Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 June 5: South)

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Updated on June 5, 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 )


It reached to 3 mag in mid May and the long tail was detected by photo in the Southern Hemisphere. But it is fading rapidly now. It is also visible in the evening low sky in the Northern Hemisphere, however it is already as faint as 5-6 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   9 23.31  -10 59.7   0.732   1.077    74    5.1     70.3  72.7  18:25 (125, 54)  
June 12   9 47.02   -9 10.6   0.992   1.185    72    6.2     39.4  73.3  18:25 (126, 52)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


Good condition in the evening sky. The brightening evolution became unexpectedly slower after April, but it brightened a bit in mid May and reached to 3 mag. Now it is fading. It is not observable in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps observable until it fades out.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   9 47.21   47  4.9   0.951   1.023    62    5.7     39.1  33.4  18:25 (164,  5)  
June 12  10  0.59   50 13.7   1.132   1.071    59    6.3     27.9  36.7  18:25 (163,  1)  

* C/2004 H6 ( SWAN )


New comet. It was faint as 11 mag in late April, but it brightened rapidly and reached to 7 mag in mid May. It is brightening still now although it has already passed the perihelion. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. It also becomes observable in the Northern Hemisphere in July. But it may fade out soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   3  8.36  -13 22.9   1.279   0.896    44    7.6     28.3 267.7   5:31 (270, 23)  
June 12   2 53.96  -13 25.8   1.185   0.968    51    8.1     32.1 270.3   5:34 (264, 33)  

* 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)  
June  5  18 50.75   43 47.2   1.718   2.254   108    9.7     50.8 294.8   1:58 (180, 11)  
June 12  18 16.88   45 55.0   1.604   2.170   109    9.4     58.3 285.2   0:57 (180,  9)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


It will be visible as bright as 10 mag until July. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps low 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)  
June  5   3 22.47   48 59.8   2.336   1.570    31    9.8     51.5  59.8   5:31 (221,-17)  
June 12   3 55.62   51 43.4   2.357   1.605    33    9.9     50.3  64.8   5:34 (219,-18)  

* 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)  
June  5   4 26.67   19  1.8   2.066   1.067     7   10.4     62.5  88.1   5:31 (254,-11)  
June 12   4 57.13   19  5.5   2.095   1.094     7   10.6     60.8  90.6   5:34 (254,-11)  

* 88P/Howell


Good condition in the Southern Hemisphere, but it locates low in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be higher after this, but also fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   0 42.55    0 10.0   1.599   1.486    64   10.6     38.8  67.9   5:31 (230, 43)  
June 12   0 58.89    1 48.7   1.588   1.516    67   10.8     36.6  68.2   5:34 (224, 43)  

* C/2004 F4 ( Bradfield )


It turened to fade rapidly after mid May, and reached to 10-11 mag in late May. It is observable in good condition in the Northern Hemisphere after this until it becomes fainter than 18 mag in late August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   1 23.55   52  0.7   1.732   1.323    49   12.2     21.0  15.9   5:31 (206, -5)  
June 12   1 27.29   54 16.8   1.817   1.458    53   13.0     19.1  11.4   5:34 (201, -5)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing at dawn. It is not in outburst now.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   0 19.43    9  5.4   6.049   5.724    66   13.6      8.1  56.7   5:31 (217, 38)  
June 12   0 22.47    9 35.7   5.947   5.724    72   13.6      7.3  55.0   5:34 (209, 41)  

* 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)  
June  5   7  9.07   12 13.1   2.512   1.763    33   14.0     40.4 101.9  18:25 (116, 14)  
June 12   7 27.73   11 11.9   2.570   1.794    32   14.2     39.8 103.2  18:25 (114, 13)  

* 78P/Gehrels 2


Observed as bright as expected. It will become brighter while getting higher after this. It will be visible visually at 13 mag in July, and be observable in good condition as bright as 11 mag in autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   0 38.23    8  8.5   2.600   2.317    62   14.9     27.8  68.0   5:31 (222, 37)  
June 12   0 50.39    9 20.4   2.505   2.291    66   14.6     27.7  68.4   5:34 (217, 38)  

* 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)  
June  5   0 55.87   15 38.2   4.774   4.293    56   14.9      3.5 329.6   5:31 (222, 28)  
June 12   0 54.71   15 58.3   4.709   4.341    62   14.9      4.1 312.0   5:34 (214, 32)  

