Skip to content
British Broadcasting Corporation
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Innovation
  • Culture
  • Arts
  • Travel
  • Earth
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Live
Witness History, Witness History, Discovering Hale Bopp

Witness History

Witness History

Discovering Hale Bopp


Up next

Witness History, Witness History, The nightclub that changed Ibiza

The nightclub that changed Ibiza

Witness History, Witness History, India's Partition - Part One

India's Partition - Part One

Witness History, Witness History, India's Partition - Part Two

India's Partition - Part Two

Witness History, Witness History, The last Viceroy of India

The last Viceroy of India

Witness History, Witness History, The death of Jawaharlal Nehru

The death of Jawaharlal Nehru

Witness History, Witness History, The Bard of Bengal

The Bard of Bengal

Witness History, Witness History, Bulgaria's cash crisis

Bulgaria's cash crisis

Witness History, Witness History, Hundreds die in Darayya

Hundreds die in Darayya

Witness History, Witness History, The Gay Games

The Gay Games

Witness History, Witness History, The 'Nixon Shock' and the end of the Gold Standard

The 'Nixon Shock' and the end of the Gold Standard

Witness History, Witness History, India's onion election

India's onion election

Witness History, Witness History, Marikana Massacre

Marikana Massacre

Witness History, Witness History, The 'Last Indian'

The 'Last Indian'

Witness History, Witness History, Princess Diana dances with John Travolta

Princess Diana dances with John Travolta

Witness History, Witness History, Mikhail Gorbachev: Perestroika

Mikhail Gorbachev: Perestroika

Witness History, Witness History, Mikhail Gorbachev: Release of Irina Ratushinskaya

Mikhail Gorbachev: Release of Irina Ratushinskaya

Witness History, Witness History, Doomed hero of Brazilian democracy

Doomed hero of Brazilian democracy

Witness History, Witness History, The murder that shocked Brazil

The murder that shocked Brazil

Witness History, Witness History, Building of Brasilia

Building of Brasilia

Witness History, Witness History, The Candelaria child massacre

The Candelaria child massacre

Witness History, Witness History, The car that charmed Brazil

The car that charmed Brazil

Witness History, Witness History, The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Witness History, Witness History, Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Derby

Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Derby

Witness History, Witness History, Windsor Castle fire

Windsor Castle fire

Witness History, Witness History, When the Queen opened Buckingham Palace

When the Queen opened Buckingham Palace

Witness History, Witness History, The last days of Queen Victoria

The last days of Queen Victoria

Witness History, Witness History, World War Two child evacuees in Britain

World War Two child evacuees in Britain

Witness History, Witness History, Ancient fossils give new insight

Ancient fossils give new insight

Witness History, Witness History, The first Pope to visit Africa

The first Pope to visit Africa

Witness History, Witness History, Iran-Iraq War begins

Iran-Iraq War begins

August 11, 2022

9 minutes

Available for over a year

Hale Bopp is one of the most widely observed comets of the 20th century. Its discovery in 1995 resulted in huge advances in science. Russell Crewe spoke to astronomer Dr Alan Hale who discovered the comet alongside Tom Bopp. This is a Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Hale Bopp Comet in the night sky. Credit: Getty Images)

See more episodes

Programme website


British Broadcasting Corporation
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Innovation
  • Culture
  • Arts
  • Travel
  • Earth
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Live
  • Weather
  • BBC Shop
  • BritBox

Follow BBC on:

  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Contact the BBC
  • Advertise with us
  • Do not share or sell my info
  • Contact technical support

Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved.  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.