Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Feb. 19: North)

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Updated on February 28, 2000
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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 L3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 30
Fading after the peak in late January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   7 13.97   28 23.5   1.230   2.061   136   11.2     75.7 281.7  21:16 (  0, 84)  
Feb. 26   6 39.38   29 37.5   1.387   2.085   121   11.5     56.2 277.4  20:14 (  0, 85)  

* 9P/Tempel 1


Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere in the low sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn in 2000 June, when 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)  
Feb. 19  20  1.00  -24  5.0   2.317   1.574    32   12.2     43.6  84.4   5:18 (299, -1)  
Feb. 26  20 22.83  -23 29.6   2.311   1.596    34   12.4     42.6  82.5   5:10 (299,  0)  

* 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)  
Feb. 19  21 44.87  -59 42.7   4.101   3.522    48   12.9     17.7  45.3   5:18 (323,-34)  
Feb. 26  21 55.91  -58 17.8   4.094   3.537    49   12.9     16.7  45.4   5:10 (322,-32)  

* 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)  
Feb. 19   4 33.92  -74 54.3  10.600  10.483    80   13.3      5.1 345.7  19:09 (  2,-20)  
Feb. 26   4 32.33  -74 19.4  10.639  10.533    81   13.4      5.0 353.7  19:15 (  5,-20)  

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 30
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It will not be observable soon. It keeps the same brightness recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   1 32.53   26 24.2   2.965   2.662    62   13.6      4.3 216.0  19:09 ( 94, 44)  
Feb. 26   1 31.67   26  3.7   2.998   2.573    55   13.5      2.5 198.6  19:15 ( 98, 37)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 23 deg at best in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  17  6.32  -30 58.7   6.332   6.090    71   13.9      6.9 102.8   5:18 (334, 19)  
Feb. 26  17  9.76  -31  9.2   6.222   6.087    77   13.9      6.1 104.1   5:10 (338, 20)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

Image: 2000 Jan. 22
The component A was 10 mag in early January. Then it faded out rapidly and reached to 12 mag in late January. In mid February, it could not be detected by CCD because too diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   5 39.10   -1 47.0   0.619   1.350   112   13.9     60.0  74.6  19:45 (  0, 53)  
Feb. 26   6  3.62   -0  6.2   0.722   1.428   112   14.6     49.6  74.9  19:42 (  0, 55)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
In January, it was 12 or 13 mag visually, but it was faint as 16 mag by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  14  9.60  -19 19.9   1.434   2.032   112   14.0     19.2 158.5   4:17 (  0, 36)  
Feb. 26  14 12.27  -21 23.5   1.386   2.051   118   14.1     17.8 168.1   3:52 (  0, 34)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 30
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 mag until late 2000. It will not be observable until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  23  8.31   12 48.3   5.076   4.236    28   14.3     17.6  90.8  19:09 (100,  8)  
Feb. 26  23 16.76   12 47.9   5.111   4.229    24   14.3     17.7  89.5  19:15 (103,  3)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 July 31
It will reach to 13.5 mag in June, but will not be observable in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  20 22.61  -45 21.9   4.196   3.503    40   14.6     18.9 119.4   5:18 (314,-17)  
Feb. 26  20 33.75  -46 28.7   4.103   3.479    45   14.5     19.5 120.7   5:10 (316,-16)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 25
It will keep 14 mag until 2000 March. It is 13 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  13 41.61   39 35.3   3.232   3.885   125   14.7     23.6 295.3   3:49 (180, 85)  
Feb. 26  13 27.79   40 41.4   3.200   3.913   130   14.8     25.4 290.3   3:08 (180, 84)  

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


It is expected to be bright as 7 mag in late 2000. Northern people cannot observe it until December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   1 25.67  -36 26.3   4.611   4.062    50   14.9     10.4  54.8  19:09 ( 41,  2)  
Feb. 26   1 30.91  -35 44.9   4.581   3.991    48   14.8     11.3  59.0  19:15 ( 46, -1)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 2000 Jan. 22
Fading now. It is 13.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   4 35.19   14 40.4   1.125   1.617    99   15.1     34.9 102.3  19:09 ( 19, 69)  
Feb. 26   4 51.72   13 51.8   1.195   1.636    96   15.4     35.2 100.6  19:15 ( 29, 66)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
It will be observable as 15 mag with a good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  16 39.53   35 45.3   7.043   7.116    90   15.3      2.7   6.3   5:18 (261, 72)  
Feb. 26  16 39.41   36  5.2   6.974   7.115    94   15.2      3.0 346.5   5:10 (261, 76)  

