The comet will reach its highest point in the North Carolina sky between March 26 and April 11, Reynolds says. A new moon on April 7 means that evening skies during this period should be dark enough that the comet will be clearly visible 20 degrees above the northwest horizon starting at about 7 p.m. It will be visible for about an hour. Although we've been able to see Hale-Bopp for weeks, the best viewing begins now, and, weather permitting, it should be spectacular. The comet's exceptional brightness and its appearance at such a convenient hour are boons for parents who want to share the experience with children, and for folks whose schedules are too hectic to allow leisurely viewing of Hale-Bopp when it appears in the early morning sky.
Comets are lumps of ice, rock and dust.
Hale-Bopp is particularly heavy in dust, which is why it appears to be so bright. As the dust flies off, it catches and reflects sunlight. Hale-Bopp is a giant by comet standards. Scientists estimate it could be as large as 30 miles across. That's about two or three times the size of a typical comet and several miles more than the distance from Raleigh to Chapel Hill, or the ferry ride from Cedar Island to Okracoke.