Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Feb. 27: South)

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 Updated on February 27, 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: 1999 Feb. 25
We can see it in good condition until June. Northern observers can see it all night now. Southern observers cannot see it until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  19 38.80   73 43.9   1.551   1.795    86    9.5     55.3   4.1   4:16 (198,-29)  
Mar.  6  19 46.37   80 24.9   1.531   1.819    89    9.5     59.3   2.9   4:24 (191,-31)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 7
We can see it as around 10-11 mag in good condition until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   6 26.42   24 59.9   1.484   2.136   118   10.8     16.0 141.8  20:08 (178, 30)  
Mar.  6   6 32.19   23 34.5   1.549   2.134   112   10.8     17.3 133.1  19:58 (175, 31)

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

 Image: 1999 Feb. 7
Fading after the perihelion passage. It was one mag fainter than the ephemeris in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   7 14.99   30 14.5   0.990   1.779   127   11.1     18.3 139.3  20:47 (180, 25)  
Mar.  6   7 22.19   28 38.2   1.048   1.791   122   11.3     20.2 132.4  20:27 (180, 26)

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 22
Fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   8 34.27   40 29.9   1.432   2.265   137   11.3     49.7 285.5  22:04 (180, 14)  
Mar.  6   8  8.32   41 33.8   1.609   2.345   127   11.7     36.7 279.5  21:11 (180, 13)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )
Only southern people can observe it. Norhtern people can never see it again. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   4 46.99  -69 20.9   7.858   7.794    82   11.4      6.5 351.4  20:08 ( 15, 53)  
Mar.  6   4 46.33  -68 35.9   7.913   7.851    82   11.4      6.4 359.6  19:58 ( 18, 52)

* 4P/Faye

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Not observable. 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)  
Feb. 27  23 46.14   -0  6.0   2.699   1.790    18   12.3     39.3  71.2  20:08 ( 83,-10)  
Mar.  6   0  3.69    1 23.8   2.695   1.766    16   12.1     40.1  71.1  19:58 ( 84,-11)

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 25
Being higher in the morning sky. It was 14.7 mag on Feb. 22, more than 2 mag fainter than the ephemeris, probably because it was very low. Souther observers cannot see it until late March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  21  5.53   13 35.8   2.345   1.594    32   12.6      2.1 297.9   4:16 (262,-13)  
Mar.  6  21  4.38   13 45.6   2.359   1.659    35   12.8      3.4 301.2   4:24 (257, -5)

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear at dawn as 17 mag in mid June for Norhtern observers. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  23  1.79  -49 57.0   1.384   0.921    41   12.6     14.2 246.3  20:08 ( 37, 13)  
Mar.  6  22 52.53  -50 32.3   1.429   1.006    44   13.1     13.2 249.5   4:24 (323, 13)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Not observable. It will appear again in early May as 10 mag. It was 16 mag by CCD after all... 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  23 21.42   -1 13.1   3.133   2.179    12   12.9      4.1 110.9  20:08 ( 78,-14)  
Mar.  6  23 23.29   -1 22.5   3.097   2.114     6   12.7      4.4 106.8  19:58 ( 76,-17)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It has already became rather faint, but it was a bit brighter than the ephemeris in February. It keeps the same apparent location until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   3 39.38  -12 55.2   1.627   1.651    73   12.9     42.9  71.2  20:08 (108, 45)  
Mar.  6   3 58.33  -11 20.5   1.727   1.715    72   13.2     41.0  71.4  19:58 (110, 44)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. It keeps locating at altitude 6 deg until April it in the Northern Hemisphere. It is rather bright as 13.0 mag visually now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   8 46.51  -49 14.1   3.697   4.242   117   13.7     15.4 262.2  22:17 (  0, 76)  
Mar.  6   8 35.89  -49 21.7   3.677   4.207   115   13.6     14.4 269.2  21:39 (  0, 76)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 Feb. 25
It is so faint as 17 mag now. It keeps the current altitude until July in the Norhtern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  15 21.94  -28 39.3   5.899   6.186   102   13.8      2.4 144.3   4:16 (237, 79)  
Mar.  6  15 22.41  -28 52.1   5.789   6.184   109   13.7      1.7 168.9   4:24 (192, 84)

* 88P/Howell

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It was still bright as around 12.0 mag in January, but very faint as 15 mag by CCD. It is so low that the observation is hard now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   0 20.50   -0  0.2   2.908   2.073    26   13.9     34.0  65.0  20:08 ( 88, -3)  
Mar.  6   0 34.70    1 38.5   2.988   2.118    23   14.1     33.1  65.2  19:58 ( 89, -5)

