Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Feb. 16: North)

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 Updated on February 19, 2002
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it faded to 5 mag. It is getting observable also in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  19 27.71  -33 25.3   1.205   0.776    39    4.5     50.3 352.7   5:20 (310, -2)  
Feb. 23  19 25.23  -27 37.9   1.224   0.884    45    5.1     49.4 356.2   5:13 (309,  5)

* 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. 16   0 35.18   -9 33.2   1.373   0.865    38    6.6     47.9  37.1  19:07 ( 67, 15)  
Feb. 23   0 49.21   -4 43.4   1.266   0.750    36    5.8     54.2  34.3  19:13 ( 74, 14)

* 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. 16  21 32.39   35  5.3   1.469   1.090    47   11.2     23.8   4.1   5:20 (237, 14)  
Feb. 23  21 33.41   38  5.5   1.373   1.049    49   10.9     28.0   3.7   5:13 (236, 19)

* 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. 16  23 20.09   56  0.5   3.813   3.608    70   12.9      9.5  46.2  19:07 (139, 32)  
Feb. 23  23 26.14   56 51.2   3.848   3.597    68   12.9     10.9  43.1  19:13 (141, 29)

* 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 getting observable 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)  
Feb. 16  20 31.86  -30  9.2   2.167   1.357    26   13.0     31.9 146.1   5:20 (299,-11)  
Feb. 23  20 41.66  -33 17.0   2.147   1.425    33   13.2     32.6 146.8   5:13 (303,-11)

* 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. 16  21 57.91  -14  2.8   2.348   1.360     1   13.2     52.1  80.1   5:20 (274,-19)  
Feb. 23  22 22.37  -12 55.4   2.358   1.371     2   13.1     51.6  78.7   5:13 (273,-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. 16   2 36.77    3 48.1   1.588   1.578    71   13.7     49.1  63.5  19:07 ( 53, 46)  
Feb. 23   2 57.00    6 14.7   1.678   1.628    69   13.9     46.9  64.7  19:13 ( 59, 46)

* 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. 16  20 21.13  -21 34.1   6.744   5.860    24   13.9     11.7  74.5   5:20 (294, -4)  
Feb. 23  20 26.72  -21 12.1   6.691   5.858    30   13.9     11.4  74.0   5:13 (295, -1)

* 19P/Borrelly
Fading now. But it was brighter than the ephemeris recently, 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. 16  12 49.02   51 21.1   1.385   2.140   127   13.9     14.6 317.9   3:07 (180, 74)  
Feb. 23  12 40.61   52 25.9   1.425   2.191   129   14.2     14.5 302.1   2:31 (180, 73)

* C/2001 X1 ( LINEAR )
It was as bright as 14 mag with a long folded tail in December. However, it was reported as 15 mag in January and 16 mag in February, much fainter than expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   6 18.79  -44 20.4   1.243   1.773   104   14.0     68.6 290.0  20:30 (  0, 11)  
Feb. 23   5 43.73  -41 19.4   1.376   1.801    97   14.2     53.5 299.5  19:29 (  0, 14)

* 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. 16   9 45.87   37 38.9   0.519   1.474   154   14.0      5.1 132.1   0:04 (180, 87)  
Feb. 23   9 48.22   37  1.7   0.546   1.493   151   14.2      8.4 148.5  23:35 (180, 88)

* 15P/Finlay
It was 13.5 mag in early February, brighter than expected. 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. 16  23 33.66   -3 49.3   1.845   1.042    25   14.1     67.9  64.8  19:07 ( 81,  7)  
Feb. 23   0  2.28   -0 26.0   1.852   1.058    26   14.2     67.6  64.5  19:13 ( 84,  8)

* 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. 16  10 55.84   77 37.8   4.500   4.990   114   14.7      6.1 261.8   1:14 (180, 47)  
Feb. 23  10 42.69   77 25.5   4.537   5.000   112   14.8      6.6 246.7   0:34 (180, 48)

