During the past few weeks the brightness of Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) has taken a decided upswing. According to S&T contributing editor John Bortle, the comet's overall performance has returned to its predicted track after a very prolonged period of stagnation. However, even though it has brightened to better than 5th magnitude, Hale-Bopp is slipping ever lower into the glare of evening twilight. Telescopically, Bortle reports, the comet has an intense, starlike nucleus, accompanied by a broad fan- shaped tail. Here are Hale-Bopp's positions for the coming week at 0 hours Universal Time:
Date R. A. Decl.
----------------------------
November 17 17h 51.2m -2d 5'
19 17 52.9 -1 54
21 17 54.6 -1 43
23 17 56.4 -1 30
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