Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Nov. 30: North)

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Updated on November 30, 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/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)  
Nov. 30  11  3.60   47 58.4   1.747   2.142    99   11.0     23.5  98.9   5:19 (220, 72)  
Dec.  7  11 19.01   47 32.2   1.679   2.120   102   10.9     21.5  99.9   5:24 (214, 74)  

* 22P/Kopff


It will appear at dawn in next June at 15.5 mag, then it will be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  17 40.02  -22  6.5   2.498   1.588    17   11.5     45.6  94.4  18:18 ( 65, -4)  
Dec.  7  18  3.05  -22 24.0   2.508   1.584    16   11.5     45.9  92.2  18:18 ( 66, -5)  

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )


Brightening very rapidly. It will be bright locating high, so good target in December. It is also observable in January in the evening sky. It will approach to the sun down to 0.1 AU in February. But it will collapse and disappear before the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   3 54.56   16 41.2   0.972   1.953   171   12.7     64.2 269.3  23:14 (  0, 72)  
Dec.  7   3 20.36   16 25.7   0.884   1.833   157   11.6     75.9 267.4  22:13 (  0, 71)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


It will appear at dawn at 14 mag in late December. Then it will fade out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  16 25.34  -11 43.7   2.214   1.254     9   12.6     14.2 202.6  18:18 ( 84,-13)  
Dec.  7  16 22.71  -13 14.2   2.221   1.273    11   12.8     13.9 203.6   5:24 (281, -7)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in early 2003 and 2003 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   9 47.52   -5 50.9   3.326   3.567    96   13.2     13.5 260.6   5:13 (  0, 49)  
Dec.  7   9 40.42   -6  3.9   3.150   3.526   104   13.0     17.1 265.0   4:39 (  0, 49)  

* 28P/Neujmin 1


It was much fainter than this ephemeris, 17.4 mag on July 31 by Akimasa Nakamura. No further observations were reported, so the current brightness is uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  19 34.22  -27  9.6   2.148   1.587    43   13.2     45.0  72.2  18:18 ( 44, 12)  
Dec.  7  19 56.65  -25 26.0   2.163   1.572    41   13.1     46.1  70.2  18:18 ( 46, 13)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It brightened about 1 mag after perihelion passage and reached to 12 mag. Now already getting fainter, but still bright as 13.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  11 26.52   11 52.9   1.631   1.754    80   13.6     23.0 105.2   5:19 (312, 59)  
Dec.  7  11 36.41   11 14.7   1.607   1.804    84   13.7     19.9 104.0   5:24 (322, 61)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It seems to keep 12 mag recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  20 48.49  -16 52.8   6.180   5.789    62   13.7      8.5  71.0  18:18 ( 35, 30)  
Dec.  7  20 52.58  -16 32.5   6.276   5.788    56   13.7      9.3  71.0  18:18 ( 41, 27)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Although it becomes low for a while in early December, it will be getting higher after mid December. It is observable in good condition at 14-15 mag until 2003 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  17 17.60   19 21.2   5.875   5.198    43   14.0     13.6  75.8  18:18 (103, 16)  
Dec.  7  17 24.19   19 46.9   5.879   5.202    42   14.0     14.0  73.3  18:18 (106, 12)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


Getting fainter very slowly. It keeps 14-15 mag until 2003 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  14 45.69   41 24.2   4.319   4.035    66   14.2     10.2 119.2   5:19 (240, 34)  
Dec.  7  14 51.01   40 53.4   4.303   4.065    69   14.3      9.0 114.6   5:24 (242, 39)  

* 65P/Gunn


Appearing at dawn. It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August in 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  15  2.58  -13 17.1   3.537   2.639    20   14.6     27.3 109.5   5:19 (288,  2)  
Dec.  7  15 14.98  -14 19.2   3.486   2.624    24   14.5     27.3 108.6   5:24 (292,  6)  

* C/2002 U2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will keep 15 mag until February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  15 48.86   57 31.1   1.058   1.307    79   14.8     57.9 150.9   5:19 (218, 30)  
Dec.  7  16  8.97   51 53.2   1.094   1.270    75   14.7     50.7 153.9   5:24 (225, 29)  

* 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)  
Nov. 30  10 20.11   10 43.4   1.535   1.890    94   15.1     27.1 100.6   5:19 (344, 65)  
Dec.  7  10 32.41   10 11.3   1.464   1.884    98   15.0     25.5  99.3   5:24 (356, 65)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


Recovered 3 mag fainter than expected. Although it will be at the peak in 2003 January and be observable in good condition, it may reach to 14.5 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   9  7.62   17 45.3   1.187   1.821   113   15.2     23.4  92.4   4:33 (  0, 73)  
Dec.  7   9 18.47   17 41.6   1.130   1.816   118   15.0     20.9  90.0   4:16 (  0, 73)  

* 116P/Wild 4


Although it was expected to be 11 mag, the brightening pace is very slow in this return. It is still 15 mag. It will be 13.5 mag at best in 2003 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  13  1.61   -5 11.2   2.678   2.202    51   15.1     30.6 114.0   5:19 (302, 30)  
Dec.  7  13 14.65   -6 37.0   2.606   2.194    54   15.1     30.2 113.7   5:24 (308, 33)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