* 96P/Machholz 1
It reached to -1 mag at the perihelion passage in the field of SOHO LASCO. Now it is getting higher in the morning sky, but it is fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  19 38.03  -10  3.1   1.750   1.086    34   15.1     15.6  96.4   5:20 (291, 11)  
Feb. 23  19 44.91  -10 14.2   1.813   1.219    39   15.9     13.6  96.2   5:13 (293, 14)

* 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. 16  11 42.31   17 21.9   2.541   3.457   154   15.3      9.5 306.1   2:00 (  0, 72)  
Feb. 23  11 38.17   18  1.2   2.488   3.436   160   15.2     10.7 301.3   1:28 (  0, 73)

* 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. 16   8 18.08   24 52.9   1.083   2.016   153   15.2      5.2 322.1  22:32 (  0, 80)  
Feb. 23   8 17.18   25 16.4   1.135   2.033   146   15.4      2.7 353.9  22:04 (  0, 80)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
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. 16  16 59.94   -4 13.0   5.674   5.481    73   15.7     10.5  39.2   5:20 (319, 42)  
Feb. 23  17  2.83   -3 13.7   5.549   5.464    79   15.6     10.4  32.9   5:13 (324, 45)

* 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. 16  20 29.36   13 51.6   4.050   3.280    34   15.7      4.6  76.2   5:20 (263, 15)  
Feb. 23  20 31.36   14  1.8   3.977   3.240    36   15.6      4.3  64.5   5:13 (266, 19)

* 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. 16  11 14.26  -12 37.6   4.689   5.555   148   15.7     16.3 283.5   1:32 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 23  11  6.40  -12  7.6   4.589   5.504   155   15.6     17.6 285.6   0:57 (  0, 43)

* 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. 16   5 29.38   27 36.4   2.510   3.075   116   15.7      1.2 154.2  19:44 (  0, 83)  
Feb. 23   5 30.31   27 29.2   2.577   3.048   109   15.7      3.1 108.1  19:17 (  0, 82)

* P/2001 WF2 ( LONEOS )
New periodic comet. It passed near by the earth and must have been as bright as 15 mag in January. But it will fade out rapidly after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16  18 18.35   61 39.0   0.282   1.006    85   15.8     59.3 247.9   5:20 (213, 49)  
Feb. 23  17 31.58   58 38.3   0.301   1.034    89   16.0     53.2 239.3   5:13 (212, 58)

* 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. 16  18 44.62  -15 35.9   2.039   1.540    46   15.8     44.8  85.3   5:20 (304, 17)  
Feb. 23  19  5.96  -15  5.3   2.016   1.550    48   15.8     43.8  83.6   5:13 (304, 17)

* 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. 16  17 31.36   72 42.6   1.517   1.884    95   16.0     25.8 321.6   5:20 (196, 48)  
Feb. 23  16 59.40   74 58.0   1.547   1.940    97   16.4     28.4 310.3   5:13 (189, 48)

* 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. 16  11 26.59   31 32.0   1.742   2.655   151   16.4     12.3 279.0   1:44 (  0, 87)  
Feb. 23  11 19.39   31 40.5   1.705   2.635   154   16.3     14.0 271.9   1:10 (  0, 87)

* C/1999 J2 ( Skiff )
No observations have been reported since 2001 August. 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. 16  15 44.04  -11 34.6   8.255   8.326    90   16.3      2.2 193.4   5:20 (346, 42)  
Feb. 23  15 43.58  -11 49.3   8.158   8.349    97   16.3      2.5 214.6   5:13 (353, 43)

* 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. 16  15 50.48  -16 15.6   3.691   3.790    88   16.4      8.6 101.7   5:20 (346, 38)  
Feb. 23  15 54.23  -16 26.6   3.593   3.797    94   16.4      7.1 101.3   5:13 (351, 38)

