When Comet Hale-Bopp blazed across the 1997 sky, it marked one of the most intensively observed celestial events of the 20th century. Its enormous coma, persistent brightness, and peculiar jet emissions fascinated astronomers and the public alike. It was bright enough to be seen with the naked eye for a record-breaking 18 months, dwarfing the Comparing Hale-Bopp to interstellar object 3I/ATLAS reveals how far science has advanced and why the December 19 close approach may uncover unprecedented insights.