The comet likely made its last perihelion 4,200 years ago.
But the big surprise came around July 26, when the comet made its closest approach to the Sun.
The comet makes many close approaches to Jupiter.
This comet apparently made a substantial impression on the public, inspiring in some a fear that judgement day was imminent.
An ordinary comet don't make more than about 200,000 miles a minute.
Astronomers had tracked 2,000 other sun-grazing comets make the same suicidal trip.
He realised that comets make U-turns around the sun.
In December 2002 the spacecraft and the comet would make their closest approach to the Sun.
As the comet makes its final approach, Voight looks up and sees the fire in the sky that he had warned so many people about.
Furthermore, the comet made a relatively close approach of 0.15AU, making it a spectacular sight.