Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Apr. 24: South)

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 Updated on April 25, 1999
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

Please see also the Comet Rendezvous Calendar, Latest Pictures of Comets.

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* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )
New comet. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the southern sky as 8 mag in this week. It will be 7 mag at dusk from May to mid June. Then it will appear at dawn as 7 mag in late July. After that, it will fade while being higher. It passed only 0.82 deg from Nova Mus 1998 (14.5 mag) on Apr. 23 at 2h(UT). It moves among many nebulae and clusters in late April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  11 45.63  -63 50.2   0.814   1.604   123    8.6    123.7 304.1  21:29 (  0, 62)  
May   1  10 20.01  -52 12.9   0.737   1.504   118    8.1    149.3 325.1  19:40 (  0, 74)

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Apr. 16
We can see it in good condition until June. It is very low in the Southern Hemisphere. It was observed as a bit fainter than the ephemeris in April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   8 25.83   53 11.9   1.952   2.084    83   10.6     45.0 168.9  18:50 (175,  2)  
May   1   8 32.53   48 18.4   2.079   2.133    79   10.9     40.8 166.4  18:43 (172,  6)

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It is already observable in the Southern Hemisphere. It will appear also in the Northern Hemisphere. The brightness is uncertain. It was 16 mag by CCD after all until February... 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  23 35.92   -2 55.3   2.349   1.707    40   11.2      4.4 153.6   5:05 (258, 21)  
May   1  23 36.54   -3 27.7   2.176   1.661    46   10.9      5.4 173.2   5:10 (253, 28)

* 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)  
Apr. 24   2 15.96   11 47.3   2.665   1.661     2   11.4     43.4  74.9  18:50 ( 94,-15)  
May   1   2 36.06   13  3.3   2.664   1.658     2   11.4     43.5  76.0  18:43 ( 95,-16)

* 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)  
Apr. 24   5  7.09  -64 15.9   8.280   8.242    84   11.8      6.0  52.1  18:50 ( 31, 45)  
May   1   5 12.40  -63 51.8   8.331   8.297    84   11.8      6.1  58.8  18:43 ( 32, 43)

* 37P/Forbes

 Image: 1999 Apr. 14
Observed for the first time in this return on Mar. 21 as 13.3 mag visually, as bright as expected. t 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)  
Apr. 24  21 38.08  -20 48.9   1.368   1.450    73   13.1     47.4  68.8   5:05 (256, 55)  
May   1  21 59.61  -18 44.3   1.335   1.446    74   13.1     46.4  66.9   5:10 (251, 56)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear again in 2000 August as 13 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   7 52.58  -46 30.0   3.720   3.972    97   13.3      5.0 333.8  18:50 ( 42, 73)  
May   1   7 51.69  -46  0.1   3.740   3.941    93   13.3      4.0 354.1  18:43 ( 50, 70)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 Apr. 16
It has bursted out on Mar. 16 and raeched to 12.6 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  15 10.41  -29 11.1   5.231   6.172   157   13.5      6.1 280.0   1:05 (180, 84)  
May   1  15  7.11  -29  2.3   5.198   6.171   163   13.5      6.5 282.8   0:34 (180, 84)

* 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)  
Apr. 24  21 17.17  -56 38.8   1.334   1.683    90   14.1     32.5 249.9   5:05 (325, 60)  
May   1  20 47.83  -57 50.4   1.299   1.781   100   14.3     38.6 255.9   5:10 (340, 65)

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Only southern people can observe it. It will appear again in late May as 14 mag in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  23  8.01  -23 45.7   5.382   4.899    56   14.3     10.1 120.5   5:05 (274, 38)  
May   1  23 12.29  -24 23.9   5.331   4.946    62   14.3      9.9 126.0   5:10 (271, 44)

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

 Image: 1999 Apr. 8
It is about 11-13 mag visually, brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   7 39.62   15  3.0   2.097   2.176    80   14.7     26.2 112.2  18:50 (156, 37)  
May   1   7 51.50   13 53.1   2.182   2.190    77   14.8     27.0 111.8  18:43 (153, 37)

