Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 May 24: South)

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 Updated on May 27, 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 )
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  24   1 39.70   -3  1.7   1.578   1.068    41    7.7     52.0 146.5   5:24 (256, 24)  
May  31   1 53.33   -8 11.2   1.550   1.164    48    8.0     53.9 147.0   5:28 (258, 31)

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )
Very low even in the Southern Hemisphere. Few observations have been reported recently. It was reported as bright as 9.9 mag still in early May, however, it seems to be very diffused. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24   4 11.99  -15 33.5   2.923   2.190    36   10.4     20.0  83.3  18:28 ( 74,  4)  
May  31   4 21.29  -15 21.1   3.025   2.301    37   10.6     18.6  86.4   5:28 (286,  5)

* 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  24   5 34.03   13 42.1   3.734   2.832    23   12.2      4.2  19.0  18:28 (110,  4)  
May  31   5 34.83   14  8.5   3.773   2.821    17   12.2      4.1  27.6  18:26 (107, -1)

* 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  24  19  3.73  -28  4.1   1.599   2.447   138   12.5      6.4 185.7   3:00 (180, 83)  
May  31  19  2.67  -28 49.7   1.549   2.449   144   12.4      7.5 206.6   2:31 (180, 84)

* 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  24  11 11.19   10  2.0   2.112   2.532   102   12.5     20.6 151.8  19:05 (180, 45)  
May  31  11 16.13    7 58.1   2.239   2.579    97   12.7     20.6 147.2  18:42 (180, 47)

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )
Getting brighter slowly. It will be 10 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  12 14.95   36 49.4   1.711   2.157   101   13.2     42.7 234.9  20:07 (180, 18)  
May  31  11 56.34   33 44.7   1.725   2.068    94   13.1     41.0 227.5  19:21 (180, 21)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Appearing at dawn. Now it is in outburst and bright around 13.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  22 45.91   -4 39.1   5.823   5.757    81   13.5      6.0  56.8   5:24 (215, 55)  
May  31  22 48.03   -4 17.3   5.713   5.756    87   13.5      5.0  54.0   5:28 (202, 57)

* 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  24  15 14.65  -21 50.9   1.332   2.334   169   13.6     10.1 278.4  23:07 (180, 77)  
May  31  15 10.03  -21 40.5   1.369   2.352   161   13.7      8.4 279.9  22:35 (180, 77)

* 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  24   2 57.29  -32 25.3   5.275   4.770    55   13.9     11.8 100.8   5:24 (294, 24)  
May  31   3  3.75  -32 44.0   5.153   4.700    58   13.8     12.2 105.1   5:28 (292, 29)

* 81P/Wild 2
It will set down under horizon soon. It will appear at dawn again in 2004 January at 14 mag, then fade out gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24   6 27.89   22 21.5   2.749   1.993    34   14.3     31.7  90.8  18:28 (125,  8)  
May  31   6 44.18   22 14.7   2.752   1.955    31   14.2     32.9  92.4  18:26 (123,  7)

* 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  24  19  3.71   50 40.6   5.215   5.452    98   14.3     11.8 342.9   3:00 (180,  4)  
May  31  19  0.76   51 56.1   5.214   5.468    99   14.3     11.1 336.7   2:29 (180,  3)

* 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  24  18 35.80  -45 14.3   3.010   3.841   139   14.7     17.8 176.1   2:32 (  0, 80)  
May  31  18 35.52  -47 14.1   2.945   3.813   144   14.7     16.5 186.7   2:04 (  0, 78)

* 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  24   1 19.43    4 55.1   2.848   2.207    42   14.8     27.2  70.6   5:24 (246, 23)  
May  31   1 31.20    5 56.1   2.832   2.248    45   14.9     26.0  71.2   5:28 (241, 26)

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck
It will be 14 mag from spring to summer. It was reported brighter than 14 mag visually these days. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  15 59.29   -9 41.9   1.662   2.663   169   14.9      9.4 283.2  23:51 (180, 65)  
May  31  15 54.97   -9 29.4   1.647   2.640   165   14.8      9.1 278.9  23:20 (180, 64)

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )
It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring. It will appear at dawn again in July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24   4 46.25   27 46.0   5.756   4.772    12   15.1      7.4  79.4  18:28 (115,-13)  
May  31   4 50.18   27 55.9   5.702   4.699     7   15.0      7.7  79.1  18:26 (112,-17)

