39 (  0, 64)

* 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. 21   9 36.20   17 58.4   1.032   1.815   128   14.8     15.3  80.6   3:39 (  0, 73)  
Dec. 28   9 42.79   18 20.5   0.993   1.819   134   14.8     12.3  71.8   3:18 (  0, 73)

* 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. 21  13 40.36   -9 21.3   2.458   2.181    62   14.9     29.2 112.9   5:33 (319, 36)  
Dec. 28  13 52.96  -10 39.2   2.383   2.177    66   14.8     28.5 112.5   5:36 (325, 37)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
It became faint after the perihelion passage. It was reported as fainter than 15 mag recently, so fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 21  15  0.04   40 17.3   4.260   4.127    75   15.0      6.6 102.3   5:33 (246, 49)  
Dec. 28  15  3.64   40 11.5   4.232   4.159    79   15.0      5.3  92.8   5:36 (248, 54)

* 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. 21  10 15.81   21 48.1   2.688   3.297   120   15.3     23.5 293.4   4:19 (  0, 77)  
Dec. 28  10  3.58   22 57.8   2.527   3.251   130   15.1     29.0 291.5   3:39 (  0, 78)

* C/2002 U2 ( LINEAR )
The brightening pace is slow and it has been around 15.5 mag since late October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 21  16 34.00   42 25.4   1.169   1.221    68   15.3     38.7 157.4   5:33 (238, 32)  
Dec. 28  16 42.27   38 29.1   1.201   1.210    66   15.3     34.1 158.9   5:36 (244, 35)

* 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. 21   1 56.70  -40 52.4   6.055   6.222    95   15.3      6.1 299.0  19:57 (  0, 14)  
Dec. 28   1 53.76  -40 29.3   6.077   6.159    90   15.3      5.6 310.6  19:26 (  0, 15)

* 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. 21  15 32.59  -23 46.4   3.744   2.963    32   15.4      9.8 170.9   5:33 (306,  8)  
Dec. 28  15 33.12  -24 54.5   3.689   2.995    39   15.4      9.8 177.1   5:36 (312, 12)

* 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. 21  15 28.77   27 22.2   4.322   3.955    61   16.1      8.9  95.8   5:33 (261, 39)  
Dec. 28  15 33.34   27 19.4   4.181   3.879    65   16.0      8.5  89.1   5:36 (264, 44)

* 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. 21  13 26.21   35  8.6   5.847   5.869    86   16.0      5.1  84.6   5:33 (261, 66)  
Dec. 28  13 28.83   35 14.1   5.790   5.898    91   16.0      4.2  75.0   5:36 (263, 72)

* 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. 21   5 14.56   28 35.9   5.307   6.277   169   16.1     13.2 267.9  23:14 (  0, 84)  
Dec. 28   5  7.58   28 31.4   5.271   6.212   161   16.0     13.1 266.6  22:39 (  0, 84)

* 46P/Wirtanen
After the outburst in late September, it has been fading more slowly than expected, and it kept 15 mag still 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. 21  13 35.00    1 55.2   1.898   1.782    68   16.1     24.2 102.0   5:33 (312, 46)  
Dec. 28  13 45.49    1 24.2   1.882   1.842    72   16.4     21.6 100.1   5:36 (318, 49)

* 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. 21   1 38.02   16  1.8   3.583   4.157   119   16.4     19.3 254.4  19:38 (  0, 71)  
Dec. 28   1 29.69   15 27.8   3.690   4.135   110   16.4     16.4 254.2  19:02 (  0, 70)

* 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. 21  20  3.70   73 24.2   3.722   3.998    99   16.4     20.5  96.8  18:22 (160, 41)  
Dec. 28  20 36.42   73  2.1   3.798   4.066    98   16.5     20.4  99.7  18:26 (160, 41)

* 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. 21  14 35.86  -10 12.7   3.868   3.311    49   16.9     19.8 104.4   5:33 (307, 27)  
Dec. 28  14 44.94  -10 45.7   3.757   3.277    54   16.8     19.5 103.4   5:36 (312, 30)

* 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. 21   9 38.11   11 32.5   4.829   5.464   125   17.1      5.7 349.1   3:41 (  0, 67)  
Dec. 28   9 37.31   12 13.9   4.759   5.482   133   17.1      6.6 340.2   3:13 (  0, 67)

* 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. 21   6 37.46   66 39.7   1.986   2.781   136   17.4     50.3 289.8   0:44 (180, 58)  
Dec. 28   5 36.75   67 45.3   1.952   2.736   134   17.4     51.6 273.2  23:04 (180, 57)

* 2002 RP120
Asteroid with a cometary orbit. Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 21  23 33.21   22 23.1   2.339   2.601    94   17.4     14.2 270.3  18:22 ( 44, 73)  
Dec. 28  23 27.12   22 27.2   2.498   2.624    86   17.5     10.1 276.2  18:26 ( 62, 67)

* 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. 21   9 26.58   23 56.1   7.331   8.022   131   17.5      9.0 304.3   3:30 (  0, 79)  
Dec. 28   9 22.57   24 31.9   7.280   8.057   139   17.5      9.7 302.2   2:58 (  0, 79)

* 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. 21   5  6.42   35 42.2   2.270   3.227   163   17.5      8.8 264.2  23:06 (180, 89)  
Dec. 28   5  1.69   35 33.6   2.313   3.246   157   17.7      7.8 258.7  22:34 (180, 89)

* 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. 21  23 53.55    9 16.6   1.249   1.634    93   17.7     24.2  76.2  18:22 ( 15, 64)  
Dec. 28   0  5.41   10  1.5   1.275   1.600    89   17.6     27.5  75.1  18:26 ( 26, 63)

* 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. 21   2 14.02   -4 48.6   1.985   2.610   119   17.9     13.8 352.0  20:14 (  0, 50)  
Dec. 28   2 13.76   -3 10.5   2.051   2.599   113   17.9     14.3   3.3  19:46 (  0, 52)

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