Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Sept. 30: 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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* 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.30   9 58.26  -42 54.1   2.055   1.638    51    9.2     43.3  87.1   4:13 (303, 32)  
Oct.  7  10 25.51  -42 29.3   2.029   1.568    49    9.0     42.8  84.0   4:02 (303, 30)  

* 2P/Encke


Not observable in the Northern Hemisphere. It is very low in the evening sky in the southern hemisphere. 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.30  13 43.38  -16 13.0   1.389   0.613    23   10.1    110.6 114.9  19:27 ( 74,  6)  
Oct.  7  14 30.63  -20 53.1   1.446   0.741    28   11.4     97.4 110.8  19:34 ( 72, 11)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )

Image: 2000 Feb. 5
It will be observable as 12 mag under good condition from October to December. Strange tail was observed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30   2 14.12   47 56.7   2.805   3.525   129   12.7     27.1 247.2   1:39 (180,  7)  
Oct.  7   1 56.17   46 28.4   2.698   3.493   136   12.6     30.9 241.8   0:54 (180,  8)  

* 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.30  11 53.27    8 46.9   2.777   1.823    14   13.3     36.7 114.9   4:13 (272,-18)  
Oct.  7  12  9.29    6 55.9   2.694   1.757    16   12.9     38.4 115.0   4:02 (273,-17)  

* 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.30   1 47.75    0 46.7   3.453   4.405   159   13.1     13.6 203.8   1:12 (180, 54)  
Oct.  7   1 45.04   -0 39.8   3.449   4.423   165   13.1     13.7 206.3   0:42 (180, 56)  

* 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.30  20  6.31  -31 25.0   1.880   2.408   109   13.1     12.4  40.3  19:28 (180, 86)  
Oct.  7  20 11.33  -30 17.6   1.946   2.395   104   13.1     14.3  46.9  19:34 (127, 82)  

* 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.30  16 48.80   42 36.6   3.202   3.086    74   13.4     22.8 194.0  19:27 (146,  0)  
Oct.  7  16 46.09   40  7.1   3.261   3.075    70   13.4     20.8 189.1  19:34 (139, -2)  

* 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.30   9  4.56  -70 40.0   3.476   3.361    75   13.8      4.1 137.2   4:13 (337, 41)  
Oct.  7   9  7.39  -71  4.5   3.509   3.378    74   13.8      4.1 163.3   4:02 (338, 42)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Image: 1999 June 12
Very low in the evening sky. It will appear at dawn in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30  16 52.91  -29 18.7   6.317   6.020    68   13.8      7.5  86.2  19:27 ( 84, 49)  
Oct.  7  16 57.09  -29 15.7   6.415   6.017    62   13.9      8.2  87.4  19:34 ( 81, 43)  

* 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.30  20 27.05  -38 39.6   3.960   4.421   111   14.1     12.9 339.8  19:48 (  0, 86)  
Oct.  7  20 24.97  -37 15.6   4.099   4.460   104   14.2     12.2 347.7  19:34 ( 53, 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.30   6 54.86  -75 43.3  12.051  12.014    85   14.2      5.4 177.5   4:13 (349, 47)  
Oct.  7   6 54.75  -76 21.0  12.116  12.061    84   14.2      5.4 183.7   4:02 (351, 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.30   1 39.44   20 44.2   1.270   2.217   154   14.5      7.1 261.6   1:04 (180, 34)  
Oct.  7   1 35.41   20 31.2   1.213   2.184   161   14.3      9.4 253.6   0:33 (180, 34)  

* 2000 DP107


Near earth asteroid. It will fade out rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30  22  1.99   -1  5.7   0.089   1.075   143   14.3    153.7  45.7  21:27 (180, 55)  
Oct.  7  22 37.65    7 11.2   0.136   1.116   146   15.2     70.4  49.4  21:33 (180, 47)  

* 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.30  14 12.47  -12 20.4   2.490   1.673    27   14.9     40.6 114.7  19:27 ( 81,  9)  
Oct.  7  14 30.45  -14 17.5   2.491   1.650    25   14.8     41.5 113.5  19:34 ( 77,  7)  

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )


Brightened rapidly. It may be brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30  18  8.83    3 11.5   2.293   2.435    85   14.9     25.1 110.5  19:27 (138, 43)  
Oct.  7  18 20.18    2 11.9   2.353   2.432    82   14.9     26.4 108.1  19:34 (131, 41)  

