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Credit & Copyright: Erich Meyer and Herbert Raab, Austria
Explanation:
The pictured fuzzy patch
may become one of the most spectacular
comets this century. Although it is very hard to predict how bright a
comet
will become,
Comet Hale-Bopp,
named for its
discoverers,
was spotted farther from the
Sun
than any previous comet - a good sign that it could become
very bright, easily visible to the naked eye. This picture was
taken on July 25th 1995, only two days after its discovery. A
comet
bright enough to see without a telescope occurs only about once a decade. The
large
coma
and long
tail
of bright comets are so unusual and impressive
that they have been considered omens of change by many cultures. A
comet does not streak by in few seconds - but it may change its position
and structure noticeably from night to night.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Comet Hale-Bopp
Publications with words: Comet Hale-Bopp
See also: