Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Mar. 22: North)

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Updated on March 23, 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 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


Getting more condensed. It will reach to 5.5 mag in March and April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until late April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  23 33.82   41 24.9   1.265   0.841    41    6.0     60.5 140.0   4:37 (228, 13)  
Mar. 29  23 54.60   36  8.0   1.370   0.777    33    5.7     54.1 144.5   4:27 (232,  9)  

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )


It approached to the sun down to 0.1 AU on Feb. 18, and reached to -2 mag in the SOHO images. It is not observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. It is getting fainter as expected, 5.3 mag on Mar. 8.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22   1 50.37  -25  1.0   1.626   1.012    36    8.1     59.3  74.7  19:37 ( 67,-11)  
Mar. 29   2 16.76  -23 12.7   1.794   1.167    37    8.8     49.0  72.5  19:43 ( 70,-11)  

* C/2002 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )


Now it is fading slowly, like it brightened slowly before the perihelion passage. However, some reported it suddenly became not seen visually in mid March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22   4 44.46  -15 55.4   1.313   1.368    71    9.9     69.2  51.1  19:37 ( 46, 25)  
Mar. 29   5  7.62  -11 24.1   1.496   1.501    70   10.4     55.3  51.8  19:43 ( 51, 27)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 11 mag and the good condition until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  11 15.12   32 51.6   1.297   2.188   144   10.8     25.6 209.9  23:15 (  0, 88)  
Mar. 29  11  8.80   30 12.1   1.347   2.217   141   10.9     25.4 203.8  22:42 (  0, 85)  

* 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)  
Mar. 22   5 55.38    7 17.2   2.872   3.006    87   11.9     18.4 299.4  19:37 ( 46, 54)  
Mar. 29   5 48.66    8 17.7   2.994   2.981    79   12.0     15.0 303.3  19:43 ( 59, 48)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


It kept brightening rapidly since November and reached to 12 mag. Now it is passing the perihelion, but it may be brighter after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22   1 38.80   22 20.3   2.384   1.627    31   12.4     45.5  65.1  19:37 (108, 14)  
Mar. 29   1 59.89   24 29.1   2.423   1.645    30   12.7     45.2  66.8  19:43 (112, 12)  

* 22P/Kopff


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in 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)  
Mar. 22  23 12.30   -7 11.4   2.807   1.862    14   13.2     37.2  69.2   4:37 (270,-12)  
Mar. 29  23 28.40   -5 39.2   2.825   1.896    17   13.4     36.2  68.9   4:27 (269,-11)  

* 65P/Gunn


It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  18 15.71  -23 39.7   2.303   2.466    87   13.3     19.3  98.9   4:37 (334, 27)  
Mar. 29  18 25.06  -24  0.3   2.213   2.461    92   13.2     17.8  99.7   4:27 (336, 27)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage. Not it is observed around 13 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  11 17.23   17 56.4   1.069   2.029   158   13.3      6.6 302.0  23:18 (  0, 73)  
Mar. 29  11 14.92   18 13.5   1.117   2.052   151   13.4      4.0 290.4  22:48 (  0, 73)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It was observed visually at around 13 mag these days.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  15 41.15  -20 59.6   1.504   2.211   123   13.6      6.7 123.8   3:45 (  0, 34)  
Mar. 29  15 43.17  -21 23.5   1.449   2.221   129   13.6      3.9 142.0   3:20 (  0, 34)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Not observable. It will be obervable again in April or May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  22 11.11   -9  5.9   6.614   5.767    29   13.8     11.6  65.7   4:37 (281, -1)  
Mar. 29  22 16.04   -8 32.5   6.554   5.766    35   13.8     11.3  65.1   4:27 (282,  2)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable in good condition at 14-15 mag until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  18 55.39   36 21.8   5.418   5.325    79   14.1     15.6  25.8   4:37 (257, 61)  
Mar. 29  18 59.05   38  0.8   5.381   5.337    82   14.1     15.4  21.8   4:27 (254, 64)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


Getting brighter more slowly than expected, and it is still 15 mag. It may become only 10 mag in autumn at best. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until July, when it may be still 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  15 29.47   37 55.2   2.311   2.928   119   14.8     22.6 308.3   3:34 (180, 87)  
Mar. 29  15 17.36   39 32.1   2.182   2.845   122   14.6     26.5 300.9   2:55 (180, 86)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22   2  7.98  -33 43.4   6.042   5.383    44   14.7      8.5  62.6  19:37 ( 58,-13)  
Mar. 29   2 12.38  -33 17.6   5.990   5.316    43   14.6      8.9  67.2  19:43 ( 61,-18)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


