Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Aug. 31: South)

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Updated on September 1, 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 O6 ( SWAN )


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. 31  10 27.95   39 25.4   0.691   0.545    30    6.1     60.1 112.2   4:57 (241,-31)  
Sept. 7  10 53.22   35 45.8   0.896   0.498    29    6.2     50.6 139.3   4:47 (246,-31)  

* C/2002 O4 ( Hoenig )


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. It is faint around 8.5-9 mag recently. It will be in the same field of view with C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR ) on Sept. 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  13 35.97   65 32.5   0.812   0.987    64    7.6     86.9 204.8  19:04 (156,-21)  
Sept. 7  13  8.48   57  2.2   0.911   0.913    56    7.4     70.2 198.8  19:08 (145,-22)  

* 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. 31   8  6.31   20 27.0   1.654   1.060    38   10.2     62.8  93.5   4:57 (241,  5)  
Sept. 7   8 37.00   19 49.1   1.673   1.070    37   10.5     61.1  96.1   4:47 (243,  3)  

* 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. 31  13 35.14   -6  8.6   2.415   1.878    46   13.0     32.8 113.5  19:04 (102, 27)  
Sept. 7  13 49.62   -7 40.8   2.428   1.843    44   12.8     34.2 112.8  19:08 ( 98, 24)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Small outburst occured in late August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  20 38.37  -18 34.9   4.915   5.810   149   13.2      5.3 264.4  22:00 (180, 74)  
Sept. 7  20 35.97  -18 37.8   4.977   5.808   142   13.2      4.4 266.1  21:30 (180, 74)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It is as faint as 15 mag by CCD. It is also fainter than 13 mag visually these days. It will be in the same field of view with C/2002 O4 ( Hoenig ) on Sept. 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  13  1.17   60 34.8   4.143   3.714    58   13.2     22.6 149.1  19:04 (150,-21)  
Sept. 7  13 11.78   58 21.6   4.171   3.733    57   13.3     21.9 148.0  19:08 (147,-22)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


Not it is at the peak.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31   7 22.42   24  8.4   1.724   1.301    48   13.3     51.7  92.8   4:57 (231, 10)  
Sept. 7   7 48.39   23 42.4   1.720   1.314    49   13.3     50.3  95.2   4:47 (233,  9)  

* 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. 31   6 44.25   47 34.7   2.951   2.637    62   13.6     28.2  78.6   4:57 (210, -3)  
Sept. 7   7  3.71   48 10.4   2.841   2.588    65   13.4     28.6  80.2   4:47 (210, -4)  

* 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. 31  10  8.87   13 39.8   3.385   2.391     8   13.6     29.9 111.4   4:57 (264,-15)  
Sept. 7  10 22.22   12 21.9   3.350   2.371    11   13.5     30.2 112.0   4:47 (264,-13)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Strongly condensed.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  16 18.09   18 52.8   5.222   5.194    82   13.8      3.5 106.4  19:04 (156, 33)  
Sept. 7  16 20.04   18 45.5   5.303   5.191    78   13.8      4.7 103.4  19:08 (149, 30)  

* 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. 31  15 33.39  -34 22.7   1.961   2.081    82   13.8     20.3  87.4  19:04 ( 82, 64)  
Sept. 7  15 45.56  -34 16.8   1.983   2.030    78   13.8     22.8  88.3  19:08 ( 81, 60)  

* 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. 31  20  4.19  -15 50.4   0.842   1.753   142   14.3      8.9 104.3  21:26 (180, 71)  
Sept. 7  20  9.12  -16  3.1   0.890   1.764   136   14.6     11.8  96.9  21:04 (180, 71)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


It is fading now, but it will be observable again at 15 mag in 2003 after the conjunction. It was a bit fainter than this ephemeris in late August, around 15-16 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  15 25.20   -2 56.4   2.788   2.671    72   14.4     18.8 211.0  19:04 (127, 45)  
Sept. 7  15 21.37   -4 45.1   2.927   2.676    65   14.5     16.4 204.3  19:08 (117, 40)  

* 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. 31  21 45.55    7 24.3   0.843   1.823   159   14.6     19.9 174.9  23:07 (180, 48)  
Sept. 7  21 46.79    4 59.0   0.840   1.815   158   14.5     21.9 170.5  22:41 (180, 50)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


Recovered as bright as expected. 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. 31  20  3.55  -35 38.5   1.571   2.402   136   14.9     12.8 310.3  21:25 (  0, 89)  
Sept. 7  19 58.79  -34 35.9   1.583   2.354   129   14.6     11.7 324.5  20:53 (180, 90)  

* 7P/Pons-Winnecke


It became bright after the perihelion passage, however it is already too faint to see visually. 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. 31   0 22.04  -46 26.6   0.893   1.765   136   14.7     13.7 246.4   1:47 (  0, 79)  
Sept. 7   0 13.14  -46 49.4   0.948   1.817   136   15.1     13.5 265.3   1:11 (  0, 78)  

* 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. 31   9 54.05   -1  5.6   5.126   4.156    14   14.9      5.0 117.9   4:57 (274, -4)  
Sept. 7   9 56.06   -1 22.9   5.054   4.108    18   14.8      4.9 121.7   4:47 (272,  0)  