* 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)  
Apr. 24   0 55.40   16 41.2   2.943   2.005    17   14.9     35.9  55.6   5:05 (254, -6)  
May   1   1  9.92   19  1.5   2.933   2.015    19   14.9     35.6  56.0   5:10 (250, -4)

* 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)  
Apr. 24   2  6.16   11 24.6   3.437   2.432     1   15.3     27.5  68.7  18:50 ( 92,-17)  
May   1   2 18.26   12 32.4   3.480   2.476     3   15.4     26.8  69.4   5:10 (264,-14)

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Apr. 16
It is very diffused and hard to observe. It will pass only 0.02 deg from planetary nebula IC 4997 (12.0 mag, 0.1 arcmin) on Apr. 29 at 19h(UT). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  20 29.64   16 28.8   2.087   2.164    80   15.6     21.6 279.2   5:05 (203, 35)  
May   1  20 18.15   16 50.1   2.022   2.239    88   15.7     26.0 275.8   5:10 (191, 38)

* 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

 Image: 1999 Apr. 8
Fading out as expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   5 52.30   -3 24.9   2.502   2.159    58   15.7     31.7  79.2  18:50 (116, 37)  
May   1   6  6.66   -2 46.9   2.617   2.220    56   16.0     30.7  80.8  18:43 (115, 35)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

 Image: 1999 Apr. 14
A bit fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  16  5.64  -16 53.3   8.528   9.416   150   16.0      3.5 288.9   2:00 (180, 72)  
May   1  16  3.92  -16 45.2   8.487   9.426   157   16.0      3.9 287.5   1:31 (180, 72)

* 52P/Harrington-Abell

 Image: 1999 Apr. 8
Maybe it is about 1-2 mag brightern than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   8 38.64   18  9.8   1.585   1.934    93   16.2     28.4 115.8  18:50 (174, 37)  
May   1   8 51.28   16 42.8   1.676   1.962    90   16.4     28.9 115.4  18:43 (172, 38)

* 140P/Bowell-Skiff

 Image: 1999 Mar. 22
It keeps 17 mag until July. It was 14 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   7 56.01   21 58.2   1.830   1.983    83   16.2     28.0 105.7  18:50 (163, 31)  
May   1   8  9.85   21  2.3   1.888   1.977    79   16.2     29.4 106.4  18:43 (161, 32)

* C/1998 P1 ( Williams )

 Image: 1999 Apr. 8
Although it is very difused and hard to observe, maybe it is brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   7 13.54   41  6.9   3.042   2.896    72   16.3      2.0 150.5  18:50 (160, 10)  
May   1   7 14.70   40 55.7   3.238   2.974    65   16.7      3.1 119.1  18:43 (157,  9)

* C/1998 M1 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. Last observation is on Sept. 16, 1998. It keeps 16 mag until August, locating in good position. We failed to observe it on Mar. 22, it should be fainter than 16.8 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  21 46.98    3 46.8   3.874   3.554    64   16.4     17.1  52.7   5:05 (232, 37)  
May   1  21 53.08    4 59.1   3.822   3.586    68   16.5     16.1  50.4   5:10 (224, 40)

* P/1988 V1 ( Ge-Wang )
First return. Bright and now is the chance to recover. It is already observable in the Southern Hemisphere. Even in the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be higher after this. It will be brightening slowly and reach to 15 mag in September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  23 21.47   -0 13.4   3.193   2.544    42   16.6     27.6  71.6   5:05 (254, 22)  
May   1  23 33.61    0 47.3   3.127   2.534    46   16.5     27.3  71.6   5:10 (249, 26)

* C/1998 M2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Mar. 12
No observations reported since it appeared at dawn, except for Ageo Survey team's one on Mar. 12 (16.4 mag). 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  23 23.74   49 45.6   4.311   3.738    49   16.9     20.7  53.4   5:05 (216,-11)  
May   1  23 35.64   51 11.0   4.345   3.784    50   17.0     19.9  52.5   5:10 (213,-10)

