A Fisheye View of Comet Hale-Bopp
Credit & Copyright:
J. C. Casado
Thousands of stars, several constellations, a planet and a comet
all graced the western horizon over Ujue,
Spain
just after sunset on April 4th, 1997.
Because the picture was taken with a fisheye lens,
much of the
whole night sky is visible.
Comet Hale-Bopp,
with both tails blazing, appears right of center. The brightest star is
Sirius near the edge, well to the left of the
constellation Orion.
The red star above the
belt
of Orion is
Betelgeuse,
while the red star near the center is
Aldebaran, just to the left of the bright
Pleaides star cluster.
Many other interesting astronomical objects are visible, including
zodiacal light,
which is the diffuse triangular glow in the center.
Even the planet Mercury appears just over the horizon.