Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Oct. 4: South)

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 Updated on October 5, 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)  
Oct.  4   4 39.32  -63 47.2   3.066   3.368    98   11.2     24.6 183.6   3:51 (  0, 61)  
Oct. 11   4 36.34  -66 37.9   3.009   3.289    97   11.1     24.5 188.9   3:20 (  0, 58)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   4 38.03   18  7.0   2.303   2.931   119   11.3     33.8 268.9   3:50 (180, 37)  
Oct. 11   4 20.04   17 57.7   2.202   2.953   130   11.3     39.5 267.2   3:05 (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)  
Oct.  4   5 33.97   33 56.6   2.873   3.285   105   12.0     10.1 305.7   4:08 (188, 21)  
Oct. 11   5 28.26   34 39.6   2.670   3.200   113   11.7     13.7 297.8   3:57 (183, 20)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  12 23.11   -0 55.2   2.587   1.592     4   13.0     45.1 112.2   4:08 (284,-17)  
Oct. 11  12 42.61   -2 53.7   2.586   1.597     6   13.0     45.0 111.9   3:57 (286,-16)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  10 48.27  -38 52.7   1.364   0.927    42   13.0     60.9 181.3   4:08 (302, 22)  
Oct. 11  10 47.42  -46 38.5   1.242   0.962    49   13.6     72.8 181.1   3:57 (309, 29)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  22 19.40   -4 51.3   4.897   5.739   144   13.1      4.7 250.5  21:28 (180, 60)  
Oct. 11  22 17.57   -5  1.3   4.968   5.738   136   13.2      3.6 249.4  20:58 (180, 60)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   2 12.83   35  0.2   0.733   1.641   142   14.5     28.8 313.5   1:25 (180, 20)  
Oct. 11   1 57.26   37 27.2   0.616   1.551   146   13.5     40.3 303.6   0:43 (180, 18)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  18 59.31  -32 26.2   2.361   2.601    92   13.6     16.3  79.3  19:30 ( 93, 73)  
Oct. 11  19  8.53  -32  3.3   2.462   2.616    87   13.8     17.7  78.8  19:37 ( 90, 68)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  17 34.34  -43 14.8   1.213   1.368    75   13.8     61.0  86.2  19:30 ( 63, 57)  
Oct. 11  18 12.62  -42 21.8   1.256   1.404    76   14.2     60.1  80.4  19:37 ( 65, 58)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   4 28.59    3 51.6   1.969   2.645   122   14.4     44.8 243.2   3:41 (180, 51)  
Oct. 11   4  8.38    1 23.4   1.883   2.671   133   14.3     51.4 244.6   2:53 (180, 54)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  22 55.48   26 41.6   1.318   2.223   146   14.7     14.2 228.9  22:03 (180, 28)  
Oct. 11  22 50.45   25 29.4   1.299   2.182   143   14.5     14.0 217.2  21:31 (180, 30)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  10  4.06  -86 38.1   2.815   2.875    83   14.6     16.1 126.9   4:08 (356, 36)  
Oct. 11  12 10.41  -87 22.4   2.954   2.961    80   14.9     14.5 104.9   3:57 (357, 34)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  17 12.75  -18 26.1   2.596   2.416    68   14.9     25.6 100.4  19:30 ( 99, 45)  
Oct. 11  17 25.40  -18 56.3   2.668   2.415    64   14.9     26.5  98.8  19:37 ( 95, 41)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  19 20.70   25 10.7   4.613   4.910   101   15.2     11.9 214.3  19:30 (164, 28)  
Oct. 11  19 17.67   24  2.1   4.634   4.841    95   15.2     11.0 207.7  19:37 (155, 27)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   9 47.55   10 13.6   2.693   2.104    44   15.5     30.9 106.1   4:08 (252,  8)  
Oct. 11  10  1.38    9 13.2   2.653   2.120    48   15.7     30.1 106.7   3:57 (252,  9)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  10  3.52   24 39.6   2.743   2.191    47   15.7     31.9 105.5   4:08 (242, -4)  
Oct. 11  10 19.16   23 38.2   2.676   2.179    50   15.6     31.7 106.2   3:57 (243, -3)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  22 24.88   13 53.1   3.125   3.992   145   15.8     29.6 242.6  21:32 (180, 41)  
Oct. 11  22 12.99   12 18.3   3.213   4.008   137   15.9     26.9 240.3  20:53 (180, 43)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   4 19.45   44 21.1   0.793   1.534   117   15.9     26.7  35.6   3:31 (180, 11)  
Oct. 11   4 28.44   46 45.7   0.782   1.551   120   15.9     22.6  30.0   3:12 (180,  8)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  18 16.94   51 44.8   5.745   5.831    89   15.9      7.4 136.2  19:30 (161, -1)  
Oct. 11  18 21.16   51  8.1   5.792   5.855    88   16.0      8.0 129.8  19:37 (157, -3)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  17  2.36   12 15.6   5.558   5.260    67   16.4      7.7  92.5  19:30 (126, 23)  
Oct. 11  17  6.25   12 14.0   5.653   5.279    63   16.5      8.6  90.8  19:37 (120, 18)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  16 27.57   62 14.6   3.084   3.059    79   16.5      4.4 138.7  19:30 (155,-18)  
Oct. 11  16 31.38   61 55.4   3.056   3.035    79   16.4      5.2 114.6  19:37 (153,-20)

