Astronomer Alan Hale died June 6, 2026, at the age of 68.
He was the co-discoverer or Comet Hale-Bopp, which blazed across the sky in the mid-1990s as the brightest comet seen in decades.
Hale is being remembered for his dedication to searching the skies for new discoveries, and for founding the Earthrise Institute to share his love for astronomy.
Hale was a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1976 to 1983.
Born in Japan while his father served in the U.S. Air Force, Hale was later raised in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He attended Alamogordo High School and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, later earning advanced degrees at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces.
We invite all those with memories of Alan Hale or his work to help tell his story by sharing your thoughts in the guest book below.
By Legacy News Staff
(Image: AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Richard Pipes)