Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2000 Dec. 23: North)

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 Updated on December 24, 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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* C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in late January as 10 mag. Recent brightening was more rapid than the ephemeris. It passes in the SOHO field from late December to early January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  19 18.15  -19 41.3   1.117   0.339    17    6.0     49.9 298.9  18:23 ( 68, -3)  
Dec. 30  18 52.45  -17 56.1   1.297   0.338     6    6.4     56.3 277.4  18:28 ( 77,-13)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It keeps the recent magnitude until the end of January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  14 31.28  -18 43.9   1.540   1.181    50    7.8     54.0  47.5   5:34 (316, 23)  
Dec. 30  14 50.83  -14 11.3   1.475   1.201    54    7.8     58.0  44.5   5:37 (315, 28)

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
It bursted out again in mid December, but now it is fading again. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  15  0.94  -12 18.3   1.504   1.072    45    8.9     68.9 102.3   5:34 (306, 23)  
Dec. 30  15 33.19  -13 51.9   1.505   1.058    44    9.4     68.2 100.4   5:37 (306, 22)

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
The component C is bright as 10 mag. The component E at 13 mag and the component B at 15 mag are also observed by CCD. It locates in the low at dawn and will be set under the horizon soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  16 19.58  -18 25.1   1.874   1.072    25    9.4     67.6 105.9   5:34 (297,  5)  
Dec. 30  16 52.57  -20 25.1   1.838   1.027    24    9.0     69.9 103.2   5:37 (298,  4)

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )
It keeps the recent magnitude until the end of February, but the altitude is getting lower gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  23 51.61   14 13.0   3.023   3.216    92   12.3     19.6 191.2  18:23 ( 27, 67)  
Dec. 30  23 50.36   12  6.8   3.144   3.198    84   12.4     16.9 185.0  18:28 ( 41, 62)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
Being higher in the morining sky. It is observable as 13.5 mag until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  17  0.63   25 14.6   3.569   3.050    51   13.6      5.0 128.9   5:34 (254, 22)  
Dec. 30  17  2.50   24 57.5   3.541   3.058    53   13.6      3.8 117.8   5:37 (258, 28)

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 16 mag until late 2001. It is a bit fainter than the ephemeris recently. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   1 28.09  -10 18.3   4.322   4.660   104   13.9      3.3 122.1  19:19 (  0, 45)  
Dec. 30   1 29.72  -10 27.6   4.452   4.685    97   14.0      4.2 103.1  18:53 (  0, 45)

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson
It will be lower and fainter in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  21 59.13  -15 23.2   2.725   2.308    55   13.9     28.4  61.5  18:23 ( 43, 28)  
Dec. 30  22 11.28  -13 47.2   2.790   2.306    51   13.9     29.0  61.5  18:28 ( 48, 26)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Not observable. It will appear at dawn in March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  18  0.52  -28 57.2   6.971   5.993     5   14.0     12.1  88.1   5:34 (292,-20)  
Dec. 30  18  6.94  -28 54.2   6.960   5.990     8   14.0     12.0  87.8   5:37 (295,-15)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
It will be also observable in the Northern Hemisphere after 2001 October, but it will be fainter than 16.5 mag then. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   6 23.54  -73  1.8   3.615   3.637    83   14.2     18.0 306.3   0:18 (  0,-18)  
Dec. 30   6  2.20  -71 35.2   3.618   3.666    85   14.2     19.2 316.2  23:23 (  0,-16)

* 110P/Hartley 3
Brightened rapidly and reached to 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   3 35.78   30 26.7   1.660   2.535   145   14.3      9.3 210.5  21:26 (  0, 85)  
Dec. 30   3 33.97   29 32.0   1.703   2.526   138   14.2      7.8 194.6  20:57 (  0, 84)

