Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Aug. 3: North)

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 Updated on August 1, 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/2002 O4 ( Hoenig )
New comet. It will approach to the early in August and will be observable in good condition at 9 mag. The perihelion passage is on Oct. 1 and it keeps 9-10 mag until late October. However, it becomes low in September and October. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  23  5.80   53 20.9   0.681   1.347   103   10.0    132.8 345.2   2:22 (180, 72)  
Aug. 10  22 17.94   68 32.1   0.651   1.252    95    9.5    141.6 333.6   1:09 (180, 57)

* 153P/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )
It is still 10 mag but now it is extremely diffused. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  15 34.67   -8 38.2   2.067   2.496   102   10.5     15.9 141.8  20:37 ( 36, 39)  
Aug. 10  15 39.59  -10  0.8   2.252   2.590    97   10.9     15.7 135.7  20:28 ( 39, 36)

* 46P/Wirtanen
It is getting brighter rapidly. But it is much fainter than expected. It may be 12.5 mag at best. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3   5 57.76   19 27.7   1.646   1.106    41   13.3     65.2  82.4   3:33 (257, 15)  
Aug. 10   6 29.99   20 15.7   1.636   1.083    40   12.8     65.4  85.1   3:41 (256, 16)

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )
It is as faint as 15 mag by CCD. It is also fainter than 13 mag visually these days. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  12  8.07   70 15.4   4.040   3.645    60   13.1     24.8 150.5  20:37 (155, 36)  
Aug. 10  12 23.66   67 44.8   4.064   3.661    59   13.1     24.4 150.8  20:28 (152, 36)

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Although it kept as bright as 12 mag in July, it was extremely diffused and hard to see. The nuclues is already faint as 16 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  20 50.99  -18 10.9   4.802   5.816   179   13.1      7.1 261.2   0:07 (  0, 37)  
Aug. 10  20 47.57  -18 18.2   4.809   5.815   172   13.1      7.0 261.6  23:31 (  0, 37)

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
It was observed at 15.0 mag on June 18, as bright as expected. 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)  
Aug.  3   5 33.10   23  9.0   1.773   1.305    46   13.4     54.8  82.3   3:33 (257, 22)  
Aug. 10   6  0.75   23 50.2   1.754   1.296    47   13.3     54.4  84.9   3:41 (257, 24)

* 22P/Kopff
It will be too low in August. It will appear at dawn in next June at 15.5 mag and will be fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  12 44.29   -0 19.8   2.334   2.025    59   13.6     26.8 115.6  20:37 ( 78, 16)  
Aug. 10  12 55.94   -1 42.8   2.359   1.987    56   13.4     28.4 115.2  20:28 ( 78, 14)

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )
Strongly condensed. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  16 16.38   19  5.3   4.887   5.211   103   13.7      1.8 283.0  20:37 ( 48, 68)  
Aug. 10  16 15.86   19  6.2   4.970   5.206    97   13.7      0.4 253.3  20:28 ( 56, 65)

* 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)  
Aug.  3   9 15.60   18 18.7   3.482   2.474     5   14.0     28.4 108.2  20:37 (124,-14)  
Aug. 10   9 28.88   17 14.3   3.464   2.452     2   13.9     28.8 109.1  20:28 (124,-15)

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )
It will be observable at 14 mag until September. After the conjunction, it will be observable again at 15 mag in 2003. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  15 58.41    5 52.2   2.242   2.674   103   14.0     35.1 231.9  20:37 ( 40, 54)  
Aug. 10  15 46.78    3 25.0   2.369   2.671    95   14.1     30.1 227.4  20:28 ( 47, 48)

* 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. Akimasa Nakamura reported that it was so faint as 17.4 mag on July 31. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  14 59.25  -35 18.4   1.862   2.292   101   14.1     10.0  70.8  20:37 ( 30, 12)  
Aug. 10  15  5.47  -34 57.9   1.887   2.238    96   14.0     12.6  78.3  20:28 ( 32, 11)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
Getting brighter as expected. 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)  
Aug.  3   5 32.69   44 30.3   3.397   2.842    49   14.2     26.4  73.2   3:33 (235, 31)  
Aug. 10   5 49.60   45 21.6   3.286   2.789    52   14.0     26.9  74.4   3:41 (235, 35)

* C/2002 F1 ( Utsunomiya )
Although it did not fade at all in May and kept 8 mag until late May, only two observations by one person in mid June were reported after June. So the current brightness is quite uncertain. It became very diffused and faded out rapidly in mid June, fainter than 10.5 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3   8  3.17  -28 27.9   2.597   2.053    47   14.6     31.2 138.0   3:33 (282,-36)  
Aug. 10   8 14.10  -31  9.3   2.677   2.158    49   14.9     30.3 139.5   3:41 (288,-32)

