Astronomy Picture of the Day · February 8, 1996

Hyakutake: The Great Comet of 1996?

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 8, 1996 is “Hyakutake: The Great Comet of 1996?,” an image. The picture is copyrighted by its creator (Photo Credit and Copyright: Gordon Garradd. Used with permission.). The original explanation runs about 192 words.

From the explanation

“Get ready for one of the most impressive but least anticipated light shows in modern astronomical history. Next month, newly discovered Comet Hyakutake will pass closer to the Earth than any recent comet .”

— APOD editors, February 8, 1996

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: February 8, 1996
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: Photo Credit and Copyright: Gordon Garradd. Used with permission.
Copyright: Copyrighted by the credited creator. Ask the copyright holder before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 192 words

All of February 1996 → · 1996 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

Comets

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: February 8 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, February 8, 1996 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-1996-february-08-hyakutake-the-great-comet-of-1996

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.