Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Apr. 15: North)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on May 3, 2000
Last week South Next week

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
It will be 3 mag in 2000 July, but it is a few mag fainter actually. Not observable now. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn in late May as 10 mag, then keeps observable until early August. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates very low between late May and mid June, however, it locates high after late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   1 43.86   26 50.0   2.875   1.940    17   12.2      5.8  52.0  20:01 (128, -5)  
Apr. 22   1 46.46   27 18.0   2.788   1.838    15   11.9      6.9  50.2   3:48 (231, -5)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15  22 48.00  -51 11.4   3.876   3.669    70   13.0      8.1  48.2   3:59 (319,-20)  
Apr. 22  22 52.05  -50 36.9   3.823   3.692    74   13.0      6.6  47.9   3:48 (320,-18)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15   2 23.44  -32  0.0   4.139   3.480    43   13.5     17.3  80.3  20:01 ( 71,-31)  
Apr. 22   2 33.07  -31 41.7   4.047   3.406    44   13.4     18.2  82.8  20:08 ( 74,-36)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 23 deg at best in the Northern Hemisphere. Now it is not in outburst.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  17 18.30  -32  9.3   5.457   6.073   123   13.6      1.9 243.1   3:45 (  0, 23)  
Apr. 22  17 17.07  -32 14.6   5.367   6.070   130   13.5      2.8 256.4   3:16 (  0, 23)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15   4 48.68  -70 44.5  10.883  10.875    86   13.5      4.7  45.0  20:01 ( 21,-27)  
Apr. 22   4 53.62  -70 22.5  10.917  10.924    87   13.6      4.7  51.6  20:08 ( 22,-29)  

* 9P/Tempel 1


Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 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)  
Apr. 15  22 32.93  -16 56.7   2.242   1.808    52   13.7     33.2  74.8   3:59 (292,  2)  
Apr. 22  22 48.15  -15 56.2   2.224   1.845    55   13.9     31.7  74.5   3:48 (292,  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)  
Apr. 15  22  8.13  -57 12.6   3.386   3.344    79   13.9     25.6 131.2   3:59 (328,-19)  
Apr. 22  22 25.52  -59 13.3   3.292   3.330    83   13.8     26.7 131.9   3:48 (329,-20)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15   1 43.04   15 50.7   2.334   1.342     6   14.2     53.5  68.7  20:01 (120,-12)  
Apr. 22   2  7.53   18  1.4   2.334   1.339     6   14.1     53.6  70.3  20:08 (123,-13)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15   0 15.30   13 33.3   5.133   4.201    19   14.3     16.9  85.9   3:59 (253, -1)  
Apr. 22   0 23.33   13 41.5   5.103   4.200    23   14.3     16.6  86.1   3:48 (254,  1)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be 13 mag at good position in 2000 September. It was reported as 13.5 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  22 43.31   36  0.4   4.347   3.730    46   14.9     14.2   9.7   3:59 (244, 29)  
Apr. 22  22 44.43   37 42.2   4.252   3.693    50   14.8     15.1   5.3   3:48 (244, 32)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15  13 45.13  -32  2.3   1.273   2.233   157   15.0     15.1 245.9   0:13 (  0, 23)  
Apr. 22  13 37.60  -32 37.5   1.298   2.265   158   15.2     13.8 253.5  23:33 (  0, 22)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15  16 21.11   38 16.0   6.582   7.110   118   15.1      8.0 279.2   2:48 (180, 87)  
Apr. 22  16 16.19   38 22.2   6.552   7.111   120   15.1      8.6 273.3   2:16 (180, 87)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
It will fade out gradually after this, but it can be observed as 17.5 mag in 2001 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  11 35.14   40 48.8   3.500   4.126   122   15.2     22.8 248.8  21:58 (180, 84)  
Apr. 22  11 22.94   39 45.3   3.612   4.159   116   15.3     21.0 242.5  21:18 (180, 85)  

* P/2000 B3 ( LINEAR )


It kept brightening even after perihelion passage and reached to 15.5 mag in mid April. But it began to fade out rapidly after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   8 20.98   23 47.4   1.388   1.804    96   16.0     31.9 119.0  20:01 ( 60, 70)  
Apr. 22   8 35.23   21 58.7   1.468   1.828    93   16.4     32.3 118.6  20:08 ( 64, 65)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh

Image: 2000 Jan. 15
It was reported as 13.5-14.0 mag visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   7  9.01   27  5.9   3.709   3.671    80   16.1     10.7  98.5  20:01 ( 86, 58)  
Apr. 22   7 14.86   26 53.9   3.802   3.665    74   16.2     11.9  98.8  20:08 ( 90, 52)  

