Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Jan. 9: South)

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 Updated on January 10, 1999
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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/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Appearing in the morning sky. We can see it in good condition until June. Southern observers cannot see it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  19  1.09   43 42.0   1.906   1.754    66    9.8     21.2  18.0   3:11 (242,-51)  
Jan. 16  19  5.52   46 16.7   1.856   1.746    68    9.8     25.1  15.7   3:20 (237,-45)

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 4
It will be bright in good condition until late February. But then it fades and becomes low rapidly after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  12 29.63    1  4.0   1.221   1.718   101    9.8     62.4 320.3   3:11 (226, 43)  
Jan. 16  12  8.22    7 14.9   1.128   1.794   116    9.8     77.8 318.1   3:20 (205, 45)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
Rapidly brightening and easy to see now. We can see it as around 10.0 mag in good condition until May. It is low for Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   6 31.37   36 18.5   1.251   2.209   162   10.2     16.0 219.4  23:16 (180, 19)  
Jan. 16   6 25.97   34 47.3   1.253   2.193   157   10.1     16.1 212.1  22:43 (180, 20)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Already become faint and not easy to see. It will fade and become hard to see visually next month. It will be close by NGC 247, NGC 253 around Jan. 9. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   0 47.18  -23 20.8   1.056   1.235    74   10.1     62.6  84.0  21:02 ( 90, 44)  
Jan. 16   1 17.61  -22 21.5   1.121   1.288    75   10.5     58.8  80.5  20:58 ( 92, 45)

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It keeps the good condition until March. It has been brightening. The tail is getting greater. It is low for Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   7 14.00   40  7.6   0.804   1.765   162   10.9     10.1 229.0   0:03 (180, 15)  
Jan. 16   7  9.56   39 12.7   0.803   1.760   159   10.9     11.3 217.2  23:26 (180, 16)

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
A bit fainter recently, about 11-12 mag. It will soon set in the west. It will appear again at dawn as 13.5 mag in late March. Southern observers cannot see it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  21  9.26   16 13.0   1.715   1.267    46   11.2     10.2 196.7  21:02 ( 94,-23)  
Jan. 16  21  8.16   15 14.4   1.862   1.294    41   11.5      7.3 193.4  20:58 ( 90,-27)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. It was bright as 11.0 mag in December. The nuclear magnitude brightened 3 mag suddenly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   5 34.95  -73 34.9   7.454   7.393    82   11.8      8.0 287.2  22:19 (  0, 51)  
Jan. 16   5 23.08  -73 14.0   7.513   7.451    82   11.8      7.7 297.1  21:40 (  0, 52)

* 88P/Howell

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
It was 10 mag and diffused in November. It is fading out now and 12 mag in December. No observations reported recently. It will be only 9.3 arcmin from a galaxy NGC 7371(12.1 mag, 2.1') on Jan. 15.9 (UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  22 28.25  -12 43.9   2.307   1.770    45   13.0     41.2  66.9  21:02 ( 81, 10)  
Jan. 16  22 46.03  -10 50.4   2.393   1.811    43   13.3     40.1  66.2  20:58 ( 82,  8)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
We will miss it after next month. It will appear again in September as 13 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  21 53.29   -8 46.5   2.674   2.012    39   13.5     32.2  75.7  21:02 ( 80,  0)  
Jan. 16  22  8.25   -7 47.5   2.686   1.976    35   13.3     33.4  74.7  20:58 ( 79, -2)

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Too low to observe now. We have another chance in July, but only 15 deg altitude as 15 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  21 41.84  -19 10.5   4.999   4.213    33   13.4     12.2 102.6  21:02 ( 69,  4)  
Jan. 16  21 47.80  -19 27.9   5.103   4.257    27   13.5     12.4 100.9  20:58 ( 67,  1)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Brightening as 13.5-14.0 mag visually. But very faint by CCD, fainter than 15 mag. It will reach to 7 mag next year but the condition is bad for Northern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  23 19.39    1 29.5   2.954   2.658    63   13.6      7.8 215.4  21:02 (100, 12)  
Jan. 16  23 17.76    0 49.4   3.018   2.588    55   13.5      5.8 206.1  20:58 ( 96,  7)