* C/1998 M5 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
Gradually fading. The altitude in the Northerm Hemisphere will not high after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   9 53.46  -22 26.4   3.882   4.732   145   15.7     15.8 269.3   0:02 (  0, 33)  
Feb. 26   9 45.63  -22 23.4   3.938   4.794   146   15.8     15.2 273.7  23:21 (  0, 33)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 2000 Jan. 15
Actually, it will be brighter than this ephemeris. It is 14 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   6 51.63   27 46.7   2.992   3.722   131   15.8      3.3 274.4  20:56 (  0, 83)  
Feb. 26   6 50.41   27 47.3   3.066   3.715   124   15.8      1.3 268.0  20:27 (  0, 83)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 1999 Dec. 27
Gradually fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  13 12.98  -15 34.8   2.689   3.373   126   15.8     26.9 290.7   3:21 (  0, 39)  
Feb. 26  13  0.24  -14 22.4   2.654   3.442   136   15.9     29.6 292.1   2:41 (  0, 41)  

* 106P/Schuster

Image: 2000 Jan. 22
Rapidly fading since December. It is 14 mag visually, a bit brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   2 47.81   29  1.7   1.576   1.691    78   16.1     38.6  62.7  19:09 ( 88, 61)  
Feb. 26   3  6.44   30 58.0   1.658   1.721    76   16.3     38.2  65.6  19:15 ( 94, 58)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 22
It will reach to 13 mag in 2000 November. It will be brightening gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   2 19.69   59 19.4   4.806   4.855    86   16.3     13.1 180.8  19:09 (145, 54)  
Feb. 26   2 20.10   57 51.2   4.860   4.806    81   16.3     12.1 174.8  19:15 (141, 50)  

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
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)  
Feb. 19  10 25.12   34 35.1   3.910   4.833   156   16.3     10.6 321.7   0:33 (  0, 90)  
Feb. 26  10 21.38   35 29.7   3.957   4.862   153   16.4      9.8 318.2   0:02 (180, 90)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 1999 Nov. 19
It seems to be fading gradually after November and still keeps 16 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   9 48.88    2 12.4   2.046   3.023   169   16.4     14.0 298.7  23:52 (  0, 57)  
Feb. 26   9 43.36    3  0.0   2.094   3.064   166   16.5     13.2 301.3  23:19 (  0, 58)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since June. The altitude will be 38 deg at best after this in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  17  1.36  -18 15.5  10.129   9.896    73   16.5      3.7  86.4   5:18 (329, 31)  
Feb. 26  17  3.04  -18 13.5  10.027   9.908    80   16.5      3.1  83.9   5:10 (334, 32)  

* P/2000 C1 ( Hergenrother )


New comet. It keeps 16.5-17 mag until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  12 12.97    6  3.5   1.202   2.108   148   16.6      6.1 354.3   2:21 (  0, 61)  
Feb. 26  12 12.04    6 49.6   1.162   2.103   155   16.6      7.7 334.8   1:52 (  0, 62)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Image: 1999 Dec. 29
It keeps 16 mag and the good position until February. It is 14 mag visually, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   7 56.97   21 48.9   1.734   2.621   147   16.6      6.2 238.5  22:01 (  0, 77)  
Feb. 26   7 54.96   21 25.4   1.809   2.644   139   16.7      4.4 218.0  21:32 (  0, 76)  

* P/1998 U3 ( Jager )

Image: 1999 May 12
Appearing at dawn. No observations reported since June 13. It may be much fainter than this ephemeris. The altitude will be around 15 deg after this in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  15  3.81  -38 31.3   3.435   3.653    94   16.8      7.4 148.8   5:11 (  0, 16)  
Feb. 26  15  5.55  -39 13.6   3.379   3.695   100   16.8      6.1 160.9   4:45 (  0, 16)  

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 21
Although it has been brightening after perihelion passage, it turned to be fading rapidly after mid January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   4 47.22   33 54.6   1.571   2.057   104   16.8     25.8 117.4  19:09 ( 72, 86)  
Feb. 26   5  0.18   32 34.7   1.668   2.088   100   17.1     26.0 114.8  19:15 ( 75, 82)  

* 1999 LD31


Retrograde asteroid. It will be overhead as 17 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  11 47.34   25 12.0   1.657   2.575   152   16.9     64.0 292.8   1:56 (  0, 80)  
Feb. 26  11 15.65   27 48.4   1.656   2.604   158   16.9     64.8 288.0   0:57 (  0, 83)  

