Weekly Information about Bright Comets (1999 Nov. 13: North)

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Updated on November 20, 1999
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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

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* C/1999 J3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 22
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)  
Nov. 13   3 50.87  -74 23.3   0.936   1.334    87   10.5     61.8 246.4   0:30 (  0,-19)  
Nov. 20   2 19.20  -75 19.1   1.111   1.412    84   11.3     43.0 273.7  22:16 (  0,-20)  

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Rapidly brightening and it is 11 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  21  0.47   56  3.0   1.406   1.896   103   12.0     24.4 243.8  18:23 (161, 67)  
Nov. 20  20 45.34   54 51.0   1.484   1.899    98   12.1     17.9 238.2  18:20 (148, 65)  

* C/1999 H1 ( Lee )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Although it locates in good positon until December, it will fade out rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  22 25.77    9 42.8   1.702   2.251   110   12.1     27.0 192.3  18:57 (  0, 65)  
Nov. 20  22 24.12    7  2.1   1.918   2.344   102   12.6     19.9 184.3  18:28 (  0, 62)  

* 9P/Tempel 1


Not observable around the perihelion passage at all. When it appears at dawn in 2000 June, it will be already fainter than 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  14 40.75  -11 52.3   2.552   1.584     9   12.5     45.3 112.2   5:04 (278, -9)  
Nov. 20  15  1.10  -13 49.4   2.522   1.563    10   12.4     46.0 110.9   5:10 (282, -7)  

* 10P/Tempel 2

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It tends to be brighter after perihelion passage, but actually it is as bright as before perihelion. It may be a bit brighter than the ephmeris. It is fainter than 13 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  21 30.00  -27 23.7   1.356   1.622    85   12.5     40.9  72.4  18:23 (  5, 27)  
Nov. 20  21 50.11  -25 51.6   1.433   1.651    83   12.9     40.5  70.2  18:20 (  6, 29)  

* 141P/Machholz 2


The nucleus D has brightened rapidly and reached to 12 mag in early November visually. It may be much brighter than this ephemris. Interesting object!
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  18 47.53  -11 50.4   0.991   0.877    52   13.3     45.4  88.5  18:23 ( 51, 26)  
Nov. 20  19 10.19  -11 40.4   0.913   0.823    51   12.6     49.8  88.3  18:20 ( 52, 26)  

* 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)  
Nov. 13  14 29.41  -75 56.0   3.853   3.439    58   12.6     26.9 107.0   5:04 (343,-34)  
Nov. 20  15 21.11  -76 33.9   3.873   3.437    57   12.6     26.7  97.9   5:10 (344,-35)  

* 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)  
Nov. 13   6 51.43  -76  1.9   9.894   9.780    80   12.9      6.7 216.6   3:25 (  0,-21)  
Nov. 20   6 42.86  -76 37.0   9.954   9.831    80   12.9      6.6 224.9   2:49 (  0,-22)  

* 106P/Schuster

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Unexpectedly bright. It was observed visually as 13 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   0 13.36  -16 54.4   0.805   1.589   124   13.1     31.7   0.0  20:44 (  0, 38)  
Nov. 20   0 14.47  -13  7.6   0.829   1.574   119   13.0     33.3   7.9  20:18 (  0, 42)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 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)  
Nov. 13  21 29.39   21 10.6   4.128   4.417   100   14.0     14.0 141.6  18:23 ( 21, 75)  
Nov. 20  21 34.04   19 56.6   4.197   4.399    95   14.0     14.2 135.6  18:20 ( 34, 72)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in 2000 January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  15 49.53  -27 51.3   7.077   6.118    13   14.1     11.6 100.7  18:23 ( 67,-16)  
Nov. 20  15 55.60  -28  6.4   7.089   6.116     9   14.2     11.7 100.6  18:20 ( 69,-19)  

* C/1999 N2 ( Lynn )

