From: TerryMosel@aol.com
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 13:03:40 EST
Subject: Another Bright Comet? - NEAT!
Hi all,
Here's another comet which may reach unaided visibility in late January &
early Feb. (I have to try to remember not to use "n***d eye" visibility, as
some 'Net-Nanny' minders block it!).
Prof Mark Bailey gave me the following details:
COMET C/2002 V1 (NEAT): Discovered by the 'NEAT' auto-search facility, this
comet is currently predicted to be around 8th magnitude, and to reach mag 2
or brighter when near Perihelion. It is now moving Westwards, then rapidly
SouthWestwards, in Pisces. It is currently within a binocular field North of
Epsilon Piscium, and passes just below the left side of the Square of Pegasus
on Jan 12-13, and below the right side on Jan 30-31.
Orbital elements:
C/2002 V1 (NEAT)
T = 2003 Feb. 18.3013 TT
q = 0.099329 (2000.0)
omega (Peri.) = 152.1513
OMEGA (Node) = 64.0839
e (ecc) = 1.0
i (Incl.) 81.8229
(From 762 observations 2002 Nov. 6-Dec. 30.)
The following ephemeris is from orbital elements on MPEC 2002-Y60 (the
magnitudes below assume H_15 = 6.5, though any prediction of the comet's
brightness close to perihelion is necessarily highly uncertain):
2002/03 R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase mag.
Jan. 01 1 01.99 +12 50.3 0.807 1.367 99.1 45.3 8.1
06 0 38.50 +11 54.8 0.825 1.265 88.3 51.0 7.6
11 0 17.28 +11 02.1 0.847 1.159 78.2 56.1 7.1
16 23 58.01 +10 12.1 0.871 1.049 68.6 60.8 6.5
21 23 40.13 + 9 23.0 0.894 0.933 59.3 65.1 5.8
26 23 22.94 + 8 30.8 0.916 0.810 50.3 69.3 4.9
31 23 05.57 + 7 28.0 0.934 0.679 41.3 73.4 3.8
Feb. 5 22 46.83 + 6 00.5 0.947 0.536 32.1 77.9 2.3
10 22 24.90 + 3 35.5 0.957 0.377 22.3 83.3 ?
15 21 56.89 - 01 38.4 0.970 0.194 11.3 89.6 ?
20 21 53.19 - 17 11.6 1.014 0.134 7.5 75.3 ?
Re Comet Kudo-Fujikawa, the last time I looked for it, on the evening of
28/12, I couldn't see it at all in 30x80 binocs, although I was looking
through some light pollution. But it's certainly not prominent yet. I would
estimate that it was below total integrated mag 8 that night, or I would have
seen it. There may be large daily or hourly fluctuations in its brightness,
so don't give up!
Good Luck!
And another reminder:
IAA XMAS /NEW YEAR PARTY: Don't forget to book your ticket(s) for the social
event of the year, on Saturday 4 January, 7.30 p.m., at the Tudor Private
Cinema, Comber. The film is 'Space Cowboys', and a great selection of buffet
food & drinks are included in the price. Full details were sent out with
STARDUST: if you've lost them, or didn't get them, contact me immediately by
return, or John Hall, tel 9084 3109, or email at <
jimmyaquarius@btinternet.com>. Great fun, and great value, with various
family tickets available.
Finally, following my own 'locating' advice, I did spot Mercury low in the
SSW on 28 December, but it was only barely visible to the unaided eye. Did
any of the other pundits who predicted its 'unqualified' visibility
throughout December manage to see it without optical aid before Xmas? I doubt
it! Better opportunities await in the Spring...
Happy New Year, & clear skies, to all.
Terry Moseley
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