Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Dec. 27: South)

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Updated on December 30, 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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* 2P/Encke


Juan Jose Gonzalez reported it was 4.7 mag at the very low sky in the morning on Dec. 24.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  16 59.36  -21 34.0   0.791   0.347    18    6.6     46.6 150.2   2:58 (302, -7)  
Jan.  3  17 22.92  -25 25.6   1.021   0.356    20    7.2     68.7 111.5   3:05 (303, -2)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring. Brightening as expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   1 25.83   28  4.1   1.600   2.197   114    8.9     45.6 239.7  21:02 (152, 21)  
Jan.  3   1  7.06   25 25.4   1.648   2.099   102    8.8     39.3 236.1  21:03 (141, 18)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It is expected to be 1 mag in 2004 spring. But recent brightness evolution is slower than expected, so it may reaches to only 3 mag at best. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until that time. On the other hand, 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)  
Dec. 27  23 24.86  -75 55.6   2.648   2.387    64   10.2     13.8 326.9  21:02 ( 16, 41)  
Jan.  3  23 13.48  -74 33.2   2.602   2.301    61   10.1     12.8 337.3  21:03 ( 19, 39)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Although it is coming closer to the Sun, it has been fading since the discovery. Now it locates very low sky in the evening in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is only observable until early January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  21 19.50  -32 18.6   2.897   2.238    40   12.3     29.1  40.5  21:02 ( 62, 17)  
Jan.  3  21 30.04  -29 41.5   2.890   2.172    35   12.4     30.2  41.2  21:03 ( 62, 12)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It start fading in December. It will be too low in the evening sky at 14 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   0 56.18    9 23.2   2.941   3.286   101   12.4     15.9 257.4  21:02 (134, 33)  
Jan.  3   0 49.77    9  3.1   3.121   3.322    93   12.6     11.9 258.9  21:03 (126, 28)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will be observable at 13 mag in the evening sky until April. It is already as bright as 12.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  23 46.66   13 26.2   1.517   1.775    87   13.3     28.1  94.5  21:02 (123, 19)  
Jan.  3   0  0.62   13 15.2   1.553   1.745    83   13.2     30.2  91.7  21:03 (120, 17)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. Although it had been 15.5 mag before conjunction and did not brighten at all, Ken-ichi Kadota reported that it brightened to 14 mag on Dec. 3. It will reach to 11-12 mag and be observable visually in next spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  14 49.39  -12 11.4   2.821   2.335    51   13.5     11.1 193.2   2:58 (276, 13)  
Jan.  3  14 47.64  -13 29.0   2.673   2.314    58   13.4     12.3 203.3   3:05 (272, 21)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


No evident activity had been observed since October. Now it is faint.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  22 31.18   -3 57.0   6.105   5.731    63   13.6      8.5  69.3  21:02 ( 96, 16)  
Jan.  3  22 35.06   -3 34.8   6.202   5.731    57   13.6      9.2  68.8  21:03 ( 93, 11)  

* 81P/Wild 2


Appearing at dawn and observed as bright as expected. It is fading out gradually after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  16 12.24  -18 49.6   2.609   1.827    30   13.8     36.9 100.0   2:58 (293,  0)  
Jan.  3  16 29.99  -19 30.0   2.604   1.860    33   13.8     35.8  98.4   3:05 (291,  4)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


It will be 7 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004. It becomes low in January, but then it will become higher soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  19 28.95   15 42.7   4.733   4.062    42   14.5      7.5 106.1  21:02 ( 87,-32)  
Jan.  3  19 32.56   15 31.3   4.695   3.989    39   14.4      7.8  98.8  21:03 ( 83,-37)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


It will be observable in good condition at 14 mag from January to April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  13 20.67   -1 37.3   1.792   1.817    75   14.5     36.9 101.1   2:58 (253, 25)  
Jan.  3  13 37.49   -2 23.9   1.725   1.807    78   14.4     36.3  99.8   3:05 (251, 29)  

* 88P/Howell


Appearing at dawn. No observations have been reported since 2003 March, however, it must have been brightening rapidly. It will reach to 10 mag in next spring and be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating lower than 15 deg until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  15 58.42  -19 47.8   2.514   1.775    33   14.7     41.0 103.7   2:58 (292,  3)  
Jan.  3  16 18.60  -20 51.9   2.436   1.732    35   14.4     42.2 102.0   3:05 (291,  7)  

* C/2003 T2 ( LINEAR )


It will get fainter on and on after this and be too low in the evening sky at 18 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   1 43.53   16 19.6   1.227   1.869   115   14.7     54.2 172.2  21:02 (150, 34)  
Jan.  3   1 47.63   10 44.8   1.361   1.897   106   15.0     43.4 167.1  21:03 (141, 36)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be unobservable soon, but it becomes observable again at 15.5 mag after 2004 June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  21 13.56  -24 34.9   3.492   2.801    39   14.9     24.6  71.1  21:02 ( 68, 12)  
Jan.  3  21 25.48  -23 37.7   3.566   2.820    35   15.0     24.8  70.4  21:03 ( 67,  8)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


