Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 June 12: South)

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Updated on June 12, 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 )

Image: 1999 May 20
It brightened more rapidly than expected, so the I updated the magnitude prediction. It will be unobservable soon. Then it will appear at dawn as 6 mag in late July. After that, it will fade while being higher.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   8 24.01   13 21.9   1.294   0.916    44    6.3     44.7 344.4  18:25 (126, 22)  
June 19   8 18.31   17 56.8   1.423   0.837    35    6.0     37.9 342.0  18:25 (123, 13)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 20
I updated the magnitude prediction to be fainter. The comet will move over the southern sky drastically after this and it turned to be in the evening sky in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  23  2.70  -16 15.8   0.915   1.480    99   10.9     66.5 221.2   5:34 (187, 71)  
June 19  22 32.27  -23 47.2   0.711   1.471   115   10.3    116.7 225.3   4:46 (180, 79)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. Now it is too close to the sun and not observable. It will appear at dawn as 14 mag in late June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   4 39.69   25 19.9   0.866   0.213     9   10.9    134.0 295.4   5:34 (247,-12)  
June 19   4  5.16   29 48.9   0.989   0.415    23   12.7     39.4 312.5   5:36 (235, -3)  

* 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)  
June 12   4 39.42   18  0.5   2.686   1.698    10   11.7     41.9  85.4   5:34 (253, -7)  
June 19   4 59.81   18 18.5   2.693   1.714    12   11.8     41.3  87.3   5:36 (252, -6)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 Apr. 14
Brightening rapidly. It reached to 12.5 mag in early June. I updated the magnitude prediction.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  17 19.64   -5 12.0   0.728   1.723   162   12.2     12.7 239.0   0:01 (180, 60)  
June 19  17 14.36   -6  8.5   0.697   1.690   160   11.7     14.9 229.9  23:24 (180, 61)  

* 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)  
June 12   5 49.65  -62 55.5   8.631   8.624    86   12.0      6.5  94.7  18:25 ( 32, 31)  
June 19   5 56.29  -63  1.3   8.682   8.678    86   12.1      6.6 100.1  18:25 ( 31, 29)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 20
In the Northern Hemisphere, it gets low in late June. After conjunction, it will appear again at dawn in mid October as 14.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   9 12.26   27 35.3   2.946   2.461    52   12.3     25.3 150.7  18:25 (145, 18)  
June 19   9 18.76   25  6.3   3.089   2.520    47   12.5     24.0 148.5  18:25 (139, 17)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 May 20
Beginning to be higher in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be 13-14 mag until September under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  23 45.10   -5 24.8   1.180   1.505    86   12.9     34.8  58.7   5:34 (205, 58)  
June 19  23 58.37   -3 20.8   1.157   1.527    89   13.0     32.0  57.3   5:36 (196, 57)  

* 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)  
June 12   8  8.27  -45  0.8   3.843   3.770    78   13.1      8.3 102.4  18:25 ( 59, 48)  
June 19   8 13.97  -45 17.4   3.853   3.744    76   13.1      9.6 108.3  18:25 ( 58, 44)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 May 20
Small outburst happened and it looked stellar as 14.5 mag on June 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  14 48.38  -27 28.7   5.294   6.160   145   13.5      5.0 300.7  21:26 (180, 82)  
June 19  14 46.33  -27 10.9   5.356   6.158   138   13.6      4.2 305.8  20:57 (180, 82)  

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

Image: 1999 May 12
It will be too low to observe soon. After appearing again at dawn in December, it will be lower than 20 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   9  6.27    6 26.1   2.699   2.309    56   14.3     29.2 112.8  18:25 (130, 34)  
June 19   9 18.88    5  6.0   2.784   2.334    53   14.4     29.2 113.2  18:25 (125, 33)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 4
Although it will be low in October and November, Northern people can observe it as 14 mag until 2000 April. Then they can trace it until July as the comet gets low at dusk as 16.5 mag. Some visual observers reported it as 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  17  3.35   57 59.0   3.242   3.543    98   14.3     31.2 276.1  23:39 (180, -3)  
June 19  16 36.19   58  2.5   3.258   3.532    97   14.3     30.4 266.6  22:44 (180, -3)  

* C/1997 J2 ( Meunier-Dupouy )

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Although it is getting higher in the morning sky, it will be only 18 deg high in July in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  23 28.81  -30  3.6   4.970   5.233    99   14.4     10.6 168.6   5:34 (239, 81)  
June 19  23 29.62  -31 19.0   4.915   5.281   105   14.4     11.2 175.4   5:36 (201, 86)  

* 102P/Shoemaker 1


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it until November as 15-16 mag. But 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)  
June 12   2 40.92   31 54.7   2.842   2.107    35   15.1     33.1  59.8   5:34 (225,  4)  
June 19   2 56.76   33 48.2   2.822   2.127    38   15.2     32.5  60.7   5:36 (222,  5)  

* 140P/Bowell-Skiff

Image: 1999 May 1
It will be low in late June and the current observation season will finish.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   9 39.77   13 36.4   2.255   1.993    62   15.3     34.4 111.5  18:25 (143, 33)  
June 19   9 55.13   12  6.1   2.320   2.004    59   15.4     34.7 112.2  18:25 (139, 33)  

* 134P/Kowal-Vavrova


It was 15 mag on Apr. 21, about 3 mag brighter than the old ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  18 54.00  -16 45.0   2.093   3.053   156   15.5      8.0 272.3   1:35 (180, 72)  
June 19  18 49.83  -16 44.1   2.092   3.082   164   15.6      9.0 269.7   1:04 (180, 72)  

