Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Sept. 9: North)

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 Updated on September 13, 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 10 mag. It will be in the SOHO's real time web image. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  11  1.65    6  5.7   1.342   0.339     2    4.6    145.4 120.9   4:12 (251,-15)  
Sept.16  11 59.06   -2 30.6   1.351   0.380     7    5.3    138.7 120.6  19:30 ( 98,-16)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   8 34.42  -42 36.6   2.154   1.859    59    9.9     44.1  95.4   4:12 (312,-15)  
Sept.16   9  2.42  -42 57.1   2.116   1.784    57    9.6     44.1  92.8   4:18 (313,-14)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It will be observable as 12 mag under good condition from October to December. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   2 57.94   49 59.6   3.211   3.624   106   13.2     15.9 262.5   3:45 (180, 75)  
Sept.16   2 45.40   49 37.6   3.065   3.590   113   13.1     19.4 257.5   3:05 (180, 75)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  19 59.73  -34 29.3   1.711   2.454   127   13.1      7.9 358.5  20:44 (  0, 21)  
Sept.16  20  0.41  -33 31.4   1.762   2.438   121   13.1      9.0  17.0  20:17 (  0, 22)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 1999 Dec. 30
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 14 mag until late 2000. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   1 53.37    4 59.1   3.554   4.356   138   13.1     11.5 191.2   2:41 (  0, 60)  
Sept.16   1 52.02    3 37.7   3.506   4.371   145   13.1     12.4 196.4   2:12 (  0, 59)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 8
It will be observable in good condition as 13.5 mag 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)  
Sept. 9  17  8.75   50 56.0   3.042   3.129    85   13.4     28.7 210.2  19:41 (137, 65)  
Sept.16  16 59.65   48  3.6   3.090   3.114    82   13.4     26.7 204.4  19:30 (128, 62)

* (2100) Ra-Shalom
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)  
Sept. 9  22 32.03    0 56.5   0.191   1.195   168   13.5    117.4 216.8  23:13 (  0, 55)  
Sept.16  22  1.56   -9 25.5   0.204   1.194   155   14.0    100.2 215.6  22:16 (  0, 45)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   8 43.75  -70 14.0   3.350   3.317    79   13.6      7.2  85.1   4:12 (338,-29)  
Sept.16   8 52.66  -70 14.1   3.396   3.330    77   13.7      5.8  96.5   4:18 (339,-27)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  20 40.90  -42 54.1   3.593   4.309   129   13.7     15.8 318.4  21:25 (  0, 12)  
Sept.16  20 34.92  -41 30.0   3.705   4.346   123   13.8     14.8 325.0  20:51 (  0, 14)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  16 43.00  -29 33.6   6.002   6.026    86   13.7      4.9  79.0  19:41 ( 30, 18)  
Sept.16  16 45.83  -29 27.6   6.109   6.024    80   13.8      5.8  82.3  19:30 ( 33, 17)

* 2000 RD53
New near earth asteroid. It is now at peak and will fade out very rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  21 44.68   25 29.2   0.048   1.046   142   15.2    184.7  94.7  22:37 (  0, 80)  
Sept.16   0 26.29   16  5.9   0.029   1.032   157   13.7    504.5 111.1   0:35 (  0, 72)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   6 49.26  -73 52.1  11.859  11.875    88   14.1      5.4 160.3   4:12 (346,-24)  
Sept.16   6 51.99  -74 28.4  11.922  11.921    87   14.1      5.4 165.8   4:18 (348,-23)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  11  8.70   13 46.0   3.006   2.015     8   14.5     32.1 114.0   4:12 (243,-12)  
Sept.16  11 23.03   12 11.8   2.933   1.952    10   14.1     33.5 114.3   4:18 (248,-10)

* (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)  
Sept. 9  22 35.67  -23 55.5   0.276   1.269   159   14.2     27.3 348.9  23:19 (  0, 31)  
Sept.16  22 34.14  -21 19.3   0.359   1.341   156   14.9     18.8 356.7  22:50 (  0, 34)

* 2000 QW7
New 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)  
Sept. 9   2 29.29   -3 12.2   0.042   1.035   130   14.6    220.3  87.3   3:13 (  0, 52)  
Sept.16   3 38.18   -2 13.7   0.063   1.038   119   15.7     94.6  86.4   3:56 (  0, 53)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   1 44.31   20 19.0   1.499   2.319   134   15.0      3.3  11.6   2:31 (  0, 75)  
Sept.16   1 43.99   20 37.0   1.414   2.284   140   14.8      2.8 315.0   2:04 (  0, 76)

