Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Aug. 26: North)

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Updated on August 29, 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


Not observable. In the southern hemisphere, it will appear at dusk in October as 11 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26   9  5.51   21  3.2   1.302   0.507    20    8.2    124.4 113.3   3:58 (246,  3)  
Sept. 2  10  3.12   14 21.1   1.318   0.395    12    6.6    137.1 118.2   4:05 (248, -6)  

* 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. 26   7 39.80  -41 18.9   2.250   2.013    63   10.3     43.4  99.6   3:58 (309,-16)  
Sept. 2   8  6.79  -42  3.1   2.198   1.936    61   10.1     43.9  97.7   4:05 (311,-15)  

* (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. 26  22 51.26  -35 48.1   0.128   1.126   153   12.5    105.3 342.0   0:35 (  0, 19)  
Sept. 2  22 40.07  -27 58.1   0.199   1.198   159   13.4     47.0 344.5  23:51 (  0, 27)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


It keeps brighter than 13.5 mag until December, and the altitude will be higher slowly to 30 deg.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  20  3.15  -36  8.5   1.630   2.488   139   13.2      8.3 317.2  21:42 (  0, 19)  
Sept. 2  20  0.65  -35 22.1   1.666   2.471   133   13.1      7.7 337.1  21:12 (  0, 20)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be observable in good condition at the same magnitude until October. 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. 26  17 37.57   56 36.5   2.970   3.165    91   13.4     32.0 223.9  20:04 (163, 67)  
Sept. 2  17 21.14   53 49.1   3.001   3.147    88   13.4     30.4 216.6  19:52 (149, 67)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )

Image: 1998 Dec. 5
Fading now. In the northern hemisphere, it will be higher than 20 deg only in October and November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  20 57.15  -45 31.5   3.406   4.236   140   13.5     17.7 306.0  22:35 (  0, 10)  
Sept. 2  20 48.31  -44 15.2   3.493   4.272   135   13.6     16.8 312.0  21:59 (  0, 11)  

* 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. 26   1 54.18    7 27.3   3.682   4.326   123   13.7      9.8 176.6   3:36 (  0, 62)  
Sept. 2   1 54.10    6 15.9   3.613   4.341   130   13.7     10.6 184.7   3:09 (  0, 61)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
It will not be observable soon. Now it is not in outburst.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  16 38.93  -29 49.1   5.786   6.031    99   13.7      3.0  64.8  20:04 ( 24, 21)  
Sept. 2  16 40.69  -29 40.7   5.894   6.029    92   13.7      4.0  73.7  19:52 ( 27, 19)  

* 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. 26   8 19.65  -70 41.6   3.250   3.294    83   13.7     10.7  72.2   3:58 (337,-33)  
Sept. 2   8 32.81  -70 23.2   3.301   3.305    81   13.8      8.9  77.4   4:05 (337,-31)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It is 13.0 - 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. 26   3 16.42   50  9.0   3.519   3.694    91   13.9      9.8 272.7   3:58 (211, 71)  
Sept. 2   3  8.26   50  8.7   3.363   3.659    98   13.8     12.7 267.5   4:05 (191, 75)  

* (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. 26  23 38.90   21  0.4   0.207   1.183   143   14.3     92.3 222.5   1:23 (  0, 76)  
Sept. 2  23  5.93   11 46.6   0.192   1.191   159   13.8    113.9 219.2   0:23 (  0, 67)  

* 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. 26   6 41.79  -72 43.4  11.735  11.781    90   14.1      5.4 149.6   3:58 (342,-27)  
Sept. 2   6 45.83  -73 17.0  11.797  11.828    89   14.1      5.4 154.9   4:05 (344,-25)  

* 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. 26  10 41.41   16 39.1   3.136   2.140     8   15.2     29.6 113.2  20:04 (118,-10)  
Sept. 2  10 54.84   15 15.0   3.073   2.078     7   14.8     30.8 113.6  19:52 (118,-11)  

* 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. 26   1 41.22   19 19.7   1.692   2.389   122   15.4      7.5  46.6   3:23 (  0, 74)  
Sept. 2   1 43.36   19 52.8   1.592   2.354   128   15.2      5.3  36.5   2:58 (  0, 75)  

* 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. 26  15 12.28   24 26.5   7.444   7.169    70   15.4      9.7 173.3  20:04 ( 89, 47)  
Sept. 2  15 13.07   23 19.8   7.530   7.175    65   15.4      9.6 168.3  19:52 ( 90, 44)  

* 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. 26  17 25.07    8 44.0   2.037   2.486   104   15.5     16.2 125.7  20:04 ( 30, 60)  
Sept. 2  17 31.84    7 36.8   2.082   2.471   100   15.5     18.3 122.0  19:52 ( 34, 58)  

