Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) donbâledâr-e Hale-Bopp, domdâr-e ~ (#) Fr.: comète Hale-Bopp One of the brightest comets seen in the twentieth century, even though it came no closer to Earth than 1.32 AU (on 22 March 1997). It was visible to the naked eye for many months. The → nucleus of Hale-Bopp was estimated to be about 30 to 40 km across. Hale-Bopp has an orbital period of 2,380 years and is predicted to be seen again in AD 4377. Discovered independently by American amateur astronomers Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp on July 22, 1995; → comet. |