Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Feb. 14: South)

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Updated on February 17, 2004
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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 T7 ( LINEAR )


It brightened rapidly from mid December and reached to 7.5 mag in mid January. Then it turned to be brightening very slowly, and still 7 mag in mid February. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is getting lower in the evening sky after this, and will be unobservable in early March. It is not observable until April in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14   0 14.14   14 45.6   1.987   1.480    45    6.9     12.1 219.9  20:27 (104, -6)  
Feb. 21   0 10.79   13 45.0   2.011   1.373    37    6.6     10.2 217.7  20:17 (100,-10)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It is expected to be 2 mag in spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable around the same altitude in the evening sky 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)  
Feb. 14  23 18.01  -67 34.3   2.131   1.782    56    8.4      9.0  38.6  20:27 ( 25, 28)  
Feb. 21  23 25.66  -66 49.2   2.014   1.696    57    8.1      9.2  51.0  20:17 ( 25, 27)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps observable at 12-13 mag in the south until April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates 30 deg high, not so high in the south.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  13 51.70  -23  7.4   1.703   2.242   110   12.4     44.1 248.8   3:59 (201, 77)  
Feb. 21  13 27.68  -24 55.2   1.565   2.240   120   12.2     55.0 254.3   3:28 (180, 80)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will be observable at 12-13 mag in the evening sky until April. But it will be getting lower gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14   1 42.45   14 32.0   1.770   1.613    64   12.5     39.6  84.9  20:27 (117, 11)  
Feb. 21   2  1.74   14 56.3   1.807   1.600    61   12.5     40.6  85.0  20:17 (117, 11)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Not obesrvable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn at 12.5 mag. However, because it had been fading since the discovery although it was coming closer to the Sun, the brightness in May is quite uncertain. Then it keeps low until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  22 37.59  -12 18.6   2.762   1.810    12   12.6     36.9  42.2  20:27 ( 68,-10)  
Feb. 21  22 49.54   -9  3.7   2.728   1.757     8   12.6     38.2  42.1  20:17 ( 69,-13)  

* 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)  
Feb. 14   0 17.62   -5 26.0   2.096   1.449    37   14.0     51.1  71.5  20:27 ( 88,  6)  
Feb. 21   0 40.14   -3 32.1   2.142   1.474    36   13.3     50.4  71.2  20:17 ( 90,  6)  

* 88P/Howell


Curernt brightness is uncertain. It was observed as 16.1 mag on Dec. 31, 1.5 mag fainter than expected. Although it had been expected to reach to 10 mag in spring, it may be 12.5 or 14 mag at best. It is 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)  
Feb. 14  18 37.44  -23 56.1   2.016   1.508    46   13.6     49.5  89.0   3:59 (283, 24)  
Feb. 21  19  2.93  -23 41.3   1.959   1.478    47   13.4     50.5  86.5   4:08 (281, 26)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


It will be 6.5 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004. It is getting higher in the morning sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition until early September when it becomes to 7.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  19 56.23   16 36.9   4.229   3.539    40   13.6      9.0  60.9   3:59 (259,-14)  
Feb. 21  20  0.00   17 11.2   4.112   3.463    43   13.5      9.2  54.3   4:08 (255, -8)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It is still observable visually at 13 mag, however, it is getting lower and lower in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14   0 37.81    9 13.8   4.146   3.561    47   13.6      2.3  22.5  20:27 (103,  2)  
Feb. 21   0 38.47    9 30.2   4.288   3.603    41   13.7      3.1  36.0  20:17 (100, -2)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  23  3.25   -0 39.3   6.627   5.728    22   13.8     12.1  66.2  20:27 ( 81,-12)  
Feb. 21  23  8.46   -0  4.5   6.665   5.728    17   13.8     12.3  65.8  20:17 ( 79,-15)  

* 2P/Encke


In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is appearing in the very low sky at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  20 22.10  -24 55.2   1.895   1.062    23   14.1     40.2  76.6   3:59 (297,  5)  
Feb. 21  20 41.04  -23 48.2   1.981   1.172    25   14.9     36.3  74.7   4:08 (294,  7)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


Getting brighter than expected after the perihelion passage. It seems to be observable visually around 13.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  13 30.51   10  7.0   1.467   2.192   125   14.3      3.3  97.5   3:58 (180, 45)  
Feb. 21  13 31.22   10  5.8   1.421   2.206   131   14.3      0.3 279.9   3:31 (180, 45)  

* 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)  
Feb. 14  18  5.36  -20 57.5   2.513   2.081    53   14.4     27.9  89.1   3:59 (276, 29)  
Feb. 21  18 18.90  -20 51.9   2.485   2.120    57   14.5     26.3  87.7   4:08 (273, 34)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


