The comet was too poorly placed for recovery in 1977, but it was observed during the 1983 and 1989 apparitions. The comet surprised astronomers during the 1996 return. During a late July outburst in brightness, the total magnitude reached about 11.8, making this the brightest observed apparition since 1941. Numerous observers reported the comet had become fainter than 13 by mid-August, but by late August reports again showed the comet near magnitude 11.8. The image is a 120-second exposure and the field of view is 25 by 18 arcmin .
North is up and east is to the left.