Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Feb. 1: South)

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Updated on February 2, 2003
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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 V1 ( NEAT )


It had been brightening extremely rapidly for about two months since discovery. But now it is brightening in normal pace. It is observable until early February in the Northern Hemisphere in the evening sky. It will approach to the sun down to 0.1 AU on Feb. 18. It will not be observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere, but it will appear at dusk at 4 mag in March in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  23  1.98    7 13.1   0.936   0.651    39    5.3     56.1 254.1  20:43 ( 92,-10)  
Feb.  8  22 34.21    4 44.1   0.953   0.443    26    3.9     73.0 245.7  20:35 ( 83,-18)  

* C/2002 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )


It only brightened to 6 mag, and became too close to the sun to observe. In the SOHO images, it brightened after the perihelion passage and two broad tails were visible. It will appear at dusk soon in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, in March at 7 mag. Then it will fade out slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  20 58.44  -26 31.8   1.129   0.223     9    4.3    157.4 142.2  20:43 ( 46,-10)  
Feb.  8  22  0.78  -37 32.6   0.986   0.405    23    5.2    145.2 119.0  20:35 ( 45,  4)  

* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


It brightened rapidly in January and already reached to 9 mag. It is a widely diffused object. It will reach to 6.5 mag in March and April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until late April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will not be observable until May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  15 19.70   43  4.1   1.009   1.501    97    8.8    101.8  44.3   3:42 (210,  3)  
Feb.  8  16 16.94   51 34.9   0.927   1.400    94    8.3    117.7  52.1   3:52 (208, -6)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable in the good condition for a long time until spring. Strongly condensed and easy to see.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  12  9.90   44  7.9   1.275   2.064   131   10.5      7.5 224.0   3:27 (180, 11)  
Feb.  8  12  5.33   43 24.2   1.248   2.072   135   10.5     11.4 231.1   2:55 (180, 12)  

* 22P/Kopff


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in 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)  
Feb.  1  21  2.88  -17 32.1   2.648   1.663     1   12.1     43.7  75.8  20:43 ( 54,-17)  
Feb.  8  21 23.27  -16 13.5   2.672   1.686     1   12.2     42.9  74.3   3:52 (305,-17)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


It brightened suddenly up to 12.5 mag visually and by photos in late December.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  23 25.08    4 41.6   2.181   1.604    42   12.1     43.4  58.9  20:43 ( 94, -3)  
Feb.  8  23 42.71    7 19.1   2.204   1.595    40   12.1     44.2  59.2  20:35 ( 96, -5)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   7 36.15   -1 56.3   2.314   3.220   152   12.2     44.4 284.7  22:49 (180, 57)  
Feb.  8   7 16.48   -0 34.3   2.330   3.186   144   12.2     42.8 286.4  22:02 (180, 55)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1  22 44.32   -6  9.1   2.405   1.611    28   13.5     47.0  60.5  20:43 ( 79, -5)  
Feb.  8  23  3.30   -3 27.5   2.452   1.635    26   13.5     46.3  60.2  20:35 ( 81, -7)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


It was observed as bright as 12.5 mag in early January. But it faded out in late January, and became too faint to see visually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  15 31.58  -26 26.7   1.625   1.664    74   13.5     34.5 239.3   3:42 (271, 49)  
Feb.  8  15 13.57  -28 31.9   1.509   1.732    85   13.7     43.1 245.0   3:52 (266, 61)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Not observable. It will be obervable again in April or May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  21 33.34  -12 58.3   6.745   5.777     9   13.9     12.4  68.8  20:43 ( 62,-15)  
Feb.  8  21 38.89  -12 26.5   6.758   5.775     4   13.9     12.5  68.4  20:35 ( 60,-18)  

* 65P/Gunn


It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  16 56.18  -20 40.8   2.927   2.522    56   14.0     25.4 101.2   3:42 (276, 29)  
Feb.  8  17  8.54  -21 13.4   2.842   2.512    60   13.9     24.9 100.4   3:52 (273, 35)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It reached to 14 mag by CCD, a bit brighter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  11 32.03   11 29.6   1.033   1.908   141   14.0      8.5  23.8   2:49 (180, 44)  
Feb.  8  11 32.86   12 28.2   1.008   1.921   148   14.0      8.9   0.5   2:23 (180, 43)  

* 116P/Wild 4


Although it was expected to be 11 mag, the brightening pace is very slow in this return. It is still 14.5 mag. It will be 13 mag at best in spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  14 51.12  -16 12.3   1.996   2.171    86   14.2     22.9 110.6   3:42 (249, 52)  
Feb.  8  15  1.21  -17  6.3   1.919   2.173    91   14.1     21.2 110.4   3:52 (244, 58)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable in good condition at 14-15 mag until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  18 17.93   26 19.3   5.705   5.253    58   14.1     15.9  50.6   3:42 (247,-13)  
Feb.  8  18 24.21   27 32.3   5.666   5.262    61   14.1     15.9  47.3   3:52 (242, -8)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Feb.  1   8 18.22   28 51.6   2.067   3.031   165   14.4     49.8 276.6  23:30 (180, 26)  
Feb.  8   7 51.91   29 18.3   2.070   2.990   154   14.3     48.6 272.7  22:36 (180, 26)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


