Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Mar. 24: North)

Japanese version
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Updated on March 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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* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova


Not observable before the perihelion passage. It will appear at dusk in April at 10 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   0 55.29    4 33.0   1.486   0.543    11    8.9    102.3  65.4  19:39 (101, -7)  
Mar. 31   1 40.46    9 34.0   1.405   0.529    16    8.4    107.6  66.3  19:45 (104, -2)  

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


It keeps brighter than 11 mag until late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  18 26.08   57  2.8   1.687   1.914    87    9.9     36.7  23.1   4:34 (211, 62)  
Mar. 31  18 37.50   60 43.8   1.785   1.991    86   10.2     31.5  20.0   4:23 (204, 60)  

* 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)  
Mar. 24  23 21.95  -11  7.8   2.136   1.224    17   10.7     51.3  69.0   4:34 (273,-15)  
Mar. 31  23 43.93   -9  0.2   2.190   1.285    18   11.2     48.3  68.2   4:23 (271,-15)  

* 24P/Schaumasse


Katsumi Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, observed it at 12 mag visually in mid March. It will be 10 mag in April and May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   3 51.53   23 52.5   1.541   1.311    57   11.8     44.8  68.3  19:39 ( 94, 39)  
Mar. 31   4 13.74   25 44.3   1.533   1.278    55   11.3     47.3  70.9  19:45 ( 98, 37)  

* C/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )


Katsumi Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, observed it at 10 mag visually on Mar. 26. It will reach to 8 mag in June and July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   6  8.93   -4 37.9   0.950   1.368    89   12.7     20.3 220.2  19:39 ( 35, 44)  
Mar. 31   6  3.77   -6 28.0   0.940   1.273    81   12.4     18.4 209.4  19:45 ( 45, 37)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


Not observable. It will appear again at dawn in June. However, it never locates high and will not be observable after August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   0 22.96    0  0.6   4.086   3.091     2   12.7     10.3 119.3  19:39 (102,-17)  
Mar. 31   0 27.18   -0 35.1   4.085   3.092     5   12.7     10.4 119.7   4:23 (257,-19)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Mar. 24  16 16.79   32  9.9   2.729   3.256   113   13.3     25.3 288.3   4:11 (  0, 87)  
Mar. 31  16  2.51   33  0.3   2.677   3.281   119   13.3     28.2 283.3   3:30 (  0, 88)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  19 10.04  -28  2.1   6.090   5.963    77   13.7      6.1  86.2   4:34 (326, 18)  
Mar. 31  19 13.02  -27 59.6   5.978   5.961    84   13.7      5.2  86.8   4:23 (328, 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)  
Mar. 24  20  6.87  -67 14.1   3.278   3.267    80   14.2     22.6 108.1   4:34 (341,-19)  
Mar. 31  20 33.15  -67 58.7   3.209   3.250    83   14.2     22.1 105.8   4:23 (341,-21)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )


It hardly faded out since the perihelion passage in 2000 June. But no observation has been reported since Jan. 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   5 19.24  -41 19.9   4.112   4.076    80   14.5     22.2  19.3  19:39 ( 27,  7)  
Mar. 31   5 24.04  -38 56.6   4.197   4.114    78   14.6     21.6  22.9  19:45 ( 33,  6)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in July as 15.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   0 42.26    6 50.0   3.348   2.369     9   14.6     30.7  61.8  19:39 (105, -9)  
Mar. 31   0 55.00    8 30.8   3.371   2.380     6   14.7     30.6  62.1  19:45 (110,-12)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


Because it is far away, it keeps brighter than 16 mag until August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  11  1.48  -13 59.3   4.578   5.517   158   14.7     20.0 306.0  22:52 (  0, 41)  
Mar. 31  10 53.94  -12 36.4   4.623   5.531   152   14.8     19.3 308.0  22:17 (  0, 42)  

* 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)  
Mar. 24   4 21.49  -75 26.3  13.205  13.148    84   14.8      4.0  25.9  19:39 ( 13,-25)  
Mar. 31   4 25.04  -75  2.2  13.227  13.193    85   14.8      3.9  32.9  19:45 ( 14,-26)  

* 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)  
Mar. 24  11 41.48   11 55.3   2.583   3.555   164   15.1      9.6 288.9  23:32 (  0, 67)  
Mar. 31  11 37.32   12 14.3   2.611   3.556   157   15.1      8.6 285.6  23:01 (  0, 67)  

* 144P/Kushida


Not observable until December when it becomes fainter than 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   1 41.95   11 47.6   2.637   1.778    24   15.4     37.2  71.1  19:39 (100,  6)  
Mar. 31   1 59.11   13 11.3   2.621   1.736    21   15.1     38.5  71.9  19:45 (104,  3)  

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in July, but will be fainter than 17 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  23 41.66    5 21.1   3.984   3.003     8   15.2     24.9  76.0   4:34 (257, -9)  
Mar. 31  23 52.85    6  2.8   4.019   3.046    11   15.3     24.3  75.9   4:23 (257, -8)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


Although it will be lower after this for a while, it is observable until 2002 autumn at 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   2 53.83   52 42.4   5.604   5.199    61   15.4     10.2  72.1  19:39 (134, 37)  
Mar. 31   3  1.59   53  5.7   5.655   5.182    57   15.4     11.0  71.0  19:45 (135, 33)  

