Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Feb. 15: North)

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 Updated on February 18, 2003
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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 V1 ( NEAT )
It reached to -0.5 mag before the perihelion passage. It approaches to the sun down to 0.1 AU on Feb. 18. Now it is so bright as -4 mag in the SOHO images. It is not observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere, but it will appear in the evening low sky soon in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15  21 56.89   -1 38.5   0.969   0.194    11    0.9    138.5 222.6  19:06 ( 96,-12)  
Feb. 22  22 16.01  -21 53.7   1.039   0.209    11    1.3    197.5 123.1   5:14 (281,-23)

* 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 started to be observed since early February in the Southern Hemisphere, however, the comet faded rapidly from 5 mag to 7 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear again in March in the evening sky. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15  23 28.41  -42 54.7   0.890   0.595    36    7.4    155.4  98.2  19:06 ( 48,-16)  
Feb. 22   1  8.19  -42  5.6   0.863   0.770    48    8.4    156.1  78.4  19:12 ( 41, -5)

* 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. 15  17 44.14   58 33.4   0.893   1.300    87    7.9    123.7  68.4   5:21 (216, 55)  
Feb. 22  19 35.80   60 56.1   0.909   1.200    78    7.6    116.9  90.3   5:14 (216, 43)

* 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. 15  11 58.64   42 25.9   1.229   2.083   139   10.5     15.3 231.6   2:21 (180, 83)  
Feb. 22  11 50.37   41  9.7   1.220   2.098   143   10.5     18.9 229.4   1:46 (180, 84)

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )
It kept brightening rapidly since November and reached to 12 mag. Now it is passing the perihelion, but it may be brighter after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15   0  0.81    9 56.9   2.229   1.591    39   11.8     44.8  59.8  19:06 ( 88, 21)  
Feb. 22   0 19.40   12 33.7   2.255   1.591    37   11.8     45.2  60.5  19:12 ( 92, 20)

* 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. 15   6 58.04    0 51.5   2.375   3.153   135   12.2     39.7 288.1  21:16 (  0, 56)  
Feb. 22   6 41.35    2 17.3   2.444   3.121   125   12.2     35.7 289.8  20:32 (  0, 57)

* 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. 15  21 43.02  -14 49.5   2.696   1.710     2   12.3     42.1  73.1   5:21 (276,-17)  
Feb. 22  22  2.12  -13 21.4   2.720   1.737     5   12.5     41.2  72.0   5:14 (275,-16)

* 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. 15  14 49.57  -30 36.7   1.399   1.802    96   12.6     53.5 251.0   5:12 (  0, 24)  
Feb. 22  14 18.21  -32 26.9   1.304   1.873   108   12.6     65.4 257.6   4:14 (  0, 23)

* 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. 15  23 21.87   -0 47.4   2.502   1.663    25   13.6     45.4  60.0  19:06 ( 84,  7)  
Feb. 22  23 40.05    1 49.8   2.555   1.695    23   13.8     44.5  60.1  19:12 ( 89,  5)

* 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. 15  17 20.67  -21 43.1   2.755   2.503    64   13.8     24.2  99.7   5:21 (324, 24)  
Feb. 22  17 32.53  -22 10.0   2.666   2.494    69   13.7     23.5  99.1   5:14 (326, 25)

* 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. 15  21 44.44  -11 53.9   6.761   5.774     2   13.9     12.5  68.0   5:21 (274,-16)  
Feb. 22  21 49.96  -11 20.8   6.752   5.773     7   13.9     12.5  67.6   5:14 (275,-13)

* 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. 15  15 10.53  -17 56.0   1.844   2.177    95   14.0     19.4 110.5   5:21 (357, 37)  
Feb. 22  15 18.98  -18 41.3   1.770   2.181   100   13.9     17.3 110.9   5:13 (  0, 36)

* 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. 15  11 32.17   13 32.7   0.991   1.934   155   14.0      9.9 343.1   1:55 (  0, 68)  
Feb. 22  11 30.19   14 39.1   0.985   1.950   162   14.0     10.8 331.0   1:25 (  0, 70)

* 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. 15  18 30.26   28 50.3   5.625   5.271    64   14.1     16.0  44.0   5:21 (263, 45)  
Feb. 22  18 36.02   30 12.9   5.583   5.281    67   14.1     16.0  40.6   5:14 (262, 49)

* 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. 15   7 26.65   29 21.2   2.105   2.950   142   14.3     45.4 268.8  21:44 (  0, 84)  
Feb. 22   7  3.60   29  3.7   2.168   2.911   130   14.3     40.8 265.0  20:54 (  0, 84)

* 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. 15  15 52.29   30 53.4   3.073   3.334    96   14.7      9.0 358.1   5:21 (287, 78)  
Feb. 22  15 51.46   32  1.4   2.911   3.254   101   14.4     10.8 345.0   5:14 (292, 83)

