OTD in Space – March 22: Comet Hale-Bopp Flies by Earth

On March 22, 1997, a super bright comet by the name of Hale-Bopp made its closest approach to Earth. It was bright enough for people to see without telescopes or binoculars for over 18 months. Comet Hale-Bopp still holds the record for being visible to the naked eye for longer than any other comet, and it was probably the most-viewed comet in history. It passed by Earth at a safe distance of about 120 million miles before continuing its orbit around the sun. As it got closer to the sun, its two blue and white tails grew bigger and brighter. By the time it made it to the sun on April 1, it was shining brighter than every star in the sky except for Sirius.

[presentthepast]

i was lucky to be traveling on a plane when i was 9 years old in spring of 1997. they were having viewing sessions on the plane and all the kids would go to the windows and look at the this comet! the captain announced that the skies were spectacular that night, and turned off the cabin lights and we all looked at the comet! we were above the clouds and it happened to be night time while we were flying over the atlantic somewhere....and i saw it. the two tailed comet, bright as ever, sitting there in the sky right by the stars.


the flight attendant asked "do you want to see more?" and everyone took turns viewing this beauty. the captain turned the plane a bit so everyone on both sides could see. that image of me walking up to the plane window and looking out... and looking at this fantastic wonder is something that will stick with me for the rest of my life! its just like phil on hey arnold "look up boys!! tweenntty threee skadooo!! boys? you're going to remember this for the rest of your lives"


and that's damn right. I will remember that moment until i grow old and die. :) what a sight to see....what a marvel our universe is.

[lauragf.]

I was 27. Sitting in my balcony in Helsinki, where the nights during winter and begining of the spring, are long. During two months I saw the Halebop passing, without hurry, , it was one of the most beautiful thing I ve seen

[jaimie]

My daughter was 2. She wouldn't go to bed until we went outside to see the comet. I can still remember how she'd grab my hand and say "Hale-Bopp! Hale-Bopp time, Mom!" all the way to the door.

[yoced]

I was 7 I remember that but wasn’t old enough to realize how rare a night sky like that was

[Lexyvil]

I miss this comet...It was the one I grew up watching as a 6-7 year old, and I'm heartbroken I won't see it again in my life as the next time humankind will see it will be in 4385...
It makes me wish I knew sooner how rare of an event it was, so I could cherish it more.

[raychukk]

Back then 1997 in Malaysia Sabah, I was 12 at that time and my Japanese neighbor who was a meteor enthusiast, took out his professional long telescope at the backyard, I was lucky enough to see halley comet with my naked eye!!!!

[frankjager]

Almost 100, 000 mph and it looked like it was standing still in the night sky for a couple days

[Hale-Bopp]

I was 16 when it appeared.. It was really an spectacular sight! I am 42 years old now and this beautiful comet remain as one of my most treasured memory in my life watching it on top of a hill with my high school sweetheart every night of year 1997🤩😍

[hfontanez]

I remember walking out at night just to stare at it. It was an amazing experience.

[aleisterseverusgrey]

I was 24 and was a passenger going to a friends at night and looked out and saw it. The only thing these pictures do not show is the moving nucleus that looked like HD cgi that didn't exist yet. I was terrified and In awe...I will never forget!

[ranavalona]

I well remember that early spring, gazing up at this beautiful visitor. It was oddly comforting, somehow. A sign that we were not entirely alone.

[melv]

I was a line haul truck driver for Roadway Express back then every night I went from Tannersville Pennsylvania to Bangor, Maine, every night was a mesmerizing show in the sky

[MilitaryGamer]

I still remember that. I was only 14 at the time now I'm 35

[blazedchevy]

Was at a Steve Miller concert in Tucson Az, Serenade was the song playing dedicated to Hale Bopp that night.

[Centrist]

It was very clear from where I lived at that time (Bushmills, Northern Ireland) as a 12 year old

[nash]

I was 3 years old but I can vividly remember my parents picking me up, pointing towards this bright, white and blue fuzz in the sky. Certainly a core memory for me. ❤️

Everyone who saw it was lucky considering Hale-Bopp only comes around once every 2399 years.

[greenman]

Hale Bopp was the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen. If I hadn't had it explained to me what it was, I would have been very alarmed by it. So I can easily see why regular people - which is what I am - of the past could be frightened as well as intrigued by comets.

I lived in North London, one of the world's largest cities, so much constant light pollution.
But all day and all night, I could see the comet with my naked eyes. You couldn't see it move, but you notice that it had changed position a bit each day eg..it's nearer to a particular tree branch one day.
Such an amazing and beautiful thing. Not just once in a lifetime. Once in thousands of lifetimes.

[TiagoSilva-sdyr]

I was around 10, it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw!

[Hi_Steppin]

I was 5 apparently but I vividly remember how cool it was. I stared at it for so long. It seemed WAY closer than 120 million miles though. That doesn't make no sense.

[FilipinoMusicians]

I remember pitching water at dawn with my parents. I was 9 years old. While looking at this comet, It's like a picture in the sky. It was so beautiful. The next time I looked at it, the tail was in different direction already. So lucky to witness the visit of this comet.