Comet 2001 HT50 LINEAR-Neat

Comet 2001 HT50 LINEAR-NEAT, has been visible for several years as it slowly approached the sun, reaching a perihelion distance of about 2.79 AU in early July 2003. The comet reached a peak brightness of around magnitude 11 in November 2003.

Comet HT50 LINEAR-NEAT. October 19, 2003.
Combination of 4, 2 minute images, SBIG ST-9E CCD.
8" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain at prime focus.

After November 2003, the comet slowly faded. In June 2004, it was around magnitude 14, and by January 2005, it had faded to around magnitude 17.8.

Comet HT50 LINEAR-NEAT. June 4, 2004.
Combination of 5, 3 minute images, SBIG ST-9E CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with f/6.3 focal reducer.

Comet HT50 LINEAR-NEAT. January 6 and 7, 2005.
Mosiac of images taken on January 6 (right) and January 7 (left) 2005, showing the motion of the comet.
Each section is from a combination of 5, 2 minute images.
SBIG ST-8E CCD. 18" f/10.5 R-C cassegrain at prime focus.

Comet HT50 LINEAR-NEAT. October 2, 2005.
Combination of 3, 3 minute images, SBIG ST-9E CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with f/6.3 focal reducer.