Hyakutake
Hyakutake - long comet, opened 30 January 1996 by Japanese amateur astronomer Yuji Hyakutake. In March 1996, the comet was relatively close to Earth (the approach was one of the maximum approaches of comets with the Earth in the last 200 years). The comet was very bright and easily seen naked eye in the night sky, which was named «The Great Comet of 1996». At some time overshadowed comet Hyakutake comet Hale - Bopp, which at that time close to the inner solar system.
Monitoring of the Hyakutake comet led to several scientific discoveries. Most surprising to researchers was the first time detected X-ray radiation of the comet, probably ionized solar wind interaction with neutral atoms in the comet's coma. In addition, the Ulysses spacecraft unexpectedly crossed for comet Hyakutake's tail at a distance of more than 500 million km from the nucleus, which suggests that this comet's tail is the longest known at present.
Until recently, the comet Hyakutake passes through the solar system of its orbital period was equal to 17 000 years, but after interacting with the gravitational field of giant planets, it increased to 74 000 years.
The comet was launched 30 January 1996 by Japanese amateur astronomer Yuji Hyakutake. By the time he was already several years in search of comets, which is largely defined his move to the prefecture of Kagoshima for a dark sky rural areas. For searches, it uses several powerful binoculars with a 6-inch lens.
This comet was the second account, opened Hyakutake. The first (C/1995 Y1), he opened a few weeks before (it can be observed only in the telescope). Then, watching her, and the surrounding area, he noticed another comet, almost in the same place where previously found C / 1995 Y1. Hardly believing his luck, Hyakutake told the opening of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. On the same day the discovery was confirmed by independent observers.
At the time of detection of a comet was at a distance of approximately 2. f. from the Sun, with apparent magnitude 11.0. Since its inauguration, comet Hyakutake was discovered on the image made by January 1, 1996 (ie before it opened), which was located at a distance of 2.4. f. from Earth and has the luster 13,3 m.