* (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.30  21 20.24  -23 48.2   0.263   1.180   127   15.2     50.7 211.8  20:41 (180, 79)  
Oct.  7  21  9.68  -28  0.5   0.300   1.166   116   15.6     33.2 205.9  20:03 (180, 83)  

* 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.30  15 19.77   19 12.0   7.833   7.201    47   15.5      9.4 150.8  19:27 (116,  3)  
Oct.  7  15 22.14   18 16.2   7.893   7.208    44   15.6      9.3 147.0  19:34 (111, -2)  

* 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.30   3 31.45   47 49.1   5.201   5.768   119   15.7      8.8 332.9   2:56 (180,  7)  
Oct.  7   3 28.20   48 42.6   5.101   5.740   125   15.6      9.1 324.9   2:25 (180,  6)  

* P/2000 S1 ( Skiff )


New comet. It is fading out after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30   0 26.26  -14  4.6   1.612   2.586   163   15.7     13.8 295.1  23:47 (180, 69)  
Oct.  7   0 20.42  -13 19.7   1.643   2.603   159   15.8     13.6 300.7  23:13 (180, 68)  

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5


It is at best as 16 mag in October and November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30   5 28.24   29 47.8   1.536   2.026   103   16.0     19.0  60.1   4:13 (189, 25)  
Oct.  7   5 36.45   30 54.3   1.482   2.039   108   16.0     16.8  55.3   4:02 (187, 24)  

* 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.30   2 51.01    2  4.3   1.811   2.685   143   16.9      7.8 235.9   2:16 (180, 53)  
Oct.  7   2 47.32    1 32.5   1.711   2.629   150   16.6     10.5 243.4   1:44 (180, 53)  

* 17P/Holmes


Although it keeps brighter than 17 mag in October, it is fading out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30   3 14.81   45 17.7   1.695   2.401   123   16.7     10.1 342.7   2:39 (180, 10)  
Oct.  7   3 11.88   46 19.3   1.663   2.422   129   16.7      9.8 324.3   2:09 (180,  9)  

* 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.30   3 22.04  -22  9.4   4.667   5.369   130   17.1     17.2 207.8   2:47 (180, 77)  
Oct.  7   3 17.66  -23 54.6   4.631   5.372   133   17.1     17.4 211.9   2:15 (180, 79)  

* 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.30   2 49.85   13 15.3   2.112   2.974   143   17.3      4.7 248.7   2:14 (180, 42)  
Oct.  7   2 47.22   13  1.3   2.049   2.961   150   17.2      6.9 250.9   1:44 (180, 42)  

* 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.30  20  6.24  -16 42.7   2.216   2.765   112   17.3      5.3 108.9  19:28 (180, 72)  
Oct.  7  20  9.30  -16 52.5   2.281   2.742   106   17.2      7.6  98.2  19:34 (158, 71)  

* 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.30   0 14.56    2 13.9   1.954   2.954   177   17.5     12.8 217.9  23:35 (180, 53)  
Oct.  7   0 10.94    1  3.0   1.945   2.932   168   17.5     12.6 216.8  23:04 (180, 54)  

* 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.30  23 41.78   38 38.7   5.344   6.172   142   17.5     17.2 245.1  23:02 (180, 16)  
Oct.  7  23 32.70   37 44.0   5.357   6.186   143   17.6     17.1 241.0  22:26 (180, 17)  

* 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.30  19  7.64   38  5.9   6.311   6.558    99   17.7      4.1 206.3  19:27 (168, 16)  
Oct.  7  19  6.91   37 40.4   6.400   6.586    96   17.7      3.7 190.5  19:34 (161, 14)  

* 146P/LINEAR-Shoemaker


Recovered lost comet. It will fade out soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30   7 16.60   28 14.9   1.441   1.610    80   17.9     29.8  65.8   4:13 (214, 18)  
Oct.  7   7 30.39   29 40.4   1.422   1.657    84   18.1     27.4  63.2   4:02 (212, 17)  

* 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.30   1  1.86    6 15.2   1.407   2.401   170   18.0     11.1 263.2   0:27 (180, 49)  
Oct.  7   0 56.43    6  4.9   1.379   2.378   178   18.0     12.0 262.5  23:49 (180, 49)  

* 110P/Hartley 3


It keeps 17.5 mag with a good condition until late January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.30   4 16.32   34 36.4   2.065   2.685   117   18.2      5.5  54.4   3:40 (180, 20)  
Oct.  7   4 18.16   34 56.4   1.977   2.670   124   18.0      3.2  39.0   3:15 (180, 20)  

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