4 GREAT COMETS

1 AREND-ROLAND

Visible from Earth: 1957 Peak magnitude: +1.0

This comet had a distinctive dart-like appearance, but may be most notable for its starring role in the very first Sky At Night

TV show, broadcast in April 1957.

2 IKEYA-SEKI

Visible from Earth: 1965 Peak magnitude: -10.0

The brightest comet in living memory, Ikeya-seki peaked at an amazing -10.0 on the magnitude scale, making it easily visible in broad daylight.

3 WEST

Visible from Earth: 1976 Peak magnitude: -3.0 Another very bright object, West was remarkable for having an aphelion distance of no less than 70,000 AU or more than a light year.

4 HALE-BOPP

Visible from Earth: 1996 to 1997

Peak magnitude: 0.0 The most famous comet of the last 30 years, Hale-bopp remained visible to the naked eye for a recordbreaking 569 days, from May

1996 to December 1997.