... ACC ) Explanation: Which is closer: the comet or the galaxy? ... In its trek through the inner Solar System , Comet Hale-Bopp has passed nearly in front of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), seen on the lower left. At the time of this picture, March 27 th , Comet Hale-Bopp was about 10 light-minutes from the Earth , while M31 remained about 3 million light- years distant. ... Publications with keywords: Andromeda - Comet Hale-Bopp . Publications with words: Andromeda - Comet Hale-Bopp . ...