Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Aug. 24: North)

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Updated on August 23, 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 O6 ( SWAN )


New comet. It keeps 6 mag until mid September, but lower than 10 deg. When it begins to be higher again in late October, it will be fainter than 11 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   9 40.99   40 41.1   0.499   0.631    30    6.0    103.8  86.3   3:56 (224,  7)  
Aug. 31  10 27.95   39 25.4   0.691   0.545    30    6.1     60.1 112.2   4:03 (224,  4)  

* C/2002 O4 ( Hoenig )


New comet. It is approaching to the early and is observable in good condition at 7-8 mag. The perihelion passage is on Oct. 1 and it keeps bright until November. However, it becomes low in September and October. In the Southern Hemishpere, it is not observable until late November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  14 49.83   75 13.3   0.727   1.071    74    7.8    108.9 224.2  20:07 (163, 43)  
Aug. 31  13 35.97   65 32.5   0.812   0.987    64    7.6     86.9 204.8  19:56 (149, 37)  

* 46P/Wirtanen


Brightened very rapidly and reached to 10 mag. Now it is brightest.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   7 34.67   20 45.2   1.641   1.059    38   10.1     64.1  90.8   3:56 (257, 18)  
Aug. 31   8  6.31   20 27.0   1.654   1.060    38   10.2     62.8  93.5   4:03 (257, 18)  

* 22P/Kopff


It is very low in the evening sky. 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. 24  13 21.37   -4 37.8   2.399   1.913    49   13.1     31.4 114.2  20:07 ( 77, 10)  
Aug. 31  13 35.14   -6  8.6   2.415   1.878    46   13.0     32.8 113.5  19:56 ( 76,  9)  

* 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. 24  12 49.78   62 53.6   4.115   3.695    58   13.2     23.3 150.0  20:07 (147, 34)  
Aug. 31  13  1.17   60 34.8   4.143   3.714    58   13.2     22.6 149.1  19:56 (144, 33)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It bursted out in early August and it is now 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  20 41.16  -18 30.5   4.866   5.811   157   13.2      6.1 263.1  22:30 (  0, 36)  
Aug. 31  20 38.37  -18 34.9   4.915   5.810   149   13.2      5.3 264.4  22:00 (  0, 36)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


Despite of the brightness, only a few observations have been reported. It is a bit fainter than this ephemeris, 14 mag in mid August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   6 55.67   24 19.3   1.730   1.294    47   13.3     52.9  90.2   3:56 (258, 27)  
Aug. 31   7 22.42   24  8.4   1.724   1.301    48   13.3     51.7  92.8   4:03 (259, 29)  

* 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. 24   6 25.39   46 54.3   3.062   2.687    59   13.7     27.8  77.1   3:56 (235, 41)  
Aug. 31   6 44.25   47 34.7   2.951   2.637    62   13.6     28.2  78.6   4:03 (235, 44)  

* 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. 24   9 55.52   14 54.7   3.416   2.411     5   13.7     29.5 110.7   3:56 (241,-13)  
Aug. 31  10  8.87   13 39.8   3.385   2.391     8   13.6     29.9 111.4   4:03 (246,-10)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Strongly condensed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  16 16.73   18 59.1   5.138   5.197    87   13.7      2.3 110.6  20:07 ( 67, 59)  
Aug. 31  16 18.09   18 52.8   5.222   5.194    82   13.8      3.5 106.4  19:56 ( 71, 56)  

* 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. 24  15 22.61  -34 30.8   1.937   2.133    86   13.9     17.8  85.7  20:07 ( 35,  9)  
Aug. 31  15 33.39  -34 22.7   1.961   2.081    82   13.8     20.3  87.4  19:56 ( 36,  9)  

* 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte


It brightened rapidly and reached to 14 mag. It bursted out and became 5 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. 24  20  0.79  -15 32.8   0.801   1.743   148   14.1      6.1 117.4  21:50 (  0, 39)  
Aug. 31  20  4.19  -15 50.4   0.842   1.753   142   14.3      8.9 104.3  21:26 (  0, 39)  

* 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. 24  15 30.51   -0 59.1   2.646   2.669    80   14.3     21.8 217.1  20:07 ( 57, 37)  
Aug. 31  15 25.20   -2 56.4   2.788   2.671    72   14.4     18.8 211.0  19:56 ( 60, 32)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke


It became 2.5 mag brighter after the perihelion passage. However, it keeps very low at 10 deg high in the Northern Hemisphere, while it will fade out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   0 29.81  -45 33.5   0.845   1.714   134   14.3     14.2 226.9   2:22 (  0,  9)  
Aug. 31   0 22.04  -46 26.6   0.893   1.765   136   14.7     13.7 246.4   1:47 (  0,  9)  

* 153P/2002 C1 ( Ikeya-Zhang )


Extremely diffused and hard to observe. Although the total magnitude is 12 mag, the central part is fainter than 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  15 50.86  -12 22.9   2.626   2.774    87   14.4     15.6 126.1  20:07 ( 43, 31)  
Aug. 31  15 57.06  -13 24.4   2.814   2.865    82   15.0     15.7 122.3  19:56 ( 45, 29)  