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
Although it was 14.7 mag on Oct. 10 by CCD, it is around 12 mag visually still now. It turns to be in the morning sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  14 17.79   48 27.9   2.241   2.072    67   14.3     25.6  31.2   5:04 (228, 27)  
Nov. 20  14 27.37   51  7.9   2.247   2.165    72   14.6     27.3  28.8   5:10 (227, 32)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 30
Not observable. It appears again at dawn as 15 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  14  5.11  -18 56.9   3.333   2.395    15   14.8      3.7 107.4   5:04 (289, -6)  
Nov. 20  14  6.67  -19  4.4   3.352   2.464    21   14.9      3.0 110.4   5:10 (294,  0)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
Rapidly brightening. It will reach to 14 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   2 23.65   44 49.1   0.746   1.682   151   15.1     15.5 192.3  22:54 (180, 80)  
Nov. 20   2 22.09   42 47.7   0.721   1.658   151   14.9     19.5 183.9  22:25 (180, 82)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It turns to be in the morning sky. It will keep 14 mag until 2000 March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  14 28.37   30 33.7   4.155   3.590    49   14.9      4.2 134.2   5:04 (244, 17)  
Nov. 20  14 29.91   30 17.5   4.119   3.605    52   14.9      3.1 122.7   5:10 (248, 23)  

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 17
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It keeps a good position until 2000 February when it will be 13 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   4  3.61   37  7.3   2.887   3.820   157   15.1     25.4 271.5   0:39 (180, 88)  
Nov. 20   3 48.06   37  4.8   2.788   3.742   162   15.0     27.6 267.4  23:49 (180, 88)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 22
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as 15.4 mag on Oct. 17 by Kadota.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  10 56.66   -9 44.6   4.213   3.849    61   15.0     12.0 171.0   5:04 (315, 34)  
Nov. 20  10 57.21  -11  7.3   4.171   3.913    68   15.0     11.7 178.0   5:10 (325, 37)  

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


It is expected to be bright as 7 mag in late 2000. It keeps extremely low until 2000 January for nothern people, then they cannot observe it until 2000 December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   1 33.91  -42 47.4   4.521   5.026   115   15.3      9.5 255.4  22:04 (  0, 12)  
Nov. 20   1 28.27  -42 59.0   4.526   4.960   110   15.2      8.5 263.5  21:31 (  0, 12)  

* 84P/Giclas

Image: 1999 Oct. 10
After the perihelion passage, it is still getting brighter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   5 21.57   13 13.2   1.063   1.975   148   15.6      6.7 283.8   1:56 (  0, 68)  
Nov. 20   5 17.71   13 27.1   1.054   1.997   155   15.6      9.7 284.0   1:24 (  0, 68)  

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )


It will reach to 13.5 mag in late January and will be observable under good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  12 26.20   -8 54.6   2.730   2.086    40   15.9      2.8 351.6   5:04 (296, 19)  
Nov. 20  12 25.60   -8 32.5   2.585   2.062    48   15.7      4.2 329.0   5:10 (302, 26)  

* 63P/Wild 1


Kojima recovered it on Nov. 4 as 15.9 mag. It keeps 15 mag until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  11 48.44   10 55.0   2.356   2.009    57   15.9     34.1 121.8   5:04 (286, 39)  
Nov. 20  12  2.05    8 48.4   2.284   1.995    60   15.8     33.8 122.6   5:10 (292, 42)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
It will be 14 mag at good position in 2000 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  22 27.01   26 49.2   4.182   4.681   114   15.8     11.7 242.9  18:58 (  0, 82)  
Nov. 20  22 22.09   26 13.0   4.238   4.634   107   15.8      9.9 239.8  18:26 (  0, 81)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Image: 1999 Oct. 17
It keeps 16 mag and the good position until 2000 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   8 29.74   25 38.4   1.902   2.381   106   16.5     11.5 109.3   5:03 (  0, 81)  
Nov. 20   8 34.66   25 13.0   1.834   2.392   112   16.4      8.9 112.8   4:40 (  0, 80)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
Appearing at dawn. It was observed as faint as 16.2 mag on Oct. 20 by Kadota.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  10  1.76    2 52.2   2.424   2.434    78   16.6     15.9 117.6   5:04 (322, 52)  
Nov. 20  10  7.87    2  2.7   2.375   2.477    84   16.7     13.8 119.3   5:10 (332, 54)  

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although it locates at good position for a while, it will fade out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   3 23.49   58 33.5   0.983   1.848   139   16.6      4.2 226.8  23:54 (180, 66)  
Nov. 20   3 20.76   57 58.8   0.969   1.848   141   16.6      7.6 202.8  23:23 (180, 67)  

* C/1999 U1 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 Oct. 20
New comet. Although the condition is good, it will fade out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   4 13.69    9 44.4   4.518   5.471   162   16.7     16.2 281.9   0:48 (  0, 65)  
Nov. 20   4  6.12   10  8.2   4.535   5.507   168   16.7     16.4 282.3   0:13 (  0, 65)  

