Hale Bopp comet photographed from the orbiter Columbia

STS083-410-011 (4-8 April 1997) --- A 35mm camera was used to record this time-exposed image of Comet Hale-Bopp at sunset. Note that stars show up in this image because of the more lengthy exposure time, whereas the celestial features do not show in the majority of space shuttle pictures focused on Earth and its horizon. As another spin-off of the more lengthy time exposure, city lights and petroleum fires are seen as distorted streaks. Photo credit: NASA