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Hyakutake comet

author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-com04-00017

Image Size 300 DPI: 28 * 22 cm

Comet Hyukatake (Comet C/1996 B2) was the surprise comet of 1996. It was discovered with binoculars on January 30 and on March 25 passed within 0.1 Astronomical Units (15 million km) of the earth. That's close! As a result of its proximity its tail had the greatest extent of any comet in recent times. From a dark site it was 100 degrees long, arching over more than half the sky. The comet was visible to the naked eye for about two months just before and after its close approach. Comet Hyukatake is an infrquent visitor and is not expected to visit the inner solar system again for another 25,000 years.

Keywords for this photo:

1996 - AAO - ASTRONOMY - COMET - HYAKUTAKE - SIDING SPRING - STAR -