My favorite comet was the first one I ever saw. But I don't remember the name. It was an evening comet in the late 1950s. West was nice. First comet I ever photographed. So many people didn't bother to get up early to see it because it came on the heels of Kohoutek which had disappointed so many. Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp. Truly great comets but what I remember most (a personal side note here) is that I got engaged under Hyakutake and reengaged a year later under Hale-Bopp. But most know where that led... We went 20 years without a great comet (1976 to 1996). I sure hope we don't have to wait that long again. Patrick Chuck Hards wrote:
Those big ones really do spoil one, don't they? A 3rd, 4th magnitude comet only a few degrees across? Yawn.... What are your favorites of the last 30 years, Patrick? I'd rank mine as West, Hyakutake, Hale-Bopp, in that order. Biggest disappointments were Halley and Kohoutek. Oh, Austin was a yawner too.
People may not believe it, but you could read a newspaper by the light of comet West.
Ziggy and Brent remember a couple even earlier...but then I don't QUITE qualify for the "senior" discount at the movies...not quite yet... ;)