Editing Comet Hyakutake (section)

== Orbit ==
[[File:Comet Hyakutake inner solar system 1996.png|thumb|320px|left|Comet Hyakutake's trajectory through the inner solar system, with a high inclination, passed closest to the Earth in late March 1996, passing over Earth's north pole. It was at perihelion on May 1.]]

When the first calculations of the comet's [[orbit]] were made, scientists realized that it was going to pass just 0.1&nbsp;AU from Earth on 25 March.{{r|Minter_1996}} Only four comets in the previous century had passed closer.{{r|ESO_1996}} [[Comet Hale–Bopp]] was already being discussed as a possible "[[great comet]]"; the astronomical community eventually realised that Hyakutake might also become spectacular because of its close approach.{{r|NOVA_1997}}

Moreover, Comet Hyakutake's orbit meant that it had last been to the inner [[Solar System]] approximately 17,000&nbsp;years earlier.{{r|barycenter}} Because it had probably passed close to the Sun several times before,{{r|James_1998}} the approach in 1996 would not be a maiden arrival from the [[Oort cloud]], a place from where comets with orbital periods of millions of years come. Comets entering the inner Solar System for the first time may brighten rapidly before fading as they near the Sun, because a layer of highly volatile material evaporates. This was the case with [[Comet Kohoutek]] in 1973; it was initially touted as potentially spectacular, but only appeared moderately bright. Older comets show a more consistent brightening pattern.{{r|Whipple_1978}} Thus, all indications suggested Comet Hyakutake would be bright.{{r|NOVA_1997}}

Besides approaching close to Earth, the comet would also be visible throughout the night to [[northern hemisphere]] observers at its closest approach because of its path, passing very close to the [[pole star]]. This would be an unusual occurrence, because most comets are close to the Sun in the sky when the comets are at their brightest, leading to the comets appearing in a sky not completely dark.{{r|skyguide1}}