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I remember Bennett very well. At least I believe it was Bennett. It was probably the winter of 70-71. I was on a hunt in the Nevada desert, out where there was absolutely no light pollution at all. It was late or very early in the morning on a frigid cloudless night and I spied the comet in the west, the head low toward the horizon and the tail sweeping huge acrosss the sky. It startled me because I wasn't expecting to see a comet (I hadn't been following any news reports about it).

But I thought Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp were impressive, too. Had Hale-Bopp been as close as Hyakutake--that would have made for a memory of a millennium!

But I thought Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp were impressive, too. Had Hale-Bopp been as close as Hyakutake--that would have made for a memory of a millennium!

Hayakutake was especially prominent, if I remember correctly. With other comets, you look up and say "Now which one of those is the comet?" With Hayakutake, you'd look up and say "OH, Look at that!"

I have been collecting comets as well. Your post about the 70's reminds me of Kahoutek (sp) which i saw from Negril Jamaica. I also saw Halleys from Machu Pichu.

I use my homemade 8" reflector for some of the lessor comets, but binoculrs are usually the best.