Alan Hale, an American astronomer known for co-discovering Comet Hale–Bopp, died on June 6, 2026.
He was 67. Born in Tachikawa, Japan, on March 7, 1958, while his father was serving in the U.S.
Air Force, he later studied at New Mexico State University and the United States Naval Academy. Hale specialized in Sun-like stars and the search for extrasolar planetary systems, while also pursuing work on comets and near-Earth asteroids. He founded and led the Earthrise Institute, an organization focused on using astronomy to encourage international and intercultural understanding.