Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 May 3: North)

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Updated on May 3, 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 )


Appearing at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never be observable again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3   1  1.21   11 34.6   1.627   0.817    24    7.0     48.5 147.8   3:34 (254, -2)  
May  10   1 13.67    6 47.1   1.620   0.891    29    7.3     49.2 146.9   3:25 (259, -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)  
May   3   3 39.58  -17  3.6   2.559   1.839    35    9.6     25.8  75.7  20:20 ( 87,-27)  
May  10   3 51.26  -16 24.1   2.690   1.960    35    9.9     23.5  77.9  20:28 ( 91,-31)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It will be low in the evening sky and fainter than 13 mag in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  11  1.06   16 52.9   1.763   2.399   117   11.8     21.4 169.4  20:20 (  2, 72)  
May  10  11  3.52   14 29.1   1.873   2.442   112   12.0     21.0 162.9  20:28 ( 24, 68)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in autumn again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3   5 33.89   12  7.3   3.536   2.875    42   12.2      5.4 343.7  20:20 ( 96, 13)  
May  10   5 33.46   12 41.8   3.615   2.859    35   12.2      4.7 356.2  20:28 (101,  6)  

* 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)  
May   3  18 58.31  -26  7.8   1.794   2.447   118   12.7      8.8 122.4   3:34 (349, 28)  
May  10  19  1.51  -26 42.7   1.722   2.446   125   12.6      7.1 137.5   3:25 (353, 28)  

* 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)  
May   3  13 28.09   42 47.2   1.758   2.420   119   13.6     43.0 259.9  22:41 (180, 82)  
May  10  13  1.61   41 29.3   1.726   2.332   114   13.4     43.9 251.2  21:48 (180, 84)  

* 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)  
May   3  15 31.01  -22 12.7   1.294   2.285   165   13.4     10.4 271.8   0:50 (  0, 33)  
May  10  15 25.54  -22  8.3   1.295   2.301   173   13.5     11.2 274.5   0:17 (  0, 33)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing at dawn, but not yet observed in this season.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  22 37.11   -5 56.4   6.139   5.760    63   13.6      8.5  61.4   3:34 (290, 16)  
May  10  22 40.42   -5 28.8   6.037   5.759    69   13.6      7.7  60.2   3:25 (292, 19)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until that time. No observations have been reported since Jan. 24.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3   2 38.81  -32  7.0   5.601   4.977    47   14.2     10.7  88.1   3:34 (282,-45)  
May  10   2 44.80  -32  7.2   5.499   4.909    49   14.1     11.0  92.3   3:25 (284,-43)  

* 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)  
May   3  19  7.73   46 17.6   5.246   5.405    93   14.2     13.5 359.3   3:34 (217, 75)  
May  10  19  7.21   47 50.4   5.231   5.420    95   14.2     13.0 354.1   3:25 (204, 76)  

* 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. No observations have been reported since 2002 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3   0 41.32    1 25.1   2.868   2.086    32   14.3     30.7  69.2   3:34 (265, -4)  
May  10   0 54.48    2 39.5   2.866   2.125    35   14.5     29.5  69.5   3:25 (265, -3)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and it was observed visually around 13 mag in March. It is fading rapidly, 16 mag by CCD in late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  11 20.50   16 23.4   1.482   2.186   121   14.5     10.6 129.5  20:37 (  0, 71)  
May  10  11 24.97   15 32.6   1.575   2.216   116   14.7     12.8 127.2  20:28 ( 10, 70)  

* 81P/Wild 2


Brightening gradually. 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)  
May   3   5 42.49   22  5.2   2.717   2.109    43   14.6     28.2  86.0  20:20 (103, 20)  
May  10   5 57.01   22 16.2   2.732   2.069    40   14.5     29.5  87.6  20:28 (106, 16)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


No observations have been reported since Mar. 20, so the current brightness is uncertain. It might brighten after the perihelion passage and may be brighter than this ephemeris now. However, it will set under the horizon soon, and then fade out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3   3 50.46   32 22.3   2.659   1.780    23   14.6     41.7  77.4  20:20 (126,  5)  
May  10   4 12.97   33 18.0   2.712   1.815    21   15.1     40.8  79.9  20:28 (129,  4)  

* 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)  
May   3  18 44.68  -41 18.6   3.264   3.886   121   15.0     13.2 173.0   3:34 (354, 13)  
May  10  18 45.13  -42 52.2   3.167   3.864   127   14.9     13.6 180.7   3:25 (358, 12)  