* 84P/Giclas


Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance for the first observation. We can observe it as 14 mag from summer though winter under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   1 26.69    3  6.6   2.265   1.958    59   15.7     35.1  72.1   5:34 (231, 38)  
June 19   1 42.33    4 20.7   2.192   1.939    62   15.5     35.0  72.8   5:36 (227, 39)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 4
New comet. Because it is far away, it keeps 15 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  21 40.59   36  8.3   4.957   5.137    94   15.6      5.8  21.6   4:21 (180, 19)  
June 19  21 41.53   36 44.0   4.869   5.119    98   15.5      4.9  12.7   3:55 (180, 18)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 June 4
New comet. Because it is extremely far away, it keeps 15 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. Visual observers reported it as 14 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  16 17.80   62 17.9   7.399   7.533    93   15.6     10.5 238.3  22:55 (180, -7)  
June 19  16  9.20   61 35.0   7.412   7.529    92   15.6     10.7 231.5  22:19 (180, -7)  

* C/1999 A1 ( Tilbrook )

Image: 1999 Jan. 16
Appearing to be in the morning sky. The brightness after late February is unknown.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  16 52.46  -48 28.0   1.395   2.350   154   15.6     49.5 311.8  23:28 (  0, 77)  
June 19  16 30.12  -44 34.9   1.490   2.442   153   15.9     43.9 318.3  22:39 (  0, 81)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 31
New comet. The perihelion passage is in 2000 July, when it will be 13.5 mag. But the comet is in the southern sky. Northern people can observe it until October as 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  19 31.89  -11 51.3   3.950   4.830   146   15.8     13.5 232.5   2:13 (180, 67)  
June 19  19 26.43  -12 51.5   3.849   4.786   154   15.7     15.1 233.5   1:40 (180, 68)  

* 50P/Arend


Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance for the first observation. We can observe it as 15 mag from summer though winter under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12   2 19.74   20 21.7   2.615   1.974    41   16.0     36.3  60.2   5:34 (230, 16)  
June 19   2 35.63   22 26.3   2.557   1.960    44   15.9     36.4  60.9   5:36 (226, 17)  

* C/1999 F2


New comet. We can observe it until October when it fades to 17 mag and becomes low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  15  3.97   12 13.9   4.515   5.245   131   16.0      5.7 311.4  21:42 (180, 43)  
June 19  15  2.18   12 36.6   4.610   5.268   125   16.0      4.3 310.6  21:12 (180, 42)  

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 1
New comet. It will keep over 60 deg high until late November, when it will be 18 mag, so we can observe its fading out under good condition. It is 14.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  18 55.97   21 35.3   1.519   2.302   129   16.0     31.2 346.3   1:37 (180, 34)  
June 19  18 51.76   24 59.2   1.504   2.287   129   16.0     29.3 342.0   1:06 (180, 30)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 Apr. 14
It was about 16.5 mag in March and April, a bit fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  15 51.99  -15 58.5   8.539   9.490   158   16.0      3.9 283.4  22:30 (180, 71)  
June 19  15 50.25  -15 52.6   8.597   9.500   151   16.0      3.5 282.8  22:00 (180, 71)  

* 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)  
June 12   0 42.85    6  9.0   2.687   2.498    68   16.1     23.9  74.7   5:34 (218, 41)  
June 19   0 53.51    6 50.8   2.609   2.496    72   16.0     23.0  75.8   5:36 (211, 43)  

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will close to the earth down to 0.4 AU in October and reach to 11 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, people can observe it until mid November. But because the comet is moving southwards, it will just over the horizon after the approach to the earth. It will not be obesrvable after 2000 February. On the other hand, southern people cannot see it until the approach.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  11 24.82   77  2.3   2.085   1.944    67   16.5     27.5 243.0  18:25 (179,-22)  
June 19  10 42.37   75 17.2   2.089   1.866    63   16.3     25.3 229.4  18:25 (174,-21)  

* C/1998 U5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 June 4
Fading as expected. Observation is hard because it is in the Milky Way.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  18 24.91   14  6.2   1.840   2.693   139   16.3     47.8 254.8   1:07 (180, 41)  
June 19  18  3.17   12 29.0   1.882   2.769   143   16.5     46.7 251.3   0:18 (180, 42)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
New comet. It will be over 45 deg high and 17 mag until mid November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  20 37.37   -4 44.4   4.574   5.271   128   17.0     12.3 310.4   3:18 (180, 60)  
June 19  20 32.68   -3 49.4   4.484   5.260   135   17.0     13.2 305.9   2:46 (180, 59)  

* C/1999 K3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 31
New comet. Although it is very high, it fades out rapidly as 17.5 mag in late June, 18.5 mag in late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  18  2.18   24 30.0   1.509   2.308   131   17.0     50.4 309.0   0:44 (180, 31)  
June 19  17 42.28   27 46.3   1.582   2.355   128   17.2     44.3 303.6  23:50 (180, 27)  

* 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)  
June 12   0 40.46   59  6.9   4.481   4.069    59   17.4     14.8  44.8   5:34 (193, -7)  
June 19   0 49.68   60 19.1   4.491   4.117    62   17.4     13.9  42.8   5:36 (191, -7)  

* 105P/Singer Brewster


It was 17.7 mag on June 8, as bright as expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 12  18  0.54   -6 40.3   1.110   2.096   160   17.5      9.7 286.7   0:42 (180, 62)  
June 19  17 56.06   -6 26.3   1.117   2.110   162   17.6      9.7 277.0   0:10 (180, 61)  

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