Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Apr. 26: South)

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Updated on April 28, 2003
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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 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


In the Southern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn soon. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never observable again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26   0 49.03   16 22.5   1.617   0.759    20    6.8     48.2 148.9   5:06 (252, -3)  
May   3   1  1.21   11 34.6   1.627   0.817    24    7.0     48.5 147.8   5:11 (253,  4)  

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )


Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. No observations have been reported since Mar. 8 when it was 5.3 mag. Fading very slowly. It was still 7.7 mag in early April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26   3 26.81  -17 53.7   2.421   1.715    36    9.3     28.5  73.9  18:48 ( 78, 15)  
May   3   3 39.58  -17  3.6   2.559   1.839    35    9.6     25.8  75.7  18:42 ( 78, 13)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It turns to fade after this, and will be fainter than 13 mag in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  10 59.73   19 23.6   1.661   2.359   122   11.6     22.0 176.3  20:43 (180, 36)  
May   3  11  1.06   16 52.9   1.763   2.399   117   11.8     21.4 169.4  20:17 (180, 38)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in 2003 autumn again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26   5 34.95   11 29.6   3.444   2.893    49   12.1      6.4 332.0  18:48 (123, 22)  
May   3   5 33.89   12  7.3   3.536   2.875    42   12.2      5.4 343.7  18:42 (120, 18)  

* 65P/Gunn


It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time until August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  18 53.82  -25 36.7   1.871   2.448   113   12.8     10.7 113.0   4:40 (180, 81)  
May   3  18 58.31  -26  7.8   1.794   2.447   118   12.7      8.8 122.4   4:17 (180, 81)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It was observed visually at around 12 mag these days.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  15 35.89  -22 12.6   1.305   2.270   158   13.4      8.8 267.7   1:23 (180, 77)  
May   3  15 31.01  -22 12.7   1.294   2.285   165   13.4     10.4 271.8   0:50 (180, 77)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


Getting brighter more slowly than usual, and it is still 14 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)  
Apr. 26  13 54.79   43 18.2   1.809   2.506   123   13.8     40.9 268.7  23:35 (180, 12)  
May   3  13 28.09   42 47.2   1.758   2.420   119   13.6     43.0 259.9  22:41 (180, 12)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing very low sky in the morning. It will be higher than 20 deg in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  22 33.46   -6 25.4   6.235   5.761    57   13.7      9.2  62.4   5:06 (249, 37)  
May   3  22 37.11   -5 56.4   6.139   5.760    63   13.6      8.5  61.4   5:11 (242, 42)  

* 22P/Kopff


Appearing at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, 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)  
Apr. 26   0 27.69    0  6.7   2.867   2.046    29   14.1     31.8  68.9   5:06 (262, 11)  
May   3   0 41.32    1 25.1   2.868   2.086    32   14.3     30.7  69.2   5:11 (258, 14)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26  19  7.45   44 41.2   5.265   5.391    91   14.2     14.0   4.2   4:53 (180, 10)  
May   3  19  7.73   46 17.6   5.246   5.405    93   14.2     13.5 359.3   4:26 (180,  9)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


It passed the perihelion on Feb. 19 and expected to be fading now. But it may be brighter after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26   3 27.94   31 13.2   2.607   1.748    25   14.2     42.6  75.1  18:48 (119,-13)  
May   3   3 50.46   32 22.3   2.659   1.780    23   14.6     41.7  77.4  18:42 (121,-13)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26   2 33.02  -32 12.1   5.696   5.046    45   14.3     10.4  84.0  18:48 ( 59, 12)  
May   3   2 38.81  -32  7.0   5.601   4.977    47   14.2     10.7  88.1   5:11 (303, 10)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and it was observed visually around 13 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  11 17.05   17  6.6   1.395   2.158   127   14.2      8.2 133.1  21:01 (180, 38)  
May   3  11 20.50   16 23.4   1.482   2.186   121   14.5     10.6 129.5  20:37 (180, 39)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It had brightened very rapidly since September and reached to 15 mag in late November. On the contrary, it had been at 15.5 mag for four months after that. In April, it finally became brighter than 15 mag. It is only observable until late May. 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)  
Apr. 26   5 28.64   21 49.5   2.697   2.148    47   14.7     27.0  84.5  18:48 (130, 14)  
May   3   5 42.49   22  5.2   2.717   2.109    43   14.6     28.2  86.0  18:42 (129, 12)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26  18 43.14  -39 48.3   3.369   3.909   115   15.1     13.1 164.9   4:29 (  0, 85)  
May   3  18 44.68  -41 18.6   3.264   3.886   121   15.0     13.2 173.0   4:03 (  0, 84)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26  16 12.96  -11  6.3   1.842   2.761   150   15.3      5.3 310.4   2:00 (180, 66)  
May   3  16 10.58  -10 42.5   1.779   2.736   157   15.1      6.8 299.4   1:30 (180, 66)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26   4 32.81   27 14.8   5.843   5.060    35   15.4      5.3  80.9  18:48 (125,  1)  
May   3   4 35.75   27 21.2   5.840   4.989    29   15.3      6.0  80.4  18:42 (122, -2)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