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Not observable. It will appear again in late May as 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  22 24.64  -20 47.7   5.487   4.526    12   14.0     12.3  99.0   4:16 (302, -7)  
Mar.  6  22 30.66  -21  1.6   5.510   4.572    17   14.0     12.1  99.9   4:24 (298, -2)

* 37P/Forbes
Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance to observe it for the first time. But there are so many stars around and the observation is very hard. 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)  
Feb. 27  18 22.63  -29 46.0   1.789   1.607    63   14.2     46.1  89.6   4:16 (280, 44)  
Mar.  6  18 47.61  -29 34.5   1.720   1.577    64   14.1     47.0  86.8   4:24 (278, 46)

* 102P/Shoemaker 1
Not yet observed in this return. Although it is not observable now, we can observe it for a while as 15-16 mag after appearing again at dawn as 15 mag in June. But it should be muyh fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  23  2.97   -2 35.3   2.959   1.985     8   14.8     36.0  55.5  20:08 ( 74,-17)  
Mar.  6  23 16.85   -0 11.7   2.964   1.982     6   14.8     36.2  55.3  19:58 ( 76,-19)

* 93P/Lovas 1

 Image: 1999 Feb. 7
Fading now. Recently it was a bit fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   6 28.56   34 36.5   1.523   2.165   117   15.3     16.5 128.9  20:08 (178, 20)  
Mar.  6   6 36.27   33 25.7   1.630   2.206   112   15.5     17.5 124.0  19:58 (176, 22)

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Fading now. It was 1.5 mag fainter than the ephemeris in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   4 54.40   26 24.7   1.341   1.765    97   15.3     30.3  57.2  20:08 (155, 24)  
Mar.  6   5  8.27   28 12.1   1.418   1.780    93   15.5     30.8  62.2  19:58 (155, 22)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Feb. 22
It was 18.7 mag on Feb. 22, about 3 mag fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  16 26.94   -8 24.4   2.070   2.319    91   15.7     20.7  88.4   4:16 (229, 54)  
Mar.  6  16 36.54   -8 17.8   1.948   2.278    96   15.5     20.0  86.3   4:24 (219, 58)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

 Image: 1999 Jan. 22
17.0 mag on Jan. 22. Although it was 0.5 mag fainter than the ephemeris in 1997 and 1998, it is now 1 mag fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  16  9.10  -17 36.3   9.206   9.334    94   16.1      2.0  82.5   4:16 (234, 64)  
Mar.  6  16  9.87  -17 33.9   9.101   9.344   101   16.1      1.3  71.6   4:24 (218, 69)

* 140P/Bowell-Skiff

 Image: 1999 Feb. 7
It keeps 17 mag until July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   6 40.93   26 49.7   1.431   2.119   121   16.2      7.7 117.3  20:13 (180, 28)  
Mar.  6   6 45.39   26 23.9   1.471   2.095   115   16.3     10.9 110.5  19:58 (178, 29)

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
The current brightness and condition will keep until early April. Visual observers reported it much brighter, 13.5-14.0 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   3 27.44   11  0.7   2.669   2.587    74   16.3     23.3  53.6  20:08 (127, 26)  
Mar.  6   3 36.65   12 35.3   2.766   2.600    70   16.4     23.8  56.3  19:58 (127, 24)

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 12
No observations reported since Dec. 13. It will be higher gradually and we can trace it while fading gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  21 42.60   37 59.1   3.966   3.390    48   16.3     25.3  60.4   4:16 (243,-32)  
Mar.  6  21 55.62   39 26.8   4.014   3.431    48   16.4     24.9  59.5   4:24 (240,-28)

* P/1998 S1 ( LINEAR-Mueller )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
14 mag visually, but 16 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   2 13.43   21 53.7   3.010   2.672    60   16.3     23.3  71.3  20:08 (122,  6)  
Mar.  6   2 24.74   22 45.7   3.100   2.686    56   16.4     23.9  71.9  19:58 (122,  4)

* C/1998 M1 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. Last observation is on Sept. 16. It keeps 16 mag until August, locating in good position. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  20 40.86   -5 45.8   4.160   3.332    29   16.3     23.1  65.6   4:16 (275,  3)  
Mar.  6  20 50.57   -4 37.9   4.140   3.356    33   16.3     22.6  64.2   4:24 (270,  8)

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 7
It will be around 17 mag until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   6 37.19   44 35.8   4.511   5.038   116   16.8     12.2 280.9  20:09 (180, 10)  
Mar.  6   6 29.97   44 49.3   4.636   5.050   109   16.9     10.1 279.2  19:58 (176, 10)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

 Image: 1999 Feb. 7
It keeps 17 mag until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   6 31.51   19 41.4   1.062   1.772   119   17.2     16.0 108.5  20:08 (179, 35)  
Mar.  6   6 39.84   19  6.4   1.113   1.770   114   17.3     19.1 105.0  19:58 (176, 36)