* 71P/Clark
It is not observable at all until 2001 summer when it becomes fainter than 19 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  13 22.78   -6 20.4   2.481   1.753    34   15.3     37.3 117.4  19:41 ( 81,  2)  
Sept.16  13 38.66   -8 20.8   2.486   1.725    32   15.2     38.4 116.6  19:30 ( 79,  0)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  17 39.67    6 28.6   2.130   2.458    96   15.5     20.3 118.7  19:41 ( 36, 56)  
Sept.16  17 48.50    5 20.9   2.182   2.448    92   15.5     22.0 115.8  19:30 ( 38, 54)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )

 Image: 2000 Jan. 28
It will set down soon. However, it will be observable as 15.5 mag again in 2001 spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9  15 14.25   22 14.6   7.613   7.181    61   15.5      9.6 163.5  19:41 ( 91, 40)  
Sept.16  15 15.78   21 11.5   7.692   7.187    56   15.5      9.5 159.1  19:30 ( 92, 37)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   3 35.94   44 56.0   5.548   5.851   102   15.9      8.5 357.4   4:12 (191, 80)  
Sept.16   3 35.29   45 54.9   5.426   5.823   108   15.8      8.5 349.3   3:55 (180, 79)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  16 38.06  -24 33.2   2.179   2.316    84   16.2     17.6  88.2  19:41 ( 34, 22)  
Sept.16  16 47.60  -24 29.5   2.232   2.286    80   16.1     19.6  88.7  19:30 ( 35, 21)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  15 46.02   13 31.2   6.848   6.541    68   16.3      1.2 124.0  19:41 ( 76, 42)  
Sept.16  15 46.71   13 26.6   6.952   6.555    62   16.4      2.0 108.5  19:30 ( 78, 39)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  16 43.31  -17  5.1  10.288  10.250    85   16.6      2.6 105.1  19:41 ( 37, 29)  
Sept.16  16 44.67  -17  9.9  10.414  10.262    78   16.7      3.2 103.3  19:30 ( 40, 27)

* 17P/Holmes
It was around 16.5 mag in late August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   3 12.51   41 16.9   1.825   2.340   107   16.8     14.0  22.6   3:59 (180, 84)  
Sept.16   3 15.04   42 44.4   1.777   2.360   113   16.8     12.4  12.5   3:34 (180, 82)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  15 41.80    2 15.2   5.866   5.562    67   17.2      4.5 214.1  19:41 ( 65, 34)  
Sept.16  15 40.90    1 49.6   5.983   5.569    61   17.2      3.9 200.8  19:30 ( 68, 31)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   3 30.87  -16 50.3   4.856   5.366   115   17.2     15.3 194.3   4:12 (358, 38)  
Sept.16   3 28.66  -18 35.5   4.780   5.366   120   17.2     16.1 199.0   3:48 (  0, 36)

* 9P/Tempel 1
Although it locates at the same position in the evening sky for a while after this, it will fade out rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept. 9   0 20.73  -15 25.9   1.684   2.653   160   17.2     15.3 248.4   1:08 (  0, 40)  
Sept.16   0 13.71  -16  1.7   1.713   2.693   163   17.4     15.3 252.7   0:34 (  0, 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)  
Sept. 9  20  4.41  -15 48.0   2.052   2.837   133   17.4      4.2 216.6  20:49 (  0, 39)  
Sept.16  20  3.78  -16 10.1   2.100   2.813   126   17.3      2.9 180.5  20:20 (  0, 39)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   2 54.12    3 18.0   2.168   2.851   123   17.8      3.0 147.0   3:41 (  0, 58)  
Sept.16   2 54.33    2 57.7   2.041   2.796   130   17.5      3.3 194.1   3:14 (  0, 58)

* 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)  
Sept. 9  19 14.08   39 19.1   6.064   6.473   109   17.5      6.2 240.0  19:58 (180, 86)  
Sept.16  19 11.21   38 56.3   6.142   6.501   106   17.6      5.4 230.7  19:30 (173, 86)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   0 10.49   40 31.3   5.410   6.132   132   17.5     15.8 257.9   0:58 (180, 84)  
Sept.16   0  0.89   40  3.1   5.372   6.145   136   17.5     16.5 253.5   0:21 (180, 85)

* 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)  
Sept. 9   2 51.36   13 32.4   2.357   3.016   122   17.7      2.3  87.0   3:38 (  0, 69)  
Sept.16   2 51.94   13 31.0   2.268   3.001   128   17.6      0.5 169.9   3:11 (  0, 69)

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