Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Mar. 1: North)

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Updated on March 1, 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 approached to the sun down to 0.1 AU on Feb. 18, and reached to -2 mag in the SOHO images. It is not observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it began to be observed in late February, when it faded from 2.5 to 4.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1  23 33.59  -27 52.7   1.152   0.455    22    4.4    131.1  97.9  19:18 ( 68,-19)  
Mar.  8   0 32.96  -28 12.2   1.298   0.662    30    6.0     96.2  86.1  19:24 ( 65,-14)  

* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


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. It passes in front of wide nebula IC 1396 on Mar. 2.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1  21 15.08   58 10.4   0.966   1.102    68    7.3    101.5 111.2   5:06 (218, 33)  
Mar.  8  22 22.14   52 50.4   1.053   1.008    58    7.1     84.7 125.1   4:57 (221, 24)  

* C/2002 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )


It started to be observed since early February in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it is fading slowly, like it brightened slowly before the perihelion passage. It is appearing in the evening sky also in the Northern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1   2 32.76  -36 12.5   0.905   0.932    58    8.0    139.0  63.7  19:18 ( 38,  6)  
Mar.  8   3 32.75  -28 38.2   1.005   1.085    65    8.6    113.0  55.8  19:24 ( 38, 15)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable in the good condition for a long time until spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1  11 41.15   39 33.4   1.221   2.116   145   10.5     21.8 225.8   1:09 (180, 85)  
Mar.  8  11 31.75   37 36.6   1.234   2.137   147   10.6     23.9 221.1   0:32 (180, 87)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   0 38.49   15  7.9   2.283   1.594    36   11.9     45.6  61.3  19:18 ( 96, 18)  
Mar.  8   0 58.09   17 38.2   2.314   1.601    34   12.0     45.7  62.4  19:24 (100, 16)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   6 26.71    3 40.3   2.533   3.091   115   12.2     31.2 291.7  19:50 (  0, 59)  
Mar.  8   6 14.22    4 58.4   2.637   3.061   105   12.3     26.6 293.9  19:24 (  7, 60)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  13 39.05  -33 37.4   1.234   1.946   121   12.6     76.6 265.2   3:08 (  0, 21)  
Mar.  8  12 53.65  -33 39.3   1.198   2.020   134   12.7     84.4 273.5   1:55 (  0, 21)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  22 20.58  -11 50.5   2.743   1.766     7   12.7     40.3  71.0   5:06 (274,-15)  
Mar.  8  22 38.42  -10 17.9   2.766   1.796     9   12.8     39.3  70.3   4:57 (273,-14)  

* 65P/Gunn


It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August. It passes in front of M20 on Mar. 12.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1  17 44.03  -22 34.7   2.576   2.486    73   13.6     22.6  98.7   5:06 (328, 25)  
Mar.  8  17 55.12  -22 57.5   2.485   2.479    78   13.5     21.6  98.4   4:57 (330, 26)  

