Hale-Bopp Comet

Members of the Heaven's Gate cult believed they had to shed their earthly bodies before catching a celestial ride on a spaceship in the comet's tail. In an organized ritual, 39 members committed suicide and were found lying beneath purple shrouds in identical black outfits and new sneakers. They believed the apocalypse would closely follow their departure. In the end, Hale-Bopp was right on schedule, but the apocalypse was not.