* 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)  
Mar. 24  15 58.88   10 30.0   6.879   7.461   122   15.4      5.4 273.5   3:53 (  0, 65)  
Mar. 31  15 56.10   10 31.7   6.811   7.475   128   15.4      6.3 271.4   3:23 (  0, 66)  

* 110P/Hartley 3


It is fading gradually since some time before the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   4 50.75   24 40.1   2.616   2.476    70   15.5     22.4  93.0  19:39 ( 87, 51)  
Mar. 31   5  2.47   24 31.2   2.697   2.477    66   15.5     23.3  93.2  19:45 ( 90, 46)  

* 33P/Daniel


Outburst. Takaaki Oribe, Saji Observatory, observed it at 15.9 mag on Mar. 21.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  11 42.08   36 45.4   2.115   2.959   141   16.0     10.7 258.2  23:33 (180, 88)  
Mar. 31  11 36.34   36 23.0   2.180   2.990   137   16.2     10.1 245.8  22:59 (180, 89)  

* P/1999 WJ7 ( Korlevic )


It bursted out in mid February and reached to 15 mag, but now it is fading rapidly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   9 53.54    9 53.1   2.933   3.783   143   16.4      5.3 291.1  21:45 (  0, 65)  
Mar. 31   9 51.59   10  4.6   3.016   3.800   136   16.5      3.5 292.9  21:15 (  0, 65)  

* C/2001 C1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps around 17 mag until 2002 autumn because it is far away. However, it goes to the southern sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  14 28.26  -13 36.4   4.958   5.797   144   16.6      9.2 248.1   2:23 (  0, 41)  
Mar. 31  14 23.88  -13 60.0   4.870   5.772   152   16.6     10.2 251.1   1:51 (  0, 41)  

* 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)  
Mar. 24  16 28.57   29 21.8   6.599   7.030   111   16.6     12.2 334.4   4:23 (  0, 84)  
Mar. 31  16 25.44   30 37.9   6.561   7.051   115   16.6     12.5 329.5   3:52 (  0, 86)  

* 95P/(2060) Chiron


Appearing at dawn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  17 54.77  -17 44.6  10.478  10.606    94   16.8      1.5  64.6   4:34 (338, 34)  
Mar. 31  17 55.29  -17 40.0  10.376  10.619   101   16.8      1.0  47.4   4:23 (343, 35)  

* P/2000 WT168


It will fade out after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   8 12.73  -10 17.0   1.039   1.762   119   16.8     12.3  89.2  20:05 (  0, 45)  
Mar. 31   8 19.46  -10 14.6   1.083   1.763   115   16.9     16.0  88.5  19:45 (  0, 45)  

* C/1999 N4 ( LINEAR )


It is still bright. Akimasa Nakamura, Kuma, Japan, observed it at 16.9 mag on Mar. 21.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  15 31.50    3 49.0   5.245   5.936   130   16.9     14.2 293.0   3:26 (  0, 59)  
Mar. 31  15 25.05    4 27.9   5.181   5.955   137   16.9     15.5 291.0   2:52 (  0, 59)  

* C/2000 Y2


It keeps 17 mag until late March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   9 15.47    6 22.6   1.971   2.769   135   16.9      7.2  37.5  21:07 (  0, 61)  
Mar. 31   9 18.05    7  0.0   2.032   2.770   128   17.0      8.2  53.0  20:42 (  0, 62)  

* C/1999 H3 ( LINEAR )


Recently it was 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   9 45.14    9 24.4   5.324   6.138   141   17.0     11.2 269.6  21:36 (  0, 64)  
Mar. 31   9 40.15    9 23.0   5.451   6.183   133   17.1      9.9 268.1  21:04 (  0, 64)  

* C/2001 A1 ( LINEAR )


It will fade out rapidly after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   9 49.15   30 23.0   2.388   3.158   133   17.0     21.3 219.8  21:40 (  0, 85)  
Mar. 31   9 42.68   28 28.6   2.502   3.201   126   17.2     19.3 212.9  21:06 (  0, 83)  

* 70P/Kojima


Recently it was 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  13  5.07    4 10.6   1.515   2.493   165   17.1     12.6 299.0   1:00 (  0, 59)  
Mar. 31  12 59.80    4 50.9   1.535   2.523   169   17.2     12.6 295.2   0:27 (  0, 60)  

* 65P/Gunn


Although it is around the aphelion now, it is observable as 17 mag in good condition until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24   7 35.06   31 11.0   3.890   4.286   106   17.3      1.8 153.2  19:39 ( 34, 85)  
Mar. 31   7 35.96   30 58.7   3.980   4.272   100   17.4      3.1 127.6  19:45 ( 70, 80)  

* P/2001 CV8 ( LINEAR )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 24  10 25.31   13 56.0   1.257   2.175   149   17.4      7.4 228.0  22:16 (  0, 69)  
Mar. 31  10 23.35   13 18.3   1.310   2.188   142   17.5      6.4 204.3  21:47 (  0, 68)  

* (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)  
Mar. 24  10  5.58   -4 56.9  12.361  13.218   148   17.5      2.9 293.7  21:57 (  0, 50)  
Mar. 31  10  4.40   -4 48.6  12.417  13.216   141   17.5      2.6 296.9  21:28 (  0, 50)  

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