Comet Hale-Bopp the "Comet of the Century" is
seen here gracing Stonehenge during its spectacular apparition
of Spring 1997 - a photograph never to be repeated in our
lifetime as Comet Hale-Bopp will not return until the year
4380.
The comet was last visible from Stonehenge 4,200 years
ago, during the time of actual construction of the stone
monument - what would our ancient forebears have made of
this fantastic apparition - what sort of terror may have
gone through their minds?
Recorded at 21:15 on 30th March 1997, two days before perihelion,
Hale-Bopp was in the constellation of Andromeda, close by
the border with Perseus. The star Almach Andromeda can be
seen to the left of the coma and part of Cassiopeiae can
be seen towards the top right of the frame.
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