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Man proposes beneath once-in-6,800-year comet

Marriage Proposal - Level 4

A man proposed to his fiancée during an event that occurs just once every 6,800 years. John Nicotera, 33, popped the question to Erica Pendrak, 26, while the Neowise comet passed over their heads. It will be 7,000 years before anyone else can get down on one knee and do the same. Mr Nicotera loves space. He knew the rare comet would fly by for a short time. He planned his proposal to coincide with the comet being in the night sky.

Ms Pendrak immediately accepted the proposal. She told reporters she was going to see the once-in-a-lifetime event. She got the surprise of her life when John proposed. She said: "I was just completely shocked - tears and everything. I felt instant chills and pure happiness." A friend photographed the proposal as the comet whizzed by across the heavens. John and Erica like seeing historical events together. John said: "I'm massively in love with this girl."

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Marriage Proposal - Level 5

A man proposed to his fiancée during an event that occurs just once every 6,800 years or so. John Nicotera, 33, popped the question to his girlfriend Erica Pendrak, 26, while the Neowise comet passed over their heads. It will be 7,000 years before anyone else can get down on one knee and propose while the comet flies overhead. Mr Nicotera loves studying about space. He knew the rare comet would pass by for a limited time. He planned his proposal to coincide with the comet being in the night sky. The couple drove to a campsite last week and John waited for the comet to appear.

Ms Pendrak immediately accepted the proposal. She told reporters that she was going to see the once-in-a-lifetime event. She got the surprise of her life when John got on one knee. She said: "I was just completely shocked - tears and everything. I felt instant chills and pure happiness." A friend went with the couple to capture the proposal as the comet whizzed by across the heavens. John and Erica are both teachers. They like experiencing historical events together. John said: "Every single star was out. It was too special to let it go. I thought, 'I'm massively in love with this girl.'"

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Marriage Proposal - Level 6

A man has proposed to his fiancée during an event that occurs just once every 6,800 years or so - give or take a decade or two. John Nicotera, 33, popped the question to his now affianced Erica Pendrak, 26, while the Neowise comet passed over their heads. It will be another seven millennia before anyone else can get down on one knee and propose while the celestial body flies overhead. Mr Nicotera is a space buff. He knew the rare astronomical event would take place in the Northern Hemisphere for a limited time and planned his proposal to coincide with the comet being visible in the night sky. The couple drove to a campsite outside New York last week and John waited for the comet to appear.

Ms Pendrak immediately accepted Mr Nicotera's proposal. She told reporters that she knew her fiancé was taking her to see the once-in-a-lifetime event. She said she got the surprise of her life when he dropped down to one knee. She said: "I was just completely shocked - tears and everything. I felt instant chills and pure happiness." A photographer friend went to the campsite with the couple to capture the proposal with the comet whizzing by across the heavens. John and Erica are both teachers who like experiencing historical events together. John said: "Every single star was out. It was too special to let it go. I thought, 'I'm massively in love with this girl. I'm going to do it.'"

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson