Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Mar. 6: South)

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Updated on March 6, 2004
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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 T7 ( LINEAR )


The brightness evolution had been slower than expected from January to February. Not it is not observable. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn in mid April at 3.5 mag, then it locates in good position at 1 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   0  5.63   12  2.0   2.004   1.156    22    6.4      8.5 215.3  19:56 ( 93,-17)  
Mar. 13   0  3.33   11 14.0   1.967   1.048    15    6.0      8.4 215.2  19:46 ( 90,-20)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will be 2 mag in May. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in the south-western sky at dusk. In the Northern 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.  6  23 46.07  -65 47.9   1.746   1.526    60    7.4     11.0  75.1  19:56 ( 26, 25)  
Mar. 13  23 59.47  -65 33.3   1.594   1.443    62    7.0     13.2  84.7  19:46 ( 26, 25)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


It is diffused around 11.5 mag visually. It keeps observable at 11-12 mag until April. After mid April, it begins to be lower and fainter in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  12 19.77  -27 23.0   1.373   2.244   142   11.9     76.1 266.4   1:26 (180, 82)  
Mar. 13  11 38.14  -27 22.5   1.336   2.251   149   11.9     81.3 273.0   0:18 (180, 82)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will be observable at 12-13 mag in the evening sky until April. But it will be getting lower gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   2 41.71   15 42.9   1.884   1.583    57   12.5     42.1  85.8  19:56 (119, 12)  
Mar. 13   3  2.25   16  2.5   1.923   1.579    55   12.5     42.7  86.5  19:46 (120, 12)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Not obesrvable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn at 12.5 mag. However, because it had been fading since the discovery although it was coming closer to the Sun, the brightness in May is quite uncertain. Then it keeps low until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  23 14.25   -2 11.7   2.651   1.662     3   12.6     40.8  41.6  19:56 ( 73,-19)  
Mar. 13  23 27.11    1 25.9   2.609   1.621     4   12.6     42.2  41.5   4:32 (283,-19)  

* 88P/Howell


Curernt brightness is uncertain. It was observed as 16.1 mag on Dec. 31, 1.5 mag fainter than expected. Although it had been expected to reach to 10 mag in April, it may be 12.5 or 14 mag at best. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating lower than 15 deg until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  19 54.66  -22 25.3   1.859   1.428    49   12.9     51.9  81.7   4:24 (278, 30)  
Mar. 13  20 20.54  -21 24.5   1.817   1.408    50   12.8     52.4  79.5   4:32 (276, 31)  

* 58P/Jackson-Neujmin


Not yet recovered in this return. At the previous appearance, it brightened after the perihelion passage and reached to 10 mag. If it behaves so again, it may brighten after the perihelion passage on Jan. 9 and reach to 13 mag in March. However, it keeps locating very low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   1 23.87    0 11.8   2.246   1.536    34   12.9     48.4  71.2  19:56 ( 95,  6)  
Mar. 13   1 45.04    1 58.6   2.304   1.571    33   13.1     47.3  71.6  19:46 ( 97,  6)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


It is already as bright as 12.5 mag, well condensed and easy to see. It will be 6.5 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition until early September when it becomes to 7.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  20  6.80   18 41.3   3.846   3.308    50   13.1      9.8  39.7   4:24 (244,  4)  
Mar. 13  20  9.68   19 37.9   3.699   3.230    54   12.9     10.2  31.8   4:32 (239,  9)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


The condition is worst in this return. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in autumn, when it will already fade to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  22 23.31   -1 55.0   2.387   1.429    11   14.0     48.9  71.9   4:24 (281,-12)  
Mar. 13  22 45.48   -0  5.2   2.325   1.370    12   13.6     51.2  71.6   4:32 (277,-10)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  23 19.04    1  8.0   6.709   5.727     7   13.8     12.6  65.1  19:56 ( 77,-20)  
Mar. 13  23 24.36    1 45.4   6.716   5.726     5   13.8     12.6  64.7   4:32 (282,-19)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be unobservable soon. But it will appear at dawn again at 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   0 40.89   10 10.3   4.534   3.689    28   14.0      4.4  44.9  19:56 ( 96, -9)  
Mar. 13   0 42.48   10 33.2   4.637   3.733    21   14.1      4.9  46.3  19:46 ( 95,-12)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


