Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 June 22: South)

Japanese version
Home page
Updated on June 23, 2002
Last week North Next week

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* C/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )


The fading pace is very slow and the comet is still 7 mag. But now it is diffused. The anti-tail was observed in early June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  15 23.24    4 46.8   1.062   1.900   132    8.1     30.3 189.2  21:21 (180, 50)  
June 29  15 21.95    1 35.5   1.212   2.003   127    8.5     25.0 181.9  20:52 (180, 54)  

* C/2002 F1 ( Utsunomiya )


Although it did not fade at all in May and kept 8 mag until late May, it faded out rapidly in June, fainter than 10.5 mag in mid June. It is observable only in the Southern Hemisphere in the evening low sky. It will be hard to see it because it is very diffused now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22   6 48.38  -10 58.4   2.063   1.381    36   11.5     41.3 133.5  18:26 ( 84, 11)  
June 29   7  2.24  -14 11.0   2.160   1.499    38   12.1     38.7 133.7  18:28 ( 79,  9)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


It faded down to 12 mag until mid May. No visual observation was reported after that, but it will keep brighter than 13 mag for some more while. The faint but great long tail can be found on CCD images.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  16 35.56   36  2.1   2.044   2.665   117   12.8     18.7 260.0  22:32 (180, 19)  
June 29  16 26.00   35 30.6   2.180   2.758   114   13.1     15.9 249.5  21:55 (180, 20)  

* 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 22   7 51.65   83 30.8   3.958   3.575    60   12.9     25.3 105.9  18:26 (173,-32)  
June 29   9 17.19   82  9.5   3.965   3.584    61   12.9     25.5 124.3  18:28 (173,-30)  

* 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 22   3  5.74    9 20.1   1.891   1.363    44   13.5     55.1  71.1   5:37 (238, 24)  
June 29   3 31.11   11 23.5   1.829   1.310    44   13.0     57.5  72.3   5:38 (236, 23)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It bursted out on June 9 up to 12.0 mag and still keeps 12 mag. Now it has a galaxy-like coma.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  21  7.93  -17 33.7   5.051   5.827   136   13.3      3.5 263.9   3:09 (180, 73)  
June 29  21  5.98  -17 37.2   4.978   5.825   143   13.2      4.5 262.2   2:39 (180, 73)  

* 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 22  18  5.29   20  6.7   1.910   2.738   136   13.7     54.0 257.3   0:08 (180, 35)  
June 29  17 39.14   18 26.5   1.894   2.722   136   13.6     55.2 252.7  23:07 (180, 37)  

* 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 22  23 30.91  -24  6.4   0.633   1.337   105   14.0     46.1 122.3   5:31 (180, 79)  
June 29  23 49.65  -26 57.7   0.641   1.367   108   14.2     41.3 126.4   5:22 (180, 82)  

* C/2002 H2 ( LINEAR )


It was 12 mag in May, but now it is fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  13 43.27   67  6.6   1.979   2.023    77   14.0     30.6 241.3  19:39 (180,-12)  
June 29  13 16.76   65 15.2   2.119   2.076    73   14.3     25.4 229.9  18:46 (180,-10)  

* 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 22   2 59.23   13 60.0   2.007   1.459    44   14.3     50.8  70.1   5:37 (234, 22)  
June 29   3 22.73   15 57.3   1.953   1.424    44   14.1     52.0  71.6   5:38 (231, 21)  

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )


Fading rapidly. It is already a hard object to see visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  14 38.84   81 17.4   2.283   2.197    72   14.1     18.8 251.9  20:33 (180,-26)  
June 29  13 54.10   80 20.0   2.391   2.264    70   14.5     16.0 233.2  19:22 (180,-25)  

* 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. Strongly condensed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  16 32.08   17  9.7   4.493   5.249   133   14.2     10.0 304.9  22:29 (180, 38)  
June 29  16 28.23   17 46.0   4.538   5.240   129   14.2      8.8 301.9  21:58 (180, 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)  
June 22  11 50.69    6 26.7   2.119   2.267    84   14.4     15.3 118.8  18:26 (166, 48)  
June 29  11 57.48    5 32.0   2.161   2.226    80   14.3     17.5 118.0  18:28 (158, 47)  

* 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 22  14 58.07  -38 46.0   1.778   2.625   138   14.4      9.8 303.0  20:55 (  0, 86)  
June 29  14 53.93  -38  7.2   1.777   2.569   131   14.3      8.0 315.1  20:24 (  0, 87)  

* 116P/Wild 4


After conjunction, it will appear at dawn at 13 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22   7 57.54   23 21.4   3.482   2.613    26   14.6     25.4 102.3  18:26 (122,  4)  
June 29   8 10.25   22 41.2   3.495   2.589    22   14.5     26.0 103.3  18:28 (119,  1)  

* 6P/d'Arrest


It is not observable until August in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22   3 48.39    5 38.4   2.734   2.013    36   14.8     30.5  83.8   5:37 (249, 18)  
June 29   4  2.32    5 58.1   2.741   2.063    39   15.1     29.2  85.3   5:38 (246, 21)  

* 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 22   4  4.40   38 42.4   4.021   3.173    29   15.0     23.4  68.0   5:37 (226, -6)  
June 29   4 17.66   39 43.2   3.925   3.116    32   14.9     23.9  68.7   5:38 (223, -5)  

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte


It was 15.5 mag in May, a bit brighter than this ephemeris. It will reach to 15 mag at best in July and August. However, 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 22  20  5.08  -14  2.4   0.815   1.767   149   15.2      4.4  51.5   2:06 (180, 69)  
June 29  20  6.06  -13 47.1   0.778   1.755   155   15.1      1.8  23.1   1:39 (180, 69)  

* 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 22  11 19.72   14 12.5   3.178   3.075    74   15.2     14.4 125.9  18:26 (159, 38)  
June 29  11 25.61   13 12.1   3.247   3.054    70   15.2     15.6 124.4  18:28 (152, 37)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Observable only in the Southern Hemisphere. After conjunction, it will appear at dawn at 13.5 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22   9 38.77   -0 34.8   5.106   4.646    57   15.4      2.0   6.5  18:26 (122, 38)  
June 29   9 39.09   -0 22.8   5.160   4.596    51   15.3      1.8  38.8  18:28 (116, 32)  

* 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 22  10 42.25   56 55.7   5.683   5.246    59   15.5     14.8 146.1  18:26 (166, -5)  
June 29  10 49.36   55 30.2   5.753   5.265    56   15.5     14.9 144.2  18:28 (162, -4)  

* 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 22  11  4.53    9 13.7   2.446   2.364    73   15.8     22.7 134.1  18:26 (152, 42)  
June 29  11 12.51    7 22.6   2.516   2.354    69   15.8     23.7 132.3  18:28 (145, 41)  

* 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 22  15 17.70  -15 43.2   3.097   3.937   140   16.4      5.0 267.2  21:15 (180, 71)  
June 29  15 15.66  -15 46.4   3.175   3.946   133   16.4      3.5 259.1  20:46 (180, 71)  

* 54P/de Vico-Swift


It has been lost since last appearance in 1965. If it becomes bright, it will be 15.5 mag in good condition in autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22   0 43.68    2 55.5   2.123   2.176    79   16.7     26.0  63.0   5:37 (206, 49)  
June 29   0 54.30    4 17.2   2.044   2.168    82   16.6     25.1  62.7   5:38 (199, 49)  

* C/2002 K4 ( NEAT )


New comet. It keeps 17 mag until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  21 17.23    9 58.1   2.100   2.772   121   16.7     35.6 315.9   3:18 (180, 45)  
June 29  21  4.40   12 56.9   2.026   2.768   127   16.7     38.6 311.3   2:38 (180, 42)  

* P/2002 JN16 ( LINEAR )


New periodic comet. Now it is at the peak and it will soon fade out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  15 21.83   -9 48.5   0.921   1.818   139   16.9      8.2  27.5  21:20 (180, 65)  
June 29  15 24.43   -9  4.9   0.953   1.808   133   17.0      8.9  54.3  20:55 (180, 64)  

* 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 22  11 54.95   31 10.0   3.084   3.018    76   17.0     18.1 144.1  18:26 (172, 23)  
June 29  12  0.94   29 28.3   3.209   3.064    72   17.2     18.4 141.3  18:28 (167, 24)  

* 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 22  18 27.17  -16 18.3  10.476  11.480   170   17.1      3.8 269.5   0:28 (180, 71)  
June 29  18 25.29  -16 18.8  10.484  11.494   172   17.1      3.9 268.4  23:55 (180, 71)  

* 92P/Sanguin


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 22  21 25.54   11 43.9   1.347   2.044   119   17.3     14.9  52.8   3:26 (180, 43)  
June 29  21 30.79   12 42.1   1.267   2.012   123   17.1     12.6  53.2   3:04 (180, 42)  

* 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 22  15 27.35   -1 41.4   4.653   5.438   136   17.2      8.4 235.5  21:25 (180, 57)  
June 29  15 24.32   -2 16.5   4.683   5.396   130   17.2      7.9 228.6  20:54 (180, 57)  

* C/1997 BA6 ( Spacewatch )


It keeps brightness around 17.5 mag still now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June 22  21 40.67   14 43.2   7.958   8.427   114   17.4      5.7 309.5   3:41 (180, 40)  
June 29  21 38.37   15  7.2   7.915   8.472   120   17.4      6.0 302.2   3:11 (180, 40)  

* 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 22  19 52.30   12 41.6   5.817   6.574   134   17.5     13.2 292.8   1:53 (180, 42)  
June 29  19 46.28   13 15.2   5.748   6.550   139   17.5     13.7 289.1   1:20 (180, 42)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.