* 10P/Tempel 2

 Image: 1999 Apr. 14
It was brighter than the ephemeris, about 14.5 mag visually and 17.2 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  17 26.30   -5 40.7   1.187   1.987   129   17.4      9.2  62.9   3:20 (180, 61)  
May   1  17 29.51   -5 12.2   1.098   1.947   135   17.2      6.7  54.6   2:56 (180, 60)

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Mar. 22
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)  
Apr. 24   6 11.40   45 31.3   5.558   5.151    61   17.3      1.3  41.7  18:50 (152,  1)  
May   1   6 12.30   45 38.7   5.673   5.167    55   17.4      2.2  57.7  18:43 (149, -1)

* 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)  
Apr. 24  18 58.14  -18  5.4   2.371   2.868   109   17.6      7.3  68.3   4:52 (180, 73)  
May   1  19  0.89  -17 47.2   2.311   2.892   115   17.6      5.1  60.7   4:27 (180, 73)

* C/1999 G1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Apr. 13
New comet. It will be faint and low in June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  13 18.98   -3 41.3   3.743   4.723   165   17.6     17.0 255.5  23:09 (180, 59)  
May   1  13 11.51   -4 11.6   3.797   4.744   157   17.7     16.1 254.1  22:34 (180, 59)

* 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, but it is in the Milky Way.. 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)  
Apr. 24  18  3.63  -11 57.0   1.319   2.037   121   17.7     12.7  51.2   3:57 (180, 67)  
May   1  18  7.59  -11  0.9   1.267   2.041   127   17.7     10.4  39.8   3:34 (180, 66)

* (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)  
Apr. 24   9 12.31    6  9.2  13.186  13.481   104   17.7      0.2   6.1  19:04 (180, 49)  
May   1   9 12.44    6 10.2  13.295  13.478    98   17.8      0.5  81.2  18:43 (177, 49)

* P/1998 W1 ( Spahr )

 Image: 1999 Mar. 22
It is already very faint, 17.9 mag in early April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   7  6.70   34 15.1   2.015   1.937    71   17.8     32.2  88.1  18:50 (156, 16)  
May   1   7 24.88   34 16.2   2.104   1.966    68   18.0     32.2  91.0  18:43 (156, 16)

* 93P/Lovas 1

 Image: 1999 Mar. 22
It was observed much brighter, about 14 mag, in early April visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   7 44.54   26 18.6   2.478   2.507    79   18.0     22.0 111.9  18:50 (162, 26)  
May   1   7 55.18   25 21.1   2.606   2.552    75   18.2     22.2 111.6  18:43 (159, 27)

* 60P/Tsuchinshan 2

 Image: 1999 Mar. 22
It will be fainter than 19 mag and lower than 30 deg in late May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24   8  8.36   14 19.3   1.559   1.822    87   18.0     31.6 103.7  18:50 (164, 39)  
May   1   8 23.26   13 24.4   1.632   1.837    84   18.2     32.3 104.5  18:43 (162, 40)

* C/1998 M3 ( Larsen )

 Image: 1999 Mar. 22
A bit fainter than the ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  16 24.50   29  2.4   5.462   6.112   126   18.0     15.4 317.7   2:19 (180, 26)  
May   1  16 18.71   30 19.0   5.458   6.128   127   18.1     15.3 313.3   1:46 (180, 25)

* C/1999 F1 ( Catalina )
New comet. The perihelion passage is in 2002. But because it will go to the Southern Sky, only until mid June the comet will be higher than 40 deg. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 24  13  5.77   -8 20.9   8.109   9.084   164   18.1      7.7 271.9  22:56 (180, 63)  
May   1  13  2.20   -8 19.3   8.112   9.050   157   18.1      7.4 271.4  22:25 (180, 63)

* (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)  
Apr. 24  14 15.81   14 35.3  13.157  14.057   152   18.3      3.3 287.9   0:10 (180, 40)  
May   1  14 14.32   14 41.4  13.193  14.076   150   18.3      3.2 283.5  23:37 (180, 40)

* 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)  
Apr. 24  11 11.29    0 35.8   2.200   2.997   135   18.6      4.5 327.0  21:02 (180, 54)  
May   1  11 10.65    0 59.3   2.254   2.982   127   18.6      2.9 354.8  20:34 (180, 54)

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