Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Mar. 30: South)

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 Updated on March 31, 2002
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Southern Hemisphere.

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* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )
The return of comet in 1661 with 340 year period. Long tail over 3 degree is visible. It comes to locate in the morning sky after April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   1 12.51   34  4.5   0.628   0.571    31    3.6     89.2 336.2  19:21 (115,-27)  
Apr.  6   0 43.39   43 31.2   0.538   0.660    37    3.8     99.9 323.4   4:52 (237,-33)

* C/2002 F1 ( Utsunomiya )
New comet. It will be 6.5 mag in late April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only until mid April being very low in the morning sky. After the perihelion passage, it will be observable in the Southern Hemisphere, but it locates very low in the evening sky. It will locate high after August, but will be fainter than 15 mag at that time. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  22 35.93   15 51.9   1.370   0.734    31    8.8    103.9  52.5   4:46 (252, -1)  
Apr.  6  23 23.23   23 25.7   1.258   0.612    28    7.9    126.8  59.2   4:52 (247, -8)

* C/2001 OG108 ( LONEOS )
It brightened rapidly and reached to 10 mag in February. Then it keeps 10 mag, the brightening is a bit slower. It is observable all through a night in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  21 50.69   68  9.1   0.747   1.024    70    9.0     96.8   6.3   4:46 (203,-25)  
Apr.  6  22 29.61   81 17.5   0.638   1.057    76    8.8    133.4  14.7   4:52 (190,-31)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it is fading rapidly, and now it is 8.5 mag. But it still has a long tail about 30 arcmin. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  19 13.61    0 34.6   1.239   1.449    79    9.2     49.0 347.0   4:46 (225, 45)  
Apr.  6  19  7.54    6  6.3   1.246   1.559    87    9.7     49.2 342.3   4:52 (209, 45)

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )
New comet. It will move northwards after this. It keeps observable until it fades out in the Northerm Hemisphere. It keeps brighter than 12 mag until May. It will approach to C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang ) around May 1. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  19 13.49   19 33.3   1.388   1.553    79   10.1     73.8   9.3   4:46 (212, 29)  
Apr.  6  19 18.89   28 11.5   1.368   1.588    82   10.2     75.4   6.9   4:52 (202, 23)

* 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)  
Mar. 30   0 16.33   -6  8.1   2.459   1.489    10   12.5     46.9  75.0   4:46 (284, -9)  
Apr.  6   0 37.26   -4 43.8   2.485   1.522    12   12.3     45.6  74.9   4:52 (281, -7)

* 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)  
Mar. 30   0  5.88   63 19.5   3.950   3.556    59   12.9     16.9  33.4   4:46 (213,-36)  
Apr.  6   0 16.02   65  1.7   3.958   3.551    59   12.9     17.9  32.3   4:52 (210,-34)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Takuo Kojima reported that it was in outburst at 14.4 mag on Mar. 28. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  20 51.11  -19 26.7   6.296   5.849    59   13.7      8.8  71.7   4:46 (267, 40)  
Apr.  6  20 55.07  -19  7.9   6.196   5.847    65   13.7      8.1  71.2   4:52 (261, 46)

* 19P/Borrelly
Fading now. 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)  
Mar. 30  11 48.67   51 42.1   1.741   2.442   123   14.4     14.4 229.7  23:16 (180,  3)  
Apr.  6  11 41.30   50 28.6   1.827   2.492   120   14.7     14.5 217.3  22:42 (180,  5)

* 15P/Finlay
It bursted out in early February and reached to 13.5 mag. Then it did not become so fainter. It must be brighter than this ephemeris. 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)  
Mar. 30   2 20.24   14 43.8   2.035   1.252    28   14.5     58.6  69.0  19:21 (106, -3)  
Apr.  6   2 46.38   17  1.3   2.097   1.306    28   14.8     56.0  70.7  19:12 (109, -2)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
It was as faint as 16.5 mag in mid March. 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)  
Mar. 30  18 27.95    1  2.2   0.928   1.379    91   15.1     51.7  98.6   4:46 (209, 50)  
Apr.  6  18 52.17    0  3.2   0.873   1.347    91   14.8     53.5  99.9   4:52 (206, 52)

* 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)  
Mar. 30  20 34.50   16  6.1   3.428   3.053    59   15.0      5.6 336.0   4:46 (232, 20)  
Apr.  6  20 32.90   16 43.9   3.289   3.019    65   14.9      7.1 322.3   4:52 (224, 25)

* 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)  
Mar. 30   9 58.20   73 38.0   4.801   5.056    99   14.9      9.8 192.8  21:27 (180,-19)  
Apr.  6   9 55.62   72 27.9   4.866   5.069    95   15.0     10.5 185.7  20:57 (180,-17)

* 65P/Gunn
It will be observable at 15 mag until August when it becomes low in the evening sky. It is already brighter than 15.0 mag even by CCD, and observed visually these days. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  11 12.59   20 20.1   2.435   3.330   148   15.0      9.6 279.2  22:41 (180, 35)  
Apr.  6  11  8.19   20 26.7   2.464   3.309   141   15.0      8.1 272.3  22:09 (180, 35)

* 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)  
Mar. 30  10 24.34   -8 18.5   4.380   5.250   147   15.2     18.6 294.5  21:52 (180, 63)  
Apr.  6  10 16.63   -7 24.2   4.396   5.200   139   15.2     17.6 296.2  21:17 (180, 62)

