This comet was recovered by S. Sanchez, R. Stoss und J. Nomen rediscovered comet on June 17, 2003 as an object of magnitude 17 in Pegasus. It will pass perihelion in March 2004, expected to reach magnitude 12. Observers with large instruments can try observing this comet during fall and winter.
According to 11 observations by 2 members of the German comet section and 75 international ones its brightness evolution may be well described by the formula
m = 7.0m + 5 × log D + 18.5 × log r
resulting in a maximum brightness of 12.0 during the second half of February 2004. The apparent coma diameter increased from 0.7' at the start of the apparition to 1.6' in February 2004, thereafter being constant. The absolute coma diameter was in the order of 40.000 km during the first months, increasing to 150.000 km until April 2004. The coma showed a medium degree of condensation (DC 3-4) during the whole apparition.
Total Brightness and Coma Diameter
Andreas Kammerer
