Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Jan. 4: North)

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Updated on January 5, 2003
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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 )


Recently it was reported 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris. It will be too low to observe soon. 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)  
Jan.  4  18 29.30   24 25.7   0.981   0.794    47    5.9    122.4 133.2   5:38 (250, 14)  
Jan. 11  19 11.19   14  6.9   1.011   0.621    36    5.1    121.8 139.1   5:38 (257,  6)  

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )


Still brightening very rapidly. It is observable until early February in the Northern Hemisphere, until mid January in Southern Hemisphere. 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)  
Jan.  4   0 47.61   12 16.7   0.817   1.306    92    7.9     69.1 260.9  18:31 ( 24, 66)  
Jan. 11   0 17.28   11  2.1   0.847   1.159    78    7.5     60.3 260.3  18:36 ( 50, 57)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable in the good condition for a long time from winter to next spring. Strongly condensed and easy to see.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4  12  2.87   45 53.8   1.443   2.065   115   10.4     10.6 107.5   5:10 (180, 79)  
Jan. 11  12  8.44   45 31.5   1.393   2.060   119   10.4      7.3 116.3   4:48 (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)  
Jan.  4  19 35.58  -21 27.1   2.564   1.600     8   11.6     45.7  83.2  18:31 ( 71,-10)  
Jan. 11  19 58.15  -20 42.8   2.583   1.612     7   11.7     45.4  81.1  18:36 ( 73,-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)  
Jan.  4   8 52.29   -5 38.0   2.553   3.366   140   12.3     34.9 276.7   2:01 (  0, 49)  
Jan. 11   8 35.07   -5  2.7   2.450   3.328   148   12.2     39.1 278.9   1:16 (  0, 50)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  21 23.87  -16 40.5   2.255   1.555    34   13.2     48.2  63.9  18:31 ( 59, 13)  
Jan. 11  21 44.69  -14  8.3   2.287   1.562    33   13.2     48.2  62.7  18:36 ( 63, 13)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  21 11.68  -14 55.9   6.585   5.782    32   13.8     11.4  70.3  18:31 ( 62, 12)  
Jan. 11  21 16.95  -14 28.2   6.640   5.781    26   13.8     11.8  69.9  18:36 ( 67,  7)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


It was reported as about 12.5 mag visually and by photos in late December, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4  22 19.21   -5 22.3   2.093   1.672    51   14.1     38.9  58.4  18:31 ( 57, 31)  
Jan. 11  22 34.99   -2 57.0   2.115   1.650    49   14.0     40.2  58.4  18:36 ( 62, 29)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Getting higher in the morning sky. 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)  
Jan.  4  17 51.32   22 20.3   5.831   5.223    47   14.1     15.2  62.6   5:38 (256, 20)  
Jan. 11  17 58.12   23 12.0   5.806   5.230    50   14.1     15.4  59.7   5:38 (258, 25)  

* 65P/Gunn


Appearing at dawn, and observed as bright as expected. 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)  
Jan.  4  16  5.54  -17 57.0   3.237   2.568    40   14.3     26.9 104.8   5:38 (307, 17)  
Jan. 11  16 18.29  -18 43.1   3.164   2.556    44   14.2     26.6 103.9   5:38 (310, 18)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


Before the perihelion passage, it brightened rapidly and reached to 13 mag. Now appearing at dawn. Yuuji Ohshima observed it on Dec. 27, then it was 12.5 mag, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4  16  8.52  -19 14.5   2.041   1.425    39   14.2     17.1 217.3   5:38 (307, 15)  
Jan. 11  16  2.69  -20 52.2   1.953   1.479    47   14.7     19.6 222.7   5:38 (315, 19)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   3 56.71   16 19.8   2.003   2.805   137   14.3      8.5 267.7  21:01 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 11   3 53.20   16 19.7   2.036   2.765   129   14.3      5.9 273.1  20:30 (  0, 71)  

* 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.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4  12  1.23   10 16.3   1.493   2.010   106   14.4      6.3  82.2   5:09 (  0, 65)  
Jan. 11  12  3.32   10 27.5   1.464   2.063   113   14.5      3.5  47.3   4:43 (  0, 65)  

* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


New comet. It will reach to 11 mag in March and April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until late April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates low in January, then it will not be observable for a while, and it becomes observable again after May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4  13 37.34   19 40.2   1.661   1.913    88   14.9     42.5  46.2   5:38 (312, 69)  
Jan. 11  13 53.95   23 34.8   1.476   1.816    93   14.4     52.2  43.1   5:38 (310, 73)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  11 12.65    9 22.1   1.210   1.880   117   14.5     16.6  86.0   4:20 (  0, 64)  
Jan. 11  11 19.78    9 36.1   1.157   1.884   123   14.4     13.9  78.1   4:00 (  0, 65)  

* 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 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4  14  5.34  -11 53.6   2.306   2.173    69   14.7     27.7 112.1   5:38 (330, 38)  
Jan. 11  14 17.41  -13  4.4   2.229   2.171    73   14.7     26.7 111.6   5:38 (335, 38)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


