The Great Binocular Comet of 1998

C/1998 J1 SOHO was well placed for Southern Hemisphere observers during late May 1998. This photo was taken on the evening of May 18th. This comet shone at 3rd magnitude and displayed a brilliant blue ion tail through binoculars over 5 degrees in length, stretching towards Orion.
This comet is not expected to return.