Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 June 1: South)

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 Updated on June 4, 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 )
It is fading, but the pace is slow. Now that it is close to the earth, it has a large coma with no tail. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  15 43.66   19 17.6   0.677   1.577   136    7.2     62.5 205.3  23:03 (180, 36)  
June  8  15 33.12   13 23.2   0.792   1.687   137    7.8     48.4 200.8  22:25 (180, 42)

* C/2002 F1 ( Utsunomiya )
It faded to 7.5 mag in mid May, but it was still strongly condensed. Northern people cannot see it again. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be observable in May and June, but it only locates very low in the evening sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   6  0.20    0 22.2   1.751   1.010    30   10.8     54.8 133.6  18:26 ( 98, 11)  
June  8   6 17.72   -3 47.3   1.859   1.136    32   11.4     49.0 133.5  18:25 ( 93, 12)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It suddenly bursted out in late January and reached to 2.5 mag. Then it had been fading rapidly down to 9.5 mag. But the fading became slower in April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  17 16.24   35 18.0   1.685   2.381   121   11.9     29.5 287.7   0:41 (180, 20)  
June  8  17  0.88   36  2.2   1.795   2.477   121   12.2     25.6 278.9  23:52 (180, 19)

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )
It seems fading rapidly. It keeps observable until it fades out in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  17 54.93   78 53.8   1.944   2.005    78   12.5     30.8 318.2   1:21 (180,-24)  
June  8  16 54.19   80 52.6   2.057   2.067    76   12.8     26.1 297.9  23:40 (180,-26)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable at 13 mag until September. It is fainter than 14 mag by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   3 16.28   81 23.9   3.953   3.555    59   12.9     24.2  48.2   5:29 (190,-33)  
June  8   4 26.50   83  0.1   3.953   3.561    60   12.9     24.7  61.8   5:32 (189,-34)

* C/2002 H2 ( LINEAR )
Although it will be observable all after this in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be fainter gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  16 16.33   68 14.0   1.586   1.878    89   13.2     53.3 290.1  23:31 (180,-13)  
June  8  15 14.26   69 13.7   1.709   1.924    85   13.5     44.6 271.7  22:02 (180,-14)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
It was in outburst, 13.5 mag on May 8. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  21 10.71  -17 34.9   5.324   5.832   115   13.4      0.6 336.9   4:34 (180, 73)  
June  8  21 10.32  -17 32.4   5.225   5.830   122   13.3      1.4 278.5   4:06 (180, 73)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
It is at the peak now, but only 13-14 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  22 22.12  -15 39.7   0.633   1.274    98   13.6     57.2 114.2   5:29 (191, 70)  
June  8  22 46.79  -18 25.4   0.628   1.290   100   13.7     54.3 116.4   5:32 (188, 73)

* 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)  
June  1   3  3.12    4  0.7   2.693   1.867    28   13.8     34.6  79.9   5:29 (258, 10)  
June  8   3 18.78    4 39.8   2.710   1.915    31   14.1     33.2  81.1   5:32 (255, 13)

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )
The brightening seems slow, so it reaches only up to 14 mag in June and July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  19 16.55   21 53.1   2.134   2.795   121   14.0     39.8 271.4   2:41 (180, 33)  
June  8  18 55.07   21 47.5   2.034   2.774   127   13.9     45.6 266.8   1:52 (180, 33)

* C/2001 OG108 ( LONEOS )
It is fading rapidly since mid April. It is moving fast towards south and will be low in the evening sky in mid June. It was 12 mag in mid May visually, but 16 mag by CCD, so there is a large difference. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   9 54.88   -3 13.9   1.356   1.576    81   14.1     36.5 160.6  18:26 (149, 55)  
June  8  10  0.64   -6 52.4   1.528   1.655    78   14.7     31.0 156.2  18:25 (138, 55)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable at around 14.5 mag in good position until September. It was reported as 13 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  16 44.96   14 34.9   4.428   5.276   143   14.2     12.8 314.6   0:09 (180, 40)  
June  8  16 40.57   15 34.0   4.437   5.267   141   14.2     12.0 311.2  23:33 (180, 39)

* 28P/Neujmin 1
Stellar object. 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)  
June  1  15 18.28  -40 12.9   1.839   2.794   155   14.7     13.3 280.4  22:38 (  0, 85)  
June  8  15 10.58  -39 51.2   1.807   2.738   150   14.6     12.7 287.0  22:03 (  0, 85)

* 46P/Wirtanen
Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. It is getting brighter rapidly now. It will be 10 mag in August in the morning low sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   1 57.49    3  5.4   2.116   1.532    42   15.1     48.2  68.6   5:29 (248, 24)  
June  8   2 19.02    5  9.3   2.035   1.474    43   14.6     50.4  69.3   5:32 (244, 24)

* 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)  
June  1  11 36.59    8 31.3   1.984   2.392   100   14.7      7.7 124.6  18:58 (180, 47)  
June  8  11 40.17    7 57.0   2.029   2.350    95   14.6     10.4 121.6  18:34 (180, 47)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. It will reach to 13.5 mag between July and October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   1 54.48    7 45.2   2.199   1.582    41   15.0     46.6  67.0   5:29 (243, 21)  
June  8   2 15.14    9 52.1   2.131   1.539    42   14.8     48.1  67.9   5:32 (240, 22)

