Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Mar. 20: South)

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Updated on March 13, 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. Southern observers cannot see it until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   7 46.53   85 15.4   1.548   1.879    92    9.7     62.3 176.6  19:57 (180,-30)  
Mar. 27   7 57.77   78  3.5   1.590   1.914    92    9.8     60.9 176.4  19:40 (180,-23)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   6 47.40   20 57.0   1.692   2.136   102   11.0     20.4 121.7  19:36 (169, 33)  
Mar. 27   6 56.51   19 43.3   1.769   2.140    97   11.1     21.8 118.2  19:26 (167, 34)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   4 48.34  -67  8.9   8.021   7.963    83   11.5      6.2  15.5  19:36 ( 23, 51)  
Mar. 27   4 50.76  -66 28.3   8.074   8.019    83   11.6      6.1  23.2  19:26 ( 25, 50)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   7 40.39   25 31.7   1.179   1.822   113   11.7     23.6 123.5  19:50 (180, 30)  
Mar. 27   7 50.95   24  1.2   1.252   1.841   109   11.9     25.0 120.8  19:33 (180, 31)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   0 39.83    4 27.7   2.685   1.723    11   11.9     41.5  71.4  19:36 ( 87,-12)  
Mar. 27   0 58.41    5 60.0   2.679   1.705     9   11.7     42.1  71.8  19:26 ( 89,-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)  
Mar. 20  23 27.37   -1 39.4   2.971   1.988     7   12.3      4.6 105.5   4:37 (280,-12)  
Mar. 27  23 29.43   -1 48.6   2.881   1.927    13   12.1      4.6 108.1   4:44 (276, -5)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   7 34.85   42  3.7   2.005   2.503   108   12.5     18.5 269.1  19:43 (180, 13)  
Mar. 27   7 25.19   41 57.2   2.213   2.582   100   12.8     12.5 263.8  19:26 (176, 13)  

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear at dawn as 16 mag in mid June for Norhtern observers. It brightened about 1 mag after perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  22 34.27  -51 38.7   1.463   1.193    54   12.8     13.8 246.7   4:37 (317, 25)  
Mar. 27  22 24.21  -52 21.0   1.457   1.291    60   13.1     15.6 244.2   4:44 (315, 32)  

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Feb. 25
It was 14.7 mag on Feb. 22, more than 2 mag fainter than the ephemeris. No observations were reported after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  21  0.22   14 19.6   2.339   1.796    45   13.1      6.7 296.8   4:37 (246,  8)  
Mar. 27  20 56.84   14 42.5   2.308   1.867    51   13.2      8.8 293.2   4:44 (240, 15)  

* 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.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   8 17.10  -49  1.6   3.661   4.137   111   13.5     12.0 283.6  20:26 (  0, 76)  
Mar. 27   8  9.45  -48 38.0   3.664   4.102   109   13.5     10.6 291.0  19:51 (  0, 76)  

* 37P/Forbes


Not yet observed in this return. 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. It is about to get out of the Milky Way.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  19 38.16  -28 21.5   1.596   1.525    67   13.7     48.2  81.1   4:37 (275, 49)  
Mar. 27  20  3.28  -27 19.9   1.542   1.503    68   13.6     48.5  78.4   4:44 (272, 50)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  15 21.58  -29 11.1   5.584   6.181   122   13.7      2.1 241.6   3:34 (180, 84)  
Mar. 27  15 20.31  -29 16.8   5.493   6.179   129   13.6      3.0 257.8   3:05 (180, 84)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  22 42.34  -21 34.3   5.522   4.664    27   14.1     11.6 103.1   4:37 (290,  9)  
Mar. 27  22 47.93  -21 54.0   5.512   4.711    33   14.1     11.3 105.4   4:44 (287, 15)  

* 88P/Howell

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Not observable. Although it appears again in July, it will be fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   1  2.15    4 45.3   3.139   2.208    17   14.4     31.4  65.9  19:36 ( 91, -8)  
Mar. 27   1 15.44    6 13.1   3.208   2.253    13   14.6     30.6  66.4  19:26 ( 91, -9)  