It will reach to 7 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until July, when it reaches to 10 mag. After that, only southern people can observe it until December, when it fades to 9 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  15 50.43   29  6.6   3.400   3.492    87   15.1      7.2  29.6   3:42 (224, 10)  
Feb.  8  15 51.87   29 55.1   3.236   3.413    91   14.9      7.8  13.2   3:52 (217, 14)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   1 49.36  -37 43.8   6.164   5.841    66   15.1      5.5  14.0  20:43 ( 70, 46)  
Feb.  8   1 50.46  -37  6.4   6.169   5.776    62   15.1      5.9  24.0  20:35 ( 69, 43)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


It keeps observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1   9 51.34   21 57.6   0.915   1.887   166   15.1      7.5 335.2   1:09 (180, 33)  
Feb.  8   9 49.44   22 42.6   0.929   1.909   170   15.3      7.3 324.9   0:40 (180, 32)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It keeps good condition until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  11 58.87   11 57.6   1.405   2.220   135   15.2     10.4 304.5   3:16 (180, 43)  
Feb.  8  11 53.98   12 41.2   1.400   2.272   143   15.4     13.4 298.9   2:44 (180, 42)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It became a bit fainter after the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  15  9.53   41 27.3   4.063   4.327    98   15.3      4.6 334.2   3:42 (210,  5)  
Feb.  8  15  7.72   41 57.7   4.030   4.362   103   15.3      5.9 320.2   3:52 (203,  8)  

* C/2001 N2 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Feb.  1  15 23.37  -30 56.7   3.270   3.172    75   15.3     14.2 219.8   3:42 (277, 53)  
Feb.  8  15 17.61  -32 13.1   3.170   3.210    83   15.3     16.2 227.6   3:52 (274, 62)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It had brightened very rapidly since September and reached to 15 mag in late November. On the contrary, it has been at 15.5 mag for two months after that. It is only observable until 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)  
Feb.  1   3 50.96   16 47.2   2.173   2.642   107   15.4      3.6  51.0  20:43 (152, 33)  
Feb.  8   3 53.01   17  5.1   2.226   2.601   100   15.3      6.3  63.2  20:35 (148, 31)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1  17  1.27   23 46.8   1.239   1.301    70   15.5     20.7 176.9   3:42 (239,  2)  
Feb.  8  17  1.09   21 25.0   1.219   1.345    74   15.6     20.0 185.5   3:52 (235, 10)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   4 37.97   27 47.0   5.329   5.885   120   15.8      8.6 260.3  20:43 (167, 26)  
Feb.  8   4 33.86   27 37.0   5.375   5.818   112   15.8      7.2 259.1  20:35 (162, 25)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It keeps 16 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  13 32.40   36 32.2   5.535   6.045   116   16.0      3.4 329.7   3:42 (194, 17)  
Feb.  8  13 31.05   36 53.0   5.499   6.075   121   15.9      4.2 315.4   3:52 (186, 18)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


It will be 14 mag from spring to summer. No observations have been reported since 2002 June, so the current brightness is uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1  15 27.76  -12 42.2   3.150   3.114    78   16.1     16.6  97.1   3:42 (253, 43)  
Feb.  8  15 35.44  -12 54.5   3.023   3.083    84   16.0     15.7  95.5   3:52 (247, 49)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   1  6.26   13 59.7   4.284   4.039    69   16.6      4.6 262.2  20:43 (116, 11)  
Feb.  8   1  4.46   13 57.7   4.395   4.022    61   16.6      3.0 270.8  20:35 (113,  7)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable at 16.5 mag in this winter and in next winter.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1   4  4.51   -7 16.9   3.671   4.022   103   16.9     10.1  12.2  20:43 (140, 56)  
Feb.  8   4  5.91   -6  7.0   3.753   4.014    98   16.9     10.8  20.9  20:35 (135, 53)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   1 25.41   15 31.4   1.397   1.470    73   17.1     40.9  74.5  20:43 (120, 14)  
Feb.  8   1 45.09   16 47.7   1.421   1.454    71   17.0     42.9  75.2  20:35 (122, 13)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   9 26.58   16 27.1   4.598   5.576   172   17.1      9.8 322.8   0:45 (180, 39)  
Feb.  8   9 23.68   17 21.3   4.611   5.597   177   17.1      9.7 322.1   0:14 (180, 38)  

* 90P/Gehrels 1


It did not begin to fade even after the perihelion passage, it kept 16 mag for a while. Now it has already begun to fade out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  1   4 52.83   34 14.6   2.703   3.348   123   17.4      3.1 140.2  20:43 (172, 20)  
Feb.  8   4 54.52   33 58.5   2.808   3.370   116   17.6      4.6 119.0  20:35 (168, 20)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   8 57.63   27 27.5   7.262   8.233   169   17.6     11.2 293.7   0:16 (180, 28)  
Feb.  8   8 52.26   27 57.7   7.311   8.269   165   17.6     10.9 292.3  23:38 (180, 27)  

* 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)  
Feb.  1   2 18.02   54 58.5   2.176   2.521    98   17.7     33.3 213.2  20:43 (154, -9)  
Feb.  8   2  5.99   51 52.2   2.271   2.481    90   17.8     28.2 207.0  20:35 (149, -9)  

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