Comet Hale-Bopp Facts for Kids

A Picture of Comet Hale-Bopp
  • Common Name: Comet Hale-Bopp
  • Offical Designation: C/1995 O1
  • Orbital Period: Between the years 2,520 and 2,533
  • Last Close Earth Visit: April 1st, 1997
  • Next Close Earth Visit: In the year 4385
  • Discovered: July 23rd, 1995
  • Discovered by: Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp

17 Comet Hale-Bopp Facts for Kids

  1. Hale-Bopp is a near-parabolic comet in our Solar System.
  2. Hale-Bopp is commonly called the Comet Hale-Bopp.
  3. Hale-Bopp is also known as The Great Comet of 1997 and C/1995 O1.
  4. The Hale-Bopp comet was discovered on July 23rd, 1995, by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp.
  5. Alan and Thomas didn’t discover Hale-Bopp together. They both discovered it separately on July 23rd, 1995.
  6. The Hale-Bopp comet was so bright it could be viewed with the naked eye for 18 months.
  7. Astronomers estimated that the rotation period of the Hale-Bopp comet was just under 12 hours.
  8. Astronomers estimate that the current orbital period of the Comet Hale-Bopp is between 2520 and 2533 years.
  9. Astronomers estimated that Hale-Bopp’s nucleus was between 25 and 50 miles in diameter.
  10. Astronomers detected organic chemicals via spectroscopic observations of the Comet Hale-Bopp.
  11. The easy visibility and heavy media coverage of the Comet Hale-Bopp make it the most-observed comet in history.
  12. The Hale-Bopp comet was nearest to Earth (perihelion) on April 1st, 1997.
  13. Astronomers estimate that the last time Hale-Bopp was nearest to Earth was in 2215 BCE or 4,200 years ago.
  14. The next time the Comet Hale-Bopp will be nearest to Earth is around the year 4385.
  15. Astronomers think the Hale-Bopp comet may have almost collided with Jupiter in 2215 BC.
  16. The Hale-Bopp comet holds the record for the longest visibility by a naked eye. You could see it with your naked eye for 18 months, which is twice as longer as the previous record holder, the Great Comet of 1811.
  17. Members of a cult called the Heaven’s Gate thought a spaceship was flying behind the Hale-Bopp comet. Sadly, 39 members committed suicide, believing they would be teleported to that spaceship.

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