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<\/a><\/p>\nCurrently around 8th magnitude the comet is passing south of M81 and M82 in Ursa Major over the next few days.
\nThe map below shows a close up of its path at this time. Click on the chart for a closer view.<\/p>\n
The full path of the comet during this apparition is shown at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n During the month it moves very slowly westwards through Ursa Major toward Camelopardalis.<\/p>\n It finally reaches that constellation , which it reaches by the end of April.<\/p>\n It crosses towards Perseus, which by this time, (mid May) its apparent speed will have started to accelerate and the comet should brighten even more as it approaches The Sun. At this time it will be visible fairly low down in the north western sky, above and to the right of Venus just after sunset. Here’s one of my old images of Hale-Bopp put into a Stellarium view of the sky on the 18th of May 2020 at about 22:30 UT.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUnfortunately it is now heading towards the evening twilight as it passes through Perseus as it approaches perihelion.<\/p>\n
\nHow bright it could be at this time remains to be seen. It has the potential to become a naked eye object.
\nBut we all know just how unpredictable comets can be.<\/p>\n
\nWe can only keep our fingers crossed that it does give us a very nice display like this (or maybe better?) in the evenings fading light.
\nOf course I have used an extreme amount of artistic license here. But hey, we can always dream.<\/p>\n