Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Feb. 9: North)

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Updated on February 10, 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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* 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 4.5 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.  9  19 33.00  -39 14.8   1.173   0.680    35    3.9     51.2 345.8   5:26 (311,-10)  
Feb. 16  19 27.71  -33 25.3   1.205   0.776    39    4.5     50.3 352.7   5:20 (310, -2)  

* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )


New comet. It will reach to 3 mag in late March. It locates in the evening sky until March, then it locates in the morning sky after April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   0 22.01  -13 42.7   1.464   0.979    41    7.2     42.5  38.4  19:01 ( 60, 16)  
Feb. 16   0 35.19   -9 32.5   1.367   0.861    38    6.5     48.1  37.0  19:07 ( 67, 15)  

* 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 9 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  21 31.47   32 31.9   1.549   1.141    47   11.5     20.3   4.4  19:01 (123, 10)  
Feb. 16  21 32.39   35  5.3   1.469   1.090    47   11.2     23.8   4.1   5:20 (237, 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.  9  20 22.38  -27  5.2   2.175   1.292    19   12.8     31.7 145.8   5:26 (295,-11)  
Feb. 16  20 31.86  -30  9.2   2.167   1.357    26   13.0     31.9 146.1   5:20 (299,-11)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable at 13 mag until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  23 14.69   55 19.4   3.774   3.621    73   12.9      8.0  49.9  19:01 (137, 36)  
Feb. 16  23 20.09   56  0.5   3.813   3.608    70   12.9      9.5  46.2  19:07 (139, 32)  

* 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.  9  21 33.04  -15  1.7   2.341   1.354     0   13.2     52.4  81.6  19:01 ( 84,-17)  
Feb. 16  21 57.91  -14  2.8   2.348   1.360     1   13.2     52.1  80.1   5:20 (274,-19)  

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )


Fading now. But it was as bright as 13.0 mag in early February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   2 15.89    1  8.6   1.503   1.530    72   13.4     51.3  62.5  19:01 ( 47, 46)  
Feb. 16   2 36.77    3 48.1   1.588   1.578    71   13.7     49.1  63.5  19:07 ( 53, 46)  

* 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.  9  12 55.07   49 56.6   1.353   2.089   125   13.7     14.8 333.9   3:40 (180, 75)  
Feb. 16  12 49.02   51 21.1   1.385   2.140   127   13.9     14.6 317.9   3:07 (180, 74)  

* C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR )


It was as bright as 14 mag with a long folded tail in December. However, only a few observations, fainter than 15 mag, were reported in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   7  8.34  -46 35.5   1.135   1.749   110   13.7     85.1 277.8  21:46 (  0,  9)  
Feb. 16   6 18.80  -44 20.6   1.244   1.774   104   14.0     68.6 290.0  20:30 (  0, 11)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Now observable. it will appear again at dawn in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  20 15.38  -21 56.0   6.786   5.862    19   13.9     12.0  74.9   5:26 (292, -7)  
Feb. 16  20 21.13  -21 34.1   6.744   5.860    24   13.9     11.7  74.5   5:20 (294, -4)  

* 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.  9   9 43.59   37 48.8   0.500   1.460   156   13.9      4.2  81.8   0:29 (180, 87)  
Feb. 16   9 45.87   37 38.9   0.519   1.474   154   14.0      5.1 132.1   0:04 (180, 87)  

* 15P/Finlay


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.  9  23  4.86   -7  9.0   1.847   1.034    24   14.1     67.5  65.5  19:01 ( 77,  6)  
Feb. 16  23 33.66   -3 49.3   1.845   1.042    25   14.1     67.9  64.8  19:07 ( 81,  7)  

* 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.  9  19 30.27   -9 49.9   1.665   0.943    29   14.1     17.4  96.8   5:26 (289,  9)  
Feb. 16  19 38.03  -10  3.1   1.750   1.086    34   15.1     15.6  96.4   5:20 (291, 11)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It is observable until autumn at 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  11  8.55   77 38.1   4.469   4.981   115   14.7      5.6 278.3   1:54 (180, 47)  
Feb. 16  10 55.84   77 37.8   4.500   4.990   114   14.7      6.1 261.8   1:14 (180, 47)  