It will keep 14-15 mag until the end of 2003. Recently it was reported 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26   5 35.76   23 10.5   3.172   2.626    49   15.4      5.7 218.7  18:48 (132, 14)  
May   3   5 34.38   22 40.5   3.264   2.603    41   15.4      4.6 204.8  18:42 (127, 10)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26  13 44.99   43  2.9   4.151   4.778   123   15.6     15.6 244.1  23:27 (180, 12)  
May   3  13 36.39   42  9.7   4.226   4.818   120   15.7     15.5 237.6  22:51 (180, 13)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be observable in good condition at 16 mag until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  17 39.43   -0  6.7   4.287   4.958   127   15.6     12.8 339.6   3:26 (180, 55)  
May   3  17 37.04    1 16.9   4.224   4.965   132   15.6     13.2 334.1   2:56 (180, 54)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be as bright as 13 mag in 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  18 14.03   20  9.9   3.722   4.201   111   16.0     18.1 299.7   4:00 (180, 35)  
May   3  18  5.47   21 11.4   3.592   4.154   117   15.9     20.5 294.7   3:24 (180, 34)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26  12 47.85   36 45.9   5.777   6.422   126   16.1      8.1 235.2  22:31 (180, 18)  
May   3  12 44.18   36 10.6   5.868   6.455   121   16.2      8.0 227.7  21:59 (180, 19)  

* 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)  
Apr. 26  18 57.20   31  2.9   5.587   5.822    98   16.9     14.5 327.3   4:43 (180, 24)  
May   3  18 52.47   32 27.8   5.508   5.813   102   16.8     15.2 322.0   4:11 (180, 23)  

* C/2003 G2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It raeched to the best at 16.5 mag in mid April. Now it is fading rapidly and will be fainter than 18 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  11 40.85  -19 26.8   0.627   1.555   143   16.9    130.4 253.0  21:20 (180, 75)  
May   3  10 47.74  -22 42.5   0.736   1.554   125   17.3     90.1 257.0  20:01 (180, 78)  

* C/2003 F1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will keep 17.5 mag until summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  17  5.56   53 12.8   3.677   4.038   103   17.4      8.9 274.8   2:52 (180,  2)  
May   3  16 58.15   53 12.3   3.650   4.031   105   17.4     10.2 264.8   2:17 (180,  2)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron


It will be observable around 17.5 mag from spring to autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  19 14.84  -15 24.5  11.740  12.074   107   17.5      0.6 350.3   5:01 (180, 70)  
May   3  19 14.66  -15 20.6  11.645  12.087   113   17.4      0.8 307.4   4:33 (180, 70)  

* 66P/du Toit


It will not be observable around the perihelion passage. Before the perihelion passage, it is observable until July when it reaches to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  12 17.24    0 24.4   1.096   2.023   148   17.8     21.1 254.9  22:00 (180, 55)  
May   3  12  8.26   -0 19.4   1.079   1.961   139   17.6     19.3 248.5  21:23 (180, 55)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


Brightness change became a bit slower after the perihelion passage. 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)  
Apr. 26  10 10.44   20  4.4   1.714   2.288   111   17.6     16.0 119.6  19:54 (180, 35)  
May   3  10 17.66   19  7.0   1.827   2.331   107   17.8     17.4 119.1  19:34 (180, 36)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26   9 11.66   23 59.9   5.622   5.843    97   17.7      3.9  57.3  18:55 (180, 31)  
May   3   9 13.61   24 13.1   5.757   5.868    91   17.8      4.6  69.1  18:42 (177, 31)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It will be fainter than 18 mag in May. Very diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 26  10 54.06   15 19.3   2.144   2.824   123   17.7      4.0 184.3  20:37 (180, 40)  
May   3  10 54.47   14 49.2   2.272   2.872   116   18.0      5.0 157.2  20:10 (180, 40)  

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