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4
It will appear at dawn in September at 15 mag, then fade out gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24   4 33.06   16 15.7   3.050   2.055     8   15.2     34.8  80.3  18:28 (103, -9)  
May  31   4 49.88   16 53.3   3.047   2.044     6   15.1     35.1  81.8  18:26 (103,-11)

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )
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  24  17 29.41   23 40.8   2.989   3.730   130   15.4     28.6 280.0   1:26 (180, 31)  
May  31  17 14.42   24  7.9   2.909   3.674   132   15.3     30.6 275.3   0:44 (180, 31)

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )
It will appear at dawn again in late July, then 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)  
May  24   5 34.11   21 19.4   3.459   2.545    21   15.5      3.9 162.3  18:28 (116, -1)  
May  31   5 34.85   20 53.8   3.495   2.530    15   15.4      4.0 154.5  18:26 (112, -5)

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )
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  24  17 26.64    5 16.5   4.111   4.988   146   15.5     13.8 320.7   1:23 (180, 50)  
May  31  17 22.39    6 28.8   4.102   4.997   148   15.6     13.6 317.0   0:51 (180, 49)

* C/2003 H3 ( NEAT )
It keeps 16 mag until August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  19 46.56   -7 46.5   2.225   2.917   124   15.9     18.4 352.7   3:42 (180, 63)  
May  31  19 44.88   -5 38.3   2.167   2.925   130   15.8     19.0 345.4   3:13 (180, 61)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
Although it has been bright and observable for a long time, it will be fainter than 17 mag and getting lower in the evening sky in August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  13 15.98   38 40.0   4.513   4.939   109   15.9     14.4 218.2  21:09 (180, 16)  
May  31  13 11.17   37 18.6   4.626   4.980   104   16.0     14.0 211.7  20:36 (180, 18)

* 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  24  12 36.23   33 56.9   6.190   6.554   106   16.3      7.9 204.4  20:29 (180, 21)  
May  31  12 34.68   33  5.3   6.309   6.588   101   16.4      7.9 196.7  20:00 (180, 22)

* 30P/Reinmuth 1
It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and reached to 13 mag in March. Then it faded rapidly and already reached to 16 mag now. It will be fainter than 18 mag in July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  11 36.44   13 33.9   1.773   2.278   106   16.5     16.3 124.1  19:30 (180, 42)  
May  31  11 43.22   12 28.1   1.878   2.310   101   16.7     17.7 123.1  19:09 (180, 43)

* 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  24  11 50.80   -3 39.0   1.076   1.780   116   16.9     13.4 207.8  19:44 (180, 59)  
May  31  11 48.91   -5  7.6   1.084   1.722   110   16.7     13.5 187.6  19:15 (180, 60)

* 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  24  18 32.89   36 20.6   5.323   5.789   112   16.8     16.7 306.3   2:29 (180, 19)  
May  31  18 24.69   37 25.9   5.282   5.782   114   16.7     17.0 301.0   1:53 (180, 18)

* C/2003 F1 ( LINEAR )
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  24  16 31.97   51 49.8   3.599   4.017   107   17.3     14.0 239.6   0:29 (180,  3)  
May  31  16 23.00   50 52.4   3.594   4.014   107   17.3     15.1 232.1  23:47 (180,  4)

* 152P/2001 Y1 ( Helin-Lawrence )
Appearing at dawn. It keeps 17.5 mag until August. However, it locates low, around 27-30 deg high, in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  20 19.58  -22 41.3   2.582   3.216   120   17.4      3.7 135.9   4:15 (180, 78)  
May  31  20 20.38  -23  2.1   2.512   3.225   127   17.4      3.3 170.8   3:49 (180, 78)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
It will be observable around 17.5 mag until autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  19 12.55  -15 13.0  11.398  12.127   134   17.4      2.2 275.6   3:09 (180, 70)  
May  31  19 11.39  -15 11.8  11.334  12.141   141   17.4      2.6 272.5   2:40 (180, 70)

* C/2003 H2 ( LINEAR )
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  24  17 40.63   13 48.0   1.320   2.179   137   17.5     43.8 228.8   1:37 (180, 41)  
May  31  17 24.00   10  6.4   1.271   2.183   145   17.4     50.2 226.8   0:53 (180, 45)

* P/2003 H4 ( LINEAR )
It keeps around 18 mag until June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  24  16  4.31   -8 44.6   0.702   1.706   168   17.8     24.6 352.0   0:01 (180, 64)  
May  31  16  2.77   -6  3.0   0.715   1.710   162   17.8     21.8 352.2  23:28 (180, 61)

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