Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Feb. 8: South)

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Updated on February 8, 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.  8  22 34.21    4 44.1   0.953   0.443    26    3.9     73.0 245.7  20:35 ( 83,-18)  
Feb. 15  21 56.89   -1 38.5   0.969   0.194    11    0.9    138.5 222.6  20:25 ( 67,-25)  

* 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. In the Southern Hemisphere, it started to be observed in the low sky, around 5.5 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear again in March in the evening sky 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.  8  22  0.78  -37 32.6   0.986   0.405    23    5.2    145.2 119.0  20:35 ( 45,  4)  
Feb. 15  23 28.41  -42 54.7   0.890   0.595    36    5.7    155.4  98.2  20:25 ( 50, 18)  

* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


It brightened rapidly in January and already reached to 8 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.  8  16 16.94   51 34.9   0.927   1.400    94    8.3    117.7  52.1   3:52 (208, -6)  
Feb. 15  17 44.14   58 33.4   0.893   1.300    87    7.9    123.7  68.4   4:01 (208,-16)  

* 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.  8  12  5.33   43 24.2   1.248   2.072   135   10.5     11.4 231.1   2:55 (180, 12)  
Feb. 15  11 58.64   42 25.9   1.229   2.083   139   10.5     15.3 231.6   2:21 (180, 13)  

* 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.  8  23 42.71    7 19.1   2.204   1.595    40   12.1     44.2  59.2  20:35 ( 96, -5)  
Feb. 15   0  0.81    9 56.9   2.229   1.591    39   12.1     44.8  59.8  20:25 ( 98, -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)  
Feb.  8   7 16.48   -0 34.3   2.330   3.186   144   12.2     42.8 286.4  22:02 (180, 55)  
Feb. 15   6 58.04    0 51.5   2.375   3.153   135   12.2     39.7 288.1  21:16 (180, 54)  

* 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.  8  21 23.27  -16 13.5   2.672   1.686     1   12.2     42.9  74.3   3:52 (305,-17)  
Feb. 15  21 43.02  -14 49.5   2.696   1.710     2   12.3     42.1  73.1   4:01 (301,-15)  

* 28P/Neujmin 1


Although no observations had been reported since last July, Yuuji Ohshima observed it on Feb. 3 and confirmed that now it is bright as 14.4 mag. However, it will soon be too low to observe.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  8  23  3.30   -3 27.5   2.452   1.635    26   13.5     46.3  60.2  20:35 ( 81, -7)  
Feb. 15  23 21.87   -0 47.4   2.502   1.663    25   13.6     45.4  60.0  20:25 ( 83, -8)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


It was observed as bright as 12.5 mag in early January. It seems to keep 12.5 mag still in early February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  8  15 13.57  -28 31.9   1.509   1.732    85   13.7     43.1 245.0   3:52 (266, 61)  
Feb. 15  14 49.57  -30 36.7   1.399   1.802    96   13.8     53.5 251.0   4:01 (259, 74)  

* 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.  8  17  8.54  -21 13.4   2.842   2.512    60   13.9     24.9 100.4   3:52 (273, 35)  
Feb. 15  17 20.67  -21 43.1   2.755   2.503    64   13.8     24.2  99.7   4:01 (270, 40)  

* 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.  8  21 38.89  -12 26.5   6.758   5.775     4   13.9     12.5  68.4  20:35 ( 60,-18)  
Feb. 15  21 44.44  -11 53.9   6.761   5.774     2   13.9     12.5  68.0   4:01 (299,-17)  

* 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.  8  11 32.86   12 28.2   1.008   1.921   148   14.0      8.9   0.5   2:23 (180, 43)  
Feb. 15  11 32.17   13 32.7   0.991   1.934   155   14.0      9.9 343.1   1:55 (180, 42)  

* 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.  8  15  1.21  -17  6.3   1.919   2.173    91   14.1     21.2 110.4   3:52 (244, 58)  
Feb. 15  15 10.53  -17 56.0   1.844   2.177    95   14.0     19.4 110.5   4:01 (236, 63)  

* 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.  8  18 24.21   27 32.3   5.666   5.262    61   14.1     15.9  47.3   3:52 (242, -8)  
Feb. 15  18 30.26   28 50.3   5.625   5.271    64   14.1     16.0  44.0   4:01 (237, -4)  

* 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.  8   7 51.91   29 18.3   2.070   2.990   154   14.3     48.6 272.7  22:36 (180, 26)  
Feb. 15   7 26.65   29 21.2   2.105   2.950   142   14.3     45.4 268.8  21:44 (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.  8  15 51.87   29 55.1   3.236   3.413    91   14.9      7.8  13.2   3:52 (217, 14)  
Feb. 15  15 52.29   30 53.4   3.073   3.334    96   14.7      9.0 358.1   4:01 (210, 17)  

