Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2001 Sept. 15: South)

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Updated on September 17, 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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* 19P/Borrelly


It keeps 10 mag until mid November in the morning sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   7 27.30   18 59.0   1.508   1.358    61   10.2     49.9  73.5   4:36 (229, 19)  
Sept.22   7 51.05   20 35.0   1.477   1.361    63   10.1     49.7  74.3   4:25 (229, 17)  

* P/2001 Q2 ( Petriew )


New periodic comet. It keeps 10 mag in September. But it begins to fade out after October, and becomes fainter than 13 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   7 44.34   16 41.5   1.006   0.965    57   10.4     61.5 115.7   4:36 (233, 18)  
Sept.22   8  9.92   13 36.3   1.051   0.991    57   10.6     56.8 117.2   4:25 (237, 19)  

* C/2001 A2 ( LINEAR )


Fading as expected, however, it is too diffused to see visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  20  2.28   16 48.7   1.332   2.076   124   11.3      8.2 160.2  20:24 (180, 38)  
Sept.22  20  4.32   15 57.2   1.480   2.169   120   11.7      8.9 141.5  19:59 (180, 39)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


Although the brightening is slower than expected, it began to be observed visually. It reaches to 6.5 mag in winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   4 47.87   50 41.4   2.088   2.387    94   13.0      8.1  73.8   4:36 (186,  4)  
Sept.22   4 52.99   50 56.0   1.897   2.289    99   12.7      6.3  72.4   4:25 (184,  4)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


It locates high in the Southern Hemisphere. Northern people can never see it again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  23  5.78  -50  2.4   2.763   3.524   132   12.7     30.8 239.6  23:25 (  0, 75)  
Sept.22  22 46.58  -51 35.1   2.864   3.556   126   12.8     27.5 246.0  22:39 (  0, 73)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at 12.5 mag until 2002 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   1 54.25   52 19.9   3.544   4.099   116   12.9     18.8 320.6   2:19 (180,  3)  
Sept.22   1 44.06   53 57.7   3.455   4.068   121   12.8     19.5 313.4   1:42 (180,  1)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It was observed at 11.5 mag visually in late August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  18 37.96  -27 23.7   5.545   5.905   106   13.5      2.0  43.7  19:14 (157, 82)  
Sept.22  18 38.99  -27 13.4   5.652   5.903    99   13.5      2.9  59.4  19:20 (125, 77)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


It is not observable in the Northern Hemisphere until when it locates low in the evening sky at 15 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  22 51.62  -70 10.8   2.746   3.267   112   13.8     16.7 325.3  23:12 (  0, 55)  
Sept.22  22 40.15  -68 27.0   2.793   3.285   110   13.9     17.7 333.6  22:33 (  0, 57)  

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )


It reaches to 13.5 mag in November. It locates in the evening sky until 2002 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  18 26.21  -25 21.2   0.985   1.566   103   14.4     18.4 129.1  19:14 (148, 79)  
Sept.22  18 34.90  -26 39.5   0.997   1.518    98   14.3     22.0 119.4  19:20 (124, 76)  

* 144P/2000 O2 ( 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)  
Sept.15  10 44.55    5  9.8   2.653   1.682    11   14.8     40.9 112.6   4:36 (270,-10)  
Sept.22  11  1.91    3 20.3   2.679   1.722    13   15.0     39.6 113.1   4:25 (272, -9)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It was 16.1 mag on Aug. 22 by KenIchi Kadota. 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)  
Sept.15   8 28.67   66 24.6   5.165   4.927    70   15.0     15.0  75.1   4:36 (203,-23)  
Sept.22   8 45.53   66 50.9   5.099   4.924    74   15.0     14.6  74.9   4:25 (203,-23)  

* 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)  
Sept.15   6 37.68  -77 29.3  14.213  14.239    89   15.3      4.4 167.2   4:36 (350, 45)  
Sept.22   6 39.34  -77 59.9  14.279  14.282    88   15.3      4.4 173.2   4:25 (351, 45)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


After the small outburst up to 15 mag in July, it keeps the brightness still in late August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  20 58.34   -1 39.4   5.782   6.602   141   15.5      7.0 271.6  21:20 (180, 57)  
Sept.22  20 55.31   -1 38.1   5.903   6.647   134   15.6      6.0 271.7  20:49 (180, 57)  

* 16P/Brooks 2


It will fade out after this and become fainter than 18 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   4 50.89   17 22.0   1.471   1.903    98   15.9     20.7  94.9   4:36 (192, 37)  
Sept.22   5  0.29   17  6.8   1.423   1.920   103   15.9     18.0  98.1   4:25 (189, 37)  

* 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson


It keeps 16 mag until late October, then fades out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   5 29.14   34 47.7   2.703   2.862    88   16.0     12.4  63.7   4:36 (197, 18)  
Sept.22   5 34.93   35 26.0   2.636   2.888    94   16.0     10.7  59.1   4:25 (194, 18)  

