Alan Hale, Co-Discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, Dies at 67
By
Sabrina Garvin
Crackling crust, pillowy middle. The kind of bagel that earns a second cup of coffee.
Summary
Alan Hale, the astronomer who co-discovered Comet Hale-Bopp in 1995, passed away at age 67 in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. His passion for cometary observing began in 1970 after reading an article in Sky & Telescope magazine and observing Comet Tago-Sato-Kosaka and Comet Bennett. Hale graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and went on to become a renowned comet hunter, with his most famous discovery being Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) in July 1995 alongside amateur astronomer Thomas Bopp.
Key quotes
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Best known for his co-discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) in July 1995
Hale was introduced to cometary observing by an article on Comet Tago-Sato-Kosaka (C/1969 T1) in the February 1970 issue of Sky & Telescope.
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