The Hale-Bopp Comet
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The Hale-Bopp Comet was discovered on 23 July 1995 while still a very long distance away from
the Sun in the outer reaches of the solar system.
Originally designated C/1995 O1 the Hale Bopp Comet was one of the most widely seen comets
of the twentieth century and one of the brightest ever seen. It was visible to the naked eye
for an incredible 18 months, twice as long as the previous record holder, the Great Comet
of 1811 and was called the Great Comet of 1997. When it passed close to the Sun at the
perihelion of it's orbit it met or exceeded most predictions about it's brightness.
The Hale-Bopp comet inspired more panic about comets then was known for decades, including
bizzare rumours about alien spacecraft following along behind it. The comet was named after
the two independent observers, Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp, who discovered it near the
globular cluster M70 in the constellation of Sagittarius.
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