Question

We were able to see the comet, Hale-Bopp, on May 12, 1996.

Now, let's create a multiple-choice question with options:

Question:
In which year were we able to see the comet Hale-Bopp on May 12th?

Options:

1996
1997
1995
1998

Answer 1

Comet Hale-Bopp was visible starting from March 1997, making this the correct answer for visibility on May 12th of that year, as confirmed by astronomical publications.

The correct option is 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The comet Hale-Bopp was a significant astronomical event of the late 20th century due to its exceptional brightness and visibility. On May 12, 1996, this comet could not have been seen because it became highly visible starting in 1997.

Specifically, Comet Hale-Bopp appeared in the night sky as a bright object comparable to the brightest stars from March 1997 and remained visible for weeks, even in urban areas with significant light pollution.

This visibility makes the year 1997 the correct answer to the question of when we were able to see Comet Hale-Bopp on May 12th, as confirmed by astronomical records and publications, such as 'The Great Comet of 1997' by E. Aguirre in Sky & Telescope.

The correct option is 2.