Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Apr. 10: South)

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Updated on April 13, 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/2004 F4 ( Bradfield )


New bright comet discovered in the very low sky in the evening. It had been locating high in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere from last autumn to early March, while the comet brightened to 9.5 mag, however, it was not discovered. It approached to the Sun down to 0.17 AU on Apr. 18. During several days around the perihelion passage, it is visible in the SOHO LASCO field. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn at 7 mag in late April. It will be a good target for visual observation in May. It passes very close by C/2003 T3 ( Tabur ) on Apr. 25.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10   2  8.90   -1 19.2   1.123   0.324    16    4.5     12.7   3.4  19:06 ( 87, -2)  
Apr. 17   1 48.00    5 43.3   0.856   0.169     5    1.8    185.2 322.8  18:57 ( 88,-15)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


Appearing at dawn. It was observed at 4.6 mag on Apr. 9. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is best opportunity to see the comet in the morning until mid May. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates extremely low sky at dawn until early May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  23 53.29    7  7.0   1.520   0.677    20    4.1     13.2 199.2   4:55 (262, -1)  
Apr. 17  23 52.18    5 29.0   1.317   0.629    27    3.6     15.7 178.3   5:00 (258,  7)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10   1 49.14  -66  2.7   0.889   1.145    74    4.8     45.1  89.6  19:06 ( 27, 29)  
Apr. 17   2 53.91  -65 12.0   0.698   1.085    76    4.1     73.4  77.7  18:57 ( 30, 33)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn soon. Because brightness evolution before the perihelion passage was very slow, it can be fainter than this ephemeris. Then it keeps low until autumn. It passes very close by a new comet C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield ) on Apr. 25.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10   0 23.96   17 12.0   2.446   1.505    15    9.6     48.1  41.9   4:55 (258,-13)  
Apr. 17   0 40.21   21 24.4   2.410   1.490    18    9.5     49.4  42.6   5:00 (252,-12)  

* 88P/Howell


Although it was so faint as 14.6 mag in late February, it brightened rapidly in late March. Now it is 10-11 mag visually. 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)  
Apr. 10  22  0.13  -15 15.3   1.698   1.368    53   10.8     51.4  72.1   4:55 (264, 35)  
Apr. 17  22 23.41  -13 21.0   1.679   1.368    54   10.8     50.6  70.8   5:00 (261, 36)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10   0 24.62    8  2.9   2.121   1.163    12   11.9     60.1  72.6   4:55 (266, -8)  
Apr. 17   0 52.23   10  6.4   2.085   1.123    12   11.6     61.9  73.6   5:00 (263, -8)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


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)  
Apr. 10  20 15.08   24 52.8   3.040   2.912    73   12.1     14.1 356.8   4:55 (211, 23)  
Apr. 17  20 14.05   26 37.3   2.864   2.832    78   11.8     16.1 348.3   5:00 (203, 25)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


It is diffused around 11.5 mag visually. It will be lower and fainter gradually in the evening sky after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10   9 19.27  -19 25.5   1.614   2.305   121   12.4     49.8 294.2  20:01 (180, 74)  
Apr. 17   8 59.69  -17  9.1   1.759   2.325   111   12.6     39.1 297.7  19:15 (180, 72)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will be lower and lower while fading after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10   4 26.43   16 33.2   2.094   1.596    47   12.8     43.5  90.7  19:06 (122, 14)  
Apr. 17   4 47.58   16 25.3   2.141   1.608    45   12.9     43.4  92.0  18:57 (123, 15)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10  23 45.21    4 18.7   6.636   5.725    22   13.8     12.1  63.0   4:55 (263,  2)  
Apr. 17  23 50.19    4 57.1   6.592   5.725    28   13.8     11.8  62.5   5:00 (258,  8)  