* 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. 31  15 57.06  -13 24.4   2.814   2.865    82   15.0     15.7 122.3  19:04 (126, 58)  
Sept. 7  16  3.58  -14 20.6   3.001   2.954    77   15.5     15.8 119.1  19:08 (117, 54)  

* 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. 31   5 53.96   20  0.0   2.280   2.135    68   15.2     31.7  87.2   4:57 (217, 26)  
Sept. 7   6  9.78   20  8.1   2.179   2.098    71   15.0     32.0  88.5   4:47 (216, 26)  

* 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. 31  12 38.48    2 38.1   3.688   2.870    30   15.1     23.3 117.9  19:04 (100, 10)  
Sept. 7  12 48.21    1 21.5   3.711   2.850    27   15.1     23.8 117.4  19:08 ( 96,  6)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Although it will keep the current magnitude for a while, it will not be observable in November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  19 41.61   36 21.7   0.991   1.724   118   15.8    113.9 245.5  20:59 (180, 19)  
Sept. 7  18 48.23   29 54.0   1.020   1.655   109   15.7    105.1 235.7  19:40 (180, 26)  

* 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. 31   4 29.72   -4 49.4   1.360   1.727    92   16.0     42.8 130.4   4:57 (207, 57)  
Sept. 7   4 44.25   -8  6.5   1.348   1.755    95   16.1     40.8 134.4   4:47 (207, 60)  

* 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. 31   3  2.63  -32 39.8   6.719   7.195   114   16.2      8.7 192.2   4:27 (180, 88)  
Sept. 7   3  1.33  -33 39.7   6.602   7.136   118   16.1      9.1 198.4   3:58 (180, 89)  

* P/2002 O5 ( NEAT )


It will go far away from the earth 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. 31  18  4.45   16 29.6   0.443   1.222   108   16.6     55.6  66.4  19:28 (180, 38)  
Sept. 7  18 28.92   18 40.7   0.484   1.248   108   16.9     51.4  72.3  19:25 (180, 36)  

* C/2000 CT54 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31   1 26.54   -1 28.2   4.322   5.107   137   16.8      7.6 277.7   2:51 (180, 56)  
Sept. 7   1 22.77   -1 21.7   4.300   5.154   144   16.8      8.6 275.6   2:20 (180, 56)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It will be observable in good condition at 14 mag in winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31   7  5.73   18 36.6   2.598   2.129    51   17.0     32.2  93.9   4:57 (232, 16)  
Sept. 7   7 21.55   18 18.3   2.513   2.102    54   16.8     32.3  95.2   4:47 (232, 17)  

* 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. 31  18 36.88   27 13.3   2.267   2.803   111   17.0     20.8 271.2  19:58 (180, 28)  
Sept. 7  18 27.09   27 11.5   2.368   2.815   105   17.1     16.6 267.2  19:21 (180, 28)  

* 89P/Russell 2


It was brighter than expected. But it is already fading and will be fainter than 18 mag in late October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  23 36.29  -21 12.7   1.577   2.552   160   17.1     11.4 257.9   1:01 (180, 76)  
Sept. 7  23 30.53  -21 25.6   1.591   2.573   163   17.2     11.8 263.7   0:28 (180, 76)  

* C/2002 Q2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. Moving within 1 deg with C/2002 Q3 ( LINEAR ). Although it is near by the earth and as bright as 17 mag now, it will fade out soon. It will be fainter than 18 mag in early October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Aug. 31  17 53.44   70 22.8   0.864   1.306    88   17.3     94.9 161.0  19:18 (180,-15)  
Sept. 7  18 25.25   58  6.0   0.768   1.324    95   17.1    123.5 166.7  19:21 (180, -2)  

* 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. 31  18 50.99   14 29.6   5.791   6.348   119   17.3      9.7 260.7  20:12 (180, 41)  
Sept. 7  18 46.67   14 17.5   5.857   6.327   113   17.4      8.6 257.4  19:41 (180, 41)  

* 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. 31  16 11.82   26 36.0   3.563   3.542    80   17.3     10.1 142.9  19:04 (158, 25)  
Sept. 7  16 15.30   25 41.6   3.718   3.624    76   17.6     10.5 135.8  19:08 (151, 23)  

* 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. 31   5  6.55   11 20.6   3.536   3.522    80   17.6     15.2 178.1   4:57 (210, 39)  
Sept. 7   5  6.34    9 30.6   3.439   3.547    87   17.6     16.3 185.1   4:47 (205, 42)  

* 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. 31  19  5.72   79 38.1   4.336   4.410    87   17.6     20.3 198.7  20:26 (180,-24)  
Sept. 7  18 53.39   77 17.5   4.299   4.413    89   17.6     21.2 191.3  19:47 (180,-22)  

* 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. 31  21  9.68   16  6.8   8.012   8.877   147   17.7      6.5 259.7  22:31 (180, 39)  
Sept. 7  21  6.71   15 57.5   8.087   8.921   143   17.7      6.1 255.9  22:00 (180, 39)  

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