* P/2001 TU80 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It bursted out and reached to 15 mag in early January. Then it is getting fainter a bit.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   8 20.36   24 19.6   1.041   2.000   161   15.1      7.8 314.1  23:02 (  0, 79)  
Feb. 16   8 18.08   24 52.9   1.083   2.016   153   15.2      5.2 322.1  22:32 (  0, 80)  

* 65P/Gunn


It will be observable at 15 mag until August 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.  9  11 45.66   16 43.1   2.607   3.478   147   15.4      8.1 312.3   2:31 (  0, 72)  
Feb. 16  11 42.31   17 21.9   2.541   3.457   154   15.3      9.5 306.1   2:00 (  0, 72)  

* C/1999 Y1 ( LINEAR )


Fading rapidly. 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.  9  21 45.83  -50  9.8   5.103   4.338    35   15.4      6.6 103.6  19:01 ( 48,-31)  
Feb. 16  21 50.54  -50 23.1   5.119   4.382    37   15.5      6.8 109.5   5:20 (312,-33)  

* P/2001 Q6 ( NEAT )


Fading rapidly. It was so faint as 13.5 mag visually, 16.5 mag by CCD in mid January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  17 51.69   70 21.8   1.490   1.829    92   15.5     22.9 330.2   5:26 (201, 47)  
Feb. 16  17 31.36   72 42.6   1.517   1.884    95   16.0     25.8 321.6   5:20 (196, 48)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


No observations have been reported since 2001 September. 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.  9  16 56.62   -5  8.0   5.796   5.498    67   15.7     10.7  44.9   5:26 (315, 39)  
Feb. 16  16 59.94   -4 13.0   5.674   5.481    73   15.7     10.5  39.2   5:20 (319, 42)  

* 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.  9   5 29.76   27 44.3   2.449   3.101   123   15.7      2.3 239.9  20:12 (  0, 83)  
Feb. 16   5 29.38   27 36.4   2.510   3.075   116   15.7      1.2 154.2  19:44 (  0, 83)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


Getting higher in the morning sky. It will be 13 mag in June and July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  20 27.12   13 46.7   4.111   3.321    32   15.8      4.9  86.6   5:26 (261, 11)  
Feb. 16  20 29.36   13 51.6   4.050   3.280    34   15.7      4.6  76.2   5:20 (263, 15)  

* 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.  9  11 21.56  -13  1.1   4.807   5.606   140   15.8     14.8 281.2   2:07 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 16  11 14.26  -12 37.6   4.689   5.555   148   15.7     16.3 283.5   1:32 (  0, 42)  

* 125P/Spacewatch


Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. 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.  9  18 22.76  -15 57.4   2.063   1.533    44   15.8     45.6  87.1   5:26 (304, 17)  
Feb. 16  18 44.62  -15 35.9   2.039   1.540    46   15.8     44.8  85.3   5:20 (304, 17)  

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )


No observations have been reported since 2001 August. Appearing at dawn. It keeps the same brightness until 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.  9  15 44.08  -11 18.8   8.353   8.304    83   16.3      2.3 171.6   5:26 (340, 41)  
Feb. 16  15 44.04  -11 34.6   8.255   8.326    90   16.3      2.2 193.4   5:20 (346, 42)  

* 77P/Longmore


It reaches only to 16 mag in spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  11 32.64   31 14.8   1.792   2.677   147   16.5     10.3 286.5   2:18 (  0, 86)  
Feb. 16  11 26.59   31 32.0   1.742   2.655   151   16.4     12.3 279.0   1:44 (  0, 87)  

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )


It keeps the same brightness until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  13 20.88  -12 47.1   4.598   5.115   116   16.4     10.9 254.9   4:06 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 16  13 15.45  -13  5.1   4.538   5.163   124   16.4     12.3 259.3   3:33 (  0, 42)  

