1999MNRAS.304..951H

The spectrum of HD 12895 (B8, V=8.2) was observed on 1997 April 3 as the nucleus of Comet Hale–Bopp passed at a minimum star–nucleus separation of 31 arcsec. Spectrograms were obtained at R=45 000 using the Keck I HIRES. No convincing enhancement of the equivalent width of any of the diffuse interstellar bands at 4726, 4779, 5780, 6269 and 6613 Å was found during this event. This negative result is compatible with our previous lower resolution observations of Comet Halley in 1986. It is concluded that the carriers of these particular bands, if initially present in the nucleus of Hale–Bopp, either were not carried into the coma with the evaporating volatiles, or were modified or destroyed by the solar radiation field while in transit.