* 93P/Lovas 1

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It has been as bright as 13 mag both visually and by CCD since perihelion passage. It will keep the brightness for a bit more. Very low for the Southern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   6 11.65   44 27.0   0.976   1.909   153   13.8     12.9 205.2  22:56 (180, 11)  
Jan. 16   6  8.95   43  1.9   1.028   1.941   149   13.9     12.9 192.7  22:26 (180, 12)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 Jan. 4
It was so faint as 17.5 mag on Jan. 4. Although it is getting highter gradually, it keeps lower than 27 deg for Northern people in 1999. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  15  4.14  -26 24.3   6.666   6.197    57   14.1      8.4 113.5   3:11 (283, 30)  
Jan. 16  15  8.00  -26 47.4   6.566   6.195    63   14.0      7.7 114.6   3:20 (279, 37)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. Now is the last chance to observe in the Northern Hemisphere. Northern people cannot observe it in next year. It is rather bright as 13-14 mag visually now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   9 52.84  -42  3.9   4.125   4.506   106   14.2     17.1 214.5   2:41 (  0, 83)  
Jan. 16   9 46.13  -43 38.7   4.034   4.467   109   14.2     17.3 221.0   2:07 (  0, 81)

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
Bright as around 14.0 mag visually, around 15.0 mag by CCD. It will keep the good position for a while. But the brightness is at peak now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   4  0.39    7 46.8   0.923   1.729   130   14.4     27.7   4.3  21:02 (174, 47)  
Jan. 16   4  2.43   10 58.2   0.965   1.727   124   14.5     27.7  13.5  20:58 (167, 43)

* C/1998 K2 ( LINEAR )
Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. No observations reported recently. It was faint as 14-16 mag between August and October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  22 56.14  -63 42.6   3.183   2.735    54   14.9     31.4  54.8  21:02 ( 32, 35)  
Jan. 16  23 21.55  -61 30.2   3.232   2.775    54   15.0     31.3  52.0  20:58 ( 35, 35)

* 102P/Shoemaker 1
Not yet observed in this return. It may be much fainter than the ephemeris. It is too low to observe. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  21 25.10  -18 18.2   2.852   2.057    29   15.0     33.8  58.4  21:02 ( 68,  1)  
Jan. 16  21 39.21  -16 12.2   2.876   2.042    26   14.9     34.3  57.9  20:58 ( 68, -3)

* 37P/Forbes
Not yet observed in this return. The ephemeris says it will be brighter than 16 mag, so CCD observers may catch it soon. Now is the chance to observe it for the first time. It will be at the peak in June and reach to 13 mag, but the altitude keeps only about 15 deg for the Northern people until June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  15 46.83  -25  3.2   2.372   1.871    48   15.6     38.8 105.5   3:11 (286, 21)  
Jan. 16  16  6.55  -26 12.3   2.281   1.829    50   15.4     39.9 103.8   3:20 (285, 25)

* P/1998 S1 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14 mag visually, but 16 mag by CCD. Slowly fading although the location will be good for a while. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   1  7.57   16 11.8   2.338   2.590    93   15.5     16.0  68.4  21:02 (131, 22)  
Jan. 16   1 15.18   16 54.4   2.434   2.599    88   15.7     17.5  68.8  20:58 (128, 19)

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 3
A new comet. The current brightness and condition will keep until early April. It will be only several arcmin from NGC 1087, NGC 1090 around Jan .14. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   2 43.84   -1 40.8   2.030   2.526   108   15.6     17.6  20.5  21:02 (142, 50)  
Jan. 16   2 47.29    0 14.7   2.112   2.530   103   15.7     18.6  27.5  20:58 (137, 46)