* 116P/Wild 4


Although it was expected to be 11 mag, the brightening pace has been very slow in this return, and it is around 14 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1  15 26.41  -19 22.2   1.698   2.187   105   13.8     14.9 111.8   4:53 (  0, 36)  
Mar.  8  15 32.66  -19 58.9   1.630   2.194   111   13.8     12.4 113.6   4:32 (  0, 35)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  21 55.41  -10 47.3   6.733   5.771    12   13.9     12.4  67.1   5:06 (277, -9)  
Mar.  8  22  0.77  -10 13.5   6.703   5.770    18   13.8     12.2  66.7   4:57 (278, -6)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  15 49.12   33 18.9   2.752   3.174   106   14.2     13.1 333.9   5:06 (310, 87)  
Mar.  8  15 44.92   34 45.0   2.598   3.092   110   14.0     15.8 324.4   4:44 (  0, 90)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It is observed around 13.5 mag visually, a bit brighter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1  11 27.26   15 42.8   0.989   1.967   167   14.1     11.0 322.2   0:55 (  0, 71)  
Mar.  8  11 23.80   16 39.3   1.005   1.986   168   14.2     10.4 315.2   0:24 (  0, 72)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  18 41.47   31 39.8   5.541   5.291    70   14.1     15.9  37.0   5:06 (262, 52)  
Mar.  8  18 46.55   33 10.7   5.499   5.302    73   14.1     15.9  33.4   4:57 (261, 55)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   6 43.46   28 31.5   2.254   2.874   119   14.3     35.3 261.4  20:07 (  0, 83)  
Mar.  8   6 26.51   27 50.5   2.357   2.838   108   14.4     29.8 258.0  19:24 (  3, 83)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1   1 57.10  -35 17.2   6.143   5.581    51   14.9      7.2  46.6  19:18 ( 45,  1)  
Mar.  8   2  0.31  -34 43.6   6.118   5.515    48   14.8      7.6  52.5  19:24 ( 49, -3)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   4  6.87   18 17.7   2.389   2.477    83   15.2     13.6  73.1  19:18 ( 62, 61)  
Mar.  8   4 13.81   18 46.0   2.440   2.435    77   15.2     15.7  74.7  19:24 ( 70, 56)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  15 55.49  -13  7.7   2.648   2.989   100   15.5     12.1  88.9   5:06 (355, 42)  
Mar.  8  16  0.91  -13  4.0   2.527   2.959   106   15.4     10.5  85.7   4:57 (359, 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)  
Mar.  1  14 55.25   43 34.5   3.957   4.471   115   15.5     10.2 294.9   4:22 (180, 81)  
Mar.  8  14 48.72   44  2.1   3.945   4.508   118   15.6     11.5 288.2   3:48 (180, 81)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  16 49.63   14 28.5   1.122   1.510    91   15.6     25.4 215.8   5:06 (318, 64)  
Mar.  8  16 41.10   11 59.2   1.083   1.575    98   15.7     30.4 223.2   4:57 (334, 65)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   4 25.95   27 12.9   5.542   5.616    89   15.7      3.1 253.6  19:18 ( 74, 70)  
Mar.  8   4 24.76   27  7.6   5.599   5.548    81   15.7      1.7 248.4  19:24 ( 82, 63)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  18  6.48  -30 45.3   4.368   4.113    68   15.8     14.4 122.2   5:06 (328, 16)  
Mar.  8  18 12.93  -31 40.1   4.239   4.085    74   15.7     14.0 125.2   4:57 (331, 16)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  11 32.63   14 53.8   1.452   2.427   166   15.9     17.4 288.4   1:00 (  0, 70)  
Mar.  8  11 24.69   15 28.4   1.496   2.478   169   16.1     16.7 285.1   0:25 (  0, 70)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  13 23.02   37 48.2   5.442   6.167   133   15.9      6.4 288.8   2:50 (180, 87)  
Mar.  8  13 19.20   38  0.5   5.443   6.198   136   16.0      7.0 282.0   2:19 (180, 87)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


It keeps observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. It will be only within 3 arcmin from P/2001 YX127 ( LINEAR ) on Mar. 5.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  1   9 43.90   24  1.2   1.037   1.990   158   16.0      2.3 303.1  23:08 (  0, 79)  
Mar.  8   9 43.42   24  3.8   1.093   2.022   151   16.4      0.5 166.5  22:40 (  0, 79)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1  19  7.63   20 26.5   6.330   5.908    60   17.2      9.7  12.3   5:06 (273, 42)  
Mar.  8  19  8.44   21 35.0   6.241   5.896    65   17.2     10.1   6.5   4:57 (275, 46)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   9 15.44   19 53.9   4.746   5.660   154   17.2      8.3 324.1  22:39 (  0, 75)  
Mar.  8   9 13.21   20 38.9   4.821   5.681   147   17.3      7.4 326.6  22:09 (  0, 76)  

* 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)  
Mar.  1   8 37.21   29 11.1   7.563   8.375   142   17.7      9.0 288.4  22:01 (  0, 84)  
Mar.  8   8 32.83   29 29.4   7.677   8.411   135   17.8      8.2 287.2  21:29 (  0, 84)  

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