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

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 Updated on August 20, 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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* 2P/Encke
Very low in the morning sky. It will not be observable soon. It is not observable after perihelion passage. It has been around 10-11 mag from early August to mid August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   8  9.18   25 53.3   1.315   0.635    27    9.8    111.9 107.0   3:51 (245, 10)  
Aug. 26   9  5.51   21  3.2   1.302   0.507    20    8.2    124.4 113.3   3:58 (246,  3)

* 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)  
Aug. 19   7 13.70  -40 26.2   2.309   2.091    64   10.5     42.5 101.1   3:51 (308,-17)  
Aug. 26   7 39.80  -41 18.9   2.250   2.013    63   10.3     43.4  99.6   3:58 (309,-16)

* (4486) Mithra
Near-earth asteroid. It will fade out soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  23 44.07  -57 49.4   0.066   1.056   130   11.6    375.1 332.1   2:01 (  0, -5)  
Aug. 26  22 51.26  -35 48.1   0.128   1.126   153   12.5    105.3 342.0   0:35 (  0, 19)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
It will be 13-14 mag from August to November. But the altitude keeps lower than 20 deg until late August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  20  7.10  -36 46.9   1.602   2.506   146   13.2      9.3 301.4  22:13 (  0, 18)  
Aug. 26  20  3.15  -36  8.5   1.630   2.488   139   13.2      8.3 317.2  21:42 (  0, 19)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be observable in good condition at the same magnitude until October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  17 58.76   59 10.0   2.951   3.185    93   13.4     33.2 232.2  20:14 (177, 66)  
Aug. 26  17 37.57   56 36.5   2.970   3.165    91   13.4     32.0 223.9  20:04 (163, 67)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

 Image: 1998 Dec. 5
It is extremely low in the Northern Hemisphere. The altitude will be higher than 10 deg after September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  21  7.30  -46 40.6   3.334   4.200   144   13.4     18.3 300.3  23:13 (  0,  8)  
Aug. 26  20 57.15  -45 31.5   3.406   4.236   140   13.5     17.7 306.0  22:35 (  0, 10)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

 Image: 1999 June 12
The altitude will be 24 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)  
Aug. 19  16 37.74  -29 58.8   5.681   6.033   105   13.6      2.2  48.5  20:14 ( 21, 22)  
Aug. 26  16 38.93  -29 49.1   5.786   6.031    99   13.7      3.0  64.8  20:04 ( 24, 21)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 July 31
It is only observable in the Southern Hemisphere until the end of 2001. Recently it is brighter than this ephemeris, around 13.0 mag 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   8  4.02  -71  9.2   3.197   3.284    85   13.7     12.6  69.0   3:51 (337,-35)  
Aug. 26   8 19.65  -70 41.6   3.250   3.294    83   13.7     10.7  72.2   3:58 (337,-33)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 30
Because it is far away, it keeps 14 mag until late 2000. Very diffused. It is around 13.0 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   1 53.56    8 32.6   3.760   4.313   116   13.7      9.1 167.1   3:51 (353, 63)  
Aug. 26   1 54.18    7 27.3   3.682   4.326   123   13.7      9.8 176.6   3:36 (  0, 62)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It is around 13.5 mag visually. It will be observable as 13.5 mag under good condition from October to January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3 22.60   50  3.4   3.675   3.730    85   14.0      7.3 278.6   3:51 (223, 66)  
Aug. 26   3 16.42   50  9.0   3.519   3.694    91   13.9      9.8 272.7   3:58 (211, 71)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )

 Image: 1997 Apr. 5
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. 19   6 37.21  -72 11.6  11.675  11.734    90   14.0      5.4 144.5   3:51 (340,-28)  
Aug. 26   6 41.79  -72 43.4  11.735  11.781    90   14.1      5.4 149.6   3:58 (342,-27)

* (2100) Ra-Shalom
Approaching to the earth. It will reach to 13.5 mag in September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   0  7.07   27 40.3   0.232   1.170   128   14.9     66.5 225.8   2:18 (  0, 83)  
Aug. 26  23 38.90   21  0.4   0.207   1.183   143   14.3     92.3 222.5   1:23 (  0, 76)

* C/1999 S4 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Aug. 4
The nucleus has broken and the comet vanished. No observations reported since Aug. 3 when it was 10 mag. The current brightness is quite uncertain. Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  12 38.97  -10 39.3   1.188   0.894    47   14.6     34.1 166.4  20:14 ( 76,  0)  
Aug. 26  12 41.92  -13 50.0   1.426   0.968    42   15.6     23.0 167.9  20:04 ( 76, -4)

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
It may keep the brightness of the outburst in the last return and reach to 6 mag. However, it locates extremely low, only 8 deg at best from November to December in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  10 28.38   17 58.5   3.192   2.201     9   15.5     28.4 112.8  20:14 (119, -8)  
Aug. 26  10 41.41   16 39.1   3.136   2.140     8   15.2     29.6 113.2  20:04 (118,-10)

* 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)  
Aug. 19  15 11.91   25 34.5   7.356   7.163    75   15.4      9.8 178.4  20:14 ( 88, 51)  
Aug. 26  15 12.28   24 26.5   7.444   7.169    70   15.4      9.7 173.3  20:04 ( 89, 47)

* 75P/Kohoutek
It reached to 13 mag at return in 1987, however, it was not observed at return in 1994. The ephemeris says it will reach to 13.7 mag in November, but it may be much fainter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   1 37.99   18 40.8   1.797   2.424   116   15.6      9.6  51.8   3:48 (  0, 74)  
Aug. 26   1 41.22   19 19.7   1.692   2.389   122   15.4      7.5  46.6   3:23 (  0, 74)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable as 16 mag until late October. It is 14.5-15.0 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  17 19.43    9 48.7   1.995   2.503   108   15.5     14.0 130.0  20:14 ( 26, 63)  
Aug. 26  17 25.07    8 44.0   2.037   2.486   104   15.5     16.2 125.7  20:04 ( 30, 60)

