[yarddog]

Hale-Bopp was the only comet I have ever seen. I tried to see Halley’s comet and even bought a telescope but never saw it.

I was visiting my parents around 1997. They lived in the middle of nowhere and Hale-Bopp was visible. I set up a 22 power spotting scope and it was clear tho still pretty small.

My parents were getting ready for bed when I asked them if they wanted to see a comet. They were in their 80s and I wa a bit surprised when they came outside.

The spotter was a good one with ED glass elements. Maybe I will get it out again.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Comet Hyakutake in March of '96 was way brighter than Hale-Bopp but it went really fast past Earth.

At closest approach that tail spread across half the night sky and you could literally SEE the comet moving against the background stars from one minute to the next. It was incredible.