Famous Comets

There have been several famous comets throughout history. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

1. Halley's Comet: Halley's Comet is perhaps the most famous comet. It has a period of approximately 76 years and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye. It was named after the astronomer Edmond Halley, who predicted its return based on historical records. The last time Halley's Comet was visible from Earth was in 1986, and its next appearance is expected in 2061.

2. Comet Hale-Bopp: Comet Hale-Bopp was one of the most widely observed comets of the 20th century. It was discovered independently by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp in July 1995. Hale-Bopp became visible to the naked eye in 1996 and remained visible for over a year, making it one of the brightest comets in recent history.

3. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9: This comet made headlines in 1994 when it collided with the planet Jupiter. It was the first observed collision between two solar system bodies. The comet broke into multiple fragments, and each fragment created a series of impact scars on Jupiter's atmosphere.

4. Comet McNaught: Discovered in 2006 by Australian astronomer Robert H. McNaught, Comet McNaught (officially named C/2006 P1) became visible to the naked eye and was dubbed the "Great Comet of 2007." It had a very bright and impressive tail, making it a popular subject for photographers.

5. Comet ISON: Comet ISON was discovered in September 2012 and generated a lot of excitement as it approached the Sun. It was expected to become a very bright comet, but it disintegrated and did not survive its close encounter with the Sun in November 2013.

These are just a few examples of famous comets, but there have been many others that have fascinated astronomers and captured the public's imagination throughout history.