Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Aug. 21: South)

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Updated on August 28, 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 July 31
The CCD images show the narrow tail and broad anti-tail. Southern observers cannot see it until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   6 53.47   44 50.0   1.357   1.067    51    7.4     37.4 316.9   5:09 (217, -5)  
Aug. 28   6 33.45   48 14.1   1.238   1.165    61    7.7     46.1 312.8   5:01 (210, -3)  

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

Image: 1999 July 31
It is one mag brighter than the ephemris. It is alwasy observable for Northern people. It locates low at dusk until late October, then it turns to appear at dawn. It passes near by the North Pole in early February in 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  12 41.44   25 40.4   1.447   0.944    40    9.6     29.3  38.8  18:57 (126,  5)  
Aug. 28  12 50.12   28  3.7   1.597   1.025    38   10.1     23.9  39.4  19:01 (125, -1)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 July 31
10 mag visually, well condensed and easy to see. It is stellar by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  17 30.04  -24 22.2   0.745   1.494   115    9.7     29.8 125.8  19:33 (180, 79)  
Aug. 28  17 43.60  -26 17.8   0.775   1.486   112    9.7     32.2 119.0  19:19 (180, 81)  

* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
Very diffused. It will close to the earth down to 0.4 AU in October and reach to 8 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)  
Aug. 21   8 52.73   55  9.6   1.567   1.108    44   10.9     22.8 198.8   5:09 (220,-27)  
Aug. 28   8 46.55   52 27.8   1.447   1.057    46   10.5     26.3 198.6   5:01 (220,-22)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 30
Too low for the Northern observers. After conjunction, it appears again at dawn as 15 mag in December. On the other hand, it keeps high until late August in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  13 47.92  -20 47.0   1.817   1.670    65   11.9      9.7 334.7  18:57 ( 97, 47)  
Aug. 28  13 46.62  -19 55.8   2.024   1.717    57   12.3      6.2 348.0  19:01 ( 92, 40)  

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )


Only southern people can observe it. Northern people can never see it again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   6 51.29  -66 50.4   9.169   9.158    86   12.4      7.1 144.4   5:09 (332, 45)  
Aug. 28   6 55.98  -67 32.1   9.227   9.210    85   12.5      7.1 149.3   5:01 (334, 46)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 July 30
12 mag visually. 14 mag by CCD. The condition keeps good until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   0 44.89    8 49.2   0.982   1.832   133   12.5      8.4 302.3   2:50 (180, 46)  
Aug. 28   0 40.66    9 14.1   0.977   1.874   141   12.7     11.0 283.8   2:18 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   9 34.30  -54 18.3   3.829   3.555    66   12.8     20.5 133.0   5:09 (321, 24)  
Aug. 28   9 46.78  -55 59.4   3.821   3.539    66   12.8     21.5 134.1   5:01 (322, 25)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1998 Dec. 13
Appearing over horizon at dawn, but it is too low to observe until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   7 44.50   14 47.5   2.733   1.960    32   13.3     33.4 102.7   5:09 (246,  7)  
Aug. 28   7 59.88   13 53.9   2.728   1.996    35   13.5     32.3 104.1   5:01 (246,  9)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
No outburst in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  14 51.71  -25 49.1   6.223   6.142    80   13.9      5.6  91.5  18:57 (101, 62)  
Aug. 28  14 54.81  -25 51.2   6.328   6.140    74   13.9      6.4  94.1  19:01 ( 95, 56)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 May 20
Not observable. 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)  
Aug. 21  10 13.07    7 59.4   4.084   3.079     5   13.9     17.9 140.1  18:57 ( 91,-13)  
Aug. 28  10 18.40    6 24.2   4.150   3.143     3   14.1     17.5 140.4   5:01 (272,-15)  

* 106P/Schuster


Not yet observed in this return. Now is the chance for the first observation. It will keep around 25 deg high until October when it becomes 12.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   1  5.11  -30 18.9   1.118   1.957   133   14.6      7.7 146.0   3:10 (180, 85)  
Aug. 28   1  6.56  -31  2.8   1.050   1.917   136   14.3      6.2 170.9   2:44 (180, 86)  

* 84P/Giclas


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it as 14 mag from summer though winter under good condition. However, it will be surely much fainter than the ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   4  0.27   12  0.9   1.596   1.846    87   14.5     29.5  82.9   5:09 (198, 41)  
Aug. 28   4 13.91   12 23.2   1.537   1.846    90   14.4     28.0  84.2   5:01 (196, 41)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Aug. 1
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)  
Aug. 21  21 25.91   36 42.8   3.958   4.677   130   14.7      7.9 218.5  23:27 (180, 18)  
Aug. 28  21 23.13   35 54.2   3.916   4.652   131   14.6      9.0 211.2  22:57 (180, 19)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
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.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  14 25.13   44  1.8   3.811   3.500    64   14.6     16.8 201.7  18:57 (154,  4)  
Aug. 28  14 21.78   42 15.5   3.882   3.501    60   14.7     15.4 196.3  19:01 (148,  2)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
Almost stellar object. 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)  
Aug. 21  18 26.21  -23 41.9   3.693   4.395   128   15.3     14.1 226.3  20:28 (180, 79)  
Aug. 28  18 21.44  -24 48.1   3.752   4.354   120   15.3     12.5 222.4  19:56 (180, 80)  

