Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Jan. 20: North)

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Updated on January 29, 2001
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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/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


It keeps brighter than 9 mag in February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  15 49.54    2 53.9   1.322   1.312    67    7.9     69.8  36.9   5:37 (308, 45)  
Jan. 27  16  9.10    9 36.4   1.296   1.364    72    8.0     72.0  34.9   5:35 (303, 51)  

* 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. 20  18 40.68  -23 55.8   1.798   0.944    20    8.3     73.2  92.9   5:37 (297, -3)  
Jan. 27  19 17.96  -24  2.3   1.807   0.937    19    8.3     72.7  89.1   5:35 (296, -5)  

* C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones )


Now it is diffused. It passes 1 deg from 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak on Jan. 26.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  17 48.74  -17 50.3   1.331   0.738    33    9.8     34.8 266.9   5:37 (300, 10)  
Jan. 27  17 31.67  -18  2.8   1.267   0.885    44   10.5     35.5 267.3   5:35 (307, 17)  

* 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak


It was very diffused and hard to see in mid January. It passes 1 deg from C/2000 W1 ( Utsunomiya-Jones ) on Jan. 26.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  17  7.78  -16 41.6   1.551   1.067    42   11.1     62.4  93.8   5:37 (306, 18)  
Jan. 27  17 37.49  -17  0.7   1.577   1.087    42   11.4     59.6  91.6   5:35 (306, 17)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


The altitude is getting lower gradually. It seemed to be fading recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  23 52.25    7 17.0   3.502   3.152    61   12.5     11.7 161.5  18:44 ( 65, 42)  
Jan. 27  23 54.29    6  4.3   3.611   3.139    54   12.5     10.9 153.0  18:50 ( 70, 35)  

* 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. 20  17  5.51   25  3.6   3.400   3.088    63   13.6      2.3   5.8   5:37 (267, 44)  
Jan. 27  17  5.25   25 24.3   3.335   3.101    67   13.5      3.8 340.1   5:35 (271, 49)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )


It hardly faded out since the perihelion passage in 2000 June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   5 20.61  -65 22.3   3.651   3.759    88   13.7     22.2 339.6  21:20 (  0,-10)  
Jan. 27   5 13.45  -62 51.3   3.673   3.792    89   13.8     22.9 345.6  20:45 (  0, -8)  

* 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. 20  18 25.79  -28 42.4   6.862   5.984    24   14.0     11.5  86.9   5:37 (303, -4)  
Jan. 27  18 31.82  -28 37.8   6.809   5.981    30   14.0     11.2  86.6   5:35 (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. 20   3 37.60   27 15.3   1.884   2.504   118   14.0      8.3 129.2  19:38 (  0, 82)  
Jan. 27   3 41.67   26 41.4   1.956   2.498   112   14.0     10.1 115.9  19:14 (  0, 82)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


Getting lower in the evening sky, it will not be observable soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  22 48.43   -8 47.5   2.970   2.308    40   14.1     30.2  61.1  18:44 ( 64, 20)  
Jan. 27  23  0.97   -7  4.5   3.025   2.310    36   14.1     30.5  61.1  18:50 ( 69, 17)  

* 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. 20  21 48.28   -0 35.9   3.458   2.666    31   14.6     29.8  81.5  18:44 ( 80, 13)  
Jan. 27  22  1.92   -0  3.5   3.531   2.698    27   14.7     29.4  80.5  18:50 ( 83,  9)  

* 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. 20   4 35.90  -79 31.3  12.942  12.746    76   14.6      4.5 315.1  20:35 (  0,-24)  
Jan. 27   4 28.62  -79  7.5  12.980  12.791    76   14.6      4.4 324.0  20:00 (  0,-24)  

* 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. 20  20  7.15  -25 22.7   2.607   1.629     5   14.7     44.3  80.7   5:37 (287,-20)  
Jan. 27  20 29.37  -24 26.6   2.625   1.650     6   14.9     43.6  78.6   5:35 (287,-19)  

* 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. 20  16 52.08  -56 26.8   4.002   3.471    51   14.9     23.6 121.7   5:37 (335,-10)  
Jan. 27  17  9.56  -57 52.4   3.919   3.444    54   14.8     23.8 120.9   5:35 (337,-11)  

* 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. 20  12  6.26    8  5.7   2.933   3.547   121   15.3      2.2  35.2   4:09 (  0, 63)  
Jan. 27  12  6.39    8 20.8   2.849   3.547   128   15.3      2.6 344.9   3:41 (  0, 63)  

* 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. 20   2 16.56   51 46.4   5.005   5.374   106   15.3      1.2 168.9  18:44 (166, 73)  
Jan. 27   2 17.24   51 39.3   5.073   5.353   101   15.3      1.8 117.8  18:50 (152, 70)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


It will appear at dawn in July as 16.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  21 20.38  -12 55.0   2.814   1.908    18   15.5     38.0  69.7  18:44 ( 74,  0)  
Jan. 27  21 37.40  -11 20.0   2.828   1.901    16   15.4     38.3  68.7  18:50 ( 78, -2)  

* 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. 20  16  2.55   10 30.8   7.664   7.349    67   15.6      3.4 109.2   5:37 (297, 48)  
Jan. 27  16  3.89   10 24.2   7.580   7.361    73   15.6      2.6 107.2   5:35 (304, 53)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )


