Final answer:
Hale-Bopp is not a periodic comet with a period of 76 years. It is a non-periodic comet with an unpredictable orbit and return.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. Hale-Bopp is not a periodic comet with a period of 76 years.
Comet Hale-Bopp is actually a non-periodic comet, meaning it does not follow a regular orbit or have a predictable period of return. Its orbit is highly elliptical and takes it beyond the Kuiper Belt and into the Oort Cloud, making its return unpredictable.
Unlike periodic comets, which have predictable orbits and return at regular intervals, non-periodic comets like Hale-Bopp can have much longer or shorter periods between appearances.