* 92P/Sanguin


It became a bit brighter than expected, reached to 14.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  21 45.00    9 33.8   0.857   1.834   158   14.7     17.1 177.8  23:34 (  0, 64)  
Aug. 31  21 45.55    7 24.3   0.843   1.823   159   14.6     19.9 174.9  23:07 (  0, 62)  

* 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. 24   9 51.97   -0 50.4   5.183   4.204    12   14.9      4.9 114.4   3:56 (254,-22)  
Aug. 31   9 54.05   -1  5.6   5.126   4.156    14   14.9      5.0 117.9   4:03 (260,-16)  

* 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. It must be bright already, but not yet recovered.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  20 11.15  -36 25.1   1.561   2.446   143   15.1     14.0 298.6  22:00 (  0, 19)  
Aug. 31  20  4.73  -35 32.4   1.563   2.397   136   14.9     12.9 310.0  21:26 (  0, 20)  

* 65P/Gunn


After conjunction, it will appear at dawn at 14 mag in January.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  12 29.02    3 53.9   3.659   2.889    34   15.1     22.7 118.4  20:07 ( 91,  5)  
Aug. 31  12 38.48    2 38.1   3.688   2.870    30   15.1     23.3 117.9  19:56 ( 91,  2)  

* 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. It must be bright already, but not yet recovered.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   5 38.31   19 47.1   2.382   2.173    65   15.4     31.4  85.9   3:56 (273, 41)  
Aug. 31   5 53.96   20  0.0   2.280   2.135    68   15.2     31.7  87.2   4:03 (276, 45)  

* C/2002 Q1 ( Van Ness )


New comet. It will fade out gradually after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   4 13.77   -1 39.5   1.375   1.701    89   16.0     44.3 126.6   3:56 (313, 43)  
Aug. 31   4 29.70   -4 49.2   1.357   1.725    92   16.0     42.7 130.4   4:03 (321, 42)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will be naked eye object in 2004. It is only 16 mag now and locates low in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   3  3.36  -31 41.4   6.844   7.254   110   16.3      8.2 185.7   3:56 (346, 22)  
Aug. 31   3  2.63  -32 39.8   6.719   7.195   114   16.2      8.7 192.2   4:03 (354, 22)  

* P/2002 O5 ( NEAT )


New periodic comet. It will go far away from the earth after this and will be fainter rapidly. It will be fainter than 18 mag in October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  17 39.26   13 27.3   0.405   1.201   108   16.3     61.2  60.4  20:07 ( 24, 67)  
Aug. 31  18  4.46   16 29.6   0.443   1.222   108   16.6     55.6  66.4  19:56 ( 21, 71)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   1 29.76   -1 36.2   4.355   5.061   129   16.7      6.4 281.3   3:22 (  0, 53)  
Aug. 31   1 26.54   -1 28.2   4.322   5.107   137   16.8      7.6 277.7   2:51 (  0, 54)  

* C/2002 K4 ( NEAT )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  18 48.91   27  4.1   2.174   2.793   117   16.8     25.2 275.4  20:37 (  0, 82)  
Aug. 31  18 36.88   27 13.3   2.267   2.803   111   17.0     20.8 271.2  19:58 (  0, 82)  

* C/2000 WM1 ( LINEAR )


Fading rapidly. 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. 24  16  9.01   27 33.8   3.407   3.458    84   17.1      9.7 151.1  20:07 ( 84, 62)  
Aug. 31  16 11.82   26 36.0   3.563   3.542    80   17.3     10.1 142.9  19:56 ( 84, 58)  

* 6P/d'Arrest


Appearing at dawn. But it will be fainter than 18 mag in September. No observations have been reported for more than 1 year, since 2001 May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   5 29.95    5 12.5   2.623   2.461    69   17.3     17.2 101.8   3:56 (290, 34)  
Aug. 31   5 37.41    4 45.9   2.588   2.510    74   17.6     15.5 105.2   4:03 (296, 39)  

* 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. 24  18 55.90   14 39.2   5.733   6.370   125   17.3     10.8 263.9  20:45 (  0, 70)  
Aug. 31  18 50.99   14 29.6   5.791   6.348   119   17.3      9.7 260.7  20:12 (  0, 69)  

* C/2002 C2 ( LINEAR )


It locates high until October at 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24   5  5.88   13  3.0   3.633   3.497    74   17.6     14.3 170.8   3:56 (286, 44)  
Aug. 31   5  6.55   11 20.6   3.536   3.522    80   17.6     15.2 178.1   4:03 (296, 49)  

* C/2001 U6 ( LINEAR )


It locates high until December at 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 24  19 28.35   81 45.8   4.378   4.408    85   17.6     19.4 208.7  21:15 (180, 43)  
Aug. 31  19  5.72   79 38.1   4.336   4.410    87   17.6     20.3 198.7  20:26 (180, 46)  

* 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. 24  21 12.86   16 13.6   7.950   8.832   149   17.7      6.8 263.5  23:01 (  0, 71)  
Aug. 31  21  9.68   16  6.8   8.012   8.877   147   17.7      6.5 259.7  22:31 (  0, 71)  

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