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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. 8 22 34.21 4 44.1 0.953 0.443 26 3.9 73.0 245.7 20:35 ( 83,-18)
Feb. 15 21 56.89 -1 38.5 0.969 0.194 11 0.9 138.5 222.6 20:25 ( 67,-25)
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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. In the Southern Hemisphere, it started to be observed in the low sky, around 5.5 mag. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear again in March in the evening sky 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. 8 22 0.78 -37 32.6 0.986 0.405 23 5.2 145.2 119.0 20:35 ( 45, 4)
Feb. 15 23 28.41 -42 54.7 0.890 0.595 36 5.7 155.4 98.2 20:25 ( 50, 18)
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It brightened rapidly in January and already reached to 8 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. 8 16 16.94 51 34.9 0.927 1.400 94 8.3 117.7 52.1 3:52 (208, -6)
Feb. 15 17 44.14 58 33.4 0.893 1.300 87 7.9 123.7 68.4 4:01 (208,-16)
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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. 8 12 5.33 43 24.2 1.248 2.072 135 10.5 11.4 231.1 2:55 (180, 12)
Feb. 15 11 58.64 42 25.9 1.229 2.083 139 10.5 15.3 231.6 2:21 (180, 13)
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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. 8 23 42.71 7 19.1 2.204 1.595 40 12.1 44.2 59.2 20:35 ( 96, -5)
Feb. 15 0 0.81 9 56.9 2.229 1.591 39 12.1 44.8 59.8 20:25 ( 98, -7)
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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. 8 7 16.48 -0 34.3 2.330 3.186 144 12.2 42.8 286.4 22:02 (180, 55)
Feb. 15 6 58.04 0 51.5 2.375 3.153 135 12.2 39.7 288.1 21:16 (180, 54)
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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. 8 21 23.27 -16 13.5 2.672 1.686 1 12.2 42.9 74.3 3:52 (305,-17)
Feb. 15 21 43.02 -14 49.5 2.696 1.710 2 12.3 42.1 73.1 4:01 (301,-15)
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Although no observations had been reported since last July, Yuuji Ohshima observed it on Feb. 3 and confirmed that now it is bright as 14.4 mag. However, it will soon be too low to observe.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 8 23 3.30 -3 27.5 2.452 1.635 26 13.5 46.3 60.2 20:35 ( 81, -7)
Feb. 15 23 21.87 -0 47.4 2.502 1.663 25 13.6 45.4 60.0 20:25 ( 83, -8)
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It was observed as bright as 12.5 mag in early January. It seems to keep 12.5 mag still in early February.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 8 15 13.57 -28 31.9 1.509 1.732 85 13.7 43.1 245.0 3:52 (266, 61)
Feb. 15 14 49.57 -30 36.7 1.399 1.802 96 13.8 53.5 251.0 4:01 (259, 74)
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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. 8 17 8.54 -21 13.4 2.842 2.512 60 13.9 24.9 100.4 3:52 (273, 35)
Feb. 15 17 20.67 -21 43.1 2.755 2.503 64 13.8 24.2 99.7 4:01 (270, 40)
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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. 8 21 38.89 -12 26.5 6.758 5.775 4 13.9 12.5 68.4 20:35 ( 60,-18)
Feb. 15 21 44.44 -11 53.9 6.761 5.774 2 13.9 12.5 68.0 4:01 (299,-17)
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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. 8 11 32.86 12 28.2 1.008 1.921 148 14.0 8.9 0.5 2:23 (180, 43)
Feb. 15 11 32.17 13 32.7 0.991 1.934 155 14.0 9.9 343.1 1:55 (180, 42)
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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. 8 15 1.21 -17 6.3 1.919 2.173 91 14.1 21.2 110.4 3:52 (244, 58)
Feb. 15 15 10.53 -17 56.0 1.844 2.177 95 14.0 19.4 110.5 4:01 (236, 63)
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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. 8 18 24.21 27 32.3 5.666 5.262 61 14.1 15.9 47.3 3:52 (242, -8)
Feb. 15 18 30.26 28 50.3 5.625 5.271 64 14.1 16.0 44.0 4:01 (237, -4)
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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. 8 7 51.91 29 18.3 2.070 2.990 154 14.3 48.6 272.7 22:36 (180, 26)
Feb. 15 7 26.65 29 21.2 2.105 2.950 142 14.3 45.4 268.8 21:44 (180, 26)
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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. 8 15 51.87 29 55.1 3.236 3.413 91 14.9 7.8 13.2 3:52 (217, 14)
Feb. 15 15 52.29 30 53.4 3.073 3.334 96 14.7 9.0 358.1 4:01 (210, 17)