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
14.5 mag visually and 15 mag by CCD, but low in the evening sky. It will appear at dawn after February and we can trace it while fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  20 11.37   28 47.5   3.625   3.125    52   15.7     25.9  68.1  21:02 (100,-40)  
Jan. 16  20 24.23   29 56.7   3.674   3.160    51   15.8     26.1  66.9  20:58 (101,-43)

* C/1998 K1 ( Mueller )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 4
Appearing at dawn now. About 17 mag, fainter than the ephemeris. It will keep the brightness for a long time after this, but it keeps very low for the Northern people. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  14 33.09  -22  5.1   3.907   3.613    65   16.0     16.4 135.9   3:11 (274, 34)  
Jan. 16  14 38.60  -23 27.3   3.832   3.634    71   16.0     15.6 138.7   3:20 (272, 41)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Beginning to be observable. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  15 54.59  -17 22.0   9.891   9.264    48   16.2      6.2  97.7   3:11 (281, 16)  
Jan. 16  15 57.50  -17 27.3   9.809   9.274    54   16.2      5.8  96.9   3:20 (276, 22)

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
It will keep the current brightness until early April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   7 53.24   39 11.7   4.058   5.000   161   16.5     21.8 300.9   0:42 (180, 16)  
Jan. 16   7 41.72   40 25.7   4.075   5.013   160   16.6     21.5 297.6   0:03 (180, 15)

* C/1998 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
Fading now. It will be only 6.0 arcmin from P/1998 VS24 on Jan. 16.9 (UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   2 34.81    9 13.1   2.274   2.780   110   16.7      8.3  70.0  21:02 (147, 40)  
Jan. 16   2 38.85    9 34.7   2.447   2.861   104   16.9      9.8  70.2  20:58 (142, 37)

* C/1998 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
A new comet. Altough it was bright in late December, it was so faint in early January. It will fade out very soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   6 56.08   30 17.0   0.859   1.836   170   16.8     31.0 349.8  23:40 (180, 24)  
Jan. 16   6 53.40   33 36.6   0.904   1.865   162   17.0     26.7 351.2  23:10 (180, 21)

* 10P/Tempel 2
It is getting brighter now, so CCD observers will catch it soon. It should be fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  15 13.43   -6 56.7   2.940   2.608    60   17.0     23.4  99.9   3:11 (266, 18)  
Jan. 16  15 24.25   -7 22.8   2.818   2.568    65   16.8     23.2  98.5   3:20 (262, 24)

* 65P/Gunn

 Image: 1998 Dec. 19
It is around the aphelion now. The recent magnitude is 17-19 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   2 55.27   14 12.3   3.947   4.483   117   17.2      1.8 312.2  21:02 (155, 37)  
Jan. 16   2 55.01   14 22.5   4.059   4.493   110   17.3      1.7   8.5  20:58 (149, 35)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

 Image: 1998 Dec. 24
Brightened rapidly. It will be around 17 mag for a while after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   6 25.54   24 44.9   0.876   1.848   167   17.4     11.7 235.8  23:10 (180, 30)  
Jan. 16   6 21.07   23 57.8   0.877   1.831   159   17.2     10.2 228.0  22:38 (180, 31)

* (3200) Phaethon
Mother asteroid of Geminids. CCD observers will be able to catch it because it is stellar in a good position. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   1 41.92   24 22.1   1.643   2.107   103   17.3     11.8 193.0  21:02 (143, 20)  
Jan. 16   1 41.53   23  9.1   1.712   2.067    96   17.3      9.4 173.5  20:58 (137, 18)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 1998 Dec. 19
It is around the aphelion now. The recent magnitude is 18-19 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   3 12.03   15 39.6   3.606   4.205   121   17.5      1.9 299.9  21:02 (160, 37)  
Jan. 16   3 11.65   15 47.7   3.693   4.196   114   17.6      1.4   3.8  20:58 (154, 35)

* P/1998 X2 ( Bowell-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 5
16.2 mag on Jan. 5, so it is brighter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   6 55.76   28 29.2   1.359   2.337   171   17.7     10.7 270.5  23:40 (180, 27)  
Jan. 16   6 50.19   28 27.4   1.338   2.302   164   17.6     10.2 266.6  23:07 (180, 27)