Recently it is fading rapidly. It should be fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   1 37.97  -10 26.9   4.847   4.764    79   15.6      7.5  83.4  18:44 ( 22, 42)  
Jan. 27   1 41.72  -10 19.4   4.976   4.791    73   15.7      8.5  81.4  18:50 ( 31, 39)  

* 2000 DG8


Asteroid with cometary orbit. It has just passed the perihelion.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   2 55.52  -25 33.4   1.936   2.192    91   16.4     26.4 272.5  18:55 (  0, 29)  
Jan. 27   2 43.60  -25 19.5   2.079   2.196    83   16.6     20.1 277.4  18:50 (  9, 29)  

* 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. 20   0 49.31    9 48.8   5.567   5.401    75   16.6      5.4  14.5  18:44 ( 53, 54)  
Jan. 27   0 50.21   10 26.8   5.638   5.358    68   16.5      6.1  23.5  18:50 ( 63, 49)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )


The condition is good in winter and spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  10 45.32    8 56.6   4.940   5.734   140   16.6     13.2 270.6   2:48 (  0, 64)  
Jan. 27  10 38.86    8 58.3   4.911   5.779   149   16.6     14.1 271.5   2:14 (  0, 64)  

* C/2001 A1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It keeps 16 mag until late February, it will fade out rapidly after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  11 44.43   41 38.0   2.079   2.814   129   16.6     18.8 262.2   3:47 (180, 83)  
Jan. 27  11 31.94   41 15.5   2.050   2.847   136   16.6     21.8 259.7   3:08 (180, 84)  

* C/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will approach to the earth and reach to 10 mag in June and July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   8 12.17   11 22.3   1.247   2.225   171   17.0     31.7 247.4   0:16 (  0, 66)  
Jan. 27   7 57.29    9 51.8   1.162   2.132   166   16.6     35.9 247.7  23:28 (  0, 65)  

* 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. 20  16 30.88   18 57.5   7.188   6.850    66   16.6      8.5  25.7   5:37 (281, 48)  
Jan. 27  16 32.53   19 53.4   7.119   6.869    71   16.6      8.8  19.6   5:35 (284, 53)  

* 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. 20  13  7.12   -0  9.1   1.791   2.247   104   16.7     12.4  92.8   5:09 (  0, 55)  
Jan. 27  13 12.27   -0  8.8   1.735   2.272   110   16.7      9.7  86.0   4:47 (  0, 55)  

* 24P/Schaumasse


It will reach to 10 mag in 2001 April and May, however, it was much fainter than expected recently. Maybe it reaches only to 14 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   1 49.84    6 43.7   1.489   1.755    87   17.0     19.0  44.3  18:44 ( 27, 59)  
Jan. 27   1 56.89    8 22.1   1.508   1.698    83   16.8     22.1  48.9  18:50 ( 39, 58)  

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )


It will be 17 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20  10 27.94    7  8.9   2.788   3.629   143   17.0      6.1 282.9   2:31 (  0, 62)  
Jan. 27  10 24.79    7 20.7   2.748   3.645   151   17.0      7.7 285.1   2:00 (  0, 62)  

* 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. 20   3 40.85   13  5.7   3.676   4.200   115   17.1      9.3 326.9  19:41 (  0, 68)  
Jan. 27   3 38.92   13 59.4   3.845   4.262   108   17.2      8.1 338.4  19:11 (  0, 69)  

* 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. 20   8  4.29   30 44.0   3.427   4.398   169   17.2     10.6 286.2   0:08 (  0, 86)  
Jan. 27   7 58.80   31  2.7   3.429   4.386   164   17.2     10.3 283.5  23:30 (  0, 86)  

* 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. 20   5  5.41   39 14.5   1.586   2.397   136   17.2      3.4 178.4  21:05 (180, 86)  
Jan. 27   5  6.33   38 49.8   1.674   2.428   130   17.4      4.6 140.6  20:39 (180, 86)  

* 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. 20   9 23.83    0 37.4   1.917   2.830   153   17.4      3.4 304.5   1:27 (  0, 56)  
Jan. 27   9 22.25    0 55.5   1.887   2.830   159   17.4      5.0 309.9   0:58 (  0, 56)  

* (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. 20  10 19.09   -5 37.7  12.479  13.236   138   17.5      2.7 265.0   2:22 (  0, 49)  
Jan. 27  10 17.75   -5 38.5  12.410  13.234   145   17.5      3.0 270.1   1:53 (  0, 49)  

* 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. 20   0  9.91   48 50.5   5.102   5.151    87   17.7     10.0 143.2  18:44 (128, 59)  
Jan. 27   0 14.48   47 57.1   5.120   5.080    82   17.6     10.0 135.9  18:50 (125, 54)  

* 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. 20   3 44.97   18  5.9   2.513   3.100   118   17.8      5.5 116.2  19:45 (  0, 73)  
Jan. 27   3 47.90   17 51.5   2.602   3.103   111   17.8      7.2 103.8  19:21 (  0, 73)  

* 17P/Holmes


Fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 20   2 33.07   38 57.2   2.351   2.803   107   17.9     11.9 115.2  18:44 (153, 86)  
Jan. 27   2 40.01   38 24.7   2.461   2.831   101   18.0     13.1 108.7  18:50 (117, 82)  

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.