It is observable in good condition at 15 mag until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  12 46.02   12 41.8   1.905   2.133    89   15.2     22.2 105.9   2:58 (236, 21)  
Jan.  3  12 55.79   12  1.9   1.835   2.138    93   15.2     20.2 105.1   3:05 (231, 26)  

* P/2002 T6 ( NEAT-LINEAR )


Now it is much brighter than expected, around 15.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   6 51.60    8 33.6   2.662   3.615   163   15.7      8.5 266.5   0:33 (180, 46)  
Jan.  3   6 47.56    8 32.3   2.671   3.632   165   15.7      8.6 270.9   0:01 (180, 46)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


It will become too low in the evening sky at 17 mag in February. It had been a bit fainter than this ephemeris recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   0 41.71  -13 24.9   2.909   3.061    89   15.9     13.1 275.2  21:02 (110, 47)  
Jan.  3   0 36.33  -13 13.7   3.094   3.104    81   16.1      9.7 281.7  21:03 (104, 41)  

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable around 16 mag until March in the northern sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  19 32.34   68 47.4   2.649   2.874    93   15.9     28.4  69.4  21:02 (154,-42)  
Jan.  3  20  9.37   69 50.8   2.631   2.869    93   15.9     30.4  73.7  21:03 (156,-41)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


It will be fading slowly and become fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  11 55.63    0 52.7   2.046   2.363    96   16.5     13.2  99.5   2:58 (234, 39)  
Jan.  3  12  1.18    0 41.7   1.984   2.389   101   16.5     10.7  95.1   3:05 (227, 43)  

* C/2003 W1 ( LINEAR )


It will be fading after this, and will be fainter than 18 mag in early February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  23 18.90   60  6.6   1.279   1.778   102   16.5     71.6 123.2  21:02 (153,-17)  
Jan.  3   0  7.64   55  3.4   1.322   1.811   102   16.7     69.2 130.5  21:03 (151,-12)  

* C/2003 V1 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable while it is getting fainter, until March when it will be fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  10 40.77   45 34.2   3.202   3.835   123   16.6      7.4 336.1   2:58 (195,  7)  
Jan.  3  10 38.11   46 21.5   3.203   3.899   129   16.6      8.2 323.8   3:05 (188,  8)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable around 17 mag until 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   8 24.99   15  2.5   3.190   4.068   149   16.6      8.8 317.9   2:06 (180, 40)  
Jan.  3   8 21.84   15 50.2   3.152   4.079   157   16.6     10.0 315.0   1:35 (180, 39)  

* D/1978 R1 ( Haneda-Campos )


It has been lost since 1978. It will never be observed as predicted in this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  21 54.57  -16 24.1   1.664   1.286    50   16.8     53.4  68.3  21:02 ( 81, 16)  
Jan.  3  22 18.73  -13 58.9   1.671   1.277    49   16.8     54.7  66.9  21:03 ( 82, 13)  

* 157P/2003 T1 ( Tritton )


It brightened to 12 mag abnormally in outburst in October. It has been fading as expected in calculation since November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  12  0.99   -4 30.9   1.390   1.740    92   16.9     20.7 129.2   2:58 (240, 42)  
Jan.  3  12  7.73   -5 58.3   1.360   1.782    97   17.2     17.4 133.0   3:05 (235, 47)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  16 55.00   33 33.0   6.192   5.770    60   17.1      6.6  40.1   2:58 (251,-37)  
Jan.  3  16 57.27   34 11.5   6.152   5.777    63   17.1      7.1  32.6   3:05 (248,-31)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 5 mag in 2005 spring. Until that time, it keeps observable in the Northern Hemisphere, which the comet will be getting brighter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27   7 26.32   77  0.6   5.231   5.860   125   17.3     11.8 303.7   1:08 (180,-22)  
Jan.  3   7  4.15   77 39.4   5.172   5.795   125   17.2     11.8 293.1   0:19 (180,-23)  

* P/2002 LZ11 ( 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)  
Dec. 27   2 31.20   13 38.7   2.286   2.962   125   17.5      2.9 141.4  21:02 (163, 40)  
Jan.  3   2 32.60   13 26.3   2.392   2.985   118   17.6      4.2 107.7  21:03 (155, 38)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


Getting higher in the morning sky. It is observable in good condition at 17.5 mag until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  13 50.53   12 12.1   7.849   7.653    74   17.6      3.8 106.5   2:58 (247, 10)  
Jan.  3  13 52.08   12  5.9   7.779   7.690    81   17.6      2.9 103.3   3:05 (242, 16)  

* (3200) Phaethon


After the perihelion passage in late September, now it is in good condition to observe. It will be fainter than 18 mag at the end of 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 27  23  3.05   15 36.0   1.553   1.675    79   17.8     32.0  88.1  21:02 (117, 10)  
Jan.  3  23 17.97   15 46.4   1.699   1.740    75   18.0     29.7  86.2  21:03 (115,  8)  

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