* P/1991 T1 ( Shoemaker-Levy 5 )
Unrecovered periodic comet in first return. It will locate overhead as 15.4 mag in October. However, it must be much fainter because not yet recovered. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   4 15.56   22 39.2   1.891   1.989    80   15.9     28.8  67.9   3:51 (280, 54)  
Aug. 26   4 28.84   23 53.6   1.826   1.990    83   15.8     27.6  67.7   3:58 (282, 59)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 28
It will be observable in good condition as 15 mag from autumn to winter. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3 33.50   41 58.4   5.934   5.937    85   16.1      8.8  18.7   3:51 (244, 67)  
Aug. 26   3 34.98   42 57.3   5.803   5.908    91   16.0      8.7  12.2   3:58 (237, 73)

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable as 17 mag even in 2001 spring because it is very far. It is 14.5 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  15 46.72   13 43.6   6.508   6.503    85   16.2      2.1 259.1  20:14 ( 65, 52)  
Aug. 26  15 45.99   13 40.2   6.625   6.515    79   16.2      1.1 239.9  20:04 ( 69, 49)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2
In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps 16 mag and 25 deg high until late August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  16 15.98  -24 54.2   2.015   2.410   100   16.3     10.9  81.7  20:14 ( 28, 25)  
Aug. 26  16 22.16  -24 44.7   2.070   2.378    94   16.2     13.3  85.1  20:04 ( 30, 24)

* 110P/Hartley 3
It will reach to 14 mag and locate overhead in December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3 42.14   31 23.2   2.668   2.785    85   16.5     15.9  68.6   3:51 (270, 65)  
Aug. 26   3 49.95   32  2.5   2.563   2.767    90   16.3     14.6  68.2   3:58 (272, 70)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

 Image: 1999 June 12
It keeps over 30 deg high until end of August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  16 41.09  -16 53.5   9.909  10.212   104   16.5      0.7 127.6  20:14 ( 25, 34)  
Aug. 26  16 41.51  -16 56.7  10.033  10.225    98   16.6      1.3 113.2  20:04 ( 29, 33)

* 9P/Tempel 1
It was 15.8 mag on July 29 by KenIchi Kadota, Ageo, Japan. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   0 37.91  -13 10.9   1.671   2.532   140   16.7     10.9 232.5   2:48 (  0, 42)  
Aug. 26   0 33.16  -13 57.8   1.664   2.573   147   16.9     13.0 238.8   2:16 (  0, 41)

* 17P/Holmes
It has been already observed at this return, but no observations reported recently. It will be 17 mag at good position until November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   2 56.25   36 26.9   1.986   2.287    93   16.9     19.2  40.5   3:51 (259, 75)  
Aug. 26   3  2.94   38  7.3   1.930   2.304    98   16.9     17.5  36.1   3:58 (248, 80)

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )
It is observable around 17.0 mag until September when it becomes low. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  15 48.10    3 33.3   5.489   5.542    87   16.9      7.6 241.3  20:14 ( 54, 45)  
Aug. 26  15 45.34    3  7.5   5.617   5.548    80   17.0      6.4 234.2  20:04 ( 58, 41)

* 14P/Wolf
It was very faint as 19.2 mag on Aug. 4 by Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, Japan. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  22 39.21   24 55.3   1.635   2.502   140   17.0      8.1 224.3   0:50 (  0, 80)  
Aug. 26  22 36.07   24  4.9   1.591   2.489   145   17.0     10.8 217.1   0:19 (  0, 79)

* C/1999 T3 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Nov. 13
It will be at peak of 17 mag in September and October, but the altitude is lower than 40 deg. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   3 33.26  -11 56.9   5.137   5.366    97   17.4     12.9 178.2   3:51 (325, 36)  
Aug. 26   3 33.14  -13 30.1   5.036   5.365   103   17.3     13.7 183.9   3:58 (336, 38)

* C/1999 K2 ( Ferris )

 Image: 1999 May 31
Fading gradually. It keeps 17-18 mag at good position until October. No observations reported since 1999 August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19  19 26.75   40  5.3   5.865   6.389   117   17.4      8.5 262.7  21:33 (180, 85)  
Aug. 26  19 21.89   39 54.8   5.925   6.417   114   17.4      7.7 255.8  21:01 (180, 85)

* D/1984 W1 ( Shoemaker 2 )
Unrecovered periodic comet in return. It was missed in the last return. Appearing at dawn, however, already fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   6  7.23   24 19.5   1.832   1.496    54   17.4     39.2  72.8   3:51 (261, 32)  
Aug. 26   6 26.14   25 36.1   1.827   1.536    57   17.6     37.4  73.7   3:58 (262, 36)

* C/2000 O1 ( Koehn )
New comet. It keeps 17.5 mag until late October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   0 37.05   41  0.3   5.607   6.095   114   17.6     12.9 272.0   2:47 (180, 84)  
Aug. 26   0 28.75   40 59.4   5.529   6.107   120   17.6     14.0 267.2   2:12 (180, 84)

* P/1993 X1 ( Kushida-Muramatsu )
Unrecovered periodic comet in first return. It will locate high as 16.7 mag in November and December. However, it must be much fainter because not yet recovered. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 19   2 43.70   13 10.3   2.657   3.060   103   18.2      8.4  76.4   3:51 (323, 64)  
Aug. 26   2 47.18   13 21.9   2.553   3.045   109   18.0      6.5  77.8   3:58 (340, 67)

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