Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Sept. 23: South)

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Updated on October 3, 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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* 2P/Encke


Not observable. In the southern hemisphere, it will appear at dusk in October as 11 mag. The outburst from 8 mag to 6.6 mag on Sept. 14 was observed by the SOHO.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.23  12 52.93  -10  5.4   1.359   0.486    16    8.6    124.6 118.3  19:21 ( 76, -1)  
Sept.30  13 43.38  -16 13.0   1.389   0.613    23   10.1    110.6 114.9  19:27 ( 74,  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)  
Sept.23   9 30.47  -43  3.2   2.084   1.710    54    9.4     43.8  90.1   4:23 (302, 33)  
Sept.30   9 58.26  -42 54.1   2.055   1.638    51    9.2     43.3  87.1   4:13 (303, 32)  

* 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.23   2 30.70   48 58.3   2.928   3.557   121   12.9     23.2 252.4   2:23 (180,  6)  
Sept.30   2 14.12   47 56.7   2.805   3.525   129   12.7     27.1 247.2   1:39 (180,  7)  

* 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.23  20  2.63  -32 29.7   1.819   2.423   115   13.1     10.5  30.7  19:52 (180, 87)  
Sept.30  20  6.31  -31 25.0   1.880   2.408   109   13.1     12.4  40.3  19:28 (180, 86)  

* 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.23   1 50.11    2 13.1   3.472   4.388   152   13.1     13.1 200.6   1:42 (180, 53)  
Sept.30   1 47.75    0 46.7   3.453   4.405   159   13.1     13.6 203.8   1:12 (180, 54)  

* 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.23  11 37.86   10 32.2   2.857   1.888    12   13.7     35.0 114.6   4:23 (271,-19)  
Sept.30  11 53.27    8 46.9   2.777   1.823    14   13.3     36.7 114.9   4:13 (272,-18)  

* 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.23  16 53.18   45 16.1   3.144   3.099    78   13.4     24.8 199.1  19:21 (153,  2)  
Sept.30  16 48.80   42 36.6   3.202   3.086    74   13.4     22.8 194.0  19:27 (146,  0)  

* 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.23   8 59.61  -70 22.9   3.438   3.345    76   13.7      4.7 113.6   4:23 (336, 40)  
Sept.30   9  4.56  -70 40.0   3.476   3.361    75   13.8      4.1 137.2   4:13 (337, 41)  

* 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.23  16 49.14  -29 22.7   6.214   6.022    74   13.8      6.7  84.6  19:21 ( 88, 55)  
Sept.30  16 52.91  -29 18.7   6.317   6.020    68   13.8      7.5  86.2  19:27 ( 84, 49)  

* 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.23  20 30.33  -40  4.7   3.828   4.383   117   13.9     13.8 332.2  20:19 (  0, 85)  
Sept.30  20 27.05  -38 39.6   3.960   4.421   111   14.1     12.9 339.8  19:48 (  0, 86)  

* 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.23   6 53.89  -75  5.6  11.987  11.968    86   14.2      5.4 171.5   4:23 (347, 47)  
Sept.30   6 54.86  -75 43.3  12.051  12.014    85   14.2      5.4 177.5   4:13 (349, 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)  
Sept.23   1 42.36   20 45.8   1.337   2.250   147   14.7      4.6 276.7   1:35 (180, 34)  
Sept.30   1 39.44   20 44.2   1.270   2.217   154   14.5      7.1 261.6   1:04 (180, 34)  

* (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.23  21 37.34  -17 45.6   0.230   1.189   140   14.6     74.4 214.4  21:25 (180, 73)  
Sept.30  21 20.24  -23 48.2   0.263   1.180   127   15.2     50.7 211.8  20:41 (180, 79)  

* 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.23  13 55.22  -10 21.1   2.489   1.698    30   15.0     39.5 115.7  19:21 ( 85, 11)  
Sept.30  14 12.47  -12 20.4   2.490   1.673    27   14.9     40.6 114.7  19:27 ( 81,  9)  

