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Credit: W. Pacholka
Explanation:
As 1997 fades, so does the Great Comet of 1997:
Comet Hale-Bopp. Discovered even
before the
Great Comet of 1996, Comet Hale-Bopp became
the brightest comet since
1976.
Many will remember
Comet Hale-Bopp as a comet with a
coma so bright it could be
seen by eye even when near the
Moon. Others will remember
spectacular photographs
that appeared in magazines and on the web.
Amateurs, inspired by the
beauty of the comet,
took most of these photographs.
In particular, today
APOD salutes
Wally Pacholka, who took the above famous photograph.
Mr. Pacholka reports that he repeatedly drove 150 miles to a
national park,
stayed up half the night, and took hundreds of photos while
carefully waving a flashlight to momentarily illuminate the foreground.
His equipment consisted only of a standard 35-mm camera which,
for pointing accuracy, he
piggybacked on a telescope bought at age 12 with money
earned from a paper route.
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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: