Comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) approaches within 0.1018 AUs of Earth on this day.
The European Union's Veterinarian Committee banned the export of British beef and its by-products as a result of "mad cow disease" (BSE).
On February 1 several observers had began to view this comet. It was described as very diffuse, with magnitude estimates ranging from 8.9 to 11.7. Experienced observers estimated the coma as 2.5 to 3 arc minutes across, with a bright, near-stellar central condensation.
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