Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Mar. 18: South)

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Updated on May 2, 2000
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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 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July. It will not be observable soon. Actually, it is fainter than this ephemeris, about 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   1 33.64   25 45.7   3.027   2.302    36   13.0      3.0  79.5  19:38 (113,-13)  
Mar. 25   1 35.42   25 52.6   3.010   2.210    30   12.8      4.1  70.0  19:28 (111,-16)  

* 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. It was fainter than 12.0 mag on Feb. 11 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18  21 23.65  -21  0.7   2.290   1.676    41   12.9     38.9  78.0   4:36 (280, 23)  
Mar. 25  21 42.24  -20  1.8   2.281   1.707    43   13.1     37.6  76.9   4:42 (277, 26)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

Image: 1998 Dec. 5
Only southern people can observe it. Recently it was observed as 12 mag. 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)  
Mar. 18  22 23.30  -54 37.0   4.036   3.587    56   13.0     13.4  46.6   4:36 (319, 27)  
Mar. 25  22 30.70  -53 35.7   4.005   3.606    59   13.0     12.2  47.1   4:42 (317, 31)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   4 34.44  -72 37.5  10.747  10.680    83   13.4      4.8  16.7  19:38 ( 17, 47)  
Mar. 25   4 36.99  -72  6.0  10.782  10.729    84   13.5      4.8  24.0  19:28 ( 19, 46)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 23 deg at best in the Northern Hemisphere. It was fainter than 15.3 mag on Feb. 11 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18  17 16.98  -31 38.4   5.881   6.081    96   13.7      3.1 114.5   4:36 (258, 78)  
Mar. 25  17 18.24  -31 47.2   5.769   6.079   103   13.7      2.1 124.9   4:42 (240, 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)  
Mar. 18   1 50.18  -33 51.5   4.440   3.774    43   14.0     13.8  69.3  19:38 ( 64, 23)  
Mar. 25   1 57.70  -33 18.6   4.376   3.701    42   13.9     14.7  72.3  19:28 ( 64, 21)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18  21  9.98  -50 22.9   3.799   3.415    60   14.2     21.6 125.6   4:36 (311, 37)  
Mar. 25  21 23.22  -51 54.2   3.694   3.395    65   14.1     22.5 127.2   4:42 (312, 40)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18  23 42.15   13  0.6   5.170   4.212    14   14.3     17.6  86.8   4:36 (271,-24)  
Mar. 25  23 50.55   13  7.9   5.174   4.208    13   14.3     17.5  86.3   4:42 (267,-19)  

* 63P/Wild 1

Image: 2000 Feb. 11
It is 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris by CCD.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18  14  9.75  -27  4.0   1.282   2.119   136   14.3     16.0 204.8   2:27 (180, 82)  
Mar. 25  14  5.41  -28 40.0   1.264   2.145   142   14.5     16.1 216.9   1:55 (180, 84)  

* 64P/Swift-Gehrels


Not observable at all in this return.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   0 11.55    6  8.1   2.382   1.406     8   14.8     50.6  65.0  19:38 ( 85,-18)  
Mar. 25   0 33.41    8 37.8   2.363   1.382     7   14.6     51.7  65.5  19:28 ( 88,-19)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
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)  
Mar. 18  12 38.53   42 35.8   3.214   4.000   137   14.9     27.4 273.4   0:57 (180, 12)  
Mar. 25  12 21.26   42 36.5   3.258   4.031   135   14.9     26.9 267.4   0:12 (180, 12)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18  16 35.35   37 10.3   6.778   7.111   105   15.2      5.0 307.6   4:36 (183, 18)  
Mar. 25  16 32.71   37 30.9   6.720   7.110   109   15.2      5.8 299.3   4:22 (180, 17)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be 13 mag at good position in 2000 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18  22 34.83   30 24.8   4.645   3.888    36   15.2     11.1  25.7   4:36 (246,-20)  
Mar. 25  22 37.36   31 38.2   4.585   3.847    37   15.2     11.8  22.0   4:42 (241,-15)  

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
It faded out extremely rapidly in February and reached to 15 mag by CCD at the end of February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   5 42.13   30 23.8   1.958   2.172    88   15.4     20.0 270.3  19:38 (157, 20)  
Mar. 25   5 33.10   30 23.5   2.157   2.206    79   15.8     13.7 269.7  19:28 (151, 18)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   6 52.91   27 38.6   3.327   3.696   103   16.0      4.5  99.7  19:38 (172, 27)  
Mar. 25   6 55.69   27 32.6   3.421   3.689    97   16.0      6.2  98.9  19:28 (169, 27)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   9 25.44  -21 34.0   4.196   4.979   137   16.1     11.7 286.7  21:39 (180, 77)  
Mar. 25   9 20.23  -21  9.1   4.309   5.040   132   16.2     10.3 291.2  21:06 (180, 76)  

