Hale-Bopp Comet Rendezvous Cruise

Astronomers and the general public alike have been looking forward to the coming of Hale-Bopp ever since its discovery in July 1995. Why all the excitement? Because it is very rare for a comet so far away from the sun to be so bright.

Our Hale-Bopp Comet Rendezvous Cruise coincides with some of the best viewing of Comet Hale-Bopp. The decks of the Stella Solaris and the clear skies at sea will give us a stunning observing platform to view this infrequent visitor from the outer reaches of our solar system. The maneuverability of a ship at sea gives us the advantage: we can take our viewing to the best skies possible.

Hale-Bopp will make its closest approach to Earth (122 million miles) on March 22, 1997.The days leading up to and following this close approach may see the comet brighten to spectacular brilliancy - although, with comets, it is difficult to accurately predict how bright they will actually get. If the comet behaves as predicted, it should continue to brighten as it nears perihelion (its closest approach to the sun) on April 1, 1997.
An exciting team of Science at Sea lecturers will bring comets to life for us, sharing tales about ‘comet tails&3146;, exploring the rich legacy of comet fact and fancy, and guiding nighttime observing sessions on deck.

Comet Hale-Bopp was discovered simultaneously by two Arizona astronomers on the night of July 23, 1995 and bears their names. Alan Hale is a professional astronomer and active comet observer and Tom Bopp, an amateur astronomer.

Comets are generally described as "dirty snowballs." At their hearts are solid bodies composed of ices, dust and rock that can measure miles across. In the cold of space comets are unremarkable. But, as their orbits bring them to the inner solar system and the sun's warmth, the ices sublimate ("steam" or "boil away") from the nucleus of the comet, carrying with them dust and debris and creating the "coma" that surrounds and obscures the nucleus from our sight. The sublimation also creates the comet's characteristic tail, which can stream away to thousands - and millions - of miles from the heart of the comet itself.

The chances of seeing a "great" comet — those about as bright as the brightest planets — fall about once every 20 years. But city lights and pollution reduce our ability to actually see comets. Observers from the decks of the Stella Solaris will have dark skies and uncluttered horizons. This week we'll find out if Comet Hale-Bopp lives up to its expectations and becomes "the comet of the century" — or just a great comet!

We welcome you aboard the Stella Solaris to share with us the excitement of an exquisite cruise, the wonder and emotion of all adventurers past who sailed the waters of the world, and the drama of unraveling some of the mysteries of a comet, one of those fascinating, temporal visitors to the skies of Earth.

Cordially,
Ted Pedas