comet white–ortiz–bolelli was first spotted on may 18 by graeme white, an australian amateur astronomer in wollongong, new south wales. he sighted the comet in binoculars shortly after sunset, and described it as having a star-like head at apparent magnitude 1-2, and a short tail about 1 degree long. he spotted it again on may 20 by naked eye as well as binoculars, and by this time the tail had grown to 10° in length.