* 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. It will turn to be visible in the morning sky in July, and it will be visible visually at 13 mag after September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5   6 12.41   68 50.0   4.888   4.273    47   15.7     10.9  92.1  18:25 (157,-28)  
June 12   6 26.84   68 48.0   4.830   4.199    46   15.6     11.5  90.5  18:25 (156,-29)  

* 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)  
June  5  13  7.35    9 22.0   2.496   3.081   116   15.9      7.2 183.6  20:10 (180, 46)  
June 12  13  7.63    8 28.7   2.565   3.068   110   15.9      8.2 168.7  19:43 (180, 47)  

* 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)  
June  5  15 39.44    0 18.5   1.290   2.232   150   15.9      9.0 226.0  22:42 (180, 55)  
June 12  15 36.91   -0 29.5   1.358   2.271   145   16.1      8.6 210.2  22:12 (180, 56)  

* 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)  
June  5  19 34.67  -18 45.6   1.863   2.736   142   16.2      9.4 259.4   2:41 (180, 74)  
June 12  19 29.60  -18 59.1   1.850   2.777   150   16.3     11.5 259.4   2:08 (180, 74)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


Although it kept as bright as 14 mag from February to April, it is fading rapidly now. It will be fainter than 18 mag in July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  12 42.66    1 32.7   1.932   2.527   114   16.3     11.7 152.8  19:46 (180, 54)  
June 12  12 45.65    0 19.1   2.036   2.554   108   16.6     12.9 145.0  19:21 (180, 55)  

* 48P/Johnson


It was 18.5 mag in April, 1 mag or more fainter than expected. It will be 16.5 mag at best from July to September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  20 16.05  -15 14.6   1.674   2.468   131   17.0      4.7 143.4   3:22 (180, 70)  
June 12  20 16.81  -15 45.4   1.599   2.452   138   16.9      5.0 176.5   2:55 (180, 71)  

* C/2003 E1 ( NEAT )


It keeps 17 mag until July, and keeps good condition until September when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  18 27.66   11 47.5   2.548   3.376   138   16.9      7.0 246.1   1:34 (180, 43)  
June 12  18 24.40   11 22.4   2.532   3.393   142   16.9      8.5 239.1   1:03 (180, 44)  

* 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)  
June  5  19  4.59   41  6.3   5.743   6.155   109   17.0      9.5 324.9   2:10 (180, 14)  
June 12  19  0.98   41 57.1   5.749   6.186   111   17.0      9.1 317.9   1:39 (180, 13)  

* 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)  
June  5  14 49.28   55 28.8   5.802   6.021    97   17.1     14.3 256.8  21:51 (180,  0)  
June 12  14 38.33   55  0.6   5.874   6.037    94   17.2     13.6 249.9  21:13 (180,  0)  

* 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)  
June  5  11 35.80   10 46.0   3.702   3.931    95   17.3      6.0 137.8  18:39 (180, 44)  
June 12  11 38.05   10 13.0   3.789   3.916    89   17.3      7.4 132.4  18:25 (176, 45)  

* C/2003 O1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps around 18 mag for a long time until 2005 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  17 51.24   46 24.4   6.457   6.867   109   17.4     13.9 282.0   0:58 (180,  9)  
June 12  17 41.89   46 39.7   6.456   6.871   110   17.4     14.0 276.2   0:21 (180,  8)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It will be observable around 17.5 mag at about 35 deg high until September.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
June  5  22  9.69  -15 22.6   3.237   3.644   105   17.5      2.8  85.2   5:15 (180, 70)  
June 12  22 10.60  -15 23.3   3.162   3.667   112   17.4      1.1 114.0   4:48 (180, 70)  

* 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)  
June  5  15  5.78    3 28.1   0.795   1.718   143   17.6     20.1   7.0  22:08 (180, 51)  
June 12  15  7.56    5 31.7   0.829   1.714   136   17.6     16.3  18.7  21:43 (180, 49)  

* C/2004 DZ61 ( Catalina-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)  
June  5  12 10.06   53 10.9   1.874   2.016    82   17.9     10.3  73.2  19:14 (180,  2)  
June 12  12 18.56   53 24.9   1.944   2.022    79   18.0     11.9  84.7  18:55 (180,  2)  

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