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

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 Updated on March 15, 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 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )
Getting more condensed. It will reach to 5.5 mag in March and April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until late April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is not observable until May. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15  23  5.03   47  0.8   1.157   0.920    49    6.3     70.6 133.9   4:47 (224, 18)  
Mar. 22  23 33.82   41 24.9   1.265   0.841    41    6.0     60.5 140.0   4:37 (228, 13)

* 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. It is getting fainter as expected, 5.3 mag on Mar. 8. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15   1 16.96  -26 49.9   1.459   0.845    34    7.2     74.1  78.9  19:30 ( 65,-12)  
Mar. 22   1 50.39  -25  1.2   1.626   1.012    36    8.1     59.3  74.7  19:37 ( 67,-11)

* C/2002 X5 ( Kudo-Fujikawa )
Now it is fading slowly, like it brightened slowly before the perihelion passage. However, some reported it suddenly became not seen visually in mid March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15   4 14.35  -21 38.4   1.146   1.230    69    9.3     88.4  52.1  19:30 ( 41, 22)  
Mar. 22   4 44.46  -15 55.4   1.313   1.368    71    9.9     69.2  51.1  19:37 ( 46, 25)

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )
It keeps 11 mag and the good condition until April. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15  11 22.89   35 21.4   1.259   2.161   146   10.7     25.2 215.7  23:51 (180, 90)  
Mar. 22  11 15.12   32 51.6   1.297   2.188   144   10.8     25.6 209.9  23:15 (  0, 88)

* 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. 15   6  3.83    6 10.8   2.751   3.033    96   11.9     22.3 296.4  19:30 ( 28, 58)  
Mar. 22   5 55.38    7 17.2   2.872   3.006    87   11.9     18.4 299.4  19:37 ( 46, 54)

* 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. 15   1 18.20   20  2.9   2.347   1.612    33   12.2     45.7  63.7  19:30 (104, 15)  
Mar. 22   1 38.80   22 20.3   2.384   1.627    31   12.4     45.5  65.1  19:37 (108, 14)

* 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. 15  22 55.65   -8 44.5   2.788   1.828    12   13.0     38.3  69.6   4:47 (272,-13)  
Mar. 22  23 12.30   -7 11.4   2.807   1.862    14   13.2     37.2  69.2   4:37 (270,-12)

* 30P/Reinmuth 1
It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage. Not it is observed around 13 mag visually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15  11 20.31   17 24.7   1.031   2.007   164   13.1      8.8 309.0  23:48 (  0, 72)  
Mar. 22  11 17.23   17 56.4   1.069   2.029   158   13.3      6.6 302.0  23:18 (  0, 73)

* 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)  
Mar. 15  18  5.70  -23 19.0   2.394   2.472    82   13.4     20.5  98.5   4:47 (332, 26)  
Mar. 22  18 15.71  -23 39.7   2.303   2.466    87   13.3     19.3  98.9   4:37 (334, 27)

* 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. 15  15 37.62  -20 31.3   1.564   2.202   116   13.7      9.6 116.9   4:09 (  0, 34)  
Mar. 22  15 41.15  -20 59.6   1.504   2.211   123   13.6      6.7 123.8   3:45 (  0, 34)

* 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. 15  22  6.02   -9 39.7   6.663   5.769    23   13.8     11.9  66.2   4:47 (279, -4)  
Mar. 22  22 11.11   -9  5.9   6.614   5.767    29   13.8     11.6  65.7   4:37 (281, -1)

* 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. 15  18 51.20   34 44.9   5.458   5.313    76   14.1     15.7  29.7   4:47 (259, 58)  
Mar. 22  18 55.39   36 21.8   5.418   5.325    79   14.1     15.6  25.8   4:37 (257, 61)

* C/2002 Q5 ( LINEAR )
It has been observed as bright as 12.5 mag from January to mid February. However, it seems to start fading rapidly in March. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15  12  6.54  -32 14.2   1.203   2.095   144   14.5     85.4 281.9   0:41 (  0, 23)  
Mar. 22  11 23.18  -29 33.5   1.254   2.171   149   15.1     79.3 289.4  23:21 (  0, 26)

