Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Apr. 28: North)

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 Updated on May 5, 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/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )
Although it faded to 8 mag in mid April, now it is brightening rapidly again. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until it appears at dawn as 3 mag in late June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   5 54.34  -15  9.2   0.821   0.930    60    6.4     22.5 192.2  20:15 ( 67,  5)  
May   5   5 51.21  -17 48.9   0.765   0.865    56    5.5     25.1 199.9  20:23 ( 70, -4)

* 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova
It was bright at 9 mag in mid April. It fades rapidly and reaches to 14 mag in late May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   5  2.25   24 33.0   1.257   0.794    39   10.5    101.1  81.1  20:15 (108, 19)  
May   5   5 52.35   25 42.7   1.287   0.894    43   11.1     93.9  86.5  20:23 (107, 22)

* 24P/Schaumasse
It was 10.5 mag in mid April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   6  1.68   30 57.5   1.506   1.207    52   10.6     56.1  84.2  20:15 (107, 33)  
May   5   6 32.69   31 22.1   1.506   1.205    52   10.5     57.7  88.2  20:23 (108, 32)

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )
It locates good position, however it is getting diffused and will not be obervable soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  18 56.02   71 23.7   2.195   2.304    83   11.4     16.9 354.6   3:40 (187, 53)  
May   5  18 51.56   73 11.9   2.296   2.383    82   11.7     14.6 343.8   3:30 (184, 52)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   0 43.42   -3 18.1   3.942   3.110    29   12.7     10.6 130.3   3:40 (267,-10)  
May   5   0 47.09   -4  8.8   3.874   3.118    36   12.6     10.8 135.2   3:30 (270, -8)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   0 58.49   -1 23.4   2.388   1.545    25   12.8     38.0  67.8   3:40 (263,-12)  
May   5   1 14.47    0 13.8   2.429   1.611    28   13.2     35.8  68.1   3:30 (262,-11)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
It is observable as 13.5 mag until May. It was reported as 12 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  14 51.26   33 33.6   2.637   3.393   131   13.4     33.8 261.5   0:29 (  0, 89)  
May   5  14 32.90   32 46.7   2.677   3.423   130   13.5     33.3 255.8  23:37 (  0, 88)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Appearing at dawn. Now it is 15 mag. No outburst bright enough to observe visually has occured since 1999 July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  19 19.50  -27 58.7   5.530   5.952   110   13.5      0.9 105.3   3:40 (342, 25)  
May   5  19 19.64  -28  0.7   5.426   5.950   116   13.5      0.5 221.3   3:30 (346, 26)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   3 15.79   18 21.7   2.546   1.586    13   14.0     43.5  76.9  20:15 (117, -6)  
May   5   3 37.03   19 26.7   2.526   1.554    12   13.8     44.6  78.6  20:23 (120, -7)

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )
Although it reaches to 13.5 mag in summer, only southern people can observe it. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  22 18.07  -69 50.4   2.968   3.197    93   13.9     18.6  97.8   3:40 (340,-24)  
May   5  22 42.48  -70  5.3   2.918   3.187    96   13.9     17.4  96.6   3:30 (340,-25)

* 19P/Borrelly
In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn at 10 mag in late July, then reaches to 8 mag in autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   0 54.14  -18 25.2   2.717   2.035    39   14.4     35.8  66.8   3:40 (279,-20)  
May   5   1 10.46  -16 44.6   2.636   1.985    40   14.1     36.8  66.7   3:30 (277,-19)

* 51P/Harrington
It will appear at dawn in June at 14 mag, then will fade gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  23 43.44   -5 14.3   2.188   1.618    43   15.0     45.0  71.4   3:40 (277,  1)  
May   5   0  3.46   -3 32.8   2.142   1.602    45   14.8     45.3  71.3   3:30 (276,  2)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   4 44.49  -73 46.6  13.317  13.369    90   14.9      4.0  59.3  20:15 ( 20,-33)  
May   5   4 50.31  -73 33.8  13.342  13.413    91   14.9      4.0  65.5  20:23 ( 20,-35)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   1 46.06   14 53.4   3.427   2.436     8   14.9     29.5  63.9   3:40 (243,-11)  
May   5   1 58.84   16 22.6   3.430   2.452    11   15.0     29.1  64.4   3:30 (242, -9)

* 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)  
Apr. 28  10 30.33   -7 19.2   4.982   5.593   122   15.0     13.9 317.7  20:15 (  4, 48)  
May   5  10 26.32   -6  9.9   5.106   5.610   115   15.0     12.3 320.9  20:23 ( 19, 47)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
It hardly faded out since the perihelion passage in 2000 June. But no observation has been reported since Jan. 5. So the current brightness is uncertain. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   5 46.60  -30 47.1   4.570   4.272    66   15.1     18.7  36.9  20:15 ( 56, -5)  
May   5   5 52.75  -29  6.7   4.667   4.312    63   15.2     18.0  40.3  20:23 ( 61,-10)

