Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Comet Hale-Bopp's recent encounter with the inner Solar System allowed many breath-taking pictures. Above, Comet Hale-Bopp was photographed on March 8th in the constellation of Cygnus. Visible on the right in red is the North American Nebula, a bright emission nebula observable from a dark location with binoculars. The North American Nebula is about 1500 light years away, much farther than the comet, which was about 8 light minutes away. Several bright blue stars from the open cluster M39 are visible just above the comet's blue ion tail.

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

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