* C/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


New comet. Brightening rapidly. It will be at opposition and reach to 15.5 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   3 45.52   23 34.4   0.948   1.627   112   16.5     60.6   4.1   4:10 (180, 32)  
Sept.22   3 46.66   31 19.8   0.855   1.587   117   16.2     72.6 359.8   3:43 (180, 24)  

* 2001 OG108


New asteroid with 50-year period. It closes to the earth down to 0.55 AU in 2001 April and reaches to 14 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   1  6.55   18 47.1   1.838   2.743   147   16.5     29.0 290.9   1:32 (180, 36)  
Sept.22   0 51.80   19 57.3   1.720   2.667   155   16.3     33.9 286.7   0:50 (180, 35)  

* 61P/Shajn-Schaldach


It must be bright enough, but no observations reported since 200 Sept. 20.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   5 49.33   17 11.7   2.377   2.495    84   16.3     17.1  96.8   4:36 (208, 33)  
Sept.22   5 57.15   16 56.3   2.308   2.513    89   16.3     15.2  98.9   4:25 (206, 34)  

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It had been hardly fading for almost one year after the perihelion passage in 2000 July, and was bright at 15 mag in 2001 May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   7 30.65  -19 10.1   5.513   5.138    63   16.4      4.8 109.5   4:36 (264, 43)  
Sept.22   7 32.64  -19 22.3   5.484   5.184    67   16.4      3.9 118.1   4:25 (261, 47)  

* C/2001 K3 ( Skiff )


It will fade out after this and be fainter than 18 mag in December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  19 39.99   16 20.0   2.758   3.371   119   16.5      3.2 294.7  20:02 (180, 39)  
Sept.22  19 39.13   16 27.6   2.860   3.400   114   16.6      1.1 323.4  19:33 (180, 39)  

* C/2000 K2 ( LINEAR )


It did not begin to fade out even after the perihelion passage. It had been at the conjunction for a while, and still keeps the brightness.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   2  6.61    7 41.1   3.441   4.259   139   16.5      7.9 215.3   2:31 (180, 47)  
Sept.22   2  4.19    6 55.0   3.434   4.313   147   16.6      8.8 220.4   2:01 (180, 48)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


It will be 14.5 mag in 2002 July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  21 11.78   37  2.0   3.613   4.311   128   16.6     24.7 240.6  21:32 (180, 18)  
Sept.22  20 59.72   35 30.6   3.599   4.260   125   16.6     24.4 235.5  20:53 (180, 20)  

* 51P/Harrington


Fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   5 28.23   13 32.4   1.571   1.866    90   16.7     19.8  92.0   4:36 (204, 38)  
Sept.22   5 36.98   13 26.2   1.537   1.902    94   16.9     16.7  93.6   4:25 (201, 39)  

* C/1999 T1 ( McNaught-Hartley )


Fading gradually. It locates in the northern sky and the northern people can observe it until it disappears.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15  17  6.31   58 12.5   3.797   3.826    84   16.7     16.7 144.3  19:14 (166, -6)  
Sept.22  17 15.18   56 38.5   3.873   3.899    84   16.8     17.0 140.9  19:20 (163, -6)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


Fading. It will be fainter than 18 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   5 29.96   29 33.9   2.323   2.512    88   16.8     12.8  82.9   4:36 (198, 23)  
Sept.22   5 36.15   29 44.0   2.266   2.545    94   16.9     10.5  82.6   4:25 (196, 23)  

* P/2001 Q5 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


New periodic comet. It will keep 17 mag until late October, but then fades out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   2  8.57   25 41.3   1.362   2.170   132   17.0      8.4 337.1   2:33 (180, 29)  
Sept.22   2  6.07   26 29.9   1.331   2.188   138   17.0      8.8 314.4   2:03 (180, 29)  

* 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3


Although KenIchi Kadota, observed it at 16.8 mag on July 16, it was very faint, 18.0 mag, on Aug. 28 by Akimasa Nakamura.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   3 42.86   11 29.6   2.164   2.755   115   17.1      4.7 251.2   4:07 (180, 43)  
Sept.22   3 40.05   11 17.3   2.128   2.807   123   17.2      7.6 254.8   3:37 (180, 44)  

* C/1999 K8 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly. It will be fainter than 18 mag at the end of this year.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   4 31.34  -18 34.3   5.545   5.889   105   17.3      9.1 168.7   4:36 (196, 73)  
Sept.22   4 31.93  -19 36.9   5.508   5.927   109   17.3      9.0 176.2   4:25 (183, 75)  

* 2000 EJ37


Asteroid with 10-year period. Fading gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.15   3 57.14   12 46.8   2.439   2.968   112   17.9      4.1 182.3   4:21 (180, 42)  
Sept.22   3 56.45   12 16.4   2.402   3.021   119   17.9      5.3 210.6   3:53 (180, 43)  

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