* 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. 15   2  3.95  -34 12.2   6.084   5.449    46   14.8      8.1  57.7  19:30 ( 54, -8)  
Mar. 22   2  7.98  -33 43.4   6.042   5.383    44   14.7      8.5  62.6  19:37 ( 58,-13)

* 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. 15  15 38.51   36 18.1   2.450   3.010   115   15.0     19.0 316.0   4:10 (180, 89)  
Mar. 22  15 29.47   37 55.2   2.311   2.928   119   14.8     22.6 308.3   3:34 (180, 87)

* 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. 15  16  5.54  -12 56.5   2.410   2.929   111   15.2      8.9  81.3   4:37 (  0, 42)  
Mar. 22  16  9.32  -12 45.3   2.298   2.900   117   15.1      7.2  75.0   4:13 (  0, 42)

* 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. 15   4 21.81   19 15.3   2.489   2.394    72   15.1     17.7  76.2  19:30 ( 76, 52)  
Mar. 22   4 30.79   19 44.7   2.534   2.353    68   15.1     19.5  77.6  19:37 ( 82, 47)

* 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. 15   6 12.65   27  5.6   2.472   2.803    98   15.1     24.5 254.7  19:30 ( 56, 77)  
Mar. 22   6  1.59   26 20.3   2.594   2.769    89   15.2     19.9 251.3  19:37 ( 73, 68)

* 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. 15  18 18.99  -32 38.0   4.109   4.057    80   15.7     13.6 128.9   4:47 (333, 16)  
Mar. 22  18 24.62  -33 39.3   3.979   4.030    85   15.6     13.2 133.3   4:37 (336, 17)

* 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. 15   4 24.25   27  4.0   5.654   5.479    74   15.6      0.5 222.2  19:30 ( 88, 56)  
Mar. 22   4 24.37   27  2.0   5.705   5.410    67   15.6      0.8 102.0  19:37 ( 92, 49)

* 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. 15  14 41.12   44 23.9   3.942   4.545   121   15.6     12.6 281.9   3:13 (180, 81)  
Mar. 22  14 32.60   44 37.7   3.949   4.583   124   15.7     13.6 275.7   2:37 (180, 80)

* 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. 15  13 14.97   38  8.2   5.456   6.229   137   16.0      7.5 275.5   1:47 (180, 87)  
Mar. 22  13 10.44   38 10.3   5.480   6.261   138   16.0      7.8 269.2   1:15 (180, 87)

* 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. 15  11 17.12   15 54.3   1.553   2.528   165   16.3     15.2 281.5  23:45 (  0, 71)  
Mar. 22  11 10.31   16 10.4   1.624   2.579   158   16.5     13.1 277.1  23:11 (  0, 71)

* 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. 15   9 44.06   23 54.9   1.159   2.055   145   16.7      3.2 130.7  22:13 (  0, 79)  
Mar. 22   9 45.88   23 35.4   1.234   2.090   138   17.1      5.9 126.4  21:47 (  0, 79)

* C/2002 U2 ( LINEAR )
It is fading rapidly after the perihelion passage. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15  16 29.68    9 16.7   1.047   1.643   107   16.9     36.6 228.4   4:47 (352, 64)  
Mar. 22  16 15.22    6 17.2   1.017   1.715   116   17.1     43.4 231.7   4:20 (  0, 61)

* 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. 15  19  8.77   22 47.6   6.147   5.884    70   17.1     10.7   0.8   4:47 (276, 51)  
Mar. 22  19  8.56   24  4.0   6.051   5.873    74   17.1     11.2 355.0   4:37 (277, 55)

* 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. 15   9 11.41   21 20.1   4.909   5.703   139   17.3      6.4 330.7  21:40 (  0, 76)  
Mar. 22   9 10.08   21 57.1   5.008   5.726   132   17.4      5.4 336.9  21:11 (  0, 77)

* C/2001 B2 ( NEAT )
It is getting fainter gradually. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar. 15   8 28.88   29 44.8   7.804   8.447   127   17.8      7.2 286.0  20:58 (  0, 85)  
Mar. 22   8 25.40   29 57.3   7.941   8.483   120   17.8      6.2 285.0  20:27 (  0, 85)

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