Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Feb. 2: South)

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 Updated on February 3, 2002
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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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* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
Although it had been 6 mag for 2 months since late November, it suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it faded to 3.5 mag. 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)  
Feb.  2  19 43.76  -44 53.9   1.125   0.604    32    3.3     51.5 334.3   3:44 (316, 13)  
Feb.  9  19 33.00  -39 14.8   1.173   0.680    35    3.9     51.2 345.8   3:53 (306, 17)

* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )
New comet. It will reach to 4.5 mag in March. It locates in the evening sky until mid March, then it locates in the morning sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   0  9.94  -17 21.4   1.321   0.934    44    8.8     37.5  38.7  20:42 ( 81, 17)  
Feb.  9   0 21.78  -13 38.7   1.218   0.813    41    8.0     42.8  36.1  20:33 ( 83, 14)

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )
It bursted out and reached to 11 mag around Dec. 8. Then it faded a bit, but kept 11 mag until mid December. It was very faint in late December by Yusuke Ezaki's observations. 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)  
Feb.  2  20 13.15  -24  1.6   2.169   1.232    13   12.6     31.8 145.9   3:44 (304, -5)  
Feb.  9  20 22.38  -27  5.2   2.175   1.292    19   12.8     31.7 145.8   3:53 (302,  2)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  23 10.02   54 48.1   3.731   3.634    76   12.9      6.5  54.7  20:42 (138,-31)  
Feb.  9  23 14.69   55 19.4   3.774   3.621    73   12.9      8.0  49.9  20:33 (138,-33)

* 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. Now it is fading rapidly in the morning low sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2  19 21.74   -9 34.9   1.556   0.788    25   12.9     18.8  96.6   3:44 (285, -5)  
Feb.  9  19 30.27   -9 49.9   1.665   0.943    29   14.1     17.4  96.8   3:53 (281,  1)

* C/2001 OG108 ( LONEOS )
Although it had been regarded as an asteroid, it was revealed as a comet. It brightened rapidly in February. It will reach to 10 mag in April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2  21 30.69   30 20.5   1.614   1.199    47   13.3     17.4   4.1  20:42 (103,-40)  
Feb.  9  21 31.47   32 31.9   1.549   1.141    47   13.0     20.3   4.4  20:33 (104,-45)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   1 54.29   -1 42.8   1.426   1.484    73   13.2     53.4  61.8  20:42 (111, 30)  
Feb.  9   2 15.89    1  8.6   1.503   1.530    72   13.4     51.3  62.5  20:33 (114, 28)

* 6P/d'Arrest
The condition in this return is bad. It is not observable until June in the Southern Hemisphere, until August in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2  21  7.87  -15 50.6   2.337   1.353     1   16.4     52.5  83.3  20:42 ( 55,-18)  
Feb.  9  21 33.04  -15  1.7   2.341   1.354     0   13.2     52.4  81.6  20:33 ( 57,-17)

* 19P/Borrelly
Fading now. But it was brighter than the ephemeris recently, 11.5 mag in late December and 12.5 mag in mid January. 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)  
Feb.  2  12 58.37   48 17.5   1.328   2.039   122   13.4     15.2 349.9   3:44 (185,  7)  
Feb.  9  12 55.07   49 56.6   1.353   2.089   125   13.7     14.8 333.9   3:40 (180,  5)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   8 11.48  -46 50.6   1.062   1.730   115   13.5     99.4 263.3  23:15 (  0, 78)  
Feb.  9   7  8.34  -46 35.5   1.135   1.749   110   13.7     85.1 277.8  21:46 (  0, 79)