* 114P/Wiseman-Skiff

Image: 2000 Feb. 12
It is fading out slowly now, but it will be too low to observe soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   6 47.99    9 28.1   1.769   1.830    77   16.2     34.7  99.1  20:01 ( 66, 44)  
Apr. 22   7  4.10    8 48.3   1.860   1.865    74   16.4     34.4  99.7  20:08 ( 70, 40)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
No observations reported since 1999 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)  
Apr. 15  17  5.45  -17 44.5   9.340   9.992   128   16.3      1.8 294.9   3:32 (  0, 37)  
Apr. 22  17  4.48  -17 39.0   9.265  10.004   135   16.3      2.4 289.5   3:04 (  0, 37)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15   9  9.78  -19 49.0   4.708   5.223   115   16.5      5.8 309.3  20:01 (  8, 35)  
Apr. 22   9  7.97  -19 24.5   4.856   5.283   109   16.7      4.4 319.4  20:08 ( 18, 34)  

* P/2000 C1 ( Hergenrother )

Image: 2000 Feb. 11
It was in fact a bit brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  11 51.25   11 16.9   1.192   2.105   146   16.6      2.9 282.6  22:15 (  0, 66)  
Apr. 22  11 50.51   11 15.0   1.238   2.110   140   16.7      1.2 192.1  21:46 (  0, 66)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15  11 29.90   -3 27.3   3.032   3.924   148   16.7     23.9 299.8  21:53 (  0, 52)  
Apr. 22  11 20.94   -2  8.7   3.175   3.992   139   16.9     20.6 300.9  21:16 (  0, 53)  

* 143P/Kowal-Mrkos


Recovered by LINEAR. It keeps 17 mag for a while, however, it will be lower. It may be fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  11 19.78   -2 29.3   1.710   2.602   145   16.8      5.5 318.1  21:43 (  0, 53)  
Apr. 22  11 18.61   -2  3.1   1.751   2.593   138   16.9      3.6 338.3  21:15 (  0, 53)  

* C/1999 L3 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 17
It is fading out not too rapidly now, but it will be too low to observe soon. It is 14 mag still now visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   5 21.05   30 26.1   2.720   2.323    56   16.8      2.8 279.2  20:01 (104, 37)  
Apr. 22   5 20.14   30 30.0   2.890   2.365    49   17.2      1.0 313.6  20:08 (108, 30)  

* C/1999 E1 ( Li )

Image: 2000 Jan. 28
It keeps 16 mag at good position until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  10  5.02   38 18.3   4.616   5.072   111   16.9      0.3 272.7  20:29 (180, 87)  
Apr. 22  10  5.19   38 15.8   4.741   5.102   105   17.0      1.1 128.8  20:08 (158, 86)  

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

Image: 1999 May 31
Fading gradually. It keeps 17-18 mag at good position until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  20 36.66   24  1.9   6.173   5.937    71   17.2     12.0   7.8   3:59 (273, 49)  
Apr. 22  20 37.23   25 25.6   6.114   5.959    76   17.2     12.0   2.7   3:48 (273, 53)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag at good position until August. It was bright as 16.4 mag on Apr. 15.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15  18  1.11    1 50.1   5.050   5.513   112   17.4     12.8 294.3   3:59 (347, 56)  
Apr. 22  17 55.25    2 26.7   4.942   5.510   119   17.4     14.4 291.1   3:48 (357, 57)  

* 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)  
Apr. 15  17 31.98   25  8.8   6.137   6.584   112   17.4      8.4 350.7   3:58 (  0, 80)  
Apr. 22  17 31.02   26  5.3   6.117   6.619   115   17.4      8.2 343.6   3:30 (  0, 81)  

* 4P/Faye

Image: 2000 Feb. 9
It was fading gradually after November, but now it is diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   9 28.61    7 13.5   2.773   3.344   116   17.5      3.8  46.9  20:01 (  4, 62)  
Apr. 22   9 30.35    7 29.0   2.902   3.383   110   17.6      4.9  68.4  20:08 ( 22, 61)  

* (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)  
Apr. 15   9 37.16    0 53.6  12.798  13.330   120   17.6      1.2 306.6  20:01 (  0, 56)  
Apr. 22   9 36.81    0 58.4  12.897  13.328   113   17.6      0.8 320.8  20:08 ( 15, 55)  

* 1999 LD31


Retrograde asteroid. It will be fainter and lower rapidly after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 15   8 34.23   29 36.6   2.526   2.844    97   17.8     19.5 251.7  20:01 ( 72, 76)  
Apr. 22   8 25.67   28 53.0   2.709   2.884    89   18.0     15.0 245.5  20:08 ( 82, 67)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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