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh


It keeps brighter than 16 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  15 46.03  -16  2.0   3.788   3.782    82   16.4     10.1 102.2   5:26 (341, 37)  
Feb. 16  15 50.48  -16 15.6   3.691   3.790    88   16.4      8.6 101.7   5:20 (346, 38)  

* 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.  9  10  8.00  -14 48.9   2.152   3.040   148   16.5     45.2 297.3   0:54 (  0, 40)  
Feb. 16   9 48.85  -12 16.1   2.168   3.092   155   16.6     45.4 299.9   0:08 (  0, 43)  

* 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.  9   1 20.16   23  1.2   4.563   4.289    67   16.6      8.8  66.6  19:01 ( 85, 50)  
Feb. 16   1 24.54   23 27.5   4.601   4.230    62   16.6     10.0  66.2  19:07 ( 90, 44)  

* 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.  9   2 23.05   51 45.7   3.125   3.304    91   16.7     25.7 163.1  19:01 (138, 64)  
Feb. 16   2 28.91   49  0.8   3.219   3.293    85   16.7     24.1 159.1  19:07 (129, 60)  

* 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.  9   6 29.10  -13 26.0   5.469   6.116   127   16.7     11.8 323.9  21:11 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 16   6 26.07  -12 19.0   5.581   6.163   122   16.7     11.2 329.4  20:40 (  0, 43)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


It will keep 17 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9  10  3.89    9 43.1   5.581   6.555   170   17.0     15.4 299.8   0:49 (  0, 65)  
Feb. 16   9 57.51   10 36.8   5.597   6.584   178   17.0     15.5 299.6   0:16 (  0, 66)  

* 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.  9  12 28.69    2 16.7   2.275   3.046   134   17.2      4.0 327.2   3:14 (  0, 57)  
Feb. 16  12 27.13    2 43.8   2.169   3.007   141   17.0      6.3 314.1   2:45 (  0, 58)  

* 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.  9   9 11.49   18 43.7   2.427   3.410   174   17.1     10.3 292.7  23:53 (  0, 74)  
Feb. 16   9  6.92   19 10.3   2.443   3.410   166   17.1      9.7 291.9  23:21 (  0, 74)  

* 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.  9   6 33.27   -9 46.9   4.435   5.123   129   17.3     10.2 341.8  21:15 (  0, 45)  
Feb. 16   6 32.06   -8 38.0   4.488   5.117   124   17.4     10.2 349.0  20:46 (  0, 46)  

* 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.  9  15 58.47    5 14.9   1.461   1.682    84   17.8     40.9  96.2   5:26 (325, 55)  
Feb. 16  16 17.82    4 44.2   1.370   1.632    86   17.4     42.2  95.8   5:20 (326, 55)  

* 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.  9   4 44.63   26  4.3   2.692   3.209   113   17.4      4.3 116.3  19:27 (  0, 81)  
Feb. 16   4 47.16   25 52.2   2.819   3.241   106   17.6      6.0 104.7  19:07 (  7, 81)  

* 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.  9   6 51.63   30 43.1   3.924   4.727   140   17.7      3.3 290.7  21:33 (  0, 86)  
Feb. 16   6 50.33   30 50.0   4.000   4.732   133   17.8      1.9 295.1  21:05 (  0, 86)  

* C/2002 B1 ( LINEAR )


New periodic comet with 30 year period. 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.  9   3  2.45   65  9.2   1.987   2.375   100   17.7      2.5  37.7  19:01 (165, 58)  
Feb. 16   3  5.94   65 25.4   2.036   2.355    96   17.8      5.4  60.0  19:07 (161, 56)  

* 16P/Brooks 2


It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  9   4 47.92   15 17.9   1.954   2.501   112   17.9     10.3  66.1  19:30 (  0, 70)  
Feb. 16   4 52.97   15 47.0   2.072   2.536   106   18.1     12.1  70.0  19:08 (  0, 71)  

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