The blue channel has been slightly enhanced in this image, and sharpness and contrast have been digitally enhanced to show the detail structure of the ion tail. March 11, 1997. Note changes in the relative sizes and intensity of the two tails compared with the image below. The blue channel has been slightly enhanced in this image. This view is approximately 9 degrees high by 5 degrees wide.
North is to the upper left.
The blue channel has been slightly enhanced in this image to bring out the length and structure of the ionized-gas tail. This view is approximately 9 degrees high by 5 degrees wide. North is to the upper left. Comet Hale-Bopp on March 8, 1997. Note the multi-stranded blue tail, which is formed by ionized gas blown away by the solar wind.