Near infrared spectroscopic observation of Comet LINEAR (C/2002T7), which will approach the Earth in May 2004 and it is expected to be very bright, was carried out with the Subaru Telescope in September 2003.

After analyzing the spectral data, we discovered water icy grains in the coma of Comet LINEAR. Comet Hale-Bopp is the first example of the detection of water icy grains in a cometary coma, and this time is the second one.

Link

More info: Subaru telescope web page