Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Sept. 27: South)

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Updated on September 28, 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/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.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27   4 39.83  -60 55.6   3.131   3.446    99   11.4     24.4 178.8   4:18 (  0, 64)  
Oct.  4   4 39.32  -63 47.2   3.066   3.368    98   11.2     24.6 183.6   3:51 (  0, 61)  

* 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.27   4 53.20   18  8.6   2.421   2.910   109   11.4     28.1 270.5   4:18 (184, 37)  
Oct.  4   4 38.03   18  7.0   2.303   2.931   119   11.3     33.8 268.9   3:50 (180, 37)  

* 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.27   5 37.64   33 17.3   3.080   3.370    98   12.2      7.3 317.1   4:18 (193, 20)  
Oct.  4   5 33.97   33 56.6   2.873   3.285   105   12.0     10.1 305.7   4:08 (188, 21)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


Michael Mattiazzo reported that it was extremely diffused on Sept. 27. It seems to be collapsed. It will disappear soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  10 49.15  -32 19.1   1.485   0.907    36   12.7     52.1 181.8   4:18 (298, 16)  
Oct.  4  10 48.27  -38 52.7   1.364   0.927    42   13.0     60.9 181.3   4:08 (302, 22)  

* (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.27  12 39.30   -4 54.1   1.059   0.147     7   12.8    191.6  92.6  19:24 ( 77,-10)  
Oct.  4  13 46.38   -2  5.5   0.798   0.335    17   16.4    128.4  72.8  19:30 ( 84, -5)  

* 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.27  12  3.60    1  4.3   2.590   1.590     3   13.0     45.2 112.2   4:18 (281,-18)  
Oct.  4  12 23.11   -0 55.2   2.587   1.592     4   13.0     45.1 112.2   4:08 (284,-17)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It has been observed around 12.5 mag since June to September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  22 21.68   -4 39.6   4.838   5.740   151   13.1      5.6 251.4  21:58 (180, 60)  
Oct.  4  22 19.40   -4 51.3   4.897   5.739   144   13.1      4.7 250.5  21:28 (180, 60)  

* 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.27  16 55.12  -43 24.1   1.179   1.337    75   13.5     61.1  92.3  19:24 ( 62, 56)  
Oct.  4  17 34.34  -43 14.8   1.213   1.368    75   13.8     61.0  86.2  19:30 ( 63, 57)  

* 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.27  18 50.83  -32 46.3   2.262   2.588    97   13.5     14.8  79.6  19:24 ( 97, 78)  
Oct.  4  18 59.31  -32 26.2   2.361   2.601    92   13.6     16.3  79.3  19:30 ( 93, 73)  

* 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.27   8 38.96  -85 18.0   2.675   2.788    85   14.3     18.0 139.2   4:18 (355, 37)  
Oct.  4  10  4.06  -86 38.1   2.815   2.875    83   14.6     16.1 126.9   4:08 (356, 36)  

* 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.27   4 45.73    6  5.3   2.078   2.620   111   14.5     37.8 241.6   4:18 (183, 49)  
Oct.  4   4 28.59    3 51.6   1.969   2.645   122   14.4     44.8 243.2   3:41 (180, 51)  

* 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.27   2 21.98   32 50.1   0.858   1.728   136   15.4     21.2 325.4   2:02 (180, 22)  
Oct.  4   2 12.83   35  0.2   0.733   1.641   142   14.5     28.8 313.5   1:25 (180, 20)  

* 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.27  23  1.51   27 39.2   1.347   2.265   148   14.9     14.0 240.0  22:37 (180, 27)  
Oct.  4  22 55.48   26 41.6   1.318   2.223   146   14.7     14.2 228.9  22:03 (180, 28)  

* 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.27  17  0.64  -17 52.0   2.522   2.418    72   14.8     24.6 102.1  19:24 (104, 49)  
Oct.  4  17 12.75  -18 26.1   2.596   2.416    68   14.9     25.6 100.4  19:30 ( 99, 45)  

