greatest comet

[algol]

With a lot of us turning our attention to jacques this month, what would you guys rate as your best comet viewed?

Doesn't have to be the brightest, could be twin tailed etc.

Any pics of said objects would be nice but not required.

[davedownsouth]

With out a doubt, Hale Bopp for me

[hobsey]

With out a doubt, Hale Bopp for me

Same as its the only I've seen.

[JB80]

No pics but hands down Comet McNaught in 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2006_P1#mediaviewer/File:Sat_comet_WEB.jpg

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Hale-Bopp for me too, allthough Hyakutake gave it a run for its money.

Hyakutake

Hale-Bopp

These are scans of prints of slides, so not very good, but you get the picture

[John]

As above for me too.

I did see Halley's Comet in 1986 with the 6" Newtonian I owned back then but it was far from impressive even in the scope, despite it's fame.

I thought Comet Holmes was very interesting in 2007. It was nicknamed the "fried egg" comet due to it's distinctive looks !

[Astronigel]

Hale Bop for me also , what a great year that was.. hale bop then solar eclipse in August..perfect time for camping down in Devon

[Paul M]

Hale-Bopp for me too, even though it almost overstayed its welcome!

Perhaps the comet that gave the most "Oooh!" was Hyakutake. A very swift and spectacular visitor that I only got to see through gaps in the clouds.

[ronin]

Hale Bopp, got a decent poicture of it (film) and they didn't print it as they thought it was a smudge on a picture that had gone wrong.         

[Paul M]

The greatest comet I didn't see is comet West from the mid 70's.

I looked and looked for that one and despite good conditions never got a single glimpse. I guess I just didn't know what I was looking for and had no one to show me.

[swamp thing]

Another vote for Hale-Bopp. Great comet.

[goodricke1]

Hale-Bopp for sheer duration of visibility but I think the tail of Hyakutake was the most jaw-dropping spectacle I've ever witnessed in the night sky.

[Alien 13]

Hale-Bopp for me too even my non astro friends where amazed with the binocular view.

Alan
 

[chiltonstar]

For me, Comet Iras-Iraki-Alcock as the speed across the sky was so amazing, then Hale-Bopp....

Chris

[Astronigel]

Hale Bop for me also , what a great year that was.. hale bop then solar eclipse in August..perfect time for camping down in Devon

Ooops.. solar eclipse were 2 years later Iol... time flies.. 

[rowan46]

got to be hale bopp for me naked  eye visible from the centre of birmingham takes some beating

[robbie c]

Hale Bopp for me as well, I can remember the first time I saw it we had just come out of a pub in the middle of nowhere after a meal and it was pitch black I looked up and was blown away, It was an amazing sight to see

[philj]

Bennetts 1970, it was stupendous on my 15th birthday, I had just got my first real scope a 60mm prinz astral

[messiermark]

Definitely Hale Bopp

[nightfisher]

Hale bopp for me, i watched it night after night, i think it was this comet that really got me thinking about the night sky

[laudropb]

Got to be Hale Bopp for me too

[laser_jock99]

Hale Bopp

[FenlandPaul]

The memory of Hale Bopp still has me in goosebumps. I remember driving out to the countryside with my dad to watch it and get some piggybacked photos (not digitised unfortunately); happy memory. Hyakutake a few months before was breathtaking too.

And for good measure, the first comet I ever tracked down. I forget the year but it was McNaught-Russell; I remember being delighted at an entry in the annual BAA comet roundup at aged 15 ish!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[LukeSkywatcher]

I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned Hale Bopp. It was stunning and hung in the night sky for well over 20 yrs (or so it seemed).

[Paul M]

I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned Hale Bopp. It was stunning and hung in the night sky for well over 20 yrs (or so it seemed).

Ah yes, now you mention it...

It was the first thing I ever saw after I was born. I saw it through the delivery suite window. I tried pointing it out to the midwife but she just kept slapping my bum. So I thought comets must be wrong or something.

Checking back it's also in some of our wedding photos. I find them difficult to look at for that very reason. I just keep thinking about that midwife...