* 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)  
Dec. 23  18 33.02  -27  7.4   2.544   1.572     7   14.4     46.1  90.4  18:23 ( 67,-15)  
Dec. 30  18 57.11  -27  1.4   2.557   1.582     5   14.4     45.8  87.8  18:28 ( 68,-16)

* C/1995 O1 ( Hale-Bopp )
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)  
Dec. 23   5 20.58  -80 28.1  12.768  12.565    75   14.5      4.8 276.8  23:09 (  0,-25)  
Dec. 30   5  7.50  -80 21.1  12.815  12.610    75   14.5      4.7 286.8  22:29 (  0,-25)

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )
Although it reaches to 13.5 mag in 2001 summer, only southern people can observe it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  15 50.69  -50 38.5   4.315   3.589    37   15.2     22.5 123.6   5:34 (325,-12)  
Dec. 30  16  4.88  -52  5.5   4.241   3.558    41   15.1     22.9 123.3   5:37 (328,-11)

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )
It keeps brightening even after the perihelion passage and reached to 14 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  20 51.79   -2  4.5   3.150   2.556    45   15.2     30.9  86.8  18:23 ( 66, 27)  
Dec. 30  21  6.15   -1 49.5   3.228   2.581    41   15.4     30.7  85.3  18:28 ( 70, 23)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
It will be observable in good condition as 15 mag until February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   2 24.24   52 26.9   4.789   5.464   129   15.3      5.4 256.1  20:14 (180, 73)  
Dec. 30   2 20.75   52 17.0   4.832   5.441   123   15.3      4.2 248.9  19:43 (180, 73)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
Not observable. It will appear at dawn as 16.5 mag in May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  20 50.48  -24 18.4   5.650   4.905    37   15.4     12.3  45.3  18:23 ( 50, 11)  
Dec. 30  20 55.01  -23 18.5   5.758   4.947    31   15.5     12.4  46.8  18:28 ( 55,  7)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh
It is observable in good condition as 15 mag from February to April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  11 57.12    8  0.5   3.319   3.548    95   15.6      8.3  99.5   5:34 (351, 63)  
Dec. 30  12  0.61    7 53.5   3.217   3.547   101   15.5      6.6  95.3   5:26 (  0, 63)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
Appearing at dawn. It is observable as 15.5 mag until 2001 autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  15 54.11   11 24.9   7.934   7.306    47   15.6      6.1 117.1   5:34 (276, 28)  
Dec. 30  15 56.61   11  6.8   7.878   7.316    52   15.6      5.5 115.1   5:37 (281, 34)

* 2000 DG8
Asteroid with cometary orbit. It will pass the perihelion in January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   4 24.31  -22 33.2   1.455   2.200   127   15.8     63.7 252.7  22:12 (  0, 32)  
Dec. 30   3 55.46  -24 16.5   1.549   2.194   118   16.0     53.5 257.9  21:16 (  0, 31)

* 24P/Schaumasse
It will reach to 10 mag in 2001 April and May. It was 18.3 mag on Nov. 29 (Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma), but no observations reported after that. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   1 38.84    1 30.4   1.402   1.989   111   16.7      8.7 347.6  19:29 (  0, 57)  
Dec. 30   1 38.89    2 34.9   1.424   1.930   105   16.3     10.2  11.9  19:02 (  0, 58)

* C/2000 U5 ( LINEAR )
Fading now. It will be fainter than 18 mag in March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   3 59.09    9 16.6   3.095   3.953   146   16.4     16.5 301.0  21:49 (  0, 64)  
Dec. 30   3 52.91   10 15.7   3.223   4.015   138   16.6     14.6 305.1  21:15 (  0, 65)

* 145P/Shoemaker-Levy 5
It will fade out and be fainter than 18 mag in February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   5 18.66   40 12.0   1.326   2.277   160   16.5     10.2 271.3  23:08 (180, 85)  
Dec. 30   5 13.02   40  8.3   1.375   2.306   155   16.6      8.3 261.6  22:35 (180, 85)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable as 14 mag for one year after 2001 autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   0 51.35    7 43.7   5.264   5.574   103   16.6      5.2 314.8  18:42 (  0, 63)  
Dec. 30   0 49.93    8 10.8   5.339   5.530    96   16.6      4.7 330.1  18:28 (  8, 63)

