FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR)

[Jeff Hopkins <phxjeff@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Spaceweather News for Feb. 15, 2004
http://spaceweather.com

Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) is approaching Earth and brightening every day.
It's not yet a naked-eye object, but the 7th-magnitude fuzzball is easy to
see through backyard telescopes. The comet lies not far from brilliant
Venus in the western sky after sunset.

For the next three months, the comet will continue to brighten as it nears
Earth. May 19th is the date of closest approach (0.27 AU). At that time
C/2002 T7 might glow brighter than a 1st magnitude star--easily seen with
the unaided eye. (Note: there is considerable uncertainty about how bright
this object will become.) In May you'll have to be in the southern
hemisphere to see it easily. Now is the best time for northern hemisphere
observers to look, before the comet plunges south.
-- 
Jeff Hopkins
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
HPO SOFT
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