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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. 8 1 50.46 -37 6.4 6.169 5.776 62 15.1 5.9 24.0 20:35 ( 69, 43)
Feb. 15 1 52.14 -36 29.1 6.168 5.711 58 15.0 6.3 32.6 20:25 ( 69, 39)
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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. 8 9 49.44 22 42.6 0.929 1.909 170 15.3 7.3 324.9 0:40 (180, 32)
Feb. 15 9 47.27 23 19.7 0.954 1.934 169 15.5 6.2 317.4 0:10 (180, 32)
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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. 8 15 17.61 -32 13.1 3.170 3.210 83 15.3 16.2 227.6 3:52 (274, 62)
Feb. 15 15 10.05 -33 29.3 3.071 3.250 91 15.3 18.7 234.6 4:01 (272, 71)
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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. 8 3 53.01 17 5.1 2.226 2.601 100 15.3 6.3 63.2 20:35 (148, 31)
Feb. 15 3 56.40 17 26.5 2.281 2.560 94 15.3 8.9 68.2 20:25 (144, 29)
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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. 8 15 7.72 41 57.7 4.030 4.362 103 15.3 5.9 320.2 3:52 (203, 8)
Feb. 15 15 4.76 42 30.2 4.001 4.398 107 15.4 7.3 310.0 4:01 (196, 10)
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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. 8 11 53.98 12 41.2 1.400 2.272 143 15.4 13.4 298.9 2:44 (180, 42)
Feb. 15 11 47.73 13 27.2 1.405 2.324 151 15.5 15.7 294.9 2:10 (180, 42)
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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. 8 17 1.09 21 25.0 1.219 1.345 74 15.6 20.0 185.5 3:52 (235, 10)
Feb. 15 16 59.28 19 7.2 1.192 1.394 78 15.6 20.3 195.7 4:01 (230, 18)
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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. 8 4 33.86 27 37.0 5.375 5.818 112 15.8 7.2 259.1 20:35 (162, 25)
Feb. 15 4 30.48 27 27.8 5.428 5.751 104 15.8 5.8 257.7 20:25 (157, 24)
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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. 8 15 35.44 -12 54.5 3.023 3.083 84 16.0 15.7 95.5 3:52 (247, 49)
Feb. 15 15 42.67 -13 2.9 2.897 3.051 89 15.8 14.6 93.6 4:01 (240, 55)
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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. 8 13 31.05 36 53.0 5.499 6.075 121 15.9 4.2 315.4 3:52 (186, 18)
Feb. 15 13 29.01 37 13.3 5.471 6.105 126 15.9 4.9 304.8 3:51 (180, 18)
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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. 8 1 4.46 13 57.7 4.395 4.022 61 16.6 3.0 270.8 20:35 (113, 7)
Feb. 15 1 3.36 14 0.1 4.499 4.005 54 16.6 1.8 291.2 20:25 (110, 3)
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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. 8 4 5.91 -6 7.0 3.753 4.014 98 16.9 10.8 20.9 20:35 (135, 53)
Feb. 15 4 8.09 -4 56.5 3.837 4.007 92 16.9 11.5 28.3 20:25 (131, 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. 8 1 45.09 16 47.7 1.421 1.454 71 17.0 42.9 75.2 20:35 (122, 13)
Feb. 15 2 5.84 18 3.2 1.446 1.442 69 17.0 44.6 76.1 20:25 (123, 12)
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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. 8 9 23.68 17 21.3 4.611 5.597 177 17.1 9.7 322.1 0:14 (180, 38)
Feb. 15 9 20.77 18 14.4 4.640 5.617 170 17.1 9.5 322.1 23:39 (180, 37)
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As it is a very far object, it keeps 17 mag until 2004 summer.
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Date(TT) R.A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 Mot.(') p.a. Best Time(A, h)
Feb. 8 19 2.94 17 28.4 6.563 5.946 47 17.3 8.5 28.8 3:52 (256,-10)
Feb. 15 19 4.82 18 23.1 6.493 5.933 51 17.3 8.9 23.4 4:01 (250, -4)
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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. 8 4 54.52 33 58.5 2.808 3.370 116 17.6 4.6 119.0 20:35 (168, 20)
Feb. 15 4 57.30 33 43.6 2.918 3.393 110 17.7 6.2 109.0 20:25 (165, 19)
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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. 8 8 52.26 27 57.7 7.311 8.269 165 17.6 10.9 292.3 23:38 (180, 27)
Feb. 15 8 47.01 28 25.2 7.379 8.304 158 17.6 10.4 290.9 23:06 (180, 27)
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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. 8 2 5.99 51 52.2 2.271 2.481 90 17.8 28.2 207.0 20:35 (149, -9)
Feb. 15 1 58.19 49 6.8 2.372 2.442 82 17.8 23.7 201.5 20:25 (144,-10)
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