Thomas Bopp

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Thomas Bopp (born 1949) is a manager at a construction materials factory and an amateur astronomer. He is best known as co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp in 1995. It was the first comet he observed.

Comets are traditionally seen as a bad omen. As Comet Hale-Bopp reached its brightest point, Bopp's brother and sister-in-law were killed in a car accident after photographing the comet. "This has been the best week of my life. And the worst," he said.

He was born in Denver, Colorado, but later relocated with his family to Youngstown, Ohio, where he graduated from Chaney High School in 1966. He attended Youngstown State University in Ohio, and has lived in Phoenix, Arizona since 1980.

[edit] References

1. Newcott, William R. (Dec. 1997). "The age of comets". National Geographic, p. 101.