Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Jan. 3: North)

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Updated on January 5, 2004
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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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* 2P/Encke


In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in the very low sky at dawn in late February, but it will be fainter than 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  3  17 22.92  -25 25.6   1.021   0.356    20    7.2     68.7 111.5   5:37 (299, -3)  
Jan. 10  17 59.51  -27 23.9   1.231   0.448    19    8.3     72.5  98.1   5:38 (300, -5)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   1  7.06   25 25.4   1.648   2.099   102    8.8     39.3 236.1  18:30 ( 18, 80)  
Jan. 10   0 52.01   22 58.6   1.708   1.999    91    8.7     33.0 233.1  18:35 ( 52, 72)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It is expected to be 2 mag in 2004 spring. 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)  
Jan.  3  23 13.48  -74 33.2   2.602   2.301    61    9.8     12.8 337.3  18:30 (  9,-21)  
Jan. 10  23  7.13  -73 11.1   2.548   2.216    59    9.6     11.9 347.0  18:35 ( 12,-22)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  21 30.04  -29 41.5   2.890   2.172    35   12.4     30.2  41.2  18:30 ( 47,  6)  
Jan. 10  21 40.82  -27  0.4   2.879   2.108    31   12.4     31.2  41.8  18:35 ( 53,  4)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   0 49.77    9  3.1   3.121   3.322    93   12.6     11.9 258.9  18:30 ( 17, 63)  
Jan. 10   0 45.01    8 50.7   3.304   3.360    84   12.8      8.6 261.6  18:35 ( 35, 60)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   0  0.62   13 15.2   1.553   1.745    83   12.9     30.2  91.7  18:30 ( 44, 62)  
Jan. 10   0 15.58   13 13.1   1.589   1.717    80   12.8     32.2  89.5  18:35 ( 51, 59)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  14 47.64  -13 29.0   2.673   2.314    58   13.4     12.3 203.3   5:37 (319, 31)  
Jan. 10  14 44.60  -14 50.6   2.517   2.295    65   13.2     14.4 213.2   5:38 (327, 34)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  22 35.06   -3 34.8   6.202   5.731    57   13.6      9.2  68.8  18:30 ( 54, 36)  
Jan. 10  22 39.23   -3 10.3   6.293   5.730    51   13.7      9.9  68.4  18:35 ( 60, 31)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  16 29.99  -19 30.0   2.604   1.860    33   13.8     35.8  98.4   5:37 (303, 10)  
Jan. 10  16 47.30  -20  2.1   2.598   1.894    36   13.9     34.6  96.8   5:38 (305, 12)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  16 18.60  -20 51.9   2.436   1.732    35   14.4     42.2 102.0   5:37 (306, 11)  
Jan. 10  16 39.66  -21 48.7   2.359   1.691    37   14.1     43.5 100.1   5:38 (308, 12)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  19 32.56   15 31.3   4.695   3.989    39   14.4      7.8  98.8  18:30 (101, 11)  
Jan. 10  19 36.36   15 26.1   4.647   3.915    37   14.3      8.0  92.1  18:35 (105,  6)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


It will be observable in good condition at 14 mag to April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  3  13 37.49   -2 23.9   1.725   1.807    78   14.4     36.3  99.8   5:37 (332, 49)  
Jan. 10  13 54.08   -3  3.5   1.661   1.801    81   14.3     35.6  98.3   5:38 (337, 49)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   1 47.63   10 44.8   1.361   1.897   106   15.0     43.4 167.1  18:58 (  0, 65)  
Jan. 10   1 52.62    6 22.1   1.507   1.929    99   15.2     35.0 161.0  18:36 (  0, 61)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  21 25.48  -23 37.7   3.566   2.820    35   15.0     24.8  70.4  18:30 ( 52,  9)  
Jan. 10  21 37.32  -22 38.4   3.635   2.840    31   15.0     24.8  69.9  18:35 ( 56,  7)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  12 55.79   12  1.9   1.835   2.138    93   15.2     20.2 105.1   5:37 (341, 66)  
Jan. 10  13  4.63   11 27.8   1.767   2.143    98   15.1     18.1 104.2   5:38 (353, 66)  