* 84P/Giclas

Image: 2000 Jan. 3
After the perihelion passage, it has been getting brighter. But now it is fading since January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   5  3.66   20 50.8   1.892   2.379   107   17.0     14.1  70.2  19:09 (  1, 76)  
Feb. 26   5 10.74   21 22.9   2.007   2.413   101   17.3     15.6  73.6  19:15 ( 25, 75)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )

Image: 1999 Nov. 28
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)  
Feb. 19   1 49.94   22 47.9   7.135   6.769    64   17.1      5.8  52.8  19:09 ( 87, 46)  
Feb. 26   1 52.48   23 13.6   7.201   6.735    58   17.1      6.6  54.4  19:15 ( 92, 40)  

* C/1999 S3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 22
It has got diffused in December and now fading rapidly. It is 14 mag visually, a bit brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  21  0.51   65 49.8   2.215   2.237    78   17.2     23.4  12.5   5:18 (209, 33)  
Feb. 26  21  6.35   68 36.7   2.248   2.280    79   17.7     25.2  10.3   5:10 (206, 34)  

* C/1999 XS87 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 15
It keeps the good condition until March, but it will fade out after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   6 13.39   16 40.5   2.671   3.318   123   17.3      3.5 121.0  20:18 (  0, 72)  
Feb. 26   6 15.32   16 28.7   2.788   3.353   116   17.5      5.1 107.8  19:53 (  0, 71)  

* C/1999 F2 ( Dalcanton )

Image: 1999 June 30
It keeps the good condition until autumn. It will fade out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  17 20.72   17 12.3   6.467   6.307    76   17.4     10.4  41.9   5:18 (293, 56)  
Feb. 26  17 23.88   18  7.6   6.418   6.341    81   17.4     10.1  36.5   5:10 (297, 60)  

* P/1999 V1 ( Catalina )


Although the condition is good until April, it will be only 17 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   9 38.25    0 33.6   2.097   3.067   166   17.5     10.1 266.3  23:42 (  0, 56)  
Feb. 26   9 33.71    0 31.2   2.122   3.082   162   17.5      9.3 269.5  23:10 (  0, 56)  

* (10199) Chariklo

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)  
Feb. 19   9 46.59    0  3.7  12.385  13.352   167   17.5      3.6 282.0  23:50 (  0, 55)  
Feb. 26   9 44.99    0  9.2  12.390  13.349   164   17.5      3.5 284.0  23:21 (  0, 55)  

* 50P/Arend

Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Fading out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   7  9.98   45 25.5   1.819   2.563   129   17.6     11.7 185.0  21:14 (180, 80)  
Feb. 26   7 10.17   44  3.3   1.915   2.599   123   17.8     11.8 172.3  20:47 (180, 81)  

* D/1984 H1 ( Kowal-Mrkos )


Only 8 observations reported during one month in 1984. The orbit and brightness are extremely uncertain. The ephemeris says it is highest and brightest until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   9  4.81    8 55.0   2.184   3.147   164   17.7     10.4 287.1  23:09 (  0, 64)  
Feb. 26   9  0.33    9 16.7   2.191   3.126   156   17.7      9.4 289.3  22:37 (  0, 64)  

* C/1999 U1 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 Nov. 13
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)  
Feb. 19   3  8.51   16 27.3   6.103   6.004    79   17.7      4.8 355.5  19:09 ( 62, 58)  
Feb. 26   3  8.60   17  0.7   6.262   6.043    72   17.8      4.8   8.4  19:15 ( 71, 52)  

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )


New comet. It will fade out after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   4 22.82   22 57.6   2.874   3.168    98   17.8      9.5  86.7  19:09 ( 40, 75)  
Feb. 26   4 28.06   23  2.2   2.971   3.168    92   17.9     11.2  86.0  19:15 ( 56, 71)  

* C/1999 J4 ( LINEAR )


Both the brightness and altitude are at best now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19  12 59.57   77 18.9   3.408   3.869   110   17.8     29.2 312.1   3:09 (180, 48)  
Feb. 26  12  3.67   79  8.7   3.445   3.883   109   17.9     28.6 294.9   1:46 (180, 46)  

* P/1998 U4 ( Spahr )


The best condition of this comet is until March, at 45 deg high as 18 mag for the Northern people.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 19   7 44.21  -12 15.1   3.423   4.203   137   17.9      9.4 329.6  21:48 (  0, 43)  
Feb. 26   7 42.28  -11 16.9   3.480   4.216   132   18.0      9.1 338.7  21:19 (  0, 44)  

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