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Reports from Geisei Observatory <December 5, 2003>


• LINEAR (C/2002 T7)
LINEAR (C/2002 T7) has been brightening and its tail lengthening daily. Around this time the tail is trailing in the opposite direction from the earth and rather difficult to see. In spite of that, the curved tail looks longer compared with the previous photo. The total magnitude was 8.1 on December 1 and it was easily visible in the 8cm finderscope. The comet is likely to brighten quickly and become larger.


C/2002 T7(LINEAR)
0.12 - 0.23 (J.S.T.) December 2, 2003
60cm f/3.5 reflector
TM400 film

• Fireball sighted on December 2
A bright fireball was seen in the northern sky about 17.20 on December 2. Reports on its sightings have been sent in from the Shikoku area, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures. Estimating from various reports, the magnitude was about -5 and the color changed from blue to red. It disappeared behind a hill in the north. I have received enquiries from NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) and Kochi Newspapers on this fireball.



Copyright (C) 2003 Tsutomu Seki.