* 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.27  19 24.60   26 19.4   4.596   4.978   106   15.3     12.8 220.5  19:24 (174, 28)  
Oct.  4  19 20.70   25 10.7   4.613   4.910   101   15.2     11.9 214.3  19:30 (164, 28)  

* 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.27   9 33.27   11 13.3   2.730   2.089    41   15.4     31.6 105.5   4:18 (251,  7)  
Oct.  4   9 47.55   10 13.6   2.693   2.104    44   15.5     30.9 106.1   4:08 (252,  8)  

* 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.27   9 47.64   25 38.3   2.809   2.205    44   15.9     32.0 104.7   4:18 (242, -5)  
Oct.  4  10  3.52   24 39.6   2.743   2.191    47   15.7     31.9 105.5   4:08 (242, -4)  

* C/2002 R3 ( LONEOS )


It will be observable at around 16 mag in good condition. Michael Jager reported that it was 1 mag brighter than this ephemeris on Sept. 25.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Sept.27  22 38.16   15 28.1   3.060   3.978   152   15.7     31.7 245.0  22:13 (180, 40)  
Oct.  4  22 24.88   13 53.1   3.125   3.992   145   15.8     29.6 242.6  21:32 (180, 41)  

* 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.27   4  8.24   41 42.5   0.809   1.520   113   15.9     30.6  39.5   3:47 (180, 13)  
Oct.  4   4 19.45   44 21.1   0.793   1.534   117   15.9     26.7  35.6   3:31 (180, 11)  

* 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.27  18 13.47   52 22.7   5.700   5.808    91   15.9      6.8 143.6  19:24 (166,  0)  
Oct.  4  18 16.94   51 44.8   5.745   5.831    89   15.9      7.4 136.2  19:30 (161, -1)  

* 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.27  16 58.89   12 18.6   5.458   5.241    72   16.4      6.8  94.1  19:24 (132, 28)  
Oct.  4  17  2.36   12 15.6   5.558   5.260    67   16.4      7.7  92.5  19:30 (126, 23)  

* 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.27  21 19.39   -3  7.3   1.455   2.288   136   16.4     59.2 224.7  20:54 (180, 58)  
Oct.  4  21  2.23   -7 33.7   1.599   2.322   124   16.8     46.7 222.9  20:10 (180, 63)  

* 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.27  16 25.61   62 41.3   3.108   3.084    79   16.6      4.4 167.1  19:24 (158,-16)  
Oct.  4  16 27.57   62 14.6   3.084   3.059    79   16.5      4.4 138.7  19:30 (155,-18)  

* 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.27  18 59.12   11  8.1   2.939   3.292   101   16.5      7.5  90.6  19:24 (164, 42)  
Oct.  4  19  3.07   11  7.6   3.052   3.325    96   16.6      9.1  90.3  19:30 (155, 40)  

* 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.27   2 58.63   10  7.4   2.128   2.949   137   16.8      8.8 244.4   2:38 (180, 45)  
Oct.  4   2 54.35    9 39.2   2.108   2.989   145   16.9     10.9 247.4   2:06 (180, 45)  

* 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.27  16 32.68   34 32.5   5.984   5.727    70   17.0      5.2 191.9  19:24 (141,  7)  
Oct.  4  16 32.37   33 58.2   6.044   5.728    66   17.0      4.7 180.3  19:30 (136,  3)  

* 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.27   7 59.70   11 17.8   4.303   3.969    64   17.2     12.8  91.1   4:18 (235, 24)  
Oct.  4   8  5.54   11 16.5   4.213   3.974    69   17.1     11.8  90.5   4:08 (233, 26)  

* 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.27   6 22.30   38  9.8   3.168   3.305    88   17.6      7.6  59.8   4:18 (200, 13)  
Oct.  4   6 25.59   38 36.9   3.122   3.360    94   17.6      6.0  49.0   4:08 (198, 14)  

* 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.27   3 41.28   11 20.3   2.404   3.115   127   17.8      4.3 175.0   3:20 (180, 44)  
Oct.  4   3 40.93   10 48.9   2.339   3.120   134   17.8      5.1 201.4   2:53 (180, 44)  

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