Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2002 Dec. 28: North)

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Updated on December 29, 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 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )


New comet. It locates in the morning sky until early January. It will reach to 1 mag in late January, but it is too close to the sun at that time. It appears at dusk in March, then it slowly fades out. Southern people cannot see it until mid February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  17 39.94   33 29.2   0.991   0.955    57    6.6    117.8 126.0   5:36 (244, 23)  
Jan.  4  18 29.31   24 25.6   0.981   0.794    47    5.9    122.4 133.2   5:38 (250, 14)  

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )


Still brightening very rapidly. It is observable until early February in the Northern Hemisphere, until mid January in Southern Hemisphere. 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)  
Dec. 28   1 22.47   13 35.3   0.799   1.446   108    8.3     78.0 261.9  18:53 (  0, 69)  
Jan.  4   0 47.61   12 16.7   0.817   1.306    92    7.9     69.1 260.9  18:31 ( 24, 66)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable in the good condition for a long time from winter to next spring. Strongly condensed and easy to see.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  11 54.95   46 16.6   1.496   2.074   111   10.5     13.8 103.9   5:30 (180, 79)  
Jan.  4  12  2.87   45 53.8   1.443   2.065   115   10.4     10.6 107.5   5:10 (180, 79)  

* 22P/Kopff


Not observable. 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)  
Dec. 28  19 12.66  -22  0.0   2.547   1.592    10   11.6     46.0  85.4  18:26 ( 69, -8)  
Jan.  4  19 35.58  -21 27.1   2.564   1.600     8   11.6     45.7  83.2  18:31 ( 71,-10)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28   9  7.50   -6  0.0   2.678   3.405   130   12.5     30.2 274.3   2:44 (  0, 49)  
Jan.  4   8 52.29   -5 38.0   2.553   3.366   140   12.3     34.9 276.7   2:01 (  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)  
Dec. 28  21  2.61  -19  5.9   2.227   1.552    36   13.2     47.9  65.2  18:26 ( 55, 13)  
Jan.  4  21 23.87  -16 40.5   2.255   1.555    34   13.2     48.2  63.9  18:31 ( 59, 13)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It was almost always at 12 mag in 2002. But this observable season will end soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  21  6.58  -15 22.2   6.520   5.783    38   13.8     11.0  70.5  18:26 ( 57, 16)  
Jan.  4  21 11.68  -14 55.9   6.585   5.782    32   13.8     11.4  70.3  18:31 ( 62, 12)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


Before the perihelion passage, it brightened rapidly and reached to 13 mag. Now appearing at dawn. Yuuji Ohshima observed it on Dec. 27, then it was 12.5 mag, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  16 13.09  -17 41.5   2.115   1.377    31   13.8     15.5 212.5   5:36 (300, 10)  
Jan.  4  16  8.52  -19 14.5   2.041   1.425    39   14.2     17.1 217.3   5:38 (307, 15)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


It was reported as about 12.5 mag visually and by photos in late December, much brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  22  3.92   -7 42.7   2.070   1.697    54   14.2     37.5  58.4  18:26 ( 51, 32)  
Jan.  4  22 19.21   -5 22.3   2.093   1.672    51   14.1     38.9  58.4  18:31 ( 57, 31)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Getting higher in the morning sky. 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)  
Dec. 28  17 44.49   21 34.1   5.852   5.217    46   14.1     15.0  65.4   5:36 (254, 15)  
Jan.  4  17 51.32   22 20.3   5.831   5.223    47   14.1     15.2  62.6   5:38 (256, 20)  

* 65P/Gunn


Appearing at dawn, and observed as bright as expected. 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)  
Dec. 28  15 52.80  -17  7.4   3.306   2.581    36   14.3     27.1 105.8   5:36 (303, 14)  
Jan.  4  16  5.54  -17 57.0   3.237   2.568    40   14.3     26.9 104.8   5:38 (307, 17)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It brightened about 1 mag after perihelion passage and reached to 12 mag. Now already getting fainter, but still bright as 14 mag. Only a few observations have been reported despite of the brightness.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  11 57.40   10 15.6   1.522   1.958   100   14.3      9.9  93.8   5:32 (  0, 65)  
Jan.  4  12  1.23   10 16.3   1.493   2.010   106   14.4      6.3  82.2   5:09 (  0, 65)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It brightened very rapidly since September and already reached to 14 mag. 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)  
Dec. 28   4  1.45   16 24.3   1.981   2.845   145   14.4     10.9 265.1  21:33 (  0, 71)  
Jan.  4   3 56.71   16 19.8   2.003   2.805   137   14.3      8.5 267.7  21:01 (  0, 71)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28  11  4.20    9 19.8   1.268   1.878   112   14.6     19.2  91.4   4:39 (  0, 64)  
Jan.  4  11 12.65    9 22.1   1.210   1.880   117   14.5     16.6  86.0   4:20 (  0, 64)  

* 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 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  13 52.96  -10 39.2   2.383   2.177    66   14.8     28.5 112.5   5:36 (325, 37)  
Jan.  4  14  5.34  -11 53.6   2.306   2.173    69   14.7     27.7 112.1   5:38 (330, 38)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