* C/1998 T1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 11
Gradually fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18  12 18.49   -9 48.9   2.672   3.650   167   16.2     32.7 295.8   0:37 (180, 65)  
Mar. 25  12  4.83   -8  8.4   2.727   3.719   173   16.3     31.7 296.9  23:50 (180, 63)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 5
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)  
Mar. 18   2 26.62   54 13.3   5.016   4.662    63   16.2      9.6 155.7  19:38 (143,-20)  
Mar. 25   2 30.00   53 15.8   5.061   4.615    58   16.2      9.0 149.0  19:28 (141,-21)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18  17  6.11  -18  3.9   9.714   9.944   100   16.4      1.2  61.2   4:36 (214, 70)  
Mar. 25  17  6.45  -17 59.6   9.613   9.956   107   16.4      0.7  28.5   4:42 (191, 73)  

* P/2000 C1 ( Hergenrother )

Image: 2000 Feb. 11
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)  
Mar. 18  12  3.29    9 23.2   1.107   2.096   171   16.4     10.4 310.7   0:21 (180, 46)  
Mar. 25  11 59.54   10  7.3   1.112   2.096   167   16.4      9.7 306.3  23:45 (180, 45)  

* 141P/Machholz 2

Image: 2000 Jan. 22
It was diffused in mid February. No observations reported after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   6 58.80    3 12.9   1.072   1.660   106   16.5     34.1  78.9  19:38 (170, 51)  
Mar. 25   7 13.85    3 53.2   1.199   1.736   104   17.0     31.4  80.8  19:28 (170, 51)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
Rapidly fading now. It may be brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   5 41.89   11 53.3   1.424   1.706    87   16.6     35.5  98.2  19:38 (148, 37)  
Mar. 25   5 58.60   11 17.7   1.507   1.734    85   17.0     35.4  98.2  19:28 (148, 38)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18  10 11.26   37 27.1   4.178   4.951   136   16.6      6.1 309.3  22:25 (180, 18)  
Mar. 25  10  8.74   37 50.4   4.275   4.980   130   16.6      4.7 306.4  21:55 (180, 17)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 2000 Feb. 9
It was fading gradually after November and still keeps 16.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   9 31.15    5 15.4   2.321   3.186   144   16.9      8.1 315.1  21:45 (180, 50)  
Mar. 25   9 28.99    5 53.0   2.421   3.226   137   17.0      6.1 325.1  21:15 (180, 49)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   9 43.68   31 22.6   1.884   2.699   137   17.0     47.5 272.0  21:56 (180, 24)  
Mar. 25   9 19.99   31 18.9   2.020   2.734   126   17.2     39.3 266.9  21:05 (180, 24)  

* 59P/Kearns-Kwee

Image: 1999 Dec. 29
Although it had been 16 mag for a while, it is fading out rapidly now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   7 56.74   20  7.3   2.085   2.718   119   17.3      6.3 128.9  20:11 (180, 35)  
Mar. 25   7 59.73   19 38.9   2.191   2.744   113   17.5      8.2 120.2  19:47 (180, 35)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18  17 30.50   21  5.9   6.276   6.444    95   17.4      9.2  18.2   4:36 (199, 31)  
Mar. 25  17 31.68   22  7.5   6.234   6.479    99   17.4      9.0  11.6   4:42 (191, 32)  

* (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)  
Mar. 18   9 40.68    0 28.8  12.493  13.341   147   17.5      2.8 290.0  21:55 (180, 55)  
Mar. 25   9 39.51    0 35.5  12.553  13.338   140   17.5      2.5 292.4  21:26 (180, 54)  

* P/2000 B3 ( LINEAR )


Brightened gradually and reached to 17 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   7 26.17   31  3.9   1.108   1.731   110   17.6     28.3 123.7  19:41 (180, 24)  
Mar. 25   7 39.30   29 13.6   1.171   1.745   106   17.8     29.6 122.0  19:28 (180, 26)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   8 51.46   10 16.2   2.286   3.064   134   17.7      3.9 306.7  21:05 (180, 45)  
Mar. 25   8 50.51   10 31.0   2.337   3.045   127   17.7      2.1 335.8  20:37 (180, 44)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   9 23.99    0 39.6   2.277   3.130   143   17.7      4.2 278.5  21:38 (180, 54)  
Mar. 25   9 22.54    0 43.7   2.351   3.148   136   17.8      2.1 284.7  21:09 (180, 54)  

* 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)  
Mar. 18   5 36.47   22 41.8   2.367   2.518    86   17.9     19.0  80.7  19:38 (152, 27)  
Mar. 25   5 46.20   23  1.4   2.490   2.553    82   18.1     19.8  82.6  19:28 (151, 26)  

* C/1999 XS87 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 5
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)  
Mar. 18   6 26.16   15 59.6   3.170   3.461    98   17.9      9.8  97.5  19:38 (163, 37)  
Mar. 25   6 31.20   15 50.5   3.303   3.498    92   18.0     11.1  96.8  19:28 (159, 37)  

* 50P/Arend

Image: 1999 Sept. 20
Fading very gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 18   7 19.66   40  3.1   2.241   2.709   107   17.9     13.7 143.3  19:38 (179, 15)  
Mar. 25   7 25.12   38 47.2   2.360   2.746   101   18.1     14.5 137.2  19:28 (177, 16)  

* P/1999 U3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
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)  
Mar. 18   5 39.91   29  6.7   1.983   2.186    87   18.0     26.5 109.8  19:38 (156, 21)  
Mar. 25   5 53.22   28  4.7   2.094   2.221    83   18.3     26.6 109.0  19:28 (155, 22)  

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