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It was named after English scientist Edmond Halley who worked out that its orbit around the sun brings it close to the earth every 76 years.
Comet 1996 B2 (Hyakutake) was much brighter than Halley, and from dark sites its tail stretched more than a third of the way from horizon to horizon during March 24 to March 26. Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997 put on a very good show. Although its head and tail were smaller than Hyakutake's, Hale-Bopp had a bright dust tail that could be seen in urban and suburban skies.
In any year, several comets will become visible in small telescopes.
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