* 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)  
May   3  16 10.58  -10 42.5   1.779   2.736   157   15.1      6.8 299.4   1:30 (  0, 44)  
May  10  16  7.36  -10 19.7   1.727   2.711   163   15.0      8.2 292.6   0:59 (  0, 45)  

* 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)  
May   3   4 35.75   27 21.2   5.840   4.989    29   15.3      6.0  80.4  20:20 (116, 10)  
May  10   4 38.99   27 28.6   5.825   4.917    23   15.2      6.5  80.0  20:28 (121,  4)  

* 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)  
May   3   5 34.38   22 40.5   3.264   2.603    41   15.4      4.6 204.8  20:20 (105, 19)  
May  10   5 33.76   22 12.3   3.343   2.582    35   15.4      4.0 189.0  20:28 (109, 11)  

* 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)  
May   3  17 37.04    1 16.8   4.223   4.964   132   15.6     13.2 334.1   2:56 (  0, 56)  
May  10  17 34.06    2 39.3   4.172   4.971   138   15.6     13.6 329.1   2:25 (  0, 58)  

* C/2003 H3 ( NEAT )


New comet. It will be 13 mag in autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  19 44.70  -13 57.3   2.346   2.803   106   15.8     17.9  16.0   3:34 (333, 37)  
May  10  19 46.54  -11 51.0   2.195   2.741   112   15.6     19.1   8.2   3:25 (336, 40)  

* 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)  
May   3  13 36.39   42  9.7   4.226   4.818   120   15.7     15.5 237.6  22:51 (180, 83)  
May  10  13 28.63   41  7.1   4.312   4.858   117   15.8     15.2 231.1  22:16 (180, 84)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be as bright as 11.5 mag in 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  18  5.37   21 11.6   3.330   3.898   117   15.8     20.8 294.4   3:24 (  0, 76)  
May  10  17 55.03   22  9.3   3.202   3.842   122   15.7     23.5 289.5   2:47 (  0, 77)  

* 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)  
May   3  12 44.18   36 10.6   5.868   6.455   121   16.2      8.0 227.7  21:59 (180, 89)  
May  10  12 40.99   35 30.2   5.968   6.488   116   16.2      8.0 220.0  21:29 (180, 90)  

* 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)  
May   3  18 52.47   32 27.8   5.508   5.813   102   16.8     15.2 322.0   3:34 (286, 82)  
May  10  18 46.83   33 50.0   5.436   5.805   106   16.8     15.8 316.7   3:25 (293, 87)  

* 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 soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  10 47.75  -22 42.5   0.737   1.554   125   17.3     90.0 257.0  20:20 (  5, 32)  
May  10  10 10.96  -24 25.3   0.875   1.560   111   17.6     59.4 259.3  20:28 ( 23, 27)  

* 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)  
May   3  12  8.26   -0 19.4   1.079   1.961   139   17.6     19.3 248.5  21:23 (  0, 55)  
May  10  12  0.64   -1 14.6   1.072   1.900   131   17.3     17.0 239.1  20:48 (  0, 54)  

* 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)  
May   3  16 58.16   53 12.2   3.650   4.031   105   17.4     10.2 264.8   2:17 (180, 72)  
May  10  16 49.89   52 59.0   3.628   4.026   106   17.3     11.5 255.7   1:41 (180, 72)  

* 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)  
May   3  19 14.66  -15 20.6  11.645  12.087   113   17.4      0.8 307.4   3:34 (342, 38)  
May  10  19 14.20  -15 17.4  11.555  12.100   120   17.4      1.3 289.0   3:25 (347, 39)  

* C/2003 H2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will reach to 17.5 mag in June at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May   3  18 18.03   21  7.2   1.582   2.205   114   17.9     22.5 231.7   3:34 (357, 76)  
May  10  18  7.96   19 15.1   1.488   2.198   122   17.8     29.2 231.5   2:59 (  0, 74)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


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)  
May   3   9 13.61   24 13.1   5.757   5.868    91   17.8      4.6  69.1  20:20 ( 73, 64)  
May  10   9 16.05   24 23.0   5.892   5.893    85   17.9      5.4  77.0  20:28 ( 81, 57)  

* 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)  
May   3  10 17.66   19  7.0   1.827   2.331   107   17.8     17.4 119.1  20:20 ( 35, 71)  
May  10  10 25.38   18  6.3   1.943   2.375   102   18.1     18.4 118.7  20:28 ( 49, 66)  

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