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

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Updated on March 12, 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 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 as expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  8   0 32.96  -28 12.2   1.298   0.662    30    6.0     96.2  86.1  19:54 ( 64, 12)  
Mar. 15   1 16.96  -26 49.9   1.459   0.845    34    7.2     74.1  78.9  19:44 ( 68, 16)  

* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


Getting more condensed. 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)  
Mar.  8  22 22.14   52 50.4   1.053   1.008    58    7.1     84.7 125.1   4:26 (226,-35)  
Mar. 15  23  5.03   47  0.7   1.157   0.920    49    7.0     70.6 133.9   4:33 (233,-35)  

* C/2002 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )


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.  8   3 32.75  -28 38.2   1.005   1.085    65    8.6    113.0  55.8  19:54 ( 85, 47)  
Mar. 15   4 14.31  -21 39.7   1.146   1.230    69    9.3     88.4  52.1  19:44 ( 97, 49)  

* 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.  8  11 31.75   37 36.6   1.234   2.137   147   10.6     23.9 221.1   0:32 (180, 17)  
Mar. 15  11 22.89   35 21.4   1.259   2.161   146   10.7     25.2 215.7  23:51 (180, 20)  

* 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.  8   0 58.09   17 38.2   2.314   1.601    34   12.0     45.7  62.4  19:54 (105,-10)  
Mar. 15   1 18.20   20  2.9   2.347   1.612    33   12.2     45.7  63.7  19:44 (107,-10)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in early 2003 and 2003 autumn. It was observed a bit brighter than this ephemeris recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  8   6 14.22    4 58.4   2.637   3.061   105   12.3     26.6 293.9  19:54 (163, 49)  
Mar. 15   6  3.83    6 10.8   2.751   3.033    96   12.3     22.3 296.4  19:44 (154, 45)  

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )


It has been observed as bright as 12.5 mag from January to early February. However, the brightness after that is uncertain.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  8  12 53.65  -33 39.3   1.198   2.020   134   12.7     84.4 273.5   1:55 (180, 89)  
Mar. 15  12  6.54  -32 14.2   1.203   2.095   144   12.9     85.4 281.9   0:41 (180, 87)  

* 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.  8  22 38.42  -10 17.9   2.766   1.796     9   12.8     39.3  70.3   4:26 (289, -8)  
Mar. 15  22 55.65   -8 44.5   2.788   1.828    12   13.0     38.3  69.6   4:33 (285, -6)  

* 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.  8  17 55.12  -22 57.5   2.485   2.479    78   13.5     21.6  98.4   4:26 (260, 56)  
Mar. 15  18  5.70  -23 19.0   2.394   2.472    82   13.4     20.5  98.5   4:33 (255, 61)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It was observed visually at around 13 mag these days.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  8  15 32.66  -19 58.9   1.630   2.194   111   13.8     12.4 113.6   4:26 (185, 75)  
Mar. 15  15 37.62  -20 31.3   1.564   2.202   116   13.7      9.6 116.9   4:09 (180, 76)  

* 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.  8  22  0.77  -10 13.5   6.703   5.770    18   13.8     12.2  66.7   4:26 (283, -1)  
Mar. 15  22  6.02   -9 39.7   6.663   5.769    23   13.8     11.9  66.2   4:33 (279,  5)  

* 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.  8  18 46.55   33 10.7   5.499   5.302    73   14.1     15.9  33.4   4:26 (220,  7)  
Mar. 15  18 51.20   34 44.9   5.458   5.313    76   14.1     15.7  29.7   4:33 (214, 10)  

* 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.  8  11 23.80   16 39.3   1.005   1.986   168   14.2     10.4 315.2   0:24 (180, 38)  
Mar. 15  11 20.31   17 24.7   1.031   2.007   164   14.3      8.8 309.0  23:48 (180, 38)  

* 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.  8   2  0.31  -34 43.6   6.118   5.515    48   14.8      7.6  52.5  19:54 ( 67, 31)  
Mar. 15   2  3.95  -34 12.2   6.084   5.449    46   14.8      8.1  57.7  19:44 ( 66, 28)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