* P/2001 MD7 ( LINEAR )
Fading rapidly after February. It will be fainter than 16 mag in May when it becomes low. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   4 29.96   15 10.0   2.202   1.898    59   15.2     37.6  73.1  19:21 (127, 21)  
Apr.  6   4 47.16   16 20.5   2.316   1.954    56   15.4     36.2  75.0  19:12 (128, 20)

* 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)  
Mar. 30  17  9.35    2 43.3   4.951   5.386   110   15.3     11.5 358.1   4:41 (180, 52)  
Apr.  6  17  8.85    4  4.7   4.847   5.372   116   15.2     11.9 351.6   4:13 (180, 51)

* C/2001 W2 ( BATTeRS )
It appears at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. It was reported as 14.7 mag on Mar. 14, but uncertain. Northern people can never see it again. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  21 40.03  -51 31.6   1.956   1.803    66   15.3     41.3 152.6   4:46 (311, 41)  
Apr.  6  21 55.37  -55 56.1   1.918   1.882    72   15.5     43.7 153.3   4:52 (317, 44)

* 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)  
Mar. 30   5 52.29   27  1.0   2.935   2.918    79   15.5     13.2  93.4  19:21 (151, 22)  
Apr.  6   5 59.63   26 55.1   3.004   2.892    73   15.4     14.8  93.5  19:12 (149, 21)

* 2001 TX16
Asteroid with a cometary orbit of 6.8 year period. Fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  10 11.35   29 18.9   0.782   1.633   132   15.4     21.2 142.6  21:41 (180, 26)  
Apr.  6  10 18.60   27 19.2   0.850   1.669   128   15.7     22.5 140.0  21:20 (180, 28)

* 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)  
Mar. 30  11 58.47    7  6.0   1.786   2.766   166   15.8     14.7 296.1  23:26 (180, 48)  
Apr.  6  11 52.35    7 48.9   1.770   2.725   158   15.7     13.9 294.4  22:53 (180, 47)

* 28P/Neujmin 1
It will reach to 13 mag at the end of this year. In the northern hemisphere, it keeps low in the south after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  16  3.68  -36 59.3   2.662   3.296   121   16.0      6.3 176.5   3:35 (  0, 88)  
Apr.  6  16  3.30  -37 42.2   2.530   3.241   127   15.8      6.2 195.9   3:07 (  0, 87)

* 77P/Longmore
Now it is at the peak. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  10 40.75   29  2.1   1.708   2.537   137   15.9     14.6 229.5  22:09 (180, 26)  
Apr.  6  10 35.52   27 50.0   1.743   2.519   131   15.9     14.0 217.8  21:36 (180, 27)

* 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh
It keeps brighter than 17 mag until August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  16  0.72  -16 46.1   3.146   3.837   127   16.2      1.9 276.3   3:32 (180, 72)  
Apr.  6  15 59.37  -16 43.7   3.075   3.845   134   16.1      3.7 277.3   3:04 (180, 72)

* P/2001 TU80 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
It bursted out and reached to 15 mag in early January. It did not become so fainter after that. It must be brighter than this ephemeris. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   8 34.85   24 59.1   1.510   2.139   115   16.2     13.5 103.7  20:04 (180, 30)  
Apr.  6   8 42.11   24 33.4   1.602   2.164   110   16.4     15.6 105.2  19:44 (180, 30)

* C/1999 T2 ( LINEAR )
Fading. It will be about 18 mag in June when it becomes low in the evening. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  12 31.72  -13 27.4   4.467   5.454   170   16.6     16.4 273.6   0:04 (180, 68)  
Apr.  6  12 23.97  -13 19.0   4.517   5.502   168   16.7     15.9 274.9  23:24 (180, 68)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
Fading very slowly. It was brighter than the ephemeris recently, reported around 16 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   9 23.79   15 17.9   6.085   6.763   129   16.7     10.3 300.8  20:52 (180, 40)  
Apr.  6   9 19.78   15 53.0   6.219   6.794   121   16.7      9.0 301.9  20:21 (180, 39)

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )
It will be getting fainter and lower after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   6 37.61   -1 46.4   5.036   5.154    91   16.9     10.8  33.0  19:21 (148, 52)  
Apr.  6   6 40.61   -0 44.8   5.133   5.153    85   17.0     11.1  39.2  19:12 (144, 50)

* 95P/(2060) Chiron
It keeps 17 mag locating at the same altitude until October in the Northerm Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  18 37.08  -16 52.1  11.272  11.319    90   17.2      1.7  64.4   4:46 (231, 64)  
Apr.  6  18 37.69  -16 47.0  11.169  11.332    96   17.1      1.2  53.0   4:52 (214, 69)

* C/2002 B2 ( LINEAR )
Moving northwards gradually. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   9 20.96  -19 22.1   3.119   3.843   130   17.3     29.0 303.3  20:49 (180, 74)  
Apr.  6   9  9.81  -17 31.0   3.205   3.843   123   17.4     26.3 306.7  20:10 (180, 72)

* P/2002 CW134 ( LINEAR )
New periodic comet. Now it is at the peak, and it will fade out soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30  12 32.27  -17 48.6   0.873   1.858   165   17.4     17.4 235.1   0:05 (180, 73)  
Apr.  6  12 25.36  -18 51.7   0.883   1.867   165   17.4     15.8 239.3  23:26 (180, 74)

* 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2
Already passed the peak and fading now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 30   8 53.25   20 26.2   2.799   3.421   120   17.4      1.0  98.6  20:22 (180, 35)  
Apr.  6   8 54.20   20 23.0   2.888   3.423   114   17.5      3.0 104.8  19:56 (180, 35)

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