Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Jan. 12: North)

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Updated on January 14, 2002
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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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* 96P/Machholz 1


It was in the field of SOHO LASCO from Jan. 7 to 10. It brightened rapidly and reached to -1 mag on Jan. 8. Then it faded to 1.5 mag on Jan. 10. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn in late January, but keeps locating very low.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  19  4.45  -12 28.8   0.976   0.197    11    1.4     78.0 335.4   5:38 (280, -7)  
Jan. 19  19  4.41   -9 31.2   1.230   0.422    17    6.8     15.6  68.2   5:37 (282,  0)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


It has been at 5.5 mag since late November. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not obesrvable until late February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  21  9.99  -54 37.1   0.870   0.607    37    5.6     48.0 271.1  18:37 ( 36,-20)  
Jan. 19  20 33.01  -53 18.8   0.971   0.562    33    5.6     48.6 295.0  18:43 ( 43,-28)  

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )


It bursted out and reached to 11 mag around Dec. 8. Then it faded a bit, but kept 11 mag. Unfortunately it is already unobservable. It will appear at dawn in late February in the Southern Hemisphere, but 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. 12  19 46.00  -14 19.3   2.061   1.096     7   12.0     35.5 147.6  18:37 ( 80,-12)  
Jan. 19  19 55.08  -17 42.3   2.113   1.133     3   12.2     33.7 146.9   5:37 (281,-15)  

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )


It has already passed the perihelion, but keeps as bright as 12 mag since 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)  
Jan. 12   0 44.56  -11  5.6   1.241   1.365    74   12.5     58.6  62.0  18:37 ( 26, 40)  
Jan. 19   1  8.67   -7 52.9   1.295   1.401    74   12.7     57.2  61.5  18:43 ( 30, 43)  

* 19P/Borrelly


It will be fading now. But it was observed at 11.5 mag in late December, brighter than expected. It is observable in good condition until to fade out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  12 51.26   42 42.0   1.287   1.891   112   12.7     19.0  32.1   5:26 (180, 82)  
Jan. 19  12 56.39   44 35.8   1.296   1.940   115   12.9     17.3  19.5   5:04 (180, 80)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at 13 mag until 2002 September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  23  1.07   54 14.2   3.581   3.681    88   12.8      1.9 105.3  18:37 (136, 53)  
Jan. 19  23  3.10   54 15.6   3.634   3.665    84   12.9      3.3  74.2  18:43 (135, 49)  

* C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR )


It has a long folded tail. Although it keeps 13.5 mag until mid February, it locates very low in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  10 59.96  -31 42.2   1.119   1.694   107   13.5     90.2 227.3   3:36 (  0, 24)  
Jan. 19  10 16.09  -38 37.8   1.050   1.699   113   13.4    102.8 236.5   2:26 (  0, 17)  

* 2001 TX16


Asteroid with a cometary orbit of 6.8 year period. It will approach to the earth and reach to 13.8 mag in January and February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   9 24.59   34 21.0   0.495   1.440   152   13.9     18.7  48.6   2:00 (  0, 89)  
Jan. 19   9 31.62   35 41.9   0.485   1.439   155   13.8     15.1  45.1   1:39 (180, 89)  

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


Because it is fading now, a few observations are reported. It was 13.0 mag in early January. It keeps observable for a while in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  18 18.67   63 10.8   1.368   1.631    86   13.9      9.6 351.6   5:38 (213, 36)  
Jan. 19  18 16.43   64 29.0   1.403   1.677    87   14.3     13.1 347.2   5:37 (212, 39)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Now observable. it will appear again at dawn in 2001 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  19 51.39  -23 20.4   6.850   5.870     4   13.9     12.3  76.6  18:37 ( 72,-16)  
Jan. 19  19 57.47  -23  0.1   6.851   5.868     2   13.9     12.3  76.2   5:37 (286,-18)  

* 15P/Finlay


Not yet observed in this return. It keeps brighter than 16 mag until April. But the condition is worst. It always locates very low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  21  9.95  -18 20.3   1.935   1.099    22   14.5     60.4  72.0  18:37 ( 66,  3)  
Jan. 19  21 38.38  -15 58.6   1.904   1.069    22   14.3     62.8  69.9  18:43 ( 68,  3)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


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)  
Jan. 12  11 38.75   76  4.0   4.415   4.950   117   14.7      5.3 348.3   4:14 (180, 49)  
Jan. 19  11 35.22   76 38.3   4.418   4.957   118   14.7      5.1 331.6   3:43 (180, 48)  