Getting brighter more slowly than expected, and it is still 15 mag. It may become only 10 mag in autumn at best. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until July, when it may be still 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  8  15 44.92   34 45.0   2.598   3.092   110   15.3     15.8 324.4   4:26 (184, 20)  
Mar. 15  15 38.51   36 18.1   2.450   3.010   115   15.0     19.0 316.0   4:10 (180, 19)  

* 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.  8   6 26.51   27 50.5   2.357   2.838   108   15.1     29.8 258.0  19:54 (172, 27)  
Mar. 15   6 12.65   27  5.6   2.472   2.803    98   15.1     24.5 254.7  19:44 (164, 26)  

* 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 three 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.  8   4 13.81   18 46.0   2.440   2.435    77   15.2     15.7  74.7  19:54 (137, 24)  
Mar. 15   4 21.81   19 15.3   2.489   2.394    72   15.1     17.7  76.2  19:44 (136, 22)  

* 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.  8  16  0.91  -13  4.0   2.527   2.959   106   15.4     10.5  85.7   4:26 (202, 67)  
Mar. 15  16  5.54  -12 56.5   2.410   2.929   111   15.2      8.9  81.3   4:33 (183, 68)  

* 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.  8  14 48.72   44  2.1   3.945   4.508   118   15.6     11.5 288.2   3:48 (180, 11)  
Mar. 15  14 41.12   44 23.9   3.942   4.545   121   15.6     12.6 281.9   3:13 (180, 11)  

* 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.  8   4 24.76   27  7.6   5.599   5.548    81   15.7      1.7 248.4  19:54 (145, 18)  
Mar. 15   4 24.25   27  4.0   5.654   5.479    74   15.6      0.5 222.3  19:44 (141, 16)  

* 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.  8  18 12.93  -31 40.1   4.239   4.085    74   15.7     14.0 125.2   4:26 (277, 55)  
Mar. 15  18 18.99  -32 38.0   4.109   4.057    80   15.7     13.6 128.9   4:33 (275, 61)  

* 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.  8  16 41.10   11 59.2   1.083   1.575    98   15.7     30.4 223.2   4:26 (204, 40)  
Mar. 15  16 29.68    9 16.7   1.047   1.643   107   15.7     36.6 228.4   4:33 (190, 45)  

* 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.  8  13 19.20   38  0.5   5.443   6.198   136   16.0      7.0 282.0   2:19 (180, 17)  
Mar. 15  13 14.97   38  8.2   5.456   6.229   137   16.0      7.5 275.5   1:47 (180, 17)  

* 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.  8  11 24.69   15 28.4   1.496   2.478   169   16.1     16.7 285.1   0:25 (180, 40)  
Mar. 15  11 17.12   15 54.3   1.553   2.528   165   16.3     15.2 281.5  23:45 (180, 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)  
Mar.  8   9 43.42   24  3.8   1.093   2.022   151   16.4      0.5 166.5  22:40 (180, 31)  
Mar. 15   9 44.06   23 54.9   1.159   2.055   145   16.7      3.2 130.7  22:13 (180, 31)  

* 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.  8  19  8.44   21 35.0   6.241   5.896    65   17.2     10.1   6.5   4:26 (232, 13)  
Mar. 15  19  8.77   22 47.6   6.147   5.884    70   17.1     10.7   0.8   4:33 (225, 17)  

* 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.  8   9 13.21   20 38.9   4.821   5.681   147   17.3      7.4 326.6  22:09 (180, 34)  
Mar. 15   9 11.41   21 20.1   4.909   5.703   139   17.3      6.4 330.7  21:40 (180, 34)  

* 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.  8   8 32.83   29 29.4   7.677   8.411   135   17.8      8.2 287.2  21:29 (180, 25)  
Mar. 15   8 28.88   29 44.8   7.804   8.447   127   17.8      7.2 286.0  20:58 (180, 25)  

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