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )
Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 17 mag until June. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  16 21.43   15 59.4   7.409   6.776    47   16.7      7.6  48.6   5:34 (268, 25)  
Dec. 30  16 24.13   16 37.0   7.364   6.794    51   16.7      7.8  43.2   5:37 (271, 31)

* 70P/Kojima
It is observable in good condition as 16.5 mag until February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  12 35.37    1 14.3   2.028   2.157    83   16.7     21.7 103.8   5:34 (337, 54)  
Dec. 30  12 44.77    0 41.7   1.968   2.178    88   16.7     19.6 102.2   5:37 (346, 55)

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )
The condition is good in winter and spring. It is a bit brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  11  5.36    9 12.8   5.181   5.557   107   17.0      7.9 259.9   4:58 (  0, 64)  
Dec. 30  11  1.34    9  4.6   5.106   5.601   115   17.0      9.3 264.1   4:27 (  0, 64)

* 17P/Holmes
Although it has passed the perihelion, the fading is slower than expected and it still keeps 16.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   2 16.53   42  8.8   1.961   2.694   129   17.2      8.7 165.4  20:07 (180, 83)  
Dec. 30   2 18.68   41 12.2   2.049   2.721   123   17.4      9.0 148.9  19:42 (180, 84)

* 65P/Gunn
Although it is around the aphelion now, it is observable as 17 mag in good condition from December to March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   8 23.83   29  2.8   3.572   4.443   148   17.3      8.1 298.9   2:17 (  0, 84)  
Dec. 30   8 19.68   29 30.2   3.514   4.432   156   17.3      9.2 295.0   1:46 (  0, 84)

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )
It will be 17.5 mag until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  10 32.42    7 11.6   3.044   3.565   114   17.4      2.1 138.5   4:25 (  0, 62)  
Dec. 30  10 32.63    7  3.0   2.968   3.580   121   17.4      1.0 211.3   3:58 (  0, 62)

* 2000 VU2
New asteroid with short periodic cometary orbit. It will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23   3 43.61   19 56.6   2.227   3.097   146   17.5      6.4 212.4  21:34 (  0, 75)  
Dec. 30   3 42.39   19 21.0   2.285   3.096   139   17.5      4.9 197.0  21:05 (  0, 74)

* P/1999 XN120 ( Catalina )
The condition is good in January and February, 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)  
Dec. 23   9 32.07   11 57.4   2.723   3.439   129   17.5      2.8 253.4   3:25 (  0, 67)  
Dec. 30   9 30.30   11 54.1   2.658   3.447   137   17.5      4.7 268.3   2:56 (  0, 67)

* (10199) Chariklo
A Centaur asteroid. The perihelion passage is in 2004. It will keep the current brightness over 10 years after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  10 22.64   -5 17.3  12.856  13.245   111   17.6      1.6 219.5   4:16 (  0, 50)  
Dec. 30  10 22.06   -5 25.0  12.749  13.243   118   17.5      1.8 236.5   3:48 (  0, 50)

* 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)  
Dec. 23   0 21.60   -4 25.1   2.520   2.732    91   17.6     13.4  79.3  18:23 (  4, 51)  
Dec. 30   0 28.16   -4  4.4   2.599   2.718    86   17.6     15.2  77.0  18:28 ( 14, 50)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It will be a naked-eye comet in 2001 December and 2002 January. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 23  23 58.83   53 14.8   5.054   5.431   107   17.9     10.7 172.7  18:23 (164, 71)  
Dec. 30   0  0.36   52  2.3   5.060   5.362   102   17.8     10.4 165.4  18:28 (151, 70)

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