* 58P/Jackson-Neujmin


Not yet recovered in this return. At the previous appearance, it brightened after the perihelion passage and reached to 10 mag. If it behaves so again, it may brighten after the perihelion passage on Jan. 9 and reach to 13 mag in March. However, it keeps locating very low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  3  21 55.76  -15 16.2   1.920   1.391    43   16.7     50.8  78.4  18:30 ( 53, 21)  
Jan. 10  22 19.84  -13 58.5   1.939   1.389    42   15.7     51.5  76.7  18:35 ( 55, 20)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   6 47.56    8 32.3   2.671   3.632   165   15.7      8.6 270.9   0:01 (  0, 64)  
Jan. 10   6 43.60    8 35.5   2.695   3.649   163   15.8      8.2 275.3  23:25 (  0, 64)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  20  9.37   69 50.8   2.631   2.869    93   15.9     30.4  73.7  18:30 (155, 37)  
Jan. 10  20 51.40   70 39.5   2.623   2.866    94   15.9     32.0  79.3  18:35 (156, 38)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   0 36.33  -13 13.7   3.094   3.104    81   16.1      9.7 281.7  18:30 ( 14, 41)  
Jan. 10   0 32.52  -12 58.0   3.277   3.148    73   16.3      7.0 291.0  18:35 ( 25, 38)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  12  1.18    0 41.7   1.984   2.389   101   16.5     10.7  95.1   5:14 (  0, 56)  
Jan. 10  12  5.60    0 39.4   1.924   2.416   107   16.5      8.2  87.6   4:50 (  0, 56)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable around 17 mag until spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  3   8 21.84   15 50.2   3.152   4.079   157   16.6     10.0 315.0   1:35 (  0, 71)  
Jan. 10   8 18.20   16 40.9   3.129   4.089   165   16.6     10.8 313.3   1:04 (  0, 72)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   0  8.22   55  2.6   1.301   1.795   102   16.6     69.4 130.5  18:30 (154, 67)  
Jan. 10   0 45.67   49 40.6   1.368   1.831   101   16.8     64.6 134.6  18:35 (145, 71)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  10 38.11   46 21.5   3.203   3.899   129   16.6      8.2 323.8   3:51 (180, 79)  
Jan. 10  10 34.21   47  6.6   3.213   3.962   134   16.7      9.0 313.4   3:20 (180, 78)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  22 18.73  -13 58.9   1.671   1.277    49   16.8     54.7  66.9  18:30 ( 49, 25)  
Jan. 10  22 42.93  -11 22.3   1.681   1.274    48   16.8     55.8  65.7  18:35 ( 53, 26)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  16 57.27   34 11.5   6.152   5.777    63   17.1      7.1  32.6   5:37 (250, 35)  
Jan. 10  16 59.31   34 56.9   6.107   5.784    66   17.1      7.7  25.5   5:38 (251, 41)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   7  4.15   77 39.4   5.172   5.795   125   17.2     11.8 293.1   0:19 (180, 47)  
Jan. 10   6 39.42   78  3.2   5.124   5.729   123   17.1     11.5 281.7  23:20 (180, 47)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  12  7.73   -5 58.3   1.360   1.782    97   17.2     17.4 133.0   5:20 (  0, 49)  
Jan. 10  12 12.87   -7 16.3   1.330   1.824   103   17.5     13.9 138.9   4:58 (  0, 48)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3  13 52.08   12  5.9   7.779   7.690    81   17.6      2.9 103.3   5:37 (314, 60)  
Jan. 10  13 53.25   12  2.5   7.707   7.727    87   17.5      2.1  98.2   5:38 (326, 63)  

* 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)  
Jan.  3   2 32.60   13 26.3   2.392   2.985   118   17.6      4.2 107.7  19:43 (  0, 68)  
Jan. 10   2 35.01   13 20.6   2.504   3.008   111   17.8      6.0  93.5  19:18 (  0, 68)  

* 2003 WN188


Unusual minor planet with a period of 55 years. It reaches to 17 mag in February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  3   9 42.56   16 37.5   1.595   2.427   139   18.1     14.9  20.8   2:55 (  0, 72)  
Jan. 10   9 44.64   18 22.6   1.515   2.397   146   17.9     16.4  11.2   2:30 (  0, 73)  

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