It will appear at dawn soon. It keeps 15 mag until spring, but it will be low for the northern observers.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  15 28.55  -20 26.1   3.829   2.876    12   15.4     10.1 159.7   5:19 (290, -7)  
Dec.  7  15 30.20  -21 32.6   3.815   2.903    19   15.4     10.0 162.2   5:24 (295, -2)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates low in the evening sky until February, then it will not be observable until 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   2  9.13  -41 26.7   6.008   6.409   109   15.5      7.9 271.1  21:32 (  0, 14)  
Dec.  7   2  4.45  -41 21.9   6.020   6.347   105   15.4      7.2 279.4  20:59 (  0, 14)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It is already 16 mag, brighter than expected. But it is only observable until next spring. It is not observable around the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   4 27.76   17 12.6   2.019   3.003   175   15.9     14.4 261.4  23:50 (  0, 72)  
Dec.  7   4 20.71   16 57.7   1.988   2.964   170   15.8     14.6 262.0  23:15 (  0, 72)  

* 46P/Wirtanen


It kept around 11.5 mag until early November. But no observations have been reported since mid November. So current brightness is uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  12 57.08    4 17.5   1.918   1.603    56   15.8     31.6 105.6   5:19 (295, 38)  
Dec.  7  13 10.78    3 22.1   1.916   1.663    60   16.9     29.1 104.6   5:24 (300, 41)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


Although it was expected to be 10 mag in winter, it does not brighten at all. It will be 15.5 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  21  8.21  -16 10.2   1.965   1.824    67   15.9     30.9  57.6  18:18 ( 31, 33)  
Dec.  7  21 21.22  -14 11.6   1.994   1.789    63   15.8     32.7  58.1  18:18 ( 35, 33)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It keeps 16 mag until 2003 June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  13 15.28   35 19.6   6.009   5.785    72   16.1      7.7 101.6   5:19 (254, 49)  
Dec.  7  13 19.40   35 11.2   5.957   5.813    76   16.1      6.9  97.1   5:24 (257, 55)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   5 34.92   28 36.2   5.523   6.470   162   16.3     11.9 272.2   1:01 (  0, 84)  
Dec.  7   5 28.39   28 38.3   5.433   6.406   170   16.2     12.6 270.7   0:27 (  0, 84)  

* C/2002 R3 ( LONEOS )


It will be observable at 16-17 mag until the end of 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   2 11.01   18  5.0   3.351   4.225   148   16.3     26.8 256.7  21:33 (  0, 73)  
Dec.  7   1 58.75   17 21.7   3.410   4.202   138   16.3     24.6 255.7  20:53 (  0, 72)  

* 92P/Sanguin


It became brighter than expected, reached to 13 mag. But it is fading rapidly after that.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  23 28.04  -11  2.2   1.497   1.939   100   16.4     26.9  84.1  18:52 (  0, 44)  
Dec.  7  23 40.85  -10 37.1   1.590   1.965    96   16.7     27.5  81.0  18:37 (  0, 44)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


It will reach to 7 mag in 2003 autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until 2003 July, when it reaches to 10 mag. After that, only southern people can observe it until 2003 December, when it fades to 9 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  15 14.15   28 11.7   4.705   4.178    52   16.6     10.1 111.6   5:19 (251, 23)  
Dec.  7  15 19.11   27 48.7   4.585   4.104    55   16.4      9.8 106.8   5:24 (254, 28)  

* C/2002 E2 ( Snyder-Murakami )


It keeps 16 mag since August unexpectedly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30  18 22.33   73 44.5   3.540   3.794    97   16.8     20.0  87.4  18:18 (160, 40)  
Dec.  7  18 56.02   73 45.6   3.593   3.862    98   16.9     20.4  90.5  18:18 (160, 40)  

* 2002 RP120


Asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will be fading after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   0  7.81   22 48.3   1.884   2.541   121   16.8     33.2 266.7  19:30 (  0, 78)  
Dec.  7  23 52.98   22 35.2   2.028   2.559   111   17.0     25.7 266.4  18:48 (  0, 78)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It keeps 17 mag until next April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   9 37.12    9 53.7   5.085   5.412   104   17.2      4.5  34.4   5:03 (  0, 65)  
Dec.  7   9 38.04   10 22.1   4.993   5.429   111   17.1      4.6  17.0   4:36 (  0, 65)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable at 17.5 mag in this winter and next winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   4 24.14  -14 24.9   3.272   4.111   144   17.2      8.8 281.9  23:46 (  0, 41)  
Dec.  7   4 20.01  -14  7.5   3.275   4.100   142   17.2      9.0 290.5  23:15 (  0, 41)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1


It became 17 mag, brighter than expected. It keeps 17 mag in the high position until December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   5 22.44   35 35.8   2.224   3.173   160   17.3      9.1 280.0   0:49 (180, 89)  
Dec.  7   5 17.13   35 43.8   2.226   3.190   165   17.4      9.5 274.4   0:16 (180, 89)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


Appearing at dawn. It is getting fainter gradually. It keeps brighter than 18 mag until March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   9 35.71   22 17.5   7.550   7.917   108   17.6      6.2 313.3   5:01 (  0, 77)  
Dec.  7   9 33.17   22 48.4   7.468   7.952   116   17.5      7.2 309.7   4:31 (  0, 78)  

* 2002 CE10


Asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will be 15.7 mag at opposition in early September in 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Nov. 30   8 26.87   57 23.8   2.257   2.920   123   17.9     37.5 322.9   3:53 (180, 68)  
Dec.  7   8  2.54   60 53.5   2.142   2.874   129   17.7     42.7 314.4   3:02 (180, 64)  

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