Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Sept. 20: North)

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Updated on September 24, 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 O7 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until December when it appears in the evening sky at 11-12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  10 50.07  -26 38.3   1.598   0.904    31   10.2     45.7 182.3   4:21 (288,-22)  
Sept.27  10 49.15  -32 19.1   1.485   0.907    36   10.0     52.1 181.8   4:26 (297,-18)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition until that time. On the other hand, in the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until that time. It is getting brighter as expected until late July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   4 38.48  -58  6.1   3.205   3.524   100   11.5     24.1 174.3   4:21 (357, -3)  
Sept.27   4 39.83  -60 55.6   3.131   3.446    99   11.4     24.4 178.8   4:19 (  0, -6)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It is observable around 11 mag in good condition until November. After December, it will fade out gradually while getting lower in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   5  5.67   18  5.0   2.550   2.891    99   11.5     22.8 272.1   4:21 (322, 70)  
Sept.27   4 53.20   18  8.6   2.421   2.910   109   11.4     28.1 270.5   4:26 (355, 73)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring. It is getting brighter as expected, 12 mag in mid September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   5 39.65   32 41.7   3.288   3.453    90   12.5      5.3 334.3   4:21 (271, 72)  
Sept.27   5 37.64   33 17.3   3.080   3.370    98   12.2      7.3 317.1   4:26 (276, 79)  

* (3200) Phaethon


It passes the perihelion on Sept. 25 and reaches to 12 mag, however, too close to the sun to observe. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable after mid October. But it will be fainter than 16 mag at that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  11  9.96    1 18.7   1.211   0.274     9   13.7    170.9 112.9   4:21 (261,-10)  
Sept.27  12 39.30   -4 54.1   1.059   0.147     7   12.8    191.6  92.6  19:15 ( 94,-14)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It will appear at dawn again in 2004 January at 14 mag, then fade out gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  11 44.08    3  3.5   2.595   1.591     1   13.0     45.1 112.1   4:21 (254,-16)  
Sept.27  12  3.60    1  4.3   2.590   1.590     3   13.0     45.2 112.2   4:26 (258,-15)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It has been observed around 12.5 mag since June to August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  22 24.32   -4 26.6   4.792   5.741   159   13.1      6.3 252.2  22:28 (  0, 51)  
Sept.27  22 21.68   -4 39.6   4.838   5.740   151   13.1      5.6 251.4  21:58 (  0, 50)  

* 66P/du Toit


Good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. Now it is much brighter than expected, reported as 12.5 mag visually in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  16 16.36  -42 48.0   1.154   1.312    74   13.3     60.4  98.4  19:25 ( 32,  2)  
Sept.27  16 55.12  -43 24.1   1.179   1.337    75   13.5     61.1  92.3  19:15 ( 28,  3)  

* 65P/Gunn


It keeps locating at the same altitude until November, while it is fading gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  18 43.20  -33  3.8   2.164   2.574   102   13.4     13.1  79.8  19:25 (  8, 21)  
Sept.27  18 50.83  -32 46.3   2.262   2.588    97   13.5     14.8  79.6  19:15 ( 11, 21)  

* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


It will never be observable again in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been fading rapidly since July. It was 13 mag in early September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   7 41.24  -83 32.8   2.536   2.699    88   14.0     20.3 145.5   4:21 (354,-31)  
Sept.27   8 38.96  -85 18.0   2.675   2.788    85   14.3     18.0 139.2   4:26 (355,-32)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


It will keep 14-15 mag until the end of 2003. At opposition in October and November, it may be observable visually around 13 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   4 59.83    8  3.0   2.202   2.597   101   14.6     31.1 239.8   4:21 (336, 61)  
Sept.27   4 45.73    6  5.3   2.078   2.620   111   14.5     37.8 241.6   4:25 (  0, 61)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


It was reported brighter than 14 mag visually in July. But after opposition, it was reported fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  16 49.15  -17 14.4   2.449   2.421    76   14.7     23.5 103.8  19:25 ( 41, 27)  
Sept.27  17  0.64  -17 52.0   2.522   2.418    72   14.8     24.6 102.1  19:15 ( 42, 25)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will reach to 13 mag in the evening sky from winter to spring in 2004.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  23  8.09   28 19.0   1.387   2.306   148   15.1     13.3 251.0  23:11 (  0, 83)  
Sept.27  23  1.51   27 39.2   1.347   2.265   148   14.9     14.0 240.0  22:37 (  0, 83)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


Appearing at dawn. It will be fading slowly and become fainter than 18 mag in 2004 April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   9 18.58   12 11.6   2.765   2.075    38   15.2     32.3 104.7   4:21 (268, 18)  
Sept.27   9 33.27   11 13.3   2.730   2.089    41   15.4     31.6 105.5   4:26 (271, 22)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