* P/2001 TU80 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It bursted out in early January. Now it is as bright as 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   8 35.56   20 55.3   0.985   1.952   165   14.9     10.5 320.2   1:11 (  0, 76)  
Jan. 19   8 31.83   21 52.0   0.981   1.962   173   14.9     11.4 315.3   0:40 (  0, 77)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


Fading rapidly, as expected. 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. 12  21 28.33  -50  2.3   4.918   4.166    36   15.1      5.4  80.5  18:37 ( 38,-14)  
Jan. 19  21 32.37  -49 57.9   4.983   4.208    34   15.1      5.8  86.6  18:43 ( 41,-18)  

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )


It seems to be brightening rapidly. It will be observable at 15.5 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  23 39.90   -2 33.8   1.573   1.423    62   15.3     43.8  60.3  18:37 ( 50, 40)  
Jan. 19  23 58.09    0  1.0   1.587   1.402    60   15.2     45.7  60.6  18:43 ( 55, 39)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


Although it will be unobservable soon, it will be observable again at 16.5 mag in summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  23 17.29  -32 57.4   4.268   3.719    50   15.4     20.6  36.9  18:37 ( 35, 12)  
Jan. 19  23 24.19  -31  4.1   4.369   3.754    46   15.4     20.4  38.8  18:43 ( 41, 10)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be 15 mag in next spring at opposition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  11 49.70   14 42.1   2.977   3.560   119   15.8      3.4  32.6   4:25 (  0, 70)  
Jan. 19  11 50.12   15  5.1   2.871   3.540   125   15.7      3.7 358.5   3:58 (  0, 70)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It will be 10.5 mag in 2003 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   5 43.90   28 13.8   2.289   3.204   154   15.9     10.7 266.3  22:16 (  0, 83)  
Jan. 19   5 38.67   28  8.0   2.313   3.178   146   15.9      9.0 263.9  21:43 (  0, 83)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It will be 15 mag in spring and summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  16 39.87   -8  6.9   6.239   5.571    43   15.9     11.4  62.3   5:38 (299, 23)  
Jan. 19  16 44.49   -7 28.0   6.137   5.552    49   15.9     11.2  58.7   5:37 (303, 28)  

* 2001 OG108


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)  
Jan. 12  21 29.40   25 31.9   1.710   1.401    54   16.3     10.4 353.9  18:37 (101, 31)  
Jan. 19  21 29.12   26 51.9   1.692   1.328    51   16.2     12.5 359.8  18:43 (107, 25)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke


Not yet observed in this return. Good target for first observation. It will brighten in the morning sky until May when it reaches to 11.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  14 46.86    7 35.1   1.867   1.888    76   16.5     36.2  99.0   5:38 (313, 54)  
Jan. 19  15  3.95    6 56.7   1.760   1.835    78   16.2     37.3  98.2   5:37 (317, 55)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps the same brightness until 2002 September when it becomes low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  15 40.52  -10  4.5   8.712   8.215    56   16.3      4.4 132.8   5:38 (313, 32)  
Jan. 19  15 41.91  -10 24.9   8.630   8.237    63   16.3      3.8 137.2   5:37 (319, 35)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps the same brightness until 2002 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  13 34.80  -10 59.9   4.901   4.924    85   16.4      6.2 220.9   5:38 (349, 43)  
Jan. 19  13 32.49  -11 31.4   4.821   4.972    93   16.4      7.1 232.7   5:37 (359, 43)  

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )


It will fade out after this and will be fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  11 19.19  -21 35.5   2.347   2.837   109   16.4     30.3 285.3   3:55 (  0, 33)  
Jan. 19  11  3.52  -20 28.4   2.267   2.886   119   16.4     35.2 288.4   3:12 (  0, 34)  

* 16P/Brooks 2


It has been 16 mag since July. Then it must have fade out, but on the contraty it brightened and reached to 15 mag in November. Now it is fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   4 39.22   13 31.6   1.540   2.363   137   16.4      3.2 342.3  21:12 (  0, 69)  
Jan. 19   4 39.46   13 54.9   1.633   2.397   131   16.7      4.0  28.6  20:44 (  0, 69)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh


Appearing at dawn. It reaches to 16 mag in 2002 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  15 22.54  -14 40.8   4.153   3.752    59   16.6     14.6 104.6   5:38 (320, 30)  
Jan. 19  15 29.14  -15  5.2   4.067   3.760    65   16.5     13.6 104.0   5:37 (325, 33)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be 12.4 mag in 2003 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  11 43.46  -13 34.7   5.411   5.810   109   16.8      8.1 267.9   4:19 (  0, 41)  
Jan. 19  11 39.15  -13 34.4   5.245   5.759   117   16.7      9.8 272.2   3:47 (  0, 41)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It will be 10.5 mag in 2003 February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   1  9.04   21 57.1   4.372   4.527    92   16.8      2.9  68.5  18:37 ( 46, 72)  
Jan. 19   1 10.79   22  6.8   4.423   4.467    86   16.7      4.5  68.1  18:43 ( 62, 67)  

* 44P/Reinmuth 2


It is a bit brighter than the ephemeris after November. It will be observable for some more time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   4 45.96   27 21.5   2.246   3.079   141   16.8      6.5 237.0  21:18 (  0, 82)  
Jan. 19   4 43.75   26 58.0   2.345   3.111   134   16.9      4.4 222.9  20:48 (  0, 82)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


It will keep 17 mag until 2002 March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  10 27.14    6 20.3   5.704   6.441   135   16.9     12.5 301.4   3:03 (  0, 61)  
Jan. 19  10 21.89    7  7.5   5.647   6.469   143   16.9     13.6 300.8   2:30 (  0, 62)  

* P/1993 K2 ( Helin-Lawrence )


It was not recovered in early 2001 though the brightness was expected at 18 mag. It is probably fainter than 20 mag now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  13 57.43   -1 31.8   3.555   3.585    83   17.2     11.7 100.1   5:38 (338, 51)  
Jan. 19  14  2.54   -1 43.9   3.437   3.568    89   17.1     10.4  97.8   5:37 (347, 52)  

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2


It will be observable at 17 mag in January and February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   9 28.50   16 50.5   2.506   3.409   152   17.1      7.6 298.7   2:04 (  0, 72)  
Jan. 19   9 24.91   17 17.2   2.465   3.408   160   17.1      9.0 296.5   1:33 (  0, 72)  

* 110P/Hartley 3


It keeps 17 mag until 2002 February, but locates low in the south.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  12 13.43  -14 22.4   2.640   3.009   102   17.2      8.2 150.6   4:48 (  0, 41)  
Jan. 19  12 14.85  -15  9.4   2.567   3.029   108   17.2      6.6 163.5   4:22 (  0, 40)  

* 77P/Longmore


It reaches only to 16 mag in 2002 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  11 41.96   29 41.7   2.091   2.765   124   17.4      3.1  24.4   4:17 (  0, 85)  
Jan. 19  11 41.92   30  3.4   2.003   2.742   130   17.3      3.6 336.3   3:50 (  0, 85)  

* C/2001 W1 ( LINEAR )


Fading. It will 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. 12   4 17.98   38 43.6   1.609   2.408   135   17.3     48.9 284.3  20:48 (180, 86)  
Jan. 19   3 52.01   39 48.5   1.729   2.416   123   17.5     39.4 280.7  19:55 (180, 85)  

* (3200) Phaethon


It will pass the perihelion in 2002 April. The condition in this return is bad. It is only observable at 17 mag at best before perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   1 45.43   22  0.7   1.259   1.735   100   17.7     16.5 204.1  18:37 ( 19, 76)  
Jan. 19   1 43.26   20 24.3   1.305   1.669    92   17.8     12.7 189.3  18:43 ( 43, 71)  

* 11P/2001 X3 ( Tempel-Swift-LINEAR )


Recovered after 93 year gap. It will fade out after this and become fainter than 18 mag in late January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   0 48.49    7 46.4   1.381   1.589    82   17.7     40.6  81.9  18:37 ( 37, 58)  
Jan. 19   1  7.56    8 28.3   1.437   1.596    80   17.8     41.2  81.2  18:43 ( 43, 57)  

* P/2001 T3 ( NEAT )


Fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12   1 33.96    5 52.5   2.271   2.512    92   17.9     18.6  43.2  18:37 ( 15, 60)  
Jan. 19   1 40.39    7 27.6   2.355   2.508    87   18.0     20.0  47.0  18:43 ( 29, 60)  

* 22P/Kopff


The condition in this return is bad. We can observe it only until August before perihelion passage when it becomes to 13 mag in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Jan. 12  12 24.66    1 39.7   2.777   3.199   106   18.1      6.1  95.6   5:00 (  0, 57)  
Jan. 19  12 27.07    1 38.8   2.643   3.161   113   17.9      4.2  85.7   4:34 (  0, 57)  

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