* C/1999 D1 ( Hermann )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 25
New comet. It keeps 17 mag until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  12 10.19    0 17.6   0.868   1.817   155   17.3     30.7 204.2   1:46 (180, 55)  
Mar.  6  12  3.61   -2 58.9   0.853   1.825   162   17.3     31.9 208.8   1:12 (180, 58)

* C/1998 K1 ( Mueller )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 25
It will keep the brightness until May, 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)  
Feb. 27  14 57.29  -31 23.3   3.375   3.777   106   17.4     10.8 174.8   4:16 (224, 85)  
Mar.  6  14 57.33  -32 37.7   3.309   3.803   112   17.4     10.5 184.7   4:04 (180, 88)

* 134P/Kowal-Vavrova
No observations reported since last May. It appears at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  17 59.77  -20 27.1   2.911   2.702    68   17.4     21.3  86.0   4:16 (265, 44)  
Mar.  6  18 10.02  -20 15.0   2.845   2.719    72   17.4     20.0  84.5   4:24 (260, 49)

* 135P/Shoemaker-Levy 8
It was fainter than 18.0 mag on Feb. 22. It should be much fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  11 40.65   -4 16.1   2.176   3.125   159   17.6      9.2 295.8   1:16 (180, 59)  
Mar.  6  11 36.51   -3 45.0   2.132   3.108   167   17.5     10.5 297.4   0:44 (180, 59)

* 1997 CU26

 Image: 1999 Jan. 22
A Centaur asteroid. The perihelion passage is in 2004. It will keep the current brightness over 10 years after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   9 19.03    5 35.9  12.572  13.507   160   17.6      3.3 283.0  22:51 (180, 49)  
Mar.  6   9 17.58    5 41.2  12.609  13.503   153   17.7      3.1 284.3  22:22 (180, 49)

* P/1998 U4 ( Spahr )
Fading now, but still brighter than 18 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   3 54.15   -9 28.5   3.927   3.841    77   17.8     12.3  55.6  20:08 (115, 45)  
Mar.  6   3 59.25   -8 40.1   4.012   3.841    72   17.9     13.3  59.0  19:58 (113, 42)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It is around the aphelion now. The recent magnitude is a bit brighter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   3 25.80   17 32.5   4.278   4.144    75   17.8      9.6  69.6  20:08 (131, 21)  
Mar.  6   3 30.50   17 56.6   4.373   4.135    69   17.9     10.7  70.9  19:58 (129, 19)

* C/1998 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   3 13.57   12 22.2   3.516   3.336    71   18.0     14.8  73.6  20:08 (125, 23)  
Mar.  6   3 20.48   12 51.2   3.690   3.413    66   18.2     15.2  74.4  19:58 (124, 21)

* 65P/Gunn

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It is around the aphelion now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   3  8.11   16 15.5   4.771   4.549    71   18.1      8.9  67.0  20:08 (127, 19)  
Mar.  6   3 12.31   16 40.2   4.883   4.557    65   18.1      9.8  68.3  19:58 (125, 17)

* C/1998 M3 ( Larsen )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 22
It was 18.1 mag on Feb. 22, as bright as the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  16 47.60   17 19.0   5.903   5.993    90   18.1     11.9 357.9   4:16 (215, 30)  
Mar.  6  16 47.09   18 43.9   5.820   6.006    96   18.1     12.5 352.2   4:24 (206, 32)

* (5145) Pholus

 Image: 1999 Jan. 30
A Centaur asteroid. The perihelion passage is in 1991. It will keep 18 mag until around 2000. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  14 24.84   13  0.0  13.325  13.908   124   18.3      2.2 334.1   4:00 (180, 42)  
Mar.  6  14 24.27   13 14.1  13.264  13.927   130   18.3      2.5 324.9   3:31 (180, 42)

* 105P/Singer Brewster
Not yet been observed in this return, although the perihelion passage in on Apr. 6. Now is the chance to observe it for the first time. It will be 17.5 mag in May and June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27  16 46.60  -17  6.7   1.878   2.054    85   18.6     27.1  86.0   4:16 (245, 57)  
Mar.  6  16 59.49  -16 49.5   1.799   2.047    89   18.4     26.0  83.5   4:24 (238, 61)

* P/1998 X1 ( ODAS )

 Image: 1999 Jan. 22
It was 1 mag brighter than the ephemeris in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 27   9 20.40   16 47.2   1.654   2.604   159   19.2      9.7 283.6  22:52 (180, 38)  
Mar.  6   9 16.33   17  0.4   1.722   2.635   151   19.4      7.4 281.8  22:20 (180, 38)

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