* 2001 TX16
Asteroid with a cometary orbit of 6.8 year period. Now it is at the peak. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   9 40.80   37 30.9   0.488   1.449   157   13.8      7.1  51.0   0:54 (180, 18)  
Feb.  9   9 43.59   37 48.8   0.500   1.460   156   13.9      4.2  81.8   0:29 (180, 17)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  20  9.50  -22 17.8   6.819   5.864    13   13.9     12.2  75.4   3:44 (302, -6)  
Feb.  9  20 15.38  -21 56.0   6.786   5.862    19   13.9     12.0  74.9   3:53 (297,  0)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  22 35.97  -10 19.8   1.859   1.037    23   14.1     66.4  66.6  20:42 ( 74, -5)  
Feb.  9  23  4.86   -7  9.0   1.847   1.034    24   14.1     67.5  65.5  20:33 ( 78, -5)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  11 19.81   77 27.2   4.446   4.972   117   14.7      5.3 295.8   2:33 (180,-22)  
Feb.  9  11  8.55   77 38.1   4.469   4.981   115   14.7      5.6 278.3   1:54 (180,-23)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   8 23.72   23 37.1   1.010   1.986   168   15.0      9.9 312.2  23:33 (180, 31)  
Feb.  9   8 20.36   24 19.6   1.041   2.000   161   15.1      7.8 314.1  23:02 (180, 31)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  18  4.35   68  8.3   1.463   1.776    90   15.1     19.8 336.8   3:44 (205,-30)  
Feb.  9  17 51.69   70 21.8   1.490   1.829    92   15.5     22.9 330.2   3:53 (201,-27)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  21 41.19  -50  1.4   5.076   4.295    34   15.3      6.4  97.9  20:42 ( 35, 11)  
Feb.  9  21 45.83  -50  9.8   5.103   4.338    35   15.4      6.6 103.6  20:33 ( 34, 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)  
Feb.  2  11 48.11   16  6.5   2.684   3.499   140   15.5      6.4 320.9   3:01 (180, 39)  
Feb.  9  11 45.66   16 43.1   2.607   3.478   147   15.4      8.1 312.3   2:31 (180, 38)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  16 52.91   -5 58.7   5.915   5.516    61   15.8     10.8  50.1   3:44 (260, 24)  
Feb.  9  16 56.62   -5  8.0   5.796   5.498    67   15.7     10.7  44.9   3:53 (254, 30)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   5 31.48   27 52.5   2.395   3.127   130   15.8      4.6 255.3  20:42 (180, 27)  
Feb.  9   5 29.76   27 44.3   2.449   3.101   123   15.7      2.3 239.9  20:33 (175, 27)

* 125P/Spacewatch
Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. It will be 15.8 mag in the morning low sky in February, then it will fade out while getting higher. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2  18  0.48  -16  8.9   2.089   1.529    43   15.8     46.2  89.0   3:44 (279, 16)  
Feb.  9  18 22.76  -15 57.4   2.063   1.533    44   15.8     45.6  87.1   3:53 (277, 18)

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
It will be 11 mag in 2003 February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2  11 28.18  -13 18.2   4.941   5.657   132   15.9     13.2 278.6   2:41 (180, 68)  
Feb.  9  11 21.56  -13  1.1   4.807   5.606   140   15.8     14.8 281.2   2:07 (180, 68)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  15 43.72  -11  2.0   8.449   8.281    76   16.3      2.7 155.1   3:44 (253, 40)  
Feb.  9  15 44.08  -11 18.8   8.353   8.304    83   16.3      2.3 171.6   3:53 (246, 48)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Feb.  2  13 25.54  -12 25.3   4.667   5.067   108   16.4      9.5 249.3   3:44 (212, 64)  
Feb.  9  13 20.88  -12 47.1   4.598   5.115   116   16.4     10.9 254.9   3:53 (188, 68)

* C/2000 OF8 ( Spacewatch )
Fading. It 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)  
Feb.  2  10 27.33  -17  4.6   2.165   2.988   139   16.4     43.1 294.4   1:41 (180, 72)  
Feb.  9  10  8.00  -14 48.9   2.152   3.040   148   16.5     45.2 297.3   0:54 (180, 70)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  15 40.95  -15 45.8   3.884   3.774    76   16.5     11.4 102.8   3:44 (258, 44)  
Feb.  9  15 46.03  -16  2.0   3.788   3.782    82   16.4     10.1 102.2   3:53 (252, 50)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  11 37.27   30 52.3   1.852   2.698   142   16.7      7.9 295.8   2:50 (180, 24)  
Feb.  9  11 32.64   31 14.8   1.792   2.677   147   16.5     10.3 286.5   2:18 (180, 24)

