Reports from Geisei Observatory <January 22, 2003>

• C/2002 V1(NEAT)
The following is the observation made at Geisei Observatory.

2003U.T       R.A.(2000)    Decl.       m1
Jan.21.38715  23 38 46.47  +9 19 06.8   5.7   372
    21.40382  23 38 42.93  +9 18 56.4         372

The coma is firm and shows a 40'-long faint tail in PA 70. It will reach perihelion on February 18 and get as close as 0.1AU to the Sun. As generally predicted, will it not be seen after passing perihelion? My impression of the comet when I saw its magnificent appearance was that it would become a great comet. It reminded me of Pajdusakova's Comet which disappeared in 1953 and Comet Seki-Lines in 1962 which survived perihelion. Both of them had a perihelion distance of 0.01 AU. Watch out for a great comet in the evening sky late in February !

C/2002 V1 (NEAT)
Five-minute exposure from 18:35 on January 21, 2003.
60-cm f/3.5 reflector
TP6415 film
Tsutomu Seki at Geisei Observatory