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )
In the Northern Hemisphere, it goes southern sky and will not be observable after May, then appears again at dawn in November at 16.5 mag and fades. In the Southern Hemisphere, it locates high. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  19 29.45  -42 32.3   1.934   2.455   109   15.3     36.3 219.6   3:40 (344, 10)  
May   5  19 11.26  -46  0.6   1.771   2.419   118   15.1     45.6 226.1   3:30 (351,  8)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh
It is observable in the evening sky until July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  11 26.39   12 29.4   2.843   3.565   129   15.3      2.8 243.4  21:00 (  0, 67)  
May   5  11 25.61   12 17.4   2.925   3.567   122   15.4      2.3 199.6  20:32 (  0, 67)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
It is observable as 15.5 mag until autumn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  15 41.24   10 19.0   6.654   7.532   148   15.4      9.1 262.2   1:18 (  0, 65)  
May   5  15 36.89   10  8.7   6.649   7.547   151   15.4      9.4 259.6   0:46 (  0, 65)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   3 38.27   55  4.2   5.800   5.118    43   15.4     13.5  68.9  20:15 (144, 20)  
May   5   3 48.77   55 38.7   5.820   5.103    41   15.4     13.9  68.7  20:23 (147, 18)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   5 52.86   23 38.4   3.000   2.486    50   15.8     25.9  95.7  20:15 (101, 28)  
May   5   6  6.05   23 18.5   3.069   2.490    46   15.9     26.3  96.6  20:23 (103, 23)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
Appearing at dawn. It will fade out gradually after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  21 57.14   -8 37.2   5.967   5.691    69   16.3      6.6  21.6   3:40 (297, 20)  
May   5  21 58.04   -7 55.0   5.901   5.736    75   16.3      6.1  13.4   3:30 (299, 23)

* 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)  
Apr. 28  14  2.64  -15 24.4   4.671   5.675   175   16.4     12.0 256.7  23:35 (  0, 40)  
May   5  13 57.00  -15 43.5   4.662   5.652   167   16.4     11.9 256.8  23:02 (  0, 39)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
Appearing at dawn. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  17 54.19  -17 21.6  10.009  10.670   128   16.7      1.9 289.0   3:31 (  0, 38)  
May   5  17 53.17  -17 17.4   9.937  10.683   135   16.7      2.4 284.0   3:02 (  0, 38)

* 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)  
Apr. 28  14 54.54    6 47.9   5.092   6.035   157   16.9     17.8 283.4   0:32 (  0, 62)  
May   5  14 46.39    7 14.7   5.117   6.055   156   16.9     17.6 281.5  23:51 (  0, 62)

* C/2000 K1 ( LINEAR )
Fading gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  16  7.19   35  9.4   6.516   7.138   124   17.0     12.7 310.4   1:44 (180, 90)  
May   5  16  1.50   36  3.7   6.534   7.160   124   17.0     12.5 305.7   1:11 (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)  
Apr. 28   9 51.97   10 11.1   3.427   3.872   108   17.0      3.7 104.4  20:15 ( 27, 63)  
May   5   9 54.02   10  2.8   3.543   3.890   102   17.1      5.3 106.1  20:23 ( 42, 59)

* 86P/Wild 3
It is brightest at 17 mag until late June, but the altitude is not too high. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28  16 30.97  -14  8.2   1.418   2.337   148   17.3      7.8 229.3   2:08 (  0, 41)  
May   5  16 27.46  -14 45.8   1.372   2.330   156   17.2     10.2 236.6   1:37 (  0, 40)

* C/2000 Y2
Fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   9 37.95    8 27.2   2.343   2.795   106   17.3     14.2  85.2  20:15 ( 32, 60)  
May   5   9 44.97    8 32.1   2.433   2.806   100   17.4     15.6  89.2  20:23 ( 44, 56)

* 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)  
Apr. 28   9 26.81    8 58.7   6.056   6.364   103   17.4      4.5 252.0  20:15 ( 38, 59)  
May   5   9 25.08    8 48.1   6.221   6.410    96   17.5      3.4 241.4  20:23 ( 51, 53)

* 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)  
Apr. 28  12 41.68    6 16.4   1.739   2.646   147   17.7      6.5 273.8  22:15 (  0, 61)  
May   5  12 39.16    6 14.8   1.818   2.678   140   17.9      4.3 258.4  21:45 (  0, 61)

* C/2001 A1 ( LINEAR )
Fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 28   9 32.50   21 22.0   3.047   3.382   100   17.8     14.0 180.0  20:15 ( 52, 70)  
May   5   9 32.99   19 45.9   3.197   3.429    94   17.9     13.6 171.8  20:23 ( 63, 62)

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