* C/1999 K5 ( LINEAR )
Fading slowly. It keeps brighter than 17 mag until mid March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   6 32.72  -14 31.7   5.369   6.068   131   16.6     12.3 318.7  21:42 (180, 69)  
Feb.  9   6 29.10  -13 26.0   5.469   6.116   127   16.7     11.8 323.9  21:11 (180, 68)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   1 16.38   22 38.9   4.520   4.349    73   16.7      7.4  67.1  20:42 (124,  6)  
Feb.  9   1 20.16   23  1.2   4.563   4.289    67   16.6      8.8  66.6  20:33 (121,  4)

* C/2002 C2 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It keeps 17 mag until 2002 November. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   2 17.76   54 45.6   3.044   3.322    97   16.6     27.4 167.0  20:42 (154, -9)  
Feb.  9   2 23.05   51 45.9   3.134   3.313    91   16.7     25.7 163.1  20:33 (150, -8)

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )
Akimasa Nakamura reported that it is as faint as 17 mag. It will be observable at 17 mag until March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   0 36.81    5 22.3   1.619   1.372    57   16.9     48.9  61.5  20:42 (104, 10)  
Feb.  9   0 57.35    8  5.2   1.637   1.364    56   16.9     50.1  62.3  20:33 (107,  9)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  10 10.16    8 49.7   5.584   6.526   161   17.0     15.1 300.1   1:23 (180, 46)  
Feb.  9  10  3.89    9 43.1   5.581   6.555   170   17.0     15.4 299.8   0:49 (180, 45)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   9 16.18   18 15.2   2.425   3.409   176   17.1     10.4 293.7   0:29 (180, 37)  
Feb.  9   9 11.49   18 43.7   2.427   3.410   174   17.1     10.3 292.7  23:53 (180, 36)

* 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. But now it is fading rapidly, maybe fainter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   4 43.92   14 49.0   1.842   2.466   118   17.2      8.2  60.3  20:42 (165, 39)  
Feb.  9   4 47.92   15 17.9   1.954   2.501   112   17.4     10.3  66.1  20:33 (161, 37)

* 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)  
Feb.  2  12 29.16    1 56.9   2.391   3.085   126   17.5      2.3   3.3   3:42 (180, 53)  
Feb.  9  12 28.69    2 16.7   2.275   3.046   134   17.2      4.0 327.2   3:14 (180, 53)

* 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)  
Feb.  2   4 43.16   26 19.2   2.570   3.176   119   17.3      2.9 143.3  20:42 (168, 28)  
Feb.  9   4 44.63   26  4.3   2.692   3.209   113   17.4      4.3 116.3  20:33 (163, 27)

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It keeps 17.5 mag until spring 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)  
Feb.  2   6 35.05  -10 53.0   4.393   5.130   134   17.3     10.1 335.0  21:44 (180, 66)  
Feb.  9   6 33.27   -9 46.9   4.435   5.123   129   17.3     10.2 341.8  21:15 (180, 65)

* C/2002 A2 ( LINEAR )
New comet with 80 year period. C/2002 A1 and C/2002 A2 are pair, splitted from one comet. They show the same motion within 1 degree after this. C/2002 A1 is fainter than 18 mag. C/2002 A2 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)  
Feb.  2   6 53.61   30 33.8   3.860   4.723   147   17.7      4.5 289.8  22:03 (180, 24)  
Feb.  9   6 51.63   30 43.1   3.924   4.727   140   17.7      3.3 290.7  21:33 (180, 24)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
It was fainter than expected. It may reach only to 13.5 mag in May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2  15 39.72    5 46.8   1.556   1.732    82   18.2     39.6  96.8   3:44 (237, 30)  
Feb.  9  15 58.47    5 14.9   1.461   1.682    84   17.8     40.9  96.2   3:53 (233, 33)

* C/2001 W1 ( LINEAR )
Fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  2   3 14.50   40 53.3   2.014   2.438   103   17.9     23.4 277.7  20:42 (154,  8)  
Feb.  9   3  2.06   41 12.9   2.168   2.453    94   18.1     17.4 278.9  20:33 (149,  4)

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