* 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. 26   4 28.84   23 53.6   1.826   1.990    83   15.8     27.6  67.7   3:58 (282, 59)  
Sept. 2   4 41.61   25  5.4   1.762   1.993    87   15.7     26.2  67.2   4:05 (285, 64)  

* 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. 26   3 34.98   42 57.3   5.803   5.908    91   16.0      8.7  12.2   3:58 (237, 73)  
Sept. 2   3 35.82   43 56.6   5.674   5.879    96   16.0      8.5   5.1   4:05 (221, 78)  

* 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. 26   3 49.95   32  2.5   2.563   2.767    90   16.3     14.6  68.2   3:58 (272, 70)  
Sept. 2   3 57.07   32 39.2   2.459   2.750    95   16.1     13.2  67.4   4:05 (275, 76)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


Although brightening now, it will be lower than 20 deg in October and than 15 deg in mid November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  16 22.16  -24 44.7   2.070   2.378    94   16.2     13.3  85.1  20:04 ( 30, 24)  
Sept. 2  16 29.55  -24 38.0   2.124   2.347    89   16.2     15.5  87.1  19:52 ( 32, 23)  

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable as 17 mag even in 2001 spring because it is very far.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  15 45.99   13 40.2   6.625   6.515    79   16.2      1.1 239.9  20:04 ( 69, 49)  
Sept. 2  15 45.77   13 35.9   6.739   6.528    73   16.3      0.7 175.8  19:52 ( 73, 45)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron

Image: 1999 June 12
It will not be observable soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  16 41.51  -16 56.7  10.033  10.225    98   16.6      1.3 113.2  20:04 ( 29, 33)  
Sept. 2  16 42.26  -17  0.6  10.160  10.237    91   16.6      1.9 107.9  19:52 ( 33, 31)  

* 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. 26   3  2.94   38  7.3   1.930   2.304    98   16.9     17.5  36.1   3:58 (248, 80)  
Sept. 2   3  8.42   39 44.2   1.876   2.322   103   16.9     15.7  30.3   4:05 (215, 84)  

* 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. 26   0 33.16  -13 57.8   1.664   2.573   147   16.9     13.0 238.8   2:16 (  0, 41)  
Sept. 2   0 27.33  -14 43.8   1.668   2.613   154   17.0     14.5 243.9   1:43 (  0, 40)  

* 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. 26  22 36.07   24  4.9   1.591   2.489   145   17.0     10.8 217.1   0:19 (  0, 79)  
Sept. 2  22 32.67   22 55.1   1.558   2.478   149   16.9     13.2 210.9  23:44 (  0, 78)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


It will not be observable soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  15 45.34    3  7.5   5.617   5.548    80   17.0      6.4 234.2  20:04 ( 58, 41)  
Sept. 2  15 43.26    2 41.3   5.743   5.555    74   17.1      5.3 225.2  19:52 ( 62, 38)  

* 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. 26   3 33.14  -13 30.1   5.036   5.365   103   17.3     13.7 183.9   3:58 (336, 38)  
Sept. 2   3 32.35  -15  8.1   4.942   5.365   109   17.3     14.5 189.2   4:05 (347, 39)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach


Although it is in the evening low sky as 17 mag in 2000 autumn, it will be observable again as 16.5 mag in 2001 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26  20  9.14  -14 54.4   1.980   2.886   147   17.5      8.2 239.5  21:48 (  0, 40)  
Sept. 2  20  6.22  -15 22.5   2.011   2.861   140   17.4      6.2 232.1  21:18 (  0, 40)  

* 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. 26  19 21.89   39 54.8   5.925   6.417   114   17.4      7.7 255.8  21:01 (180, 85)  
Sept. 2  19 17.64   39 39.0   5.991   6.445   112   17.5      7.0 248.3  20:29 (180, 85)  

* 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. 26   0 28.75   40 59.4   5.529   6.107   120   17.6     14.0 267.2   2:12 (180, 84)  
Sept. 2   0 19.85   40 50.0   5.463   6.119   126   17.6     15.0 262.5   1:35 (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. 26   2 47.18   13 21.9   2.553   3.045   109   18.0      6.5  77.8   3:58 (340, 67)  
Sept. 2   2 49.76   13 29.3   2.453   3.030   115   17.9      4.4  80.3   4:04 (  0, 68)  

* 24P/Schaumasse


It will be observable as 9-10 mag from 2001 March to June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 26   2 50.54    3 43.9   2.439   2.959   111   18.4      6.0 101.1   3:58 (344, 58)  
Sept. 2   2 52.82    3 33.4   2.301   2.905   117   18.1      4.3 115.6   4:05 (359, 59)  

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