Leonard, potential Christmas comet

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Spotted at the start of the year, Leonard should become visible in the night sky early next month and pass closest to the sun on Jan 3rd.

 

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Potential for Mag 10 before the end of the month.
Leonard1.jpg
 

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As per the earlier link


The apparent magnitude independently observed is approximately four to five days ahead of all predictive curves, so Leonard could be more spectacular as it swings closer December time.

There is a relatively close rendezvous with Venus on the 18th of next month that might show the two within a few minutes of arc for observers on Earth.
 

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Further observations in the past day suggest Leonard will be under magnitiude 8 by the end of the week.

 

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Into the 6s, but not quite the shining star.


 
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Something odd about the comet's tail.


Where have I heard that before ?

 

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Hitchhikers? alien trojan horse?
 

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A week to go before brightest magnitude, estimated somewhere between 2.2 and 2.5

I'm wondering if the effect of Leonard passing close to Venus in a fortnight is likely to impact on the trajectory beyond that already predicted.
 
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