In the meantime, professional observations will largely be restricted to the infrared and radio spectral regions. It is the impression that, while many observations have recently been made in various places, rather few of these have been quickly reduced and published. Many observers seem to be collecting long series of measurements which will later serve to document the development of this unusual object. The present report will therefore be accordingly short. More, recent observations from ESO La Silla will beceome available within a week or two.
Much interest is directed towards the current brightness predictions.
All cometary forecasts are based on at least two important types of observation. First, a careful study of the change of brightness, based on photometric measurements, with the eye by visual observers or, more objectively, with light detectors like CCDs. The second aims towards a classification of the comet. This is clearly visible on some of the regularly updated lightcurves, now accessible on the Web. Both of these appear to indicate that the present development, if maintained, will lead to a maximal brightness around 0 magnitude.