Now it is at peak. It keeps observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  4   9 47.69   18 52.1   0.960   1.827   140   14.8      9.7  57.7   2:55 (  0, 74)  
Jan. 11   9 50.86   19 32.1   0.935   1.837   146   14.8      7.8  37.1   2:31 (  0, 74)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Jan.  4   9 48.35   24 15.3   2.380   3.204   140   14.9     34.8 289.3   2:57 (  0, 79)  
Jan. 11   9 29.92   25 36.1   2.258   3.159   151   14.8     40.4 286.7   2:11 (  0, 81)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  15  6.54   40 13.4   4.201   4.192    82   15.1      4.2  78.7   5:38 (249, 59)  
Jan. 11  15  8.66   40 22.7   4.167   4.225    86   15.1      3.3  56.7   5:38 (248, 64)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   1 51.50  -40  1.7   6.099   6.096    85   15.3      5.3 323.4  18:57 (  0, 15)  
Jan. 11   1 49.94  -39 30.5   6.120   6.033    80   15.2      5.1 336.8  18:36 (  2, 16)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  16 48.75   34 58.3   1.226   1.210    65   15.4     30.2 160.6   5:38 (250, 38)  
Jan. 11  16 53.77   31 48.6   1.243   1.219    65   15.4     27.0 162.9   5:38 (256, 42)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  15 33.05  -26  3.8   3.623   3.028    46   15.4     10.0 184.7   5:38 (318, 15)  
Jan. 11  15 32.21  -27 14.6   3.546   3.062    53   15.4     10.5 193.4   5:38 (324, 18)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  15 37.68   27 24.0   4.032   3.802    69   15.8      8.0  81.1   5:38 (267, 50)  
Jan. 11  15 41.64   27 36.7   3.879   3.725    73   15.7      7.5  71.4   5:38 (271, 55)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   5  0.77   28 24.9   5.253   6.146   153   16.0     12.6 265.2  22:05 (  0, 83)  
Jan. 11   4 54.28   28 16.7   5.251   6.081   144   15.9     11.9 264.0  21:31 (  0, 83)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  13 30.86   35 23.7   5.733   5.926    96   16.0      3.4  61.2   5:38 (264, 78)  
Jan. 11  13 32.26   35 37.0   5.678   5.956   101   16.0      2.8  41.3   5:38 (263, 83)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   1 22.70   14 59.1   3.804   4.114   101   16.4     13.6 254.3  18:31 (  2, 70)  
Jan. 11   1 16.97   14 36.0   3.924   4.094    92   16.5     11.0 254.8  18:36 ( 27, 68)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  14 53.90  -11 15.7   3.641   3.244    58   16.6     19.1 102.3   5:38 (317, 33)  
Jan. 11  15  2.72  -11 42.6   3.522   3.211    63   16.5     18.7 101.2   5:38 (322, 35)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  21  7.77   72 33.7   3.882   4.133    97   16.6     20.1 102.2  18:31 (159, 41)  
Jan. 11  21 37.45   72  0.5   3.974   4.200    96   16.7     19.7 104.2  18:36 (158, 41)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  13 54.83    1  2.0   1.861   1.901    77   16.7     18.9  97.7   5:38 (325, 51)  
Jan. 11  14  2.96    0 48.6   1.836   1.961    82   17.0     16.1  94.5   5:38 (333, 53)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   9 35.98   12 59.3   4.700   5.500   141   17.1      7.5 333.9   2:44 (  0, 68)  
Jan. 11   9 34.17   13 48.0   4.653   5.518   148   17.1      8.3 329.5   2:15 (  0, 69)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   4 34.57   67  4.8   1.948   2.691   130   17.4     50.7 256.0  21:35 (180, 58)  
Jan. 11   3 42.00   64 52.7   1.972   2.648   123   17.4     47.9 241.1  20:17 (180, 60)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   0 18.75   10 55.1   1.301   1.568    85   17.5     30.7  74.4  18:31 ( 36, 62)  
Jan. 11   0 33.50   11 56.4   1.325   1.539    82   17.4     33.6  74.0  18:36 ( 45, 60)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   9 18.14   25  8.4   7.243   8.092   147   17.5     10.4 300.2   2:26 (  0, 80)  
Jan. 11   9 13.35   25 44.8   7.221   8.127   155   17.5     10.9 298.5   1:54 (  0, 81)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4  23 22.92   22 38.5   2.656   2.650    78   17.7      7.0 287.7  18:31 ( 73, 61)  
Jan. 11  23 20.24   22 57.0   2.809   2.677    72   17.8      5.1 308.2  18:36 ( 82, 54)  

* 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)  
Jan.  4   4 57.74   35 21.1   2.369   3.265   151   17.8      6.4 251.7  22:02 (180, 90)  
Jan. 11   4 54.78   35  5.8   2.437   3.285   144   17.9      4.8 241.2  21:32 (180, 90)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.