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It had been brightening extremely rapidly for about two months since discovery. But now it is brightening in normal pace. It is observable until early February in the Northern Hemisphere in the evening sky. It will approach to the sun down to 0.1 AU on Feb. 18. It will not be observable after this in the Northern Hemisphere, but it will appear at dusk at 4 mag in March in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 23 1.98 7 13.1 0.936 0.651 39 5.3 56.1 254.1 18:54 ( 84, 21)
Feb. 8 22 34.21 4 44.1 0.953 0.443 26 3.9 73.0 245.7 19:00 ( 91, 7)
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It only brightened to 6 mag, and became too close to the sun to observe. In the SOHO images, it brightened after the perihelion passage and two broad tails were visible. It will appear at dusk soon in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, in March at 7 mag. Then it will fade out slowly.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 20 58.44 -26 31.8 1.129 0.223 9 4.3 157.4 142.2 18:54 ( 71,-22)
Feb. 8 22 0.78 -37 32.6 0.986 0.405 23 5.2 145.2 119.0 19:00 ( 58,-22)
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It brightened rapidly in January and already reached to 9 mag. It is a widely diffused object. It will reach to 6.5 mag in March and April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable until late April. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will not be observable until May.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 15 19.70 43 4.1 1.009 1.501 97 8.8 101.8 44.3 5:32 (233, 75)
Feb. 8 16 16.94 51 34.9 0.927 1.400 94 8.3 117.7 52.1 5:27 (219, 66)
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It will be observable in the good condition for a long time until spring. Strongly condensed and easy to see.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 12 9.90 44 7.9 1.275 2.064 131 10.5 7.5 224.0 3:27 (180, 81)
Feb. 8 12 5.33 43 24.2 1.248 2.072 135 10.5 11.4 231.1 2:55 (180, 82)
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Not observable. It will appear at dawn in June at 15.5 mag, then it will be fading.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 21 2.88 -17 32.1 2.648 1.663 1 12.1 43.7 75.8 18:54 ( 80,-17)
Feb. 8 21 23.27 -16 13.5 2.672 1.686 1 12.2 42.9 74.3 5:27 (277,-18)
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It brightened suddenly up to 12.5 mag visually and by photos in late December.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 23 25.08 4 41.6 2.181 1.604 42 12.1 43.4 58.9 18:54 ( 78, 25)
Feb. 8 23 42.71 7 19.1 2.204 1.595 40 12.1 44.2 59.2 19:00 ( 83, 23)
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It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in early 2003 and 2003 autumn.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 7 36.15 -1 56.3 2.314 3.220 152 12.2 44.4 284.7 22:49 ( 0, 53)
Feb. 8 7 16.48 -0 34.3 2.330 3.186 144 12.2 42.8 286.4 22:02 ( 0, 55)
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It was much fainter than this ephemeris, 17.4 mag on July 31 by Akimasa Nakamura. No further observations were reported, so the current brightness is uncertain.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 22 44.32 -6 9.1 2.405 1.611 28 13.5 47.0 60.5 18:54 ( 75, 10)
Feb. 8 23 3.30 -3 27.5 2.452 1.635 26 13.5 46.3 60.2 19:00 ( 80, 9)
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It was observed as bright as 12.5 mag in early January. But it faded out in late January, and became too faint to see visually.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 15 31.58 -26 26.7 1.625 1.664 74 13.5 34.5 239.3 5:32 (341, 26)
Feb. 8 15 13.57 -28 31.9 1.509 1.732 85 13.7 43.1 245.0 5:27 (351, 26)
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Not observable. It will be obervable again in April or May.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 21 33.34 -12 58.3 6.745 5.777 9 13.9 12.4 68.8 18:54 ( 80, -8)
Feb. 8 21 38.89 -12 26.5 6.758 5.775 4 13.9 12.5 68.4 19:00 ( 84,-14)
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It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 16 56.18 -20 40.8 2.927 2.522 56 14.0 25.4 101.2 5:32 (319, 23)
Feb. 8 17 8.54 -21 13.4 2.842 2.512 60 13.9 24.9 100.4 5:27 (322, 23)
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It reached to 14 mag by CCD, a bit brighter than expected.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 11 32.03 11 29.6 1.033 1.908 141 14.0 8.5 23.8 2:49 ( 0, 66)
Feb. 8 11 32.86 12 28.2 1.008 1.921 148 14.0 8.9 0.5 2:23 ( 0, 67)
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Although it was expected to be 11 mag, the brightening pace is very slow in this return. It is still 14.5 mag. It will be 13 mag at best in spring.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 14 51.12 -16 12.3 1.996 2.171 86 14.2 22.9 110.6 5:32 (349, 38)
Feb. 8 15 1.21 -17 6.3 1.919 2.173 91 14.1 21.2 110.4 5:27 (353, 38)
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It is observable in good condition at 14-15 mag until autumn.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 18 17.93 26 19.3 5.705 5.253 58 14.1 15.9 50.6 5:32 (262, 38)
Feb. 8 18 24.21 27 32.3 5.666 5.262 61 14.1 15.9 47.3 5:27 (262, 42)
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It will keep 14-15 mag until the end of 2003.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 8 18.22 28 51.6 2.067 3.031 165 14.4 49.8 276.6 23:30 ( 0, 84)
Feb. 8 7 51.91 29 18.3 2.070 2.990 154 14.3 48.6 272.7 22:36 ( 0, 84)
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It will reach to 7 mag in autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until July, when it reaches to 10 mag. After that, only southern people can observe it until December, when it fades to 9 mag.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 15 50.43 29 6.6 3.400 3.492 87 15.1 7.2 29.6 5:32 (280, 69)