* 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.  8   1 50.46  -37  6.4   6.169   5.776    62   15.1      5.9  24.0  20:35 ( 69, 43)  
Feb. 15   1 52.14  -36 29.1   6.168   5.711    58   15.0      6.3  32.6  20:25 ( 69, 39)  

* 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.  8   9 49.44   22 42.6   0.929   1.909   170   15.3      7.3 324.9   0:40 (180, 32)  
Feb. 15   9 47.27   23 19.7   0.954   1.934   169   15.5      6.2 317.4   0:10 (180, 32)  

* 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.  8  15 17.61  -32 13.1   3.170   3.210    83   15.3     16.2 227.6   3:52 (274, 62)  
Feb. 15  15 10.05  -33 29.3   3.071   3.250    91   15.3     18.7 234.6   4:01 (272, 71)  

* 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.  8   3 53.01   17  5.1   2.226   2.601   100   15.3      6.3  63.2  20:35 (148, 31)  
Feb. 15   3 56.40   17 26.5   2.281   2.560    94   15.3      8.9  68.2  20:25 (144, 29)  

* 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.  8  15  7.72   41 57.7   4.030   4.362   103   15.3      5.9 320.2   3:52 (203,  8)  
Feb. 15  15  4.76   42 30.2   4.001   4.398   107   15.4      7.3 310.0   4:01 (196, 10)  

* 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.  8  11 53.98   12 41.2   1.400   2.272   143   15.4     13.4 298.9   2:44 (180, 42)  
Feb. 15  11 47.73   13 27.2   1.405   2.324   151   15.5     15.7 294.9   2:10 (180, 42)  

* 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.  8  17  1.09   21 25.0   1.219   1.345    74   15.6     20.0 185.5   3:52 (235, 10)  
Feb. 15  16 59.28   19  7.2   1.192   1.394    78   15.6     20.3 195.7   4:01 (230, 18)  

* 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.  8   4 33.86   27 37.0   5.375   5.818   112   15.8      7.2 259.1  20:35 (162, 25)  
Feb. 15   4 30.48   27 27.8   5.428   5.751   104   15.8      5.8 257.7  20:25 (157, 24)  

* 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.  8  15 35.44  -12 54.5   3.023   3.083    84   16.0     15.7  95.5   3:52 (247, 49)  
Feb. 15  15 42.67  -13  2.9   2.897   3.051    89   15.8     14.6  93.6   4:01 (240, 55)  

* 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.  8  13 31.05   36 53.0   5.499   6.075   121   15.9      4.2 315.4   3:52 (186, 18)  
Feb. 15  13 29.01   37 13.3   5.471   6.105   126   15.9      4.9 304.8   3:51 (180, 18)  

* 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.  8   1  4.46   13 57.7   4.395   4.022    61   16.6      3.0 270.8  20:35 (113,  7)  
Feb. 15   1  3.36   14  0.1   4.499   4.005    54   16.6      1.8 291.2  20:25 (110,  3)  

* 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.  8   4  5.91   -6  7.0   3.753   4.014    98   16.9     10.8  20.9  20:35 (135, 53)  
Feb. 15   4  8.09   -4 56.5   3.837   4.007    92   16.9     11.5  28.3  20:25 (131, 49)  

* 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.  8   1 45.09   16 47.7   1.421   1.454    71   17.0     42.9  75.2  20:35 (122, 13)  
Feb. 15   2  5.84   18  3.2   1.446   1.442    69   17.0     44.6  76.1  20:25 (123, 12)  

* 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.  8   9 23.68   17 21.3   4.611   5.597   177   17.1      9.7 322.1   0:14 (180, 38)  
Feb. 15   9 20.77   18 14.4   4.640   5.617   170   17.1      9.5 322.1  23:39 (180, 37)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


As it is a very far object, it keeps 17 mag until 2004 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  8  19  2.94   17 28.4   6.563   5.946    47   17.3      8.5  28.8   3:52 (256,-10)  
Feb. 15  19  4.82   18 23.1   6.493   5.933    51   17.3      8.9  23.4   4:01 (250, -4)  

* 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.  8   4 54.52   33 58.5   2.808   3.370   116   17.6      4.6 119.0  20:35 (168, 20)  
Feb. 15   4 57.30   33 43.6   2.918   3.393   110   17.7      6.2 109.0  20:25 (165, 19)  

* 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.  8   8 52.26   27 57.7   7.311   8.269   165   17.6     10.9 292.3  23:38 (180, 27)  
Feb. 15   8 47.01   28 25.2   7.379   8.304   158   17.6     10.4 290.9  23:06 (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.  8   2  5.99   51 52.2   2.271   2.481    90   17.8     28.2 207.0  20:35 (149, -9)  
Feb. 15   1 58.19   49  6.8   2.372   2.442    82   17.8     23.7 201.5  20:25 (144,-10)  

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