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Comet Hale-Bopp crosses Mars' orbit

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey...

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope. At that time, it was an 18th-magnitude object, located 2.0 AU (300 million km; 190 million mi) away from the Sun and 1.7 AU (250 million km; 160 million mi) away from Earth.

NEOWISE is known for being the brightest comet in the northern hemisphere since Comet Hale–Bopp in 1997. It was widely photographed by professional and amateur observers and was even spotted by people living near city centers and areas with light pollution.

Historical Significance

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope.

Events Before

  1. After 27 years, Betty Rubble debuts as a Flintstone chewable vitamin character

    After 27 years, Betty Rubble debuts as a Flintstone chewable vitamin character

  2. Princess of Rock Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from King of Pop Michael Jackson in NYC

    Princess of Rock Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from King of Pop Michael Jackson in NYC

  3. "ER" TV actress Yvette Freeman (39) weds musical director Lawny Hartley (49) in Dunleith, Delaware

    "ER" TV actress Yvette Freeman (39) weds musical director Lawny Hartley (49) in Dunleith, Delaware

  4. The 6,138th performance of "Cats" is held in London, surpassing the record of Broadway's longest-running musical, "A Cho

    The 6,138th performance of "Cats" is held in London, surpassing the record of Broadway's longest-running musical, "A Chorus Line"

  5. Death Row/Interscope Records releases rapper Tupac Shakur's fourth studio album "All Eyez on Me," his final release duri

    Death Row/Interscope Records releases rapper Tupac Shakur's fourth studio album "All Eyez on Me," his final release during his lifetime

Events After

  1. Helen Wills Moody dies

    Helen Wills Moody, American tennis player, known for american tennis player, died on 1998-01-01.

  2. A paper published by Bryony Coles highlights the submerged land between Britain and Europe in the modern North Sea as a

    A paper published by Bryony Coles highlights the submerged land between Britain and Europe in the modern North Sea as a once crucial inhabited landmass and names it Doggerland [1]

  3. President Bill Clinton says "I want to say one thing to the American people; I did not have sexual relations with that w

    President Bill Clinton says "I want to say one thing to the American people; I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky"

  4. Osama bin Laden publishes a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders

    Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden (10 March 1957 – 2 May 2011) was the founder and first general emir of the al-Qaeda militant organization.

  5. "Baywatch" actress Pamela Anderson (31) divorces Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee (35) after 3 years of marriage

    Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model and media personality.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 20, 1997?
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope. At that time, it was an 18th-magnitude object, located 2.0 AU (300 million km; 190 million mi) away from the Sun and 1.7 AU (250 million km; 160 million mi) away from Earth. NEOWISE is known for being the brightest comet in the northern hemisphere since Comet Hale–Bopp in 1997.
Why is Comet Hale-Bopp crosses Mars' orbit significant?
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope.

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January 20 in HistoryYear 1997