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )
It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will not be observable until 2004 spring soon. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15   1 52.14  -36 29.1   6.168   5.711    58   15.0      6.3  32.6  19:06 ( 34,  8)  
Feb. 22   1 54.36  -35 52.5   6.159   5.646    54   15.0      6.7  40.0  19:12 ( 39,  5)

* 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. 15   3 56.40   17 26.5   2.281   2.560    94   15.3      8.9  68.2  19:06 ( 36, 69)  
Feb. 22   4  1.04   17 51.0   2.335   2.518    88   15.3     11.3  71.0  19:12 ( 51, 66)

* 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. 15  15  4.76   42 30.2   4.001   4.398   107   15.4      7.3 310.0   5:21 (187, 82)  
Feb. 22  15  0.60   43  3.1   3.976   4.434   111   15.4      8.8 301.9   4:55 (180, 82)

* 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. 15   9 47.27   23 19.7   0.954   1.934   169   15.5      6.2 317.4   0:10 (  0, 78)  
Feb. 22   9 45.29   23 46.3   0.990   1.961   164   15.8      4.5 311.1  23:36 (  0, 79)

* 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. 15  11 47.73   13 27.2   1.405   2.324   151   15.5     15.7 294.9   2:10 (  0, 68)  
Feb. 22  11 40.47   14 12.5   1.422   2.375   159   15.7     17.0 291.6   1:36 (  0, 69)

* 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. 15  16 59.28   19  7.2   1.192   1.394    78   15.6     20.3 195.7   5:21 (293, 59)  
Feb. 22  16 55.57   16 49.6   1.159   1.450    84   15.6     22.1 206.3   5:14 (304, 62)

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck
It will be 14 mag from spring to summer. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15  15 42.67  -13  2.9   2.897   3.051    89   15.8     14.6  93.6   5:21 (346, 41)  
Feb. 22  15 49.38  -13  7.3   2.772   3.020    94   15.7     13.4  91.5   5:14 (350, 41)

* 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. 15   4 30.48   27 27.8   5.428   5.751   104   15.8      5.8 257.7  19:06 ( 26, 82)  
Feb. 22   4 27.85   27 19.7   5.484   5.683    96   15.7      4.4 256.1  19:12 ( 59, 76)

* C/2002 J4 ( NEAT )
It will be observable at 14.5 mag for a long time from spring to autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates very low in the morning until spring. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15  17 52.68  -29  2.7   4.617   4.172    57   16.0     15.1 117.9   5:21 (322, 14)  
Feb. 22  17 59.71  -29 53.0   4.494   4.142    63   15.9     14.8 119.7   5:14 (325, 15)

* 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. 15  13 29.01   37 13.3   5.471   6.105   126   15.9      4.9 304.8   3:51 (180, 88)  
Feb. 22  13 26.31   37 32.1   5.451   6.136   130   15.9      5.7 296.2   3:21 (180, 87)

* C/2002 R3 ( LONEOS )
It will not be observable for some time after this. But it will appear at dawn again in June, and 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. 15   1  3.36   14  0.1   4.499   4.005    54   16.6      1.8 291.2  19:06 ( 82, 36)  
Feb. 22   1  2.84   14  6.5   4.593   3.990    47   16.6      1.3 335.7  19:12 ( 87, 29)

* 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. 15   4  8.09   -4 56.5   3.837   4.007    92   16.9     11.5  28.3  19:06 ( 15, 49)  
Feb. 22   4 10.99   -3 46.0   3.923   3.999    87   17.0     12.2  34.8  19:12 ( 26, 48)

* 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. 15   2  5.84   18  3.2   1.446   1.442    69   17.0     44.6  76.1  19:06 ( 75, 51)  
Feb. 22   2 27.59   19 15.6   1.473   1.433    67   17.0     46.0  77.3  19:12 ( 79, 49)

* 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. 15   9 20.77   18 14.4   4.640   5.617   170   17.1      9.5 322.1  23:39 (  0, 73)  
Feb. 22   9 17.99   19  5.5   4.686   5.638   162   17.2      9.0 322.7  23:09 (  0, 74)

* 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. 15  19  4.82   18 23.1   6.493   5.933    51   17.3      8.9  23.4   5:21 (270, 34)  
Feb. 22  19  6.40   19 22.5   6.415   5.920    56   17.3      9.3  18.0   5:14 (272, 38)

* 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. 15   8 47.01   28 25.2   7.379   8.304   158   17.6     10.4 290.9  23:06 (  0, 83)  
Feb. 22   8 41.97   28 49.7   7.463   8.340   150   17.7      9.8 289.6  22:33 (  0, 84)

* 90P/Gehrels 1
It did not begin to fade even after the perihelion passage, it kept 16 mag for a while. Now it is fading. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb. 15   4 57.30   33 43.6   2.918   3.393   110   17.7      6.2 109.0  19:17 (  0, 89)  
Feb. 22   5  1.08   33 30.1   3.033   3.416   104   17.9      7.8 103.5  19:12 ( 70, 86)

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