Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Jan. 6: South)

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Updated on January 8, 2001
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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/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in late January as 10 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6  18 27.04  -17 33.5   1.369   0.444    10    7.7     46.7 270.4   3:08 (305,-16)  
Jan. 13  18  6.44  -17 38.4   1.370   0.588    22    8.9     38.3 267.8   3:17 (296, -6)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  15 10.38   -9  4.1   1.415   1.229    58    7.8     62.2  41.8   3:08 (269, 18)  
Jan. 13  15 29.95   -3 21.6   1.363   1.267    62    7.8     66.3  39.2   3:17 (262, 18)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3


Not observable. It will appear at dawn as 16 mag in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6  17 27.35  -22  3.8   1.814   0.990    23    8.7     71.7 100.1   3:08 (299, -2)  
Jan. 13  18  3.57  -23 15.5   1.800   0.962    22    8.5     72.8  96.6   3:17 (300, -1)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak


It bursted out again in mid December and reached to 7 mag. However, it faded again and now it is 9.5 mag and diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6  16  5.31  -15  7.6   1.513   1.052    43    9.6     66.7  98.3   3:08 (282, 10)  
Jan. 13  16 36.95  -16  4.2   1.529   1.055    43    9.6     64.8  96.1   3:17 (282, 11)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  23 50.16   10 16.6   3.266   3.181    76   12.4     14.7 177.9  21:02 (114, 14)  
Jan. 13  23 50.83    8 40.5   3.386   3.166    68   12.5     13.0 170.0  20:59 (109, 11)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  17  4.01   24 50.0   3.504   3.066    56   13.6      2.5  98.5   3:08 (256,-24)  
Jan. 13  17  5.06   24 52.1   3.456   3.076    59   13.6      1.8  57.0   3:17 (252,-18)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


Getting lower in the evening sky, but it is a bit brighter than this ephemeris visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6  22 23.57  -12  9.0   2.852   2.306    47   14.0     29.5  61.3  21:02 ( 82, 10)  
Jan. 13  22 35.96  -10 29.1   2.913   2.306    43   14.0     29.9  61.2  20:59 ( 82,  7)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  18 13.32  -28 50.7   6.938   5.988    13   14.0     11.9  87.5   3:08 (311, -5)  
Jan. 13  18 19.61  -28 46.7   6.905   5.986    19   14.0     11.7  87.2   3:17 (306,  0)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   3 33.68   28 41.1   1.756   2.518   131   14.1      7.0 172.6  21:02 (172, 26)  
Jan. 13   3 34.91   27 55.3   1.816   2.511   124   14.1      7.2 148.7  20:59 (166, 26)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   5 44.61  -69 47.5   3.624   3.697    86   14.3     20.3 325.0  22:38 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 13   5 30.85  -67 42.1   3.635   3.728    87   14.3     21.3 332.8  21:57 (  0, 57)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  21 20.38   -1 29.4   3.306   2.607    38   14.3     30.5  83.9  21:02 ( 82, -9)  
Jan. 13  21 34.43   -1  4.7   3.383   2.636    34   14.5     30.1  82.7  20:59 ( 81,-11)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  19 20.91  -26 41.3   2.572   1.595     5   14.5     45.4  85.3  21:02 ( 44,-13)  
Jan. 13  19 44.30  -26  8.0   2.589   1.611     4   14.6     44.9  83.0  20:59 ( 44,-14)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   4 55.48  -80  8.9  12.860  12.655    75   14.6      4.7 296.5  21:49 (  0, 45)  
Jan. 13   4 44.88  -79 52.0  12.903  12.700    75   14.6      4.6 306.0  21:11 (  0, 45)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  16 19.80  -53 32.9   4.164   3.528    44   15.1     23.1 122.9   3:08 (318, 26)  
Jan. 13  16 35.51  -55  0.2   4.084   3.499    47   15.0     23.4 122.3   3:17 (319, 30)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   2 18.30   52  6.2   4.884   5.418   118   15.3      3.0 238.6  21:02 (164,  0)  
Jan. 13   2 16.90   51 55.7   4.942   5.396   112   15.3      1.8 218.7  20:59 (160, -2)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  12  3.32    7 52.0   3.118   3.547   107   15.5      4.9  87.9   3:08 (217, 40)  
Jan. 13  12  5.22    7 56.1   3.023   3.547   114   15.4      3.3  72.6   3:17 (207, 43)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )


Recently it seems to be fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6   1 31.93  -10 31.7   4.584   4.711    91   15.4      5.3  92.6  21:02 (115, 47)  
Jan. 13   1 34.70  -10 31.2   4.716   4.737    85   15.5      6.4  86.8  20:59 (110, 43)  

