... Credit Copyright: Guido Pizarro, ESO Explanation: Where is Hale-Bopp now? The Great Comet of 1997 , one of the largest and most active comets ever, is outbound about 400 million miles from the sun. ... Clearly the comet still has a substantial tail , blown by the solar wind , that points generally away from the sunward direction. ... A spiky "anti-tail" is also visible pointing toward the sun! ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...