* 116P/Wild 4
It will be 10.5 mag in 2003 spring. It was fainter than this ephemeris, around 16 mag recently. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   7 20.70   24 58.1   3.412   2.687    38   14.9     23.4  99.2  18:26 (130, 10)  
June  8   7 32.73   24 29.8   3.441   2.662    34   14.8     24.1 100.2  18:25 (128,  8)

* 65P/Gunn
It will be observable at 15 mag until August when it becomes low in the evening sky. It is brighter than this ephemeris recently, 14.5 mag even by CCD. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  11  5.97   16 54.9   2.959   3.138    90   15.1      9.9 134.4  18:27 (180, 38)  
June  8  11  9.83   16  4.2   3.033   3.117    85   15.1     11.5 130.6  18:25 (173, 39)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
Appearing at dawn. It will be observable at 10 mag in the good condition for a long time from winter to next spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   3 27.73   35 39.2   4.280   3.345    20   15.4     21.8  66.4   5:29 (235,-13)  
June  8   3 39.46   36 40.2   4.199   3.287    22   15.3     22.4  66.9   5:32 (232,-10)

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )
It is observable until autumn at 15 mag. It was reported as 14 mag visually, but as 16 mag by CCD, so there is a large difference. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  10 22.17   61 17.4   5.462   5.192    69   15.3     14.1 152.8  18:26 (175, -7)  
June  8  10 28.58   59 49.6   5.538   5.209    66   15.4     14.4 150.4  18:25 (172, -6)

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
It will be 12 mag in 2003 February. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1   9 40.79   -1 36.1   4.901   4.796    78   15.4      5.1 319.5  18:26 (145, 51)  
June  8   9 39.55   -1 11.3   4.974   4.745    71   15.4      3.8 328.2  18:25 (136, 47)

* 77P/Longmore
Now it is at the peak. It became brighter than expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  10 44.29   14 42.5   2.232   2.397    86   15.7     19.4 142.9  18:26 (174, 40)  
June  8  10 50.33   12 53.7   2.304   2.385    82   15.8     20.6 139.3  18:25 (167, 41)

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte
Not yet observed in this return. It is getting brighter in the morning sky. It will reach to 15.5 mag in July and August. It bursted out and became 6 mag brighter than this ephemeris in the previous return in 1996. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  19 53.78  -15 27.4   0.968   1.815   132   16.3     13.1  67.3   3:17 (180, 70)  
June  8  19 58.96  -14 53.8   0.910   1.797   137   16.1     10.3  64.2   2:55 (180, 70)

* 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)  
June  1  15 27.98  -15 49.6   2.930   3.911   163   16.2      8.8 275.0  22:48 (180, 71)  
June  8  15 23.96  -15 45.2   2.974   3.920   155   16.2      7.8 273.6  22:16 (180, 71)

* 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)  
June  1  11 39.72   36 29.0   2.710   2.879    89   16.5     17.2 155.0  19:01 (180, 19)  
June  8  11 44.26   34 40.6   2.834   2.926    85   16.7     17.6 150.9  18:38 (180, 20)

* C/2002 J4 ( NEAT )
New comet. It will reach to 14 mag in the southern sky in 2003 summer. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  15 38.61   -0 18.0   4.623   5.555   154   16.8      9.4 250.4  22:58 (180, 55)  
June  8  15 34.58   -0 42.0   4.617   5.512   149   16.7      9.2 246.2  22:27 (180, 56)

* C/2002 K1 ( NEAT )
New comet. It keeps 17 mag until July. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  19 37.78  -20 33.5   2.437   3.258   137   17.1     25.8 308.8   3:02 (180, 76)  
June  8  19 27.18  -18 37.3   2.372   3.265   146   17.0     28.4 306.9   2:24 (180, 74)

* 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)  
June  1  18 32.45  -16 20.0  10.537  11.440   151   17.1      3.3 273.4   1:56 (180, 71)  
June  8  18 30.79  -16 18.9  10.503  11.454   158   17.0      3.5 271.9   1:27 (180, 71)

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )
New comet. It is a far object. It will be 17 mag all through in 2003 and 2004. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  20  7.59   10 38.3   6.103   6.646   118   17.7     11.1 305.8   3:31 (180, 44)  
June  8  20  3.02   11 22.6   5.996   6.622   124   17.6     11.9 301.1   2:59 (180, 44)

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )
No observations have been reported since 2001 December. If it keeps the brightness of small outburst in 2001 autumn, it is probably brighter than 18 mag still now. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  21 45.43   13 14.9   8.122   8.292    96   17.7      5.1 335.8   5:08 (180, 42)  
June  8  21 44.22   13 46.8   8.063   8.337   102   17.7      5.3 326.4   4:40 (180, 41)

* 92P/Sanguin
Not yet observed in this return. It will be 15.5 mag in September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  1  21  5.35    8  6.7   1.616   2.148   107   18.0     19.9  55.4   4:28 (180, 47)  
June  8  21 12.76    9 24.0   1.522   2.112   111   17.8     18.5  54.2   4:08 (180, 46)

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