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

Image: 1999 Apr. 8
It was 16.8 mag on Oct. 22, as bright as expected. It keeps 16 mag at good position until 2000 May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  10 23.68   20 36.8   4.521   4.460    80   16.8     10.3  64.2   5:04 (293, 61)  
Nov. 20  10 28.04   21 10.8   4.437   4.484    86   16.8      9.7  57.3   5:10 (302, 67)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
Although it will be very low in winter, we can observe it as 17 mag in next spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  19 25.74    4 51.0   5.838   5.523    66   16.8      5.5  61.0  18:23 ( 57, 45)  
Nov. 20  19 28.21    5 11.0   5.943   5.537    61   16.8      6.4  61.9  18:20 ( 62, 41)  

* (3200) Phaethon

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
Mother asteroid of Geminids. Very few observations have been reported and this object is in the M.P.E.C. CRITICAL-LIST.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   1  4.38   38  0.2   1.257   2.148   145   16.8     34.1 222.1  21:34 (180, 87)  
Nov. 20   0 52.84   35  6.5   1.330   2.183   140   16.9     29.4 215.2  20:55 (  0, 90)  

* 50P/Arend

Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Now the brightness is at peak, but faint.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   8 12.75   47 43.2   1.528   2.118   112   16.8     10.9  54.1   4:46 (180, 77)  
Nov. 20   8 17.73   48 28.6   1.495   2.144   117   16.8      8.5  39.2   4:24 (180, 77)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
It locates high at dawn now. It was already observed on Sept. 14.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   7 39.29   24 27.8   3.265   3.826   117   16.9      1.9  34.5   4:13 (  0, 79)  
Nov. 20   7 39.37   24 40.2   3.168   3.818   124   16.8      2.1 338.3   3:45 (  0, 80)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


New comet. It will reach to 15 mag in 2001.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   2  2.00   20 22.3   6.020   6.974   163   16.9      7.3 273.2  22:32 (  0, 75)  
Nov. 20   1 58.46   20 24.9   6.023   6.938   156   16.9      6.9 273.0  22:01 (  0, 75)  

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Because it is extremely far away, it keeps brighter than 17 mag until late 2000.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   2 38.80   15 27.4   4.799   5.781   171   17.0     15.6 226.6  23:09 (  0, 70)  
Nov. 20   2 33.40   14 12.3   4.809   5.762   163   17.0     15.3 225.8  22:36 (  0, 69)  

* C/1999 K6 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
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)  
Nov. 13  20  9.25   30 25.9   2.441   2.575    86   17.0     26.6  99.9  18:23 ( 85, 68)  
Nov. 20  20 23.57   29 55.7   2.520   2.614    84   17.2     27.2  98.4  18:20 ( 86, 66)  

* 37P/Forbes

Image: 1999 Oct. 11
It is already very faint.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13  23 49.12    6 56.0   1.607   2.365   129   17.5      3.1  88.2  20:20 (  0, 62)  
Nov. 20  23 51.19    6 59.9   1.723   2.411   123   17.8      5.7  79.6  19:55 (  0, 62)  

* C/1998 W3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Mar. 22
Fading very slowly. After appearing at dawn, it was observed as 17.7 mag, as bright as expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   6 18.71   66 50.9   5.206   5.798   122   17.7     16.3 307.0   2:53 (180, 58)  
Nov. 20   6  1.92   67 53.6   5.180   5.825   126   17.7     16.7 299.4   2:09 (180, 57)  

* C/1999 V1 ( Catalina )


New comet. Although the condition is good until April, it will be only 17.5 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   9 44.03   10 19.9   3.034   3.115    85   17.8     15.7 127.1   5:04 (322, 60)  
Nov. 20   9 49.57    9 14.4   2.954   3.128    90   17.8     14.3 130.3   5:10 (335, 62)  

* 65P/Gunn

Image: 1999 Feb. 6
At aphelion now. No observations have been reported since Feb. 17.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   5 57.42   26 22.0   3.920   4.727   140   17.9      6.5 282.6   2:31 (  0, 81)  
Nov. 20   5 53.77   26 31.6   3.857   4.728   148   17.8      7.8 279.9   2:00 (  0, 82)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


Fading very slowly. Nakamura observed it on Nov. 4 and it was 17.7 mag, a bit brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 13   2 56.13   11 14.0   3.805   4.788   172   18.0      9.0 261.0  23:26 (  0, 66)  
Nov. 20   2 51.98   11  4.9   3.833   4.797   165   18.0      8.6 262.2  22:55 (  0, 66)  

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