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte
It reaches 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. Total 20 nuclei have been discovered. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  19 59.27  -14 25.7   0.726   1.730   167   14.8      4.1 219.7  23:11 (  0, 41)  
Aug. 10  19 58.50  -14 48.5   0.742   1.732   160   14.8      3.4 188.1  22:43 (  0, 40)

* 2002 NY40
It will be so close to the earth during Aug. 17 and 18, and reaches to 10 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  21 34.59   -4 48.4   0.188   1.196   163   16.5      5.6 343.0   0:50 (  0, 50)  
Aug. 10  21 32.30   -3 56.3   0.101   1.112   167   14.8     15.5 318.9   0:20 (  0, 51)

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )
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)  
Aug.  3   9 45.89   -0 18.7   5.270   4.349    22   15.1      4.2 103.2  20:37 (105,-20)  
Aug. 10   9 47.84   -0 26.7   5.255   4.300    17   15.1      4.5 107.3  20:28 (107,-24)

* 65P/Gunn
It will be too low in the evening sky in August. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  12  2.42    7 35.5   3.540   2.950    47   15.2     20.5 120.0  20:37 ( 91, 12)  
Aug. 10  12 10.97    6 22.9   3.585   2.930    43   15.2     21.3 119.4  20:28 ( 91,  9)

* P/1992 Q1 ( Brewington )
First return of a new periodic comet. It will reach to 10-11 mag in the evening sky during winter and spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  20 36.27  -37 48.6   1.619   2.594   159   16.0     15.0 274.4  23:47 (  0, 17)  
Aug. 10  20 27.40  -37 34.0   1.588   2.545   155   15.7     15.3 281.4  23:11 (  0, 17)

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke
The ephemeris says it is fading now. But it seems to be bright still now actually, about 13 mag. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3   0 38.85  -40 16.9   0.736   1.568   126   15.7     19.7 172.3   3:33 (356, 15)  
Aug. 10   0 38.80  -42 24.8   0.767   1.615   129   16.1     17.1 188.9   3:26 (  0, 13)

* 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)  
Aug.  3  21 44.18   13 40.0   0.954   1.883   146   16.0      6.3 166.1   0:59 (  0, 69)  
Aug. 10  21 44.65   12 44.2   0.912   1.864   150   15.9      9.9 176.8   0:32 (  0, 68)

* P/1986 A1 ( Shoemaker 3 )
First return of a new periodic comet with a period of 17 years. It will reach to 12 mag in 2003 January and be observable in good condition. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3   4 52.75   18 40.0   2.695   2.297    56   16.1     30.3  82.0   3:33 (266, 28)  
Aug. 10   5  7.69   19  6.9   2.591   2.255    59   15.9     30.7  83.3   3:41 (268, 32)

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )
Fading rapidly. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  13  4.92   74 35.4   2.849   2.608    66   16.1      8.1 164.8  20:37 (162, 40)  
Aug. 10  13  9.91   73 44.9   2.920   2.678    66   16.4      7.6 150.7  20:28 (160, 39)

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )
It became so faint now. It seems to be fainter than 18 mag in September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  16  5.59   30 42.1   2.933   3.203    96   16.1      9.3 184.5  20:37 ( 81, 73)  
Aug. 10  16  5.76   29 37.6   3.091   3.289    92   16.5      9.2 171.9  20:28 ( 82, 69)

* C/2002 K4 ( NEAT )
It keeps 17 mag until September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3  19 37.14   24 44.0   1.970   2.772   133   16.6     37.6 288.6  22:47 (  0, 80)  
Aug. 10  19 19.36   25 54.1   2.022   2.777   129   16.7     33.9 284.0  22:02 (  0, 81)

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )
No observations have been reported since 2002 January. It will be brighter than 17 mag until September. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug.  3   1 35.68   -2 12.0   4.501   4.922   108   16.7      3.1 316.6   3:33 (330, 49)  
Aug. 10   1 34.36   -1 57.7   4.446   4.968   115   16.7      4.0 297.7   3:41 (343, 52)

* 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)  
Aug.  3  18 16.93  -16 28.0  10.734  11.561   143   17.1      2.7 261.7  21:29 (  0, 39)  
Aug. 10  18 15.73  -16 30.8  10.822  11.575   136   17.1      2.3 259.1  21:00 (  0, 38)

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )
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)  
Aug.  3  19 13.48   14 45.7   5.629   6.435   139   17.3     13.3 272.9  22:25 (  0, 70)  
Aug. 10  19  7.22   14 47.9   5.651   6.413   135   17.3     12.6 269.9  21:51 (  0, 70)

* 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)  
Aug.  3  21 23.06   16 15.4   7.844   8.698   145   17.5      7.1 275.3   0:39 (  0, 71)  
Aug. 10  21 19.61   16 18.2   7.866   8.742   148   17.6      7.1 271.2   0:08 (  0, 71)

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