The condition is worst in this return. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in autumn, when it will already fade to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  21 22.10   -6 36.9   2.581   1.614     9   15.2     42.5  74.2   3:59 (292,-18)  
Feb. 21  21 41.68   -5 11.3   2.516   1.551     9   14.8     44.5  73.3   4:08 (288,-16)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


The brightness evolution is gradual in this return. So it will reach to 15 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  15  9.39   -4 14.7   1.382   1.810    98   15.0     27.9  87.6   3:59 (222, 52)  
Feb. 21  15 21.88   -4  2.0   1.335   1.820   102   15.0     25.5  84.6   4:08 (213, 55)  

* 65P/Gunn


Not observable. It becomes observable again at 15.5 mag after June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  22 34.69  -17 22.4   3.897   2.939    12   15.4     24.5  67.8  20:27 ( 63, -7)  
Feb. 21  22 45.71  -16 17.2   3.931   2.959     9   15.4     24.3  67.6  20:17 ( 63, -9)  

* 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)  
Feb. 14   4 54.44   76 24.6   5.027   5.397   106   16.3      8.8 224.6  20:27 (176,-22)  
Feb. 21   4 44.14   75 38.9   5.029   5.329   102   16.3      8.1 213.8  20:17 (174,-22)  

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )


It is getting fainter slowly and will be unobervable at 17 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14   0 40.95   68  2.3   2.752   2.876    87   16.3     34.0 113.1  20:27 (155,-28)  
Feb. 21   1 17.45   66 19.0   2.812   2.883    84   16.4     33.3 117.5  20:17 (154,-26)  

* P/2002 T6 ( NEAT-LINEAR )


It reached to 15.5 mag in January, much brighter than expected. It already began to be fading, 16-16.5 mag in mid February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14   6 31.26    9 41.5   3.011   3.743   131   16.4      2.9 334.4  20:56 (180, 45)  
Feb. 21   6 31.10   10  0.1   3.106   3.763   125   16.5      2.8  12.2  20:28 (180, 45)  

* 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)  
Feb. 14  12  8.50    2 51.1   1.693   2.556   143   16.7      8.9 320.8   2:36 (180, 52)  
Feb. 21  12  5.32    3 42.5   1.672   2.585   151   16.7     11.1 314.5   2:05 (180, 51)  

* C/2003 V1 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly. It will be observable in good condition until May 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)  
Feb. 14  10  1.97   49 13.6   3.436   4.275   143   16.7     10.1 271.7   0:30 (180,  6)  
Feb. 21   9 54.94   49 10.4   3.520   4.337   141   16.8      9.6 263.0  23:51 (180,  6)  

* 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)  
Feb. 14   7 58.90   20 59.1   3.243   4.147   153   16.7      9.1 317.0  22:23 (180, 34)  
Feb. 21   7 56.09   21 44.1   3.309   4.159   145   16.8      7.9 321.3  21:52 (180, 33)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until early summer, and observable in good condition brighter than 18 mag until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  18 45.83   20 56.9   6.184   5.695    56   16.8     13.7  46.7   3:59 (246, -3)  
Feb. 21  18 50.65   22  4.4   6.154   5.722    59   16.8     13.6  43.0   4:08 (241,  2)  

* 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)  
Feb. 14  17  3.36   40 22.3   5.831   5.824    84   17.0     11.4 354.7   3:59 (217,  0)  
Feb. 21  17  2.32   41 44.3   5.774   5.833    88   17.0     12.2 349.2   4:08 (211,  4)  

* C/2001 K5 ( 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)  
Feb. 14  20 45.88   50 16.8   6.684   6.331    65   17.2     13.4  68.2   3:59 (230,-37)  
Feb. 21  20 54.91   50 53.1   6.728   6.360    64   17.2     13.3  65.8   4:08 (228,-33)  

* 2003 WN188


Unusual minor planet with a period of 55 years. It becomes to be at peak in mid February, and fainter than 18 mag in late March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14   9 41.79   29 38.1   1.312   2.276   163   17.2     19.9 349.8   0:10 (180, 26)  
Feb. 21   9 39.94   31 49.7   1.312   2.258   157   17.3     18.2 350.0  23:36 (180, 23)  

* C/2003 E1 ( NEAT )


It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 14  17 32.97    6 24.5   3.516   3.245    66   17.4     19.7  82.6   3:59 (246, 20)  
Feb. 21  17 41.90    6 44.1   3.446   3.246    70   17.4     18.7  80.6   4:08 (241, 25)  

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