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
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)  
Mar. 20   4 33.80   -8 28.3   1.937   1.843    69   14.7     37.9  72.6  19:36 (114, 43)  
Mar. 27   4 50.54   -7 12.4   2.047   1.907    67   15.2     36.4  73.6  19:26 (115, 42)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  23 44.66    4 38.4   2.968   1.980     5   14.8     36.3  55.0   4:37 (278,-19)  
Mar. 27  23 58.63    7  4.2   2.966   1.981     7   14.8     36.3  55.0   4:44 (273,-16)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  16 54.40   -7 50.3   1.711   2.194   105   15.1     18.0  81.7   4:37 (195, 62)  
Mar. 27  17  2.45   -7 30.1   1.597   2.152   109   14.8     16.7  79.1   4:44 (182, 63)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   5 39.07   31  3.9   1.580   1.816    86   15.9     31.6  70.9  19:36 (156, 19)  
Mar. 27   5 55.70   32  8.7   1.664   1.837    83   16.1     31.9  74.8  19:26 (156, 18)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  16 10.33  -17 26.3   8.899   9.364   115   16.0      0.7 338.5   4:22 (180, 72)  
Mar. 27  16 10.03  -17 21.2   8.807   9.374   122   16.0      1.3 309.2   3:54 (180, 72)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   6 59.28   25 25.7   1.563   2.052   104   16.3     17.0 105.4  19:36 (173, 29)  
Mar. 27   7  8.44   24 52.3   1.614   2.034    99   16.3     19.7 104.6  19:26 (171, 30)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  21  8.87   -2 17.4   4.084   3.408    41   16.4     21.4  61.4   4:37 (261, 17)  
Mar. 27  21 17.41   -1  5.3   4.050   3.435    46   16.4     20.6  59.9   4:44 (256, 21)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  22 21.44   42 24.4   4.106   3.516    47   16.5     24.0  57.7   4:37 (233,-22)  
Mar. 27  22 34.19   43 53.7   4.151   3.559    47   16.6     23.4  56.8   4:44 (229,-19)  

* P/1998 Y2 ( Li )

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
The current brightness and condition will keep until early April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   3 56.63   15 30.8   2.958   2.631    61   16.6     24.6  61.2  19:36 (126, 19)  
Mar. 27   4  7.30   16 51.3   3.051   2.648    57   16.7     24.9  63.4  19:26 (126, 17)  

* 93P/Lovas 1

Image: 1999 Feb. 7
Rapidly fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   6 53.82   31 14.5   1.858   2.290   102   16.7     19.3 117.6  19:36 (172, 23)  
Mar. 27   7  3.40   30 12.7   1.977   2.333    97   17.0     20.1 115.5  19:26 (170, 24)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   6 19.30   45  5.6   4.902   5.076    94   17.0      6.3 277.7  19:36 (168,  8)  
Mar. 27   6 15.75   45 10.8   5.039   5.090    87   17.1      4.6 278.6  19:26 (164,  7)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  18 28.33  -19 43.3   2.708   2.757    82   17.5     17.0  81.4   4:37 (249, 59)  
Mar. 27  18 36.25  -19 24.7   2.639   2.778    87   17.5     15.3  79.7   4:44 (240, 64)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   7  0.70   17 56.3   1.226   1.774   105   17.5     24.3 102.2  19:36 (172, 37)  
Mar. 27   7 12.84   17 19.2   1.287   1.779   101   17.6     26.4 101.9  19:26 (171, 37)  

* P/1999 D1 ( Hermann )

Image: 1999 Feb. 25
It keeps 17 mag until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  11 46.63   -9 11.9   0.697   1.686   170   17.5     30.4 216.0  23:55 (180, 64)  
Mar. 27  11 38.54  -11 54.0   0.719   1.704   165   17.6     26.9 216.3  23:19 (180, 67)  

* (10199) 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)  
Mar. 20   9 15.09    5 51.6  12.725  13.497   139   17.7      2.4 287.2  21:24 (180, 49)  
Mar. 27   9 14.10    5 56.4  12.800  13.494   132   17.7      2.0 289.0  20:56 (180, 49)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  16 44.09   21 41.7   5.670   6.035   106   18.1     13.7 341.5   4:37 (185, 33)  
Mar. 27  16 41.55   23 12.8   5.607   6.049   111   18.1     14.2 336.4   4:26 (180, 32)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20  17 23.12  -15 53.8   1.646   2.037    97   18.2     23.1  77.7   4:37 (217, 67)  
Mar. 27  17 33.59  -15 16.1   1.574   2.034   102   18.1     21.4  74.3   4:44 (203, 69)  

* (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)  
Mar. 20  14 22.52   13 41.8  13.172  13.964   141   18.3      2.9 311.1   2:35 (180, 41)  
Mar. 27  14 21.39   13 54.8  13.143  13.983   146   18.3      3.1 305.7   2:06 (180, 41)  

* 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)  
Mar. 20   3 34.83   13 46.7   4.027   3.566    55   18.5     15.7  75.9  19:36 (121, 17)  
Mar. 27   3 42.20   14 12.8   4.188   3.642    50   18.6     15.8  76.7  19:26 (119, 15)  

* 135P/Shoemaker-Levy 8


It will locate higher than 50 deg as 18.5 mag until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20  11 27.39   -2 29.1   2.085   3.075   172   18.6     11.4 300.8  23:36 (180, 57)  
Mar. 27  11 22.94   -1 47.8   2.083   3.059   165   18.6     10.9 302.8  23:04 (180, 57)  

* P/1998 X1 ( ODAS )

Image: 1999 Jan. 22
It brightened about 1 mag in February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 20   9 11.75   17 10.3   1.890   2.698   136   18.7      2.1 267.6  21:21 (180, 38)  
Mar. 27   9 11.35   17  7.0   1.987   2.730   129   18.9      1.0 152.3  20:53 (180, 38)  

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