* 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. 16  13 15.45  -13  5.1   4.538   5.163   124   16.4     12.3 259.3   3:33 (  0, 42)  
Feb. 23  13  9.29  -13 19.0   4.488   5.212   132   16.4     13.6 262.9   2:59 (  0, 42)

* P/2001 R1 ( LONEOS )
It was reported as 16 mag in February, a bit brighter than expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   1 18.67   10 46.8   1.658   1.361    55   16.4     51.1  63.3  19:07 ( 77, 36)  
Feb. 23   1 40.76   13 24.7   1.682   1.362    54   16.5     51.8  64.6  19:13 ( 82, 35)

* 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. 16   1 24.54   23 27.5   4.601   4.230    62   16.6     10.0  66.2  19:07 ( 90, 44)  
Feb. 23   1 29.50   23 57.7   4.633   4.171    56   16.5     11.2  65.9  19:13 ( 95, 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. 16   9 48.85  -12 16.1   2.168   3.092   155   16.6     45.4 299.9   0:08 (  0, 43)  
Feb. 23   9 30.66   -9 33.6   2.214   3.145   156   16.7     43.8 302.4  23:16 (  0, 46)

* 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. 16   2 28.91   49  0.8   3.220   3.294    85   16.7     24.1 159.1  19:07 (129, 60)  
Feb. 23   2 35.18   46 30.7   3.320   3.285    79   16.8     22.5 155.0  19:13 (123, 56)

* 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. 16   6 26.07  -12 19.0   5.581   6.163   122   16.7     11.2 329.4  20:40 (  0, 43)  
Feb. 23   6 23.67  -11 11.6   5.704   6.210   116   16.8     10.6 335.4  20:10 (  0, 44)

* 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. 16  12 27.13    2 43.8   2.169   3.007   141   17.0      6.3 314.1   2:45 (  0, 58)  
Feb. 23  12 24.48    3 17.7   2.073   2.967   149   16.8      8.6 307.9   2:14 (  0, 58)

* 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. 16   9 57.51   10 36.8   5.597   6.584   178   17.0     15.5 299.6   0:16 (  0, 66)  
Feb. 23   9 51.16   11 29.7   5.633   6.614   171   17.1     15.2 299.5  23:37 (  0, 67)

* 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. 16  16 17.82    4 44.2   1.370   1.632    86   17.4     42.2  95.8   5:20 (326, 55)  
Feb. 23  16 37.79    4 14.0   1.283   1.585    87   17.0     43.6  95.7   5:13 (327, 55)

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2
Now it is at the peak. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 16   9  6.92   19 10.3   2.443   3.410   166   17.1      9.7 291.9  23:21 (  0, 74)  
Feb. 23   9  2.72   19 33.8   2.474   3.412   158   17.1      8.5 291.3  22:49 (  0, 75)

* 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. 16   6 32.03   -8 38.6   4.542   5.170   124   17.4     10.1 348.8  20:46 (  0, 46)  
Feb. 23   6 31.40   -7 28.4   4.606   5.165   119   17.4     10.1 356.2  20:18 (  0, 48)

* 44P/Reinmuth 2
It is a bit brighter than the ephemeris after November, but 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. 16   4 47.16   25 52.2   2.819   3.241   106   17.6      6.0 104.7  19:07 (  7, 81)  
Feb. 23   4 50.65   25 42.7   2.949   3.272   100   17.8      7.7  98.9  19:13 ( 42, 78)

* 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. 16   6 50.33   30 50.0   3.999   4.731   133   17.8      1.9 295.1  21:05 (  0, 86)  
Feb. 23   6 49.76   30 54.6   4.084   4.736   126   17.8      0.6 326.2  20:37 (  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. 16   3  5.93   65 25.4   2.037   2.357    96   17.8      5.4  60.0  19:07 (161, 56)  
Feb. 23   3 12.85   65 46.8   2.086   2.339    91   17.8      8.3  65.5  19:13 (158, 54)

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