* 50P/Arend


Not yet observed in this return. We can observe it as 15 mag from summer though winter under good condition. However, maybe it is much fainter actually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   5 15.35   37 54.4   2.069   1.923    67   15.3     33.6  71.1   5:09 (206, 11)  
Aug. 28   5 34.15   39  6.5   2.019   1.929    70   15.3     32.7  72.3   5:01 (205, 10)  

* P/1988 V1 ( Ge-Wang )


First return, but not yet detected. It will be brightest soon. However, it is surely much fainter actually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   2  4.81    8 33.9   1.926   2.531   115   15.5      9.5 109.7   4:09 (180, 46)  
Aug. 28   2  8.47    8  7.3   1.863   2.541   121   15.4      7.9 123.7   3:46 (180, 47)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 1999 July 31
Because it is extremely far away, it keeps 15 mag until late 2000, while Northern people can observe it under good condition. Looks like a stellar object by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  15 32.17   50 57.8   7.436   7.263    76   15.5     11.5 181.5  18:57 (167,  2)  
Aug. 28  15 32.27   49 37.7   7.467   7.254    73   15.5     11.4 177.1  19:01 (162,  2)  

* 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)  
Aug. 21   5 20.62   46 42.9   2.555   2.353    67   15.6     23.9  67.3   5:09 (203,  3)  
Aug. 28   5 35.37   47 45.1   2.515   2.382    70   15.7     22.5  67.2   5:01 (201,  2)  

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
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.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  18 18.62   37 42.5   1.739   2.269   108   15.8      2.8 116.7  20:21 (180, 17)  
Aug. 28  18 20.89   37 28.0   1.786   2.281   105   15.8      6.0 118.4  19:56 (180, 18)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. No astrometric observations have been reported since 1996 December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   4 22.92   43 18.9   1.333   1.485    77   16.1     10.6 352.3   5:09 (194, 10)  
Aug. 28   4 20.79   44 32.5   1.308   1.562    83   16.2     11.7 333.5   5:01 (190,  9)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
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)  
Aug. 21  19 40.00    1 53.9   4.538   5.378   142   16.1     11.3 286.3  21:42 (180, 53)  
Aug. 28  19 35.22    2 14.5   4.614   5.388   136   16.1     10.0 285.9  21:09 (180, 53)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
Stellar object.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  15 46.82  -15 49.8   9.536   9.599    90   16.3      2.3 107.5  18:57 (137, 66)  
Aug. 28  15 48.02  -15 55.0   9.661   9.610    84   16.3      2.9 106.2  19:01 (125, 61)  

* 134P/Kowal-Vavrova

Image: 1999 June 14
Ageo Survey Team failed to catch it on July 31. Probably it have faded out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  18 23.47  -17 48.2   2.643   3.360   127   16.5      1.8 140.7  20:26 (180, 73)  
Aug. 28  18 24.50  -17 57.8   2.755   3.393   121   16.6      3.3 113.7  19:59 (180, 73)  

* C/1999 F2 ( Dalcanton )

Image: 1999 June 30
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)  
Aug. 21  15  9.54   12 25.1   5.665   5.500    75   16.5      6.7 106.8  18:57 (148, 36)  
Aug. 28  15 12.80   12 11.2   5.781   5.527    70   16.5      7.5 105.6  19:01 (140, 33)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee


Appearing at dawn. It will be 16 mag and locale high in next autumn and winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   6 12.99   30 19.9   2.777   2.348    55   16.6     27.9  91.1   5:09 (220, 11)  
Aug. 28   6 27.90   30 13.1   2.708   2.344    58   16.6     27.3  92.7   5:01 (219, 12)  

* P/1999 P1 ( Machholz 2 )


First return of a split comet. The condition is best and we can always observe it until it faded out. It wad recovered as about 20.5 mag (m2) on Aug. 3, about 3 mag fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  16 41.14  -10 43.6   1.255   1.774   102   17.0      1.5 290.2  18:57 (172, 66)  
Aug. 28  16 41.50  -10 42.7   1.266   1.700    95   16.6      2.9  94.5  19:01 (154, 64)  

* 88P/Howell

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Appearing at dawn. It is probably much fainter than the ephemris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   4 50.06   22 19.7   3.263   3.133    73   16.8     11.2  79.9   5:09 (208, 27)  
Aug. 28   4 55.23   22 32.5   3.200   3.171    79   16.8      9.6  79.7   5:01 (204, 29)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff


Not yet observed in this return. The condition is best. It will keep over 75 deg high until next February in Northern Hemisphere. It will be 13 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21   1 54.93   37 37.4   1.589   2.100   105   17.3     20.2  44.1   3:59 (180, 17)  
Aug. 28   2  2.98   39 17.8   1.490   2.059   109   17.1     19.1  42.3   3:40 (180, 16)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


We can observe it as 17.5 mag until October. After conjunction, we can observe it again as 17 mag in spring and autumn in 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  18 30.01   -0 18.6   5.218   5.881   126   17.3     13.9 257.0  20:32 (180, 55)  
Aug. 28  18 24.03   -0 41.0   5.301   5.865   119   17.3     12.5 254.9  19:58 (180, 56)  

* 137P/Shoemaker-Levy 2


It keeps 17.5 mag and 40 deg high until October. A stellar object.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 21  19 46.71  -13 51.2   1.510   2.426   147   17.3      8.4 255.1  21:48 (180, 69)  
Aug. 28  19 43.41  -14  6.1   1.522   2.389   140   17.3      5.9 249.3  21:18 (180, 69)  

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