* 24P/Schaumasse


It will reach to 10 mag in 2001 April and May. It was 18.0 mag on Dec. 22 (Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma), that was 1 mag or more fainter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6   1 40.78    3 49.3   1.446   1.871    98   16.0     12.8  27.9  21:02 (131, 38)  
Jan. 13   1 44.45    5 12.5   1.468   1.813    93   15.6     15.8  37.8  20:59 (127, 34)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )


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)  
Jan.  6  15 58.87   10 51.9   7.814   7.327    57   15.6      4.9 113.1   3:08 (259, -4)  
Jan. 13  16  0.86   10 39.9   7.742   7.338    62   15.6      4.2 111.2   3:17 (255,  3)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   3 30.98  -25 12.3   1.665   2.191   108   16.1     43.3 262.9  21:02 (137, 77)  
Jan. 13   3 11.12  -25 34.0   1.796   2.190    99   16.3     34.1 267.7  20:59 (113, 70)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   0 49.13    8 40.7   5.416   5.487    88   16.6      4.6 346.9  21:02 (123, 26)  
Jan. 13   0 48.94    9 13.4   5.493   5.444    82   16.6      4.9   2.3  20:59 (119, 21)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  16 26.63   17 19.3   7.312   6.813    56   16.7      8.0  37.6   3:08 (258,-13)  
Jan. 13  16 28.89   18  6.1   7.253   6.831    61   16.6      8.3  31.7   3:17 (253, -7)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   3 47.81   11 13.7   3.364   4.076   130   16.7     12.6 310.6  21:02 (173, 43)  
Jan. 13   3 43.80   12 10.4   3.515   4.138   123   16.9     10.8 317.7  20:59 (164, 41)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  12 53.26    0 16.6   1.908   2.200    93   16.7     17.4 100.0   3:08 (236, 38)  
Jan. 13  13  0.75   -0  0.5   1.849   2.223    98   16.7     15.0  97.1   3:17 (229, 43)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   5  8.80   39 55.8   1.435   2.335   149   16.8      6.1 247.8  22:03 (180, 15)  
Jan. 13   5  6.23   39 37.1   1.505   2.366   142   17.0      4.1 223.0  21:33 (180, 15)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  10 56.63    8 59.3   5.040   5.646   123   17.0     10.7 267.0   3:08 (196, 45)  
Jan. 13  10 51.27    8 56.8   4.984   5.690   132   17.0     12.0 269.1   3:17 (182, 46)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   8 14.93   29 56.9   3.470   4.421   163   17.2     10.0 291.8   1:13 (180, 25)  
Jan. 13   8  9.74   30 21.8   3.441   4.409   168   17.2     10.5 288.9   0:41 (180, 25)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6  10 31.93    6 59.7   2.899   3.596   128   17.4      2.4 268.0   3:08 (188, 48)  
Jan. 13  10 30.36    7  1.8   2.838   3.613   136   17.3      4.3 278.8   3:01 (180, 48)  

* C/2000 Y2


New comet. It keeps 17.5 mag until late March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6   9 25.11    0 28.7   2.011   2.836   140   17.5      0.7 158.4   2:23 (180, 55)  
Jan. 13   9 24.83    0 28.4   1.958   2.832   146   17.5      1.5 293.7   1:55 (180, 55)  

* (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)  
Jan.  6  10 21.26   -5 30.9  12.650  13.240   125   17.5      2.1 249.2   3:08 (186, 60)  
Jan. 13  10 20.27   -5 35.2  12.560  13.238   132   17.5      2.4 258.2   2:51 (180, 61)  

* 17P/Holmes


Fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6   2 22.27   40 21.0   2.144   2.748   118   17.5      9.8 134.7  21:02 (160, 11)  
Jan. 13   2 27.12   39 36.0   2.245   2.775   112   17.7     10.8 123.7  20:59 (156, 10)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   3 42.20   18 50.6   2.352   3.097   131   17.6      4.0 170.2  21:02 (173, 36)  
Jan. 13   3 43.07   18 25.5   2.429   3.098   124   17.7      4.3 138.4  20:59 (166, 35)  

* 97P/Metcalf-Brewington


Although it keeps the recent brightness for a while, it will be low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6   0 35.45   -3 37.5   2.678   2.705    81   17.6     16.9  75.4  21:02 (110, 32)  
Jan. 13   0 43.41   -3  5.2   2.755   2.693    76   17.7     18.4  74.4  20:59 (108, 28)  

* 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)  
Jan.  6   0  2.78   50 53.7   5.071   5.292    97   17.8     10.2 158.0  21:02 (146,-11)  
Jan. 13   0  5.99   49 49.5   5.085   5.222    92   17.7     10.1 150.6  20:59 (143,-13)  

* P/2000 Y3 ( Scotti )


New comet. Now it is at the peak and will never brighter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan.  6   5 52.17   26 20.2   3.103   4.051   162   18.1      8.1 267.1  22:47 (180, 29)  
Jan. 13   5 48.20   26 16.8   3.143   4.052   154   18.1      7.1 265.5  22:15 (180, 29)  

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