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. The broad, fan-shaped yellowish tail to the right is the dust tail being left by the comet. At this point in its orbit the comet is traveling sideways, toward the lower left in this photo. In this photo the path of travel of the comet is sideways toward the left.