Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Comet Hale-Bopp is being observed by many different telescopes. Here the comet is pictured behind the array of radio telescopes which compose the Plateau de Bure Interferometer. These telescopes are being used to detect the presence of different molecules in the coma and tail of Comet Hale-Bopp. Molecules detected in the comet include carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The abundance of different types of molecules in Comet Hale-Bopp's coma give clues to its composition and history, as well as clues to the composition and history of our Solar System. Comet Hale-Bopp has now rounded the Sun and is headed back out. It can still be seen by northern observers for several weeks in the northwest sky after sunset.

January February March April May June July August September October November December

<  April 1997   > Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Publications with keywords: Comet Hale-Bopp
Publications with words: Comet Hale-Bopp
See also:

• Comet Hale-Bopp Over Val Parola Pass
• Comet Hale Bopp Over the Superstition Mountains
• Exploring Comet Tails
• The Comet and the Galaxy
• Comet Hale Bopp Over Val Parola Pass
• The Dust and Ion Tales of Comet Hale-Bopp
• Comet Hale Bopp and the North America Nebula

All publications on this topic >>