Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 May 15: South)

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Updated on May 16, 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 )


Good condition and visible with naked-eye in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear in the evening low sky in late May. It was a bit fainter than this ephemeris recently, 3.5 mag around May 10.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   2 16.53  -12 42.7   0.323   0.774    36    1.9    367.6 106.9   5:19 (275, 15)  
May  22   6 14.02  -19 57.2   0.288   0.868    52    1.9    460.1  87.1  18:29 ( 89, 35)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


Good condition in the evening sky. After the approach to the earth on May 6, it should have start fading, however, it became brighter actually. It was 3 mag in mid May, brighter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   8 32.02   18 19.5   0.415   0.962    71    4.1    207.6  24.7  18:32 (155, 31)  
May  22   9  6.78   34  4.7   0.579   0.968    68    4.8    106.2  27.7  18:29 (162, 18)  

* C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield )


It appeared in the morning sky in late April, and it was observed as bright as 3-4 mag with a long tail as 10 deg in spite of locating very low. In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be higher and higher after this. Although it becomes fainter rapidly, it will be a good target for visual observation in May. Not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   1  6.67   43 31.8   1.398   0.875    38    8.4     32.5  16.8   5:19 (221, -8)  
May  22   1 12.83   46 49.1   1.525   1.033    42    9.6     27.2  19.0   5:24 (216, -7)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Appearing at dawn. Now it is 9.5 mag, as bright as expected. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps low after this until autumn. Not observable in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   1 59.67   38 16.2   2.322   1.498    27    9.6     52.7  48.9   5:19 (232,-12)  
May  22   2 24.61   42 10.5   2.318   1.516    29    9.6     52.7  51.8   5:24 (227,-13)  

* 88P/Howell


It keeps 10-11 mag until mid May. Good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but it locates lower than 10 deg in the Northern Hemisphere. It becomes higher after June, but the comet will be fading at that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  23 48.17   -5 21.9   1.629   1.413    59   10.2     44.8  68.0   5:19 (244, 40)  
May  22   0  7.19   -3 26.2   1.619   1.434    60   10.3     42.9  67.8   5:24 (240, 41)  

* 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)  
May  15   2 52.47   16 51.7   2.025   1.037     8   10.8     65.3  80.7   5:19 (256,-10)  
May  22   3 24.00   17 54.9   2.031   1.038     8   10.3     64.8  83.1   5:24 (255,-10)  

* 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)  
May  15  19 50.39   35 38.9   2.163   2.504    97   10.7     30.8 318.0   4:19 (180, 19)  
May  22  19 36.30   38 22.7   2.002   2.421   101   10.3     36.6 310.8   3:38 (180, 17)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It is observable in the evening low sky until June in the Southern Hemisphere, but it is fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   6 10.43   14 42.0   2.344   1.682    38   13.5     42.1  97.7  18:32 (121, 15)  
May  22   6 30.39   13 58.6   2.399   1.707    37   13.6     41.6  99.1  18:29 (120, 15)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing at dawn. But no observations have been reported yet.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   0  8.38    7 25.1   6.324   5.724    49   13.7     10.1  60.0   5:19 (238, 27)  
May  22   0 12.36    7 59.9   6.238   5.724    55   13.7      9.5  59.1   5:24 (231, 31)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


Appearing at dawn. It will fade out gradually, and keeps observable brighter than 17 mag until the end of 2004.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   0 56.14   14 28.1   4.915   4.148    36   14.7      3.8  18.4   5:19 (241, 14)  
May  22   0 56.52   14 52.8   4.879   4.196    43   14.8      3.5   5.6   5:24 (235, 19)  

* 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. It keeps the same brightness still in late April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  12 40.17    5  0.9   1.652   2.449   132   14.8      9.5 192.7  21:06 (180, 50)  
May  22  12 39.82    3 54.3   1.739   2.474   126   15.0      9.8 176.6  20:38 (180, 51)  

* C/2004 G1 ( LINEAR )


Michael Jager reported as bright as 15.5 mag on Apr. 15. However, many CCD observers reported it as faint as 17-18 mag, probably because it is diffused. It will become low soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   4 50.93   67  6.3   1.625   1.246    50   15.0     42.4 163.5  18:32 (154,-28)  
May  22   5  2.55   62 41.9   1.732   1.222    43   14.9     36.3 164.9  18:29 (149,-27)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


Not yet observed in this return. Appearing at dawn. If it keeps the same brightness as in the previous return, it should be as bright as 15.5 mag already.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   0  1.81    4 25.0   2.879   2.400    52   15.6     28.0  67.3   5:19 (239, 30)  
May  22   0 13.93    5 40.4   2.787   2.371    55   15.3     28.0  67.5   5:24 (233, 33)  

* 58P/Jackson-Neujmin


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 seems to go while nobody succeeded to observe it in this return.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   4 35.44   12 54.2   2.923   1.980    17   15.4     35.8  81.2  18:32 (105, -1)  
May  22   4 52.15   13 28.5   2.992   2.031    15   15.6     34.6  82.7  18:29 (104, -3)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


It keeps locating high in the evening sky until August when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  15 51.77    1 42.5   1.147   2.120   158   15.4     10.2 261.9   0:21 (180, 53)  
May  22  15 47.14    1 26.2   1.184   2.156   158   15.5     10.1 251.4  23:44 (180, 54)  

* 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)  
May  15   5 33.97   69 10.3   5.014   4.493    53   15.5      9.0  99.9  18:32 (159,-25)  
May  22   5 45.97   69  0.8   4.980   4.420    51   15.4      9.6  96.6  18:29 (158,-26)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


It was diffused around 11.5 mag visually in February and March. But it began to fade out rapidly in April and reached to 15 mag in late April. It will become low soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15   8 21.56  -11 10.8   2.424   2.429    78   15.6     12.1 311.1  18:32 (129, 56)  
May  22   8 18.06  -10 22.2   2.590   2.460    71   15.9      8.3 316.0  18:29 (121, 51)  

* P/2004 F3 ( NEAT )


It is observable at 15-16 mag for a long time until 2005 autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  13 12.38   11 23.0   2.325   3.121   134   15.8      7.7 237.7  21:38 (180, 44)  
May  22  13  9.75   10 50.2   2.374   3.108   128   15.8      7.0 220.9  21:07 (180, 44)  

* 81P/Wild 2


In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps fading at about 35 deg high until August when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  19 42.54  -18 26.3   1.955   2.613   120   16.0      1.1 266.8   4:11 (180, 73)  
May  22  19 41.26  -18 28.8   1.917   2.654   127   16.1      4.1 260.8   3:42 (180, 73)  

* 48P/Johnson


It was 18.5 mag in April, 1 mag or more fainter than expected. Now it should be brightening, but it can be fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  20  6.88  -14 28.6   1.939   2.519   113   16.5      9.7  94.6   4:35 (180, 69)  
May  22  20 11.02  -14 36.9   1.845   2.502   119   16.3      7.7 102.4   4:12 (180, 70)  

* 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)  
May  15  18 33.86   12  2.4   2.651   3.333   124   16.9      2.2 302.6   3:02 (180, 43)  
May  22  18 32.53   12  6.8   2.608   3.346   129   16.9      3.6 270.0   2:34 (180, 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)  
May  15  19 12.38   37 54.3   5.762   6.064   102   16.9     10.7 344.3   3:41 (180, 17)  
May  22  19 10.35   39  4.2   5.750   6.094   105   16.9     10.4 338.0   3:11 (180, 16)  

* 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)  
May  15  15 26.81   55 44.1   5.629   5.977   105   17.0     16.0 277.7  23:51 (180, -1)  
May  22  15 13.79   55 51.8   5.678   5.991   103   17.0     15.5 270.7  23:10 (180, -1)  

* 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu 1


It brightened rapidly in the former half of 2004 and reached to 17.5 mag. It becomes low in the evening sky in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  11 33.35   12  0.5   3.453   3.978   114   17.2      2.6 195.2  19:59 (180, 43)  
May  22  11 33.41   11 40.2   3.533   3.963   107   17.2      3.4 163.8  19:32 (180, 43)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


Althouhg it must be fainter than 17 mag, it unexpectedly brightened from February to March and reached to 14.5 mag. It has already begun to fade, and faded to 16 mag in mid April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  11 30.95    9 50.7   2.372   2.943   114   17.4      4.7 116.9  19:57 (180, 45)  
May  22  11 33.37    9 32.7   2.488   2.973   108   17.7      6.7 116.6  19:32 (180, 46)  

* P/2004 HC18 ( LINEAR )


New periodic comet. It only reaches to 17.5 mag at best, and will be fainter than 18 mag in late June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  15  7.03   -5 36.0   0.746   1.743   165   17.5     30.7 354.0  23:32 (180, 60)  
May  22  15  5.76   -2 10.3   0.752   1.732   158   17.5     28.1 355.8  23:03 (180, 57)  

* C/2004 DZ61 ( Catalina-LINEAR )


It becomes fainter than 18 mag in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  11 55.31   50 53.1   1.643   2.018    96   17.6     11.2  13.9  20:21 (180,  4)  
May  22  11 58.30   51 58.0   1.722   2.014    91   17.7      9.4  34.2  19:57 (180,  3)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
May  15  13 19.43    6 56.8   6.399   7.193   139   17.7      7.6 254.0  21:45 (180, 48)  
May  22  13 16.19    6 40.7   6.519   7.239   132   17.8      6.9 249.0  21:14 (180, 48)  

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