It will be 14 mag from spring to summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  16  9.32  -12 45.3   2.298   2.900   117   15.1      7.2  75.0   4:13 (  0, 42)  
Mar. 29  16 12.15  -12 30.6   2.191   2.871   124   14.9      5.4  64.4   3:49 (  0, 42)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It had brightened very rapidly since September and reached to 15 mag in late November. On the contrary, it has been at 15.5 mag for three months after that. It is only observable until 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)  
Mar. 22   4 30.79   19 44.7   2.534   2.353    68   15.1     19.5  77.6  19:37 ( 82, 47)  
Mar. 29   4 40.70   20 13.5   2.575   2.311    63   15.0     21.2  78.9  19:43 ( 86, 42)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


It has been observed as bright as 12.5 mag from January to mid February. However, it seems to start fading rapidly in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  11 23.18  -29 33.5   1.254   2.171   149   15.1     79.3 289.4  23:21 (  0, 26)  
Mar. 29  10 47.12  -26 12.0   1.346   2.246   146   15.7     68.3 295.7  22:18 (  0, 29)  

* 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)  
Mar. 22   6  1.59   26 20.3   2.594   2.769    89   15.2     19.9 251.3  19:37 ( 73, 68)  
Mar. 29   5 52.95   25 36.7   2.718   2.737    80   15.2     15.8 247.5  19:43 ( 82, 59)  

* C/2002 J4 ( NEAT )


It will be observable at 14.5 mag for a long time from spring to autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates very low in the morning until spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  18 24.62  -33 39.3   3.979   4.030    85   15.6     13.2 133.3   4:37 (336, 17)  
Mar. 29  18 29.75  -34 44.6   3.850   4.004    91   15.5     12.9 138.5   4:27 (339, 17)  

* 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)  
Mar. 22   4 24.37   27  2.0   5.705   5.410    67   15.6      0.8 102.0  19:37 ( 92, 49)  
Mar. 29   4 25.07   27  1.6   5.750   5.341    61   15.6      1.9  88.2  19:43 ( 97, 42)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It became a bit fainter after the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  14 32.60   44 37.7   3.949   4.583   124   15.7     13.6 275.7   2:37 (180, 80)  
Mar. 29  14 23.39   44 41.9   3.966   4.621   125   15.8     14.5 269.5   2:01 (180, 80)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It keeps 16 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  13 10.44   38 10.3   5.480   6.261   138   16.0      7.8 269.2   1:15 (180, 87)  
Mar. 29  13  5.73   38  6.3   5.516   6.293   137   16.0      8.1 262.8   0:43 (180, 87)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It keeps good condition until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  11 10.31   16 10.4   1.624   2.579   158   16.5     13.1 277.1  23:11 (  0, 71)  
Mar. 29  11  4.54   16 16.9   1.708   2.629   151   16.8     10.7 271.3  22:38 (  0, 71)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


As it is a very far object, it keeps 17 mag until 2004 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  19  8.56   24  4.0   6.051   5.873    74   17.1     11.2 355.0   4:37 (277, 55)  
Mar. 29  19  7.75   25 23.8   5.954   5.862    79   17.1     11.8 349.3   4:27 (279, 59)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22   9 45.88   23 35.4   1.234   2.090   138   17.1      5.9 126.4  21:47 (  0, 79)  
Mar. 29   9 48.84   23  6.7   1.317   2.127   133   17.4      8.4 124.0  21:23 (  0, 78)  

* C/2002 U2 ( LINEAR )


It is fading rapidly after the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22  16 15.22    6 17.2   1.017   1.715   116   17.1     43.4 231.7   4:20 (  0, 61)  
Mar. 29  15 57.79    2 59.5   0.998   1.790   127   17.4     49.8 233.8   3:35 (  0, 58)  

* 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)  
Mar. 22   9 10.08   21 57.1   5.008   5.726   132   17.4      5.4 336.9  21:11 (  0, 77)  
Mar. 29   9  9.28   22 29.8   5.118   5.749   125   17.4      4.5 346.5  20:43 (  0, 78)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


It is getting fainter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 22   8 25.40   29 57.3   7.941   8.483   120   17.8      6.2 285.0  20:27 (  0, 85)  
Mar. 29   8 22.41   30  7.3   8.086   8.519   112   17.9      5.2 284.0  19:56 (  0, 85)  

* P/2003 CP7 ( LINEAR-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)  
Mar. 22  11  3.56   17  2.7   2.081   3.024   157   17.9      9.3 305.1  23:04 (  0, 72)  
Mar. 29  11  0.11   17 36.2   2.117   3.022   149   17.9      7.6 303.0  22:33 (  0, 73)  

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