Feb. 8 15 51.87 29 55.1 3.236 3.413 91 14.9 7.8 13.2 5:27 (283, 74)
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It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates low in the evening sky until February, then it will not be observable until 2004 spring.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 1 49.36 -37 43.8 6.164 5.841 66 15.1 5.5 14.0 18:54 ( 22, 13)
Feb. 8 1 50.46 -37 6.4 6.169 5.776 62 15.1 5.9 24.0 19:00 ( 28, 11)
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It keeps observable in good condition until April when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 9 51.34 21 57.6 0.915 1.887 166 15.1 7.5 335.2 1:09 ( 0, 77)
Feb. 8 9 49.44 22 42.6 0.929 1.909 170 15.3 7.3 324.9 0:40 ( 0, 78)
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It keeps good condition until May when it becomes fainter than 18 mag.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 11 58.87 11 57.6 1.405 2.220 135 15.2 10.4 304.5 3:16 ( 0, 67)
Feb. 8 11 53.98 12 41.2 1.400 2.272 143 15.4 13.4 298.9 2:44 ( 0, 68)
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It became a bit fainter after the perihelion passage.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 15 9.53 41 27.3 4.063 4.327 98 15.3 4.6 334.2 5:32 (235, 78)
Feb. 8 15 7.72 41 57.7 4.030 4.362 103 15.3 5.9 320.2 5:27 (218, 81)
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It keeps 15 mag until spring, but it will be low for the northern observers.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 15 23.37 -30 56.7 3.270 3.172 75 15.3 14.2 219.8 5:32 (344, 22)
Feb. 8 15 17.61 -32 13.1 3.170 3.210 83 15.3 16.2 227.6 5:27 (351, 22)
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It had brightened very rapidly since September and reached to 15 mag in late November. On the contrary, it has been at 15.5 mag for two months after that. It is only observable until spring. It is not observable around the perihelion passage.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 3 50.96 16 47.2 2.173 2.642 107 15.4 3.6 51.0 19:06 ( 0, 72)
Feb. 8 3 53.01 17 5.1 2.226 2.601 100 15.3 6.3 63.2 19:00 ( 15, 72)
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The brightening pace is slow and it has been around 15.5 mag since late October.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 17 1.27 23 46.8 1.239 1.301 70 15.5 20.7 176.9 5:32 (276, 52)
Feb. 8 17 1.09 21 25.0 1.219 1.345 74 15.6 20.0 185.5 5:27 (284, 56)
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It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 4 37.97 27 47.0 5.329 5.885 120 15.8 8.6 260.3 19:52 ( 0, 83)
Feb. 8 4 33.86 27 37.0 5.375 5.818 112 15.8 7.2 259.1 19:21 ( 0, 83)
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It keeps 16 mag until June.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 13 32.40 36 32.2 5.535 6.045 116 16.0 3.4 329.7 4:50 (180, 88)
Feb. 8 13 31.05 36 53.0 5.499 6.075 121 15.9 4.2 315.4 4:21 (180, 88)
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It will be 14 mag from spring to summer. No observations have been reported since 2002 June, so the current brightness is uncertain.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 15 27.76 -12 42.2 3.150 3.114 78 16.1 16.6 97.1 5:32 (337, 39)
Feb. 8 15 35.44 -12 54.5 3.023 3.083 84 16.0 15.7 95.5 5:27 (342, 40)
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It will be observable at 16-17 mag until the end of 2003.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 1 6.26 13 59.7 4.284 4.039 69 16.6 4.6 262.2 18:54 ( 68, 50)
Feb. 8 1 4.46 13 57.7 4.395 4.022 61 16.6 3.0 270.8 19:00 ( 76, 43)
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It is observable at 16.5 mag in this winter and in next winter.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 4 4.51 -7 16.9 3.671 4.022 103 16.9 10.1 12.2 19:19 ( 0, 48)
Feb. 8 4 5.91 -6 7.0 3.753 4.014 98 16.9 10.8 20.9 19:00 ( 3, 49)
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The ephemeris says it is 17 mag at dusk in February. But it will not appear as predicted. It must have reached to 18 mag at meridian transit in the evening in 2002 autumn, but not recovered. It implies the comet is really fainter than this ephemeris.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 1 25.41 15 31.4 1.397 1.470 73 17.1 40.9 74.5 18:54 ( 65, 55)
Feb. 8 1 45.09 16 47.7 1.421 1.454 71 17.0 42.9 75.2 19:00 ( 70, 53)
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It keeps 17 mag until April.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 9 26.58 16 27.1 4.598 5.576 172 17.1 9.8 322.8 0:45 ( 0, 71)
Feb. 8 9 23.68 17 21.3 4.611 5.597 177 17.1 9.7 322.1 0:14 ( 0, 72)
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It did not begin to fade even after the perihelion passage, it kept 16 mag for a while. Now it has already begun to fade out gradually.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 4 52.83 34 14.6 2.703 3.348 123 17.4 3.1 140.2 20:08 ( 0, 89)
Feb. 8 4 54.52 33 58.5 2.808 3.370 116 17.6 4.6 119.0 19:42 ( 0, 89)
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It is getting fainter gradually. It keeps brighter than 18 mag until March.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 8 57.63 27 27.5 7.262 8.233 169 17.6 11.2 293.7 0:16 ( 0, 82)
Feb. 8 8 52.26 27 57.7 7.311 8.269 165 17.6 10.9 292.3 23:38 ( 0, 83)
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Asteroid with a cometary orbit. It will be 15.7 mag at opposition in early September in 2003.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 1 2 18.02 54 58.5 2.176 2.521 98 17.7 33.3 213.2 18:54 (151, 66)
Feb. 8 2 5.99 51 52.2 2.271 2.481 90 17.8 28.2 207.0 19:00 (136, 62)
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