It will be 7 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  19 29.37   27 26.8   4.587   5.046   111   15.3     13.7 226.3  19:33 (  0, 82)  
Sept.27  19 24.60   26 19.4   4.596   4.978   106   15.3     12.8 220.5  19:15 ( 20, 81)  

* 2P/Encke


It is getting brighter very rapidly after this. In the Northern Hemisphere, the condition is excellent. It locates high in the evening sky at 7 mag in mid November. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is only observable until mid November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   2 26.75   30 55.0   0.992   1.811   130   16.3     16.5 340.1   2:34 (  0, 86)  
Sept.27   2 21.98   32 50.1   0.858   1.728   136   15.4     21.2 325.4   2:02 (  0, 88)  

* C/2002 R3 ( LONEOS )


It will be observable at around 16 mag in good condition.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  22 52.56   16 59.5   3.019   3.964   157   15.7     33.0 247.5  22:55 (  0, 72)  
Sept.27  22 38.16   15 28.1   3.060   3.978   152   15.7     31.7 245.0  22:13 (  0, 70)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


Although it locates in good position until autumn, it will fade out slowly.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  18 10.81   53  1.0   5.655   5.785    92   15.8      6.2 152.1  19:25 (151, 68)  
Sept.27  18 13.47   52 22.7   5.700   5.808    91   15.9      6.8 143.6  19:15 (146, 67)  

* P/2003 O2 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 16 mag until November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   3 55.23   38 51.9   0.828   1.510   110   15.9     34.0  42.2   4:01 (180, 86)  
Sept.27   4  8.24   41 42.5   0.809   1.520   113   15.9     30.6  39.5   3:47 (180, 83)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


Appearing at dawn. It is observable around 14.5 mag from December to April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   9 31.55   26 33.8   2.874   2.219    41   16.0     32.0 103.8   4:21 (253, 23)  
Sept.27   9 47.64   25 38.3   2.809   2.205    44   15.9     32.0 104.7   4:26 (256, 26)  

* C/2002 CE10 ( LINEAR )


Completely stellar. It reaches to be brightest in best condition until mid September. But after that, it will fade out rapidly while getting lower.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  21 41.28    2 14.3   1.340   2.257   148   16.1     72.0 226.4  21:43 (  0, 57)  
Sept.27  21 19.39   -3  7.3   1.455   2.288   136   16.4     59.2 224.7  20:54 (  0, 52)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable in good condition at 16 mag until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  16 55.88   12 22.3   5.354   5.223    77   16.3      5.8  95.6  19:25 ( 64, 50)  
Sept.27  16 58.89   12 18.6   5.458   5.241    72   16.4      6.8  94.1  19:15 ( 68, 48)  

* C/2003 H3 ( NEAT )


It will be fading gradually until December when it becomes fainter than 18 mag and gets low in the evening.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  18 56.00   11  8.3   2.829   3.260   106   16.4      5.7  89.4  19:25 ( 15, 65)  
Sept.27  18 59.12   11  8.1   2.939   3.292   101   16.5      7.5  90.6  19:15 ( 23, 65)  

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable around 17 mag from autumn to winter in the northern sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  16 25.64   63 13.8   3.128   3.110    79   16.6      5.1 191.8  19:25 (150, 51)  
Sept.27  16 25.61   62 41.3   3.108   3.084    79   16.6      4.4 167.1  19:15 (148, 50)  

* 22P/Kopff


It was reported 17.5 mag in late August. Now it seems a bit fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   3  1.84   10 32.4   2.158   2.909   130   16.7      6.4 239.2   3:09 (  0, 66)  
Sept.27   2 58.63   10  7.4   2.128   2.949   137   16.8      8.8 244.4   2:38 (  0, 65)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until 2004 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20  16 33.62   35  9.6   5.918   5.727    74   16.9      5.9 202.1  19:25 (103, 56)  
Sept.27  16 32.68   34 32.5   5.984   5.727    70   17.0      5.2 191.9  19:15 (103, 52)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It is observable around 17 mag until 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   7 53.41   11 19.7   4.388   3.964    58   17.2     13.6  91.3   4:21 (282, 35)  
Sept.27   7 59.70   11 17.8   4.303   3.969    64   17.2     12.8  91.1   4:26 (287, 41)  

* 28P/Neujmin 1


It was 18.5 mag in early September, about 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   6 17.87   37 43.7   3.213   3.250    83   17.6      9.2  66.4   4:21 (255, 65)  
Sept.27   6 22.30   38  9.8   3.168   3.305    88   17.6      7.6  59.8   4:26 (254, 71)  

* 36P/Whipple


It becomes only 17.7 mag at best in October and November.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.20   3 40.57   11 48.0   2.476   3.111   120   17.9      4.5 144.7   3:47 (  0, 67)  
Sept.27   3 41.28   11 20.3   2.404   3.115   127   17.8      4.3 175.0   3:20 (  0, 66)  

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