* 1997 CU26
A Centaur asteroid. CCD observers will be able to catch it because it is stellar in a good position. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   9 29.90    5 14.2  12.720  13.530   144   17.7      2.8 269.3   2:18 (180, 50)  
Jan. 16   9 28.53    5 14.6  12.656  13.526   151   17.7      3.1 272.5   1:49 (180, 50)

* P/1998 QP54 ( LONEOS-Tucker )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
Probably much fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   0 54.69   27 52.8   1.739   2.073    95   17.7     24.4  76.3  21:02 (136, 11)  
Jan. 16   1  7.54   28 33.6   1.833   2.099    91   18.0     25.5  76.5  20:58 (135,  9)

* P/1998 U2 ( Mueller )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
Rapidly fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   1 54.62   14 41.3   1.685   2.140   103   18.1     19.9  72.2  21:02 (140, 30)  
Jan. 16   2  4.12   15 25.2   1.779   2.160    98   18.3     21.4  72.4  20:58 (137, 28)

* (5145) Pholus
A Centaur asteroid. Although it is rather lower, CCD observers will be able to catch it because it is stellar. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  14 22.41   11 41.5  13.911  13.777    80   18.4      2.6  68.1   3:11 (242, 17)  
Jan. 16  14 23.45   11 49.0  13.821  13.796    86   18.4      2.3  58.6   3:20 (236, 23)

* 49P/Arend-Rigaux
Extremely faint, but it is stellar. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9  14 18.84    3 38.3   2.317   2.315    77   18.5     18.1  84.7   3:11 (248, 23)  
Jan. 16  14 26.79    3 54.1   2.278   2.365    82   18.5     16.2  79.9   3:20 (242, 28)

* C/1996 J1 ( Evans-Drinkwater )
About 19.0 mag recently, a bit fainter the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   3 46.79   33 28.1   7.215   7.909   132   18.5      4.3 230.0  21:02 (173, 21)  
Jan. 16   3 45.19   33  9.1   7.359   7.964   125   18.5      3.6 222.1  20:58 (168, 21)

* 139P/Vaisala-Oterma

 Image: 1998 Dec. 11
Recovered after 59 years since 1939. Fading gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   3 19.14   18  8.2   2.779   3.425   123   18.6      0.7 119.0  21:02 (163, 35)  
Jan. 16   3 19.93   18  7.9   2.871   3.430   116   18.6      2.6  84.8  20:58 (157, 34)

* P/1998 VS24 ( LINEAR )
A new comet but very faint. It is high in the evening. Gradually fading after this. It will be only 6.0 arcmin from C/1998 K5 on Jan. 16.9 (UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   2 36.90    9 20.8   2.931   3.415   111   18.7      4.5  54.8  21:02 (147, 40)  
Jan. 16   2 39.06    9 40.8   3.030   3.418   104   18.7      6.3  60.2  20:58 (142, 37)

* C/1998 X1 ( ODAS )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 26
A new comet. But so faint and fading after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   9 57.68   14  4.3   1.539   2.389   141   18.7      6.7 289.6   2:46 (180, 41)  
Jan. 16   9 53.99   14 22.9   1.516   2.417   149   18.7      9.5 288.9   2:15 (180, 41)

* 1998 WU24
A new asteroid whose orbit is like a comet. So faint. But it is high enough and stellar, so CCD observers may catch it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   9 35.84   42 40.7   1.476   2.350   145   19.2     27.2 337.1   2:24 (180, 12)  
Jan. 16   9 28.26   45 25.7   1.523   2.416   148   19.3     25.3 330.4   1:49 (180, 10)

* 48P/Johnson
Around 18.5 mag recently. It has passed the perihelion in 1997 and will soon fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  9   3 51.95    7 14.9   2.774   3.467   127   19.3      5.5 324.2  21:02 (171, 47)  
Jan. 16   3 50.93    7 47.7   2.880   3.491   121   19.4      5.0 347.1  20:58 (162, 46)

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.