Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 May 22: North)

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Updated on May 23, 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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* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It did not brighten as expected when it approached to the earth. But it reached to 3 mag anyway. Good condition and visible with naked-eye in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears in the evening low sky. It has a long tail of about 20 degree by photo.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   6 14.02  -19 57.2   0.288   0.868    52    3.7    460.1  87.1  20:42 ( 76,-14)  
May  29   8 34.01  -14 29.8   0.480   0.970    71    5.3    162.8  75.4  20:49 ( 67,  8)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


Good condition in the evening sky. The brightening evolution became unexpectedly slower after April, but it brightened a bit in mid May and reached to 3 mag. Now it is fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   9  6.78   34  4.7   0.579   0.968    68    4.4    106.2  27.7  20:42 (106, 46)  
May  29   9 30.22   42 16.0   0.765   0.989    65    5.1     60.8  30.5  20:49 (118, 46)  

* C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield )


It appeared in the morning sky in late April, and it was observed as bright as 3-4 mag with a long tail as 10 deg in spite of locating very low. In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be higher and higher after this. It has a evident tail still in mid May. Although it becomes fainter rapidly, it will be a good target for visual observation in May. Not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   1 12.83   46 49.1   1.525   1.033    42    9.6     27.2  19.0   3:11 (229, 24)  
May  29   1 18.62   49 36.9   1.637   1.183    45   10.7     23.7  18.5   3:05 (227, 28)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


It will be visible as bright as 10 mag until July. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps low until autumn. Not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   2 24.61   42 10.5   2.318   1.516    29    9.6     52.7  51.8   3:11 (226, 11)  
May  29   2 52.19   45 47.1   2.323   1.540    30    9.7     52.3  55.4   3:05 (222, 12)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


Well condensed and easy to see. It will be 6.5 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004. 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)  
May  22  19 36.30   38 22.7   2.002   2.421   101   10.3     36.6 310.8   3:11 (237, 84)  
May  29  19 16.87   41  9.6   1.852   2.338   105   10.0     43.4 303.2   2:51 (180, 84)  

* 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)  
May  22   3 24.00   17 54.9   2.031   1.038     8   10.3     64.8  83.1   3:11 (235,-15)  
May  29   3 55.51   18 38.4   2.045   1.048     7   10.4     63.9  85.5   3:05 (233,-16)  

* 88P/Howell


Good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere. It becomes higher after June, but the comet will be fading at that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   0  7.19   -3 26.2   1.619   1.434    60   10.3     42.9  67.8   3:11 (282, 11)  
May  29   0 25.31   -1 35.2   1.609   1.458    62   10.5     40.9  67.8   3:05 (281, 13)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing at dawn. But no observations have been reported yet.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   0 12.36    7 59.9   6.238   5.724    55   13.7      9.5  59.1   3:11 (272, 16)  
May  29   0 16.05    8 33.3   6.146   5.724    61   13.6      8.8  58.0   3:05 (274, 20)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It is observable in the evening low sky until June in the Southern Hemisphere, but it is fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   6 30.39   13 58.6   2.399   1.707    37   13.6     41.6  99.1  20:42 (103,  5)  
May  29   6 49.95   13  8.8   2.455   1.734    35   13.8     41.1 100.5  20:49 (105,  2)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Appearing at dawn. It will fade out gradually, and keeps observable brighter than 17 mag until the end of 2004.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   0 56.52   14 52.8   4.879   4.196    43   14.8      3.5   5.6   3:11 (260, 11)  
May  29   0 56.45   15 16.3   4.831   4.244    49   14.8      3.3 348.6   3:05 (262, 16)  

* C/2004 G1 ( LINEAR )


Michael Jager reported as bright as 15.5 mag on Apr. 15. However, many CCD observers reported it as faint as 17-18 mag, probably because it is diffused. It will become low soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   5  2.55   62 41.9   1.732   1.222    43   14.9     36.3 164.9  20:42 (153, 20)  
May  29   5 10.72   58 52.0   1.829   1.207    38   14.9     31.7 165.7  20:49 (153, 15)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and it was observed visually around 13.5 mag in February and March. It keeps the same brightness still in late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  12 39.82    3 54.3   1.739   2.474   126   15.0      9.8 176.6  20:42 (  2, 59)  
May  29  12 40.68    2 44.6   1.833   2.500   120   15.3     10.6 163.1  20:49 ( 17, 56)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