Although it will be at the peak in 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)  
Dec. 28   9 42.79   18 20.5   0.993   1.819   134   14.8     12.3  71.8   3:18 (  0, 73)  
Jan.  4   9 47.69   18 52.1   0.960   1.827   140   14.8      9.7  57.7   2:55 (  0, 74)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will keep 14-15 mag until the end of 2003.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  10  3.57   22 57.9   2.524   3.249   130   15.1     29.0 291.5   3:39 (  0, 78)  
Jan.  4   9 48.34   24 15.3   2.380   3.203   140   14.9     34.8 289.3   2:57 (  0, 79)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It became faint after the perihelion passage. It was reported as fainter than 15 mag recently, so fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  15  3.64   40 11.5   4.232   4.159    79   15.0      5.3  92.8   5:36 (248, 54)  
Jan.  4  15  6.54   40 13.4   4.201   4.192    82   15.1      4.2  78.7   5:38 (249, 59)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28   1 53.76  -40 29.3   6.077   6.159    90   15.3      5.6 310.6  19:26 (  0, 15)  
Jan.  4   1 51.50  -40  1.7   6.099   6.096    85   15.3      5.3 323.4  18:57 (  0, 15)  

* C/2002 U2 ( LINEAR )


The brightening pace is slow and it has been around 15.5 mag since late October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  16 42.27   38 29.1   1.201   1.210    66   15.3     34.1 158.9   5:36 (244, 35)  
Jan.  4  16 48.75   34 58.3   1.226   1.210    65   15.4     30.2 160.6   5:38 (250, 38)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. 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)  
Dec. 28  15 33.12  -24 54.5   3.689   2.995    39   15.4      9.8 177.1   5:36 (312, 12)  
Jan.  4  15 33.05  -26  3.8   3.623   3.028    46   15.4     10.0 184.7   5:38 (318, 15)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28  15 33.34   27 19.4   4.181   3.879    65   16.0      8.5  89.1   5:36 (264, 44)  
Jan.  4  15 37.65   27 24.1   4.033   3.804    69   15.8      8.0  81.1   5:38 (267, 50)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28   5  7.58   28 31.4   5.271   6.212   161   16.0     13.1 266.6  22:39 (  0, 84)  
Jan.  4   5  0.77   28 24.9   5.253   6.147   153   16.0     12.6 265.2  22:05 (  0, 83)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28  13 28.83   35 14.1   5.790   5.898    91   16.0      4.2  75.0   5:36 (263, 72)  
Jan.  4  13 30.86   35 23.7   5.733   5.926    96   16.0      3.4  61.2   5:38 (264, 78)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28   1 29.69   15 27.8   3.690   4.135   110   16.4     16.4 254.2  19:02 (  0, 70)  
Jan.  4   1 22.70   14 59.1   3.804   4.114   101   16.4     13.6 254.3  18:31 (  2, 70)  

* 46P/Wirtanen


After the outburst in late September, it has been fading more slowly than expected, and it kept 15 mag still in mid December. However, now it is extremely diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  13 45.49    1 24.2   1.882   1.842    72   16.4     21.6 100.1   5:36 (318, 49)  
Jan.  4  13 54.83    1  2.0   1.861   1.901    77   16.7     18.9  97.7   5:38 (325, 51)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28  20 36.42   73  2.1   3.798   4.066    98   16.5     20.4  99.7  18:26 (160, 41)  
Jan.  4  21  7.77   72 33.7   3.882   4.133    97   16.6     20.1 102.2  18:31 (159, 41)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


Appearing at dawn. It will be 14 mag from spring to summer. No observations have been reported since 2002 June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  14 44.94  -10 45.7   3.757   3.277    54   16.8     19.5 103.4   5:36 (312, 30)  
Jan.  4  14 53.90  -11 15.7   3.641   3.244    58   16.6     19.1 102.3   5:38 (317, 33)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28   9 37.31   12 13.9   4.759   5.482   133   17.1      6.6 340.2   3:13 (  0, 67)  
Jan.  4   9 35.98   12 59.3   4.700   5.500   141   17.1      7.5 333.9   2:44 (  0, 68)  

* 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)  
Dec. 28   5 36.75   67 45.3   1.952   2.736   134   17.4     51.6 273.2  23:04 (180, 57)  
Jan.  4   4 34.57   67  4.8   1.948   2.691   130   17.4     50.7 256.0  21:35 (180, 58)  

* D/1978 C2 ( Tritton )


The ephemeris says it is 17 mag at dusk in February. But it will not appear as predicted. It must have reached to 18 mag at meridian transit in the evening in 2002 autumn, but not recovered. It implies the comet is really fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28   0  5.41   10  1.5   1.275   1.600    89   17.6     27.5  75.1  18:26 ( 26, 63)  
Jan.  4   0 18.75   10 55.1   1.301   1.568    85   17.5     30.7  74.4  18:31 ( 36, 62)  

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )


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)  
Dec. 28   9 22.57   24 31.9   7.280   8.057   139   17.5      9.7 302.2   2:58 (  0, 79)  
Jan.  4   9 18.14   25  8.4   7.243   8.092   147   17.5     10.4 300.2   2:26 (  0, 80)  

* 2002 RP120


Asteroid with a cometary orbit. Fading now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28  23 27.12   22 27.2   2.498   2.624    86   17.5     10.1 276.2  18:26 ( 62, 67)  
Jan.  4  23 22.92   22 38.5   2.656   2.650    78   17.7      7.0 287.7  18:31 ( 73, 61)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1


Now it is much brighter than expected, as bright as 16 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28   5  1.69   35 33.6   2.313   3.246   157   17.7      7.8 258.7  22:34 (180, 89)  
Jan.  4   4 57.74   35 21.1   2.369   3.265   151   17.8      6.4 251.7  22:02 (180, 90)  

* P/2002 X2 ( NEAT )


New comet. It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Dec. 28   2 13.76   -3 10.5   2.051   2.599   113   17.9     14.3   3.3  19:46 (  0, 52)  
Jan.  4   2 14.78   -1 29.2   2.122   2.589   107   18.0     15.1  13.5  19:20 (  0, 54)  

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