Hale—Bopp

views updated May 08 2018

Hale—Bopp A comet with an orbital period of more than 4000 years; perihelion date 31 March 1997; perihelion distance 0.914 AU.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

Hale–Bopp

views updated May 14 2018

Hale–Bopp a periodic comet which passed close to the sun in the spring of 1997 and was one of the brightest of the 20th century. It was exceptionally large and active, has a period of just over 4,000 years, and was the first comet to exhibit a sodium tail. Named after Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp, the American astronomers who discovered it (independently of each other).

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

Hale-Bopp

All Sources -
Updated Aug 08 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like