* 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 has behaved so again, it could have reach to 13 mag in February and March. However, it must be much fainter actually than expected. It will be unobservable soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10   3  5.23    8  6.1   2.567   1.738    27   14.1     42.1  74.7  19:06 (103,  4)  
Apr. 17   3 24.16    9 19.6   2.638   1.784    25   14.4     40.8  75.8  18:57 (104,  4)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Not observable. 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)  
Apr. 10   0 49.69   12 15.4   4.904   3.913     7   14.4      5.3  44.0   4:55 (266,-15)  
Apr. 17   0 51.40   12 42.3   4.934   3.960    12   14.5      5.2  41.7   5:00 (261, -9)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and it was observed visually around 13.5 mag in February and March. After this, it will be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  12 59.81    9 10.6   1.357   2.332   162   14.8     13.9 251.6  23:42 (180, 46)  
Apr. 17  12 53.87    8 35.5   1.395   2.354   157   14.9     13.1 244.6  23:09 (180, 46)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10  16  6.73    0  9.7   1.109   1.961   136   14.9      5.7   5.2   2:53 (180, 55)  
Apr. 17  16  6.12    0 46.9   1.099   1.990   142   15.0      5.7 328.1   2:25 (180, 54)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


Althouhg it must be fainter than 17 mag now, it unexpectedly brightened from February to March and reached to 14.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  11 33.38    9 27.6   1.885   2.793   149   15.3      7.5 300.7  22:16 (180, 46)  
Apr. 17  11 30.83    9 49.7   1.965   2.823   141   15.5      5.0 300.0  21:46 (180, 45)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It is expected to be as bright as 15.5 mag, however, no observations have been reported recently.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  19 28.04  -19  8.6   2.194   2.406    89   15.7     12.7  80.1   4:55 (233, 66)  
Apr. 17  19 33.59  -18 54.3   2.144   2.448    95   15.8     10.2  79.3   5:00 (219, 70)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10   4 47.54   70 49.3   5.083   4.849    70   15.9      6.3 131.8  19:06 (163,-22)  
Apr. 17   4 54.80   70 21.8   5.081   4.779    66   15.8      6.7 122.7  18:57 (162,-23)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10  19 13.04   31 15.0   5.895   5.916    86   16.9     12.2  12.3   4:55 (195, 22)  
Apr. 17  19 14.16   32 38.5   5.861   5.945    89   16.9     12.0   7.1   5:00 (187, 22)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10  16 26.03   51 49.6   5.529   5.910   107   16.9     16.4 310.4   3:13 (180,  3)  
Apr. 17  16 15.94   52 59.6   5.528   5.923   108   16.9     16.6 304.3   2:35 (180,  2)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10  18 26.83   10  9.7   2.946   3.279   100   17.1      9.0  60.2   4:55 (186, 45)  
Apr. 17  18 30.09   10 40.1   2.879   3.288   105   17.1      7.2  54.7   4:49 (180, 44)  

* 48P/Johnson


Not yet observed in this return, but it must be brightening in the morning sky. It will reach to 15 mag in summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  19 33.28  -14 50.7   2.456   2.616    87   17.2     17.6  85.3   4:55 (228, 62)  
Apr. 17  19 41.45  -14 41.0   2.349   2.596    92   17.1     16.3  85.5   5:00 (217, 66)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It will become fainter than 18 mag, and too low to observe in June. It was about 0.5 mag brighter than this ephemeris around the opposition from December to February.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10   7 58.16   25  3.9   4.028   4.254    96   17.3      6.3  70.5  19:06 (174, 30)  
Apr. 17   8  1.54   25 16.8   4.149   4.269    90   17.4      7.4  77.5  18:57 (170, 29)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It was observed around 17.5 mag recently. It will be fainter than 18 mag in late May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  13 40.12    7 35.3   6.001   6.966   163   17.4      9.6 269.2   0:27 (180, 47)  
Apr. 17  13 35.62    7 33.0   6.051   7.012   161   17.5      9.5 267.0  23:51 (180, 47)  

* 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)  
Apr. 10   9 28.26   45 12.7   4.390   4.772   106   17.6      7.1 184.7  20:12 (180, 10)  
Apr. 17   9 28.31   44 22.0   4.542   4.833   100   17.7      7.4 174.2  19:45 (180, 11)  

* C/2003 F1 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable around 17.5 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  18 18.38   -7 28.4   4.198   4.562   105   17.7      4.6 200.6   4:55 (185, 62)  
Apr. 17  18 17.22   -7 59.9   4.115   4.587   111   17.7      5.8 215.2   4:36 (180, 63)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


It was brighter than this ephemeris recently, around 17.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 10  11 44.27   12 21.4   3.160   4.055   149   18.2      8.1 280.2  22:27 (180, 43)  
Apr. 17  11 40.74   12 28.7   3.199   4.040   142   18.2      6.8 275.3  21:56 (180, 43)  

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