* 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)  
Oct.  4  19  3.07   11  7.6   3.052   3.325    96   16.6      9.1  90.3  19:30 (155, 40)  
Oct. 11  19  7.77   11  7.7   3.166   3.358    92   16.8     10.6  89.5  19:37 (146, 37)

* C/2002 CE10 ( LINEAR )
Completely stellar. It will fade out rapidly while getting lower after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  4  21  2.23   -7 33.7   1.599   2.322   124   16.8     46.7 222.9  20:10 (180, 63)  
Oct. 11  20 49.24  -11  7.8   1.763   2.356   114   17.1     35.9 220.6  19:37 (176, 66)

* 22P/Kopff
Fading as expected. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  4   2 54.35    9 39.2   2.108   2.989   145   16.9     10.9 247.4   2:06 (180, 45)  
Oct. 11   2 49.16    9  8.9   2.100   3.028   153   17.0     12.6 249.4   1:34 (180, 46)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   8  5.54   11 16.5   4.213   3.974    69   17.1     11.8  90.5   4:08 (233, 26)  
Oct. 11   8 10.89   11 16.6   4.120   3.980    74   17.1     10.7  89.4   3:57 (231, 27)

* P/2003 S2 ( NEAT )
New periodic comet. Now it is at peak, and it will fade out after this. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  4   1 56.13   -0 33.5   1.421   2.385   159   17.5      9.1 250.5   1:08 (180, 56)  
Oct. 11   1 51.82   -0 53.2   1.420   2.400   165   17.6     10.1 255.5   0:36 (180, 56)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   6 25.59   38 36.9   3.122   3.360    94   17.6      6.0  49.0   4:08 (198, 14)  
Oct. 11   6 27.68   39  4.8   3.077   3.415   101   17.6      4.7  31.1   3:57 (195, 14)

* P/2003 S1 ( NEAT )
New periodic comet. It will reach only to 17.6 mag at best in late October, then fade out. 
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Oct.  4   0 29.11   10 48.3   1.864   2.860   172   17.7     10.4 239.8  23:37 (180, 44)  
Oct. 11   0 24.88   10 10.0   1.853   2.841   169   17.7     10.4 237.1  23:05 (180, 45)

* 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)  
Oct.  4   3 40.93   10 48.9   2.339   3.120   134   17.8      5.1 201.4   2:53 (180, 44)  
Oct. 11   3 39.54   10 14.6   2.283   3.125   141   17.7      6.4 218.1   2:24 (180, 45)

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