Observed as bright as expected. It will become brighter while getting higher after this, and be observable in good condition as bright as 11 mag in autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   0 13.93    5 40.4   2.787   2.371    55   15.3     28.0  67.5   3:11 (273, 15)  
May  29   0 26.07    6 55.0   2.694   2.344    59   15.1     27.9  67.7   3:05 (274, 17)  

* 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. It will turn to be visible in the morning sky in July, then it will be visible visually at 13 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22   5 45.97   69  0.8   4.980   4.420    51   15.4      9.6  96.6  20:42 (157, 28)  
May  29   5 58.79   68 54.2   4.938   4.347    49   15.3     10.2  94.1  20:49 (158, 26)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


It keeps locating high in the evening sky until August when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  15 47.14    1 26.2   1.184   2.156   158   15.5     10.1 251.4  23:44 (  0, 56)  
May  29  15 42.92    0 57.7   1.232   2.193   155   15.7      9.7 239.7  23:13 (  0, 56)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )


It is observable at 15-16 mag for a long time until 2005 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  13  9.75   10 50.2   2.374   3.108   128   15.8      7.0 220.9  21:07 (  0, 66)  
May  29  13  8.06   10  9.5   2.432   3.094   122   15.8      6.8 201.8  20:49 (  6, 65)  

* 81P/Wild 2


In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps fading at about 35 deg high until August when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  19 41.26  -18 28.8   1.917   2.654   127   16.1      4.1 260.8   3:11 (351, 36)  
May  29  19 38.61  -18 35.4   1.886   2.695   134   16.1      6.8 259.8   3:05 (358, 36)  

* 48P/Johnson


It was 18.5 mag in April, 1 mag or more fainter than expected. Now it should be brightening, but it can be fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  20 11.02  -14 36.9   1.845   2.502   119   16.3      7.7 102.4   3:11 (341, 38)  
May  29  20 14.10  -14 52.0   1.757   2.485   125   16.2      5.9 117.1   3:05 (347, 39)  

* C/2003 E1 ( NEAT )


It keeps 17 mag until July, and keeps good condition until September when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  18 32.53   12  6.8   2.608   3.346   129   16.9      3.6 270.0   2:34 (  0, 67)  
May  29  18 30.42   12  2.1   2.574   3.361   134   16.9      5.3 255.2   2:04 (  0, 67)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It will be fading slowly until November when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  19 10.35   39  4.2   5.750   6.094   105   16.9     10.4 338.0   3:11 (182, 86)  
May  29  19  7.74   40  8.4   5.743   6.124   107   17.0      9.9 331.6   2:41 (180, 85)  

* 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)  
May  22  15 13.79   55 51.8   5.678   5.991   103   17.0     15.5 270.7  23:10 (180, 69)  
May  29  15  1.17   55 46.3   5.736   6.006   100   17.1     14.9 263.7  22:30 (180, 69)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


It brightened rapidly in the former half of 2004 and reached to 17.5 mag. It becomes low in the evening sky in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  11 33.41   11 40.2   3.533   3.963   107   17.2      3.4 163.8  20:42 ( 39, 62)  
May  29  11 34.24   11 15.2   3.616   3.947   101   17.2      4.6 146.9  20:49 ( 51, 56)  

* P/2004 HC18 ( LINEAR )


New periodic comet. It only reaches to 17.5 mag at best, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  15  5.76   -2 10.3   0.752   1.732   158   17.5     28.1 355.8  23:03 (  0, 53)  
May  29  15  5.24    0 53.2   0.769   1.724   150   17.5     24.3 359.8  22:35 (  0, 56)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


Althouhg it must be fainter than 17 mag, it unexpectedly brightened from February to March and reached to 14.5 mag. It has already begun to fade, and faded to 16 mag in mid April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  11 33.37    9 32.7   2.488   2.973   108   17.7      6.7 116.6  20:42 ( 37, 60)  
May  29  11 36.61    9  8.9   2.607   3.003   103   18.0      8.5 116.3  20:49 ( 48, 55)  

* C/2004 DZ61 ( Catalina-LINEAR )


It becomes fainter than 18 mag in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  22  11 58.30   51 58.0   1.722   2.014    91   17.7      9.4  34.2  20:42 (158, 71)  
May  29  12  3.25   52 42.7   1.800   2.014    86   17.8      9.2  56.1  20:49 (149, 68)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( 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  22  13 16.19    6 40.7   6.519   7.239   132   17.8      6.9 249.0  21:14 (  0, 62)  
May  29  13 13.37    6 22.1   6.650   7.284   125   17.9      6.2 242.8  20:49 (  3, 61)  

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