Comet Kohoutek, the 'Comet of the Century'
In 1973, astronomers predicted a comet so bright it would be the spectacle of the century. Some believed it would bring the end of the world. It barely showed up.
What was reported
In March 1973, the Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek, working at the Hamburg Observatory, discovered a comet heading for the inner solar system. Because it was found so far away and already quite bright, astronomers predicted it could become one of the brightest comets ever, visible in daylight.
The media called it the 'comet of the century'. Merchandise was sold, cruises were booked, and the leader of one religious movement warned it signalled a coming catastrophe in the United States. Astronauts on Skylab were assigned to study it.
Explanations offered
The comet turned out to be a newcomer from the far edge of the solar system, rich in ice that boiled off early, making it look brighter when far away. Near the Sun, it was much dimmer than predicted. 'Kohoutek' became a byword for a let-down. Scientists still learned a great deal from it.
- When
- Discovered March 1973
- Where
- Hamburg Observatory, Bergedorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Witnesses
- Astronomers, the press and a religious group
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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