Astronomers are monitoring the many fragments of dying comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann as it approaches Earth for a close encounter in May 2006. Two new developments: Fragment B is in an accelerated state of decay. The mini-comet has become elongated and no longer displays a central condensation, according to IAU Electronic Telegram No. 473.
Fragment B is glowing like a 9th magnitude star, making it an easy target for backyard telescopes and CCD cameras. Amateur astronomers can actually watch this comet fall apart:
sky map,
ephemeris.
Meanwhile, further along the "string of pearls," fragment G has also split. Fresh ice exposed by the disruption is vaporizing, causing the comet to brighten nearly 15-fold since April 2nd. With a visual magnitude of 12 (IAU Circular No. 8701), fragment G is more challenging for amateurs, but no less tempting:
sky map,
ephemeris 
12-Apr-2006, 20:42
Comet News 
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