* 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.23   3 43.83   -7  9.8   0.037   1.024   123   15.1    310.9 116.3   3:31 (180, 62)  
Sept.30   5  5.78  -16 24.9   0.061   1.022   108   16.6    108.3 113.1   4:13 (192, 71)  

* 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.23  17 58.24    4 14.8   2.236   2.440    89   15.5     23.6 113.1  19:21 (146, 45)  
Sept.30  18  8.83    3 11.5   2.293   2.435    85   15.5     25.1 110.5  19:27 (138, 43)  

* 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.23  15 17.63   20 10.6   7.765   7.194    52   15.5      9.4 154.8  19:21 (122,  8)  
Sept.30  15 19.77   19 12.0   7.833   7.201    47   15.5      9.4 150.8  19:27 (116,  3)  

* 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.23   3 33.80   46 52.9   5.310   5.795   114   15.8      8.6 341.1   3:26 (180,  8)  
Sept.30   3 31.45   47 49.1   5.201   5.768   119   15.7      8.8 332.9   2:56 (180,  7)  

* 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.23  16 58.11  -24 26.1   2.284   2.256    75   16.1     21.4  88.7  19:21 ( 97, 55)  
Sept.30  17  9.50  -24 22.1   2.334   2.227    71   16.1     23.1  88.5  19:27 ( 94, 51)  

* 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.23  15 47.81   13 22.5   7.049   6.569    57   16.4      2.7 101.0  19:21 (122, 18)  
Sept.30  15 49.27   13 19.5   7.139   6.583    52   16.5      3.4  95.9  19:27 (116, 13)  

* 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.23   3 15.86   44  5.3   1.733   2.380   118   16.8     11.0 359.2   3:08 (180, 11)  
Sept.30   3 14.81   45 17.7   1.695   2.401   123   16.9     10.1 342.7   2:39 (180, 10)  

* 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.23   2 53.33    2 33.0   1.922   2.741   136   17.2      5.2 222.6   2:45 (180, 52)  
Sept.30   2 51.01    2  4.3   1.811   2.685   143   16.9      7.8 235.9   2:16 (180, 53)  

* 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.23   3 25.72  -20 22.4   4.717   5.368   125   17.2     16.7 203.5   3:18 (180, 75)  
Sept.30   3 22.04  -22  9.4   4.667   5.369   130   17.1     17.2 207.8   2:47 (180, 77)  

* 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.23  20  4.39  -16 28.4   2.155   2.789   119   17.3      3.4 132.8  19:54 (180, 71)  
Sept.30  20  6.24  -16 42.7   2.216   2.765   112   17.3      5.3 108.9  19:28 (180, 72)  

* 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.23   2 51.44   13 25.3   2.186   2.988   135   17.5      2.5 242.6   2:43 (180, 42)  
Sept.30   2 49.85   13 15.3   2.112   2.974   143   17.3      4.7 248.7   2:14 (180, 42)  

* 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.23  23 51.25   39 25.4   5.349   6.158   140   17.5     17.0 249.3  23:39 (180, 16)  
Sept.30  23 41.78   38 38.7   5.344   6.172   142   17.5     17.2 245.1  23:02 (180, 16)  

* 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.23  19  9.07   38 31.6   6.225   6.529   103   17.6      4.7 219.6  19:21 (175, 16)  
Sept.30  19  7.64   38  5.9   6.311   6.558    99   17.7      4.1 206.3  19:27 (168, 16)  

* 97P/Metcalf-Brewington


The condition is good until late December, but it reaches to 17.5 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.23   0 18.21    3 24.0   1.976   2.976   174   18.1     12.5 218.0   0:11 (180, 52)  
Sept.30   0 14.56    2 13.9   1.954   2.954   177   18.0     12.8 217.9  23:35 (180, 53)  

* 113P/Spitaler


The condition is good until late January, but it reaches to 18 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.23   1  6.70    6 22.9   1.449   2.424   162   18.2      9.5 264.9   0:59 (180, 49)  
Sept.30   1  1.86    6 15.2   1.407   2.401   170   18.0     11.1 263.2   0:27 (180, 49)  

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