Getting brighter than expected after the perihelion passage. It is observable visually around 13.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  13 27.76   10  8.6   1.351   2.237   144   14.3      6.9 271.3   2:32 (180, 45)  
Mar. 13  13 23.80   10  8.5   1.329   2.254   151   14.4      9.7 268.6   2:01 (180, 45)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It is a bit fainter than this ephemeris recently. It is fading out gradually after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  18 43.48  -20 29.7   2.418   2.201    65   14.6     23.0  85.1   4:24 (266, 43)  
Mar. 13  18 54.44  -20 14.8   2.378   2.241    69   14.7     21.2  84.0   4:32 (262, 48)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


The brightness evolution is gradual in this return. So it will reach to 15 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  15 42.97   -3 12.4   1.249   1.849   110   14.9     20.0  76.8   4:24 (191, 58)  
Mar. 13  15 51.26   -2 37.6   1.212   1.867   115   14.9     16.9  71.5   4:28 (180, 58)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 5 mag in 2005 spring. Until that time, it keeps observable in the Northern Hemisphere, which the comet will be getting brighter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   4 33.74   74  3.8   5.044   5.193    93   16.2      6.8 191.4  19:56 (170,-22)  
Mar. 13   4 32.68   73 18.1   5.054   5.125    88   16.1      6.4 179.4  19:46 (169,-22)  

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )


It is getting fainter slowly and will be unobervable at 17 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   2 17.55   62 25.1   2.959   2.903    77   16.5     31.3 123.1  19:56 (152,-22)  
Mar. 13   2 42.35   60 23.9   3.044   2.915    73   16.6     30.2 124.6  19:46 (151,-20)  

* P/2002 T6 ( NEAT-LINEAR )


It reached to 15.5 mag in January, much brighter than expected. It already began to be fading, 16-16.5 mag in mid February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   6 33.38   10 37.6   3.318   3.804   112   16.8      4.9  57.9  19:56 (173, 44)  
Mar. 13   6 35.75   10 55.4   3.432   3.826   105   17.0      6.3  67.1  19:46 (168, 43)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It will be fading slowly until November 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.  6  18 59.27   24 30.0   6.084   5.776    67   16.8     13.3  35.2   4:24 (229, 11)  
Mar. 13  19  2.99   25 47.2   6.046   5.803    71   16.8     13.1  31.1   4:32 (223, 15)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


It will be fading slowly and become fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  11 56.39    5 36.9   1.666   2.644   167   16.9     13.6 307.8   1:01 (180, 49)  
Mar. 13  11 51.24    6 34.3   1.682   2.673   174   17.0     13.7 305.8   0:29 (180, 48)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It will become fainter than 18 mag, and too low to observe in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   7 52.63   23  2.0   3.477   4.185   130   16.9      5.3 339.6  20:54 (180, 32)  
Mar. 13   7 52.11   23 34.7   3.576   4.198   122   17.0      4.4 357.1  20:26 (180, 31)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  16 57.61   44 38.9   5.671   5.853    95   16.9     13.8 338.4   4:24 (197,  7)  
Mar. 13  16 53.73   46  9.1   5.627   5.864    98   16.9     14.5 333.0   4:32 (190,  8)  

* C/2003 V1 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly. It will be observable in good condition until May when it will be fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   9 42.62   48 35.1   3.722   4.462   133   17.0      8.5 243.8  22:43 (180,  6)  
Mar. 13   9 37.72   48  5.2   3.839   4.524   128   17.1      7.9 233.0  22:11 (180,  7)  

* C/2003 E1 ( NEAT )


It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  17 58.15    7 33.5   3.304   3.250    78   17.3     16.5  76.1   4:24 (229, 34)  
Mar. 13  18  5.36    8  2.3   3.231   3.254    82   17.3     15.2  73.7   4:32 (222, 37)  

* 2003 WN188


Unusual minor planet with a period of 55 years. It becomes to be at peak in mid February, and fainter than 18 mag in late March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6   9 37.72   35 27.3   1.351   2.229   143   17.3     13.0 357.9  22:39 (180, 19)  
Mar. 13   9 38.02   36 48.1   1.386   2.219   136   17.5     10.2   8.8  22:12 (180, 18)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Mar.  6  21 12.52   52 15.2   6.811   6.418    62   17.4     12.9  60.9   4:24 (223,-26)  
Mar. 13  21 21.04   53  0.5   6.848   6.448    62   17.4     12.7  58.4   4:32 (220,-23)  

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