Comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) approaches within 0.1018 AUs of Earth on this day.
The European Union's Veterinarian Committee banned the export of British beef and its by-products as a result of "mad cow disease" (BSE).
On February 1 several observers had began to view this comet. It was described as very diffuse, with magnitude estimates ranging from 8.9 to 11.7. Experienced observers estimated the coma as 2.5 to 3 arc minutes across, with a bright, near-stellar central condensation.
**"Read More" BELOW for the complete story**
By mid-February the comet had become visible in small binoculars. Most magnitude estimates ranged from 8.3-8.6, while the comet's coma had already increased to 6-8 arc minutes.
The comet steadily brightened during the latter half of the month and by the 26th, Terry Lovejoy (Australia) became the first person to view the comet with the naked eye.
By the 29th, observers were reporting brightness estimates of 6.0 to 6.5, while the coma had increased to between 10 and 15 arc minutes. A tail was then reported as up to one degree long.
Gary Kronk saw the comet with 20x80 binoculars early on March 10 just 5.6 degrees from the moon. By the 13th, observers were reporting a coma diameter over 20 arc minutes, with an average naked-eye magnitude near 4.
Naked-eye observations by Kronk on the 22nd indicated the comet was magnitude 1.4, with a coma around 110 arc minutes across and a tail 15.2 degrees long.
Observations on the 24th revealed the comet at about magnitude 0, with some estimates as high as -0.3. The coma was variously estimated as 1.5 to 2 degrees across (3 to 4 times the diameter of the full moon).
Most observers reported a tail 15 to 20 degrees in length, but observers in clear skies could follow it to a distance of 35 to 45 degrees.
The comet passed closest to Earth (0.1018 AU) on March 25. There have only been 32 other comets in history that have passed closer
The European Union's Veterinarian Committee bans the export of British beef and its by-products as a result of "mad cow disease" (BSE).