Did you know that there is a phenomenon that occurs approximately every 75-76 years and has been happening for several centuries? It is highly likely that your parents or grandparents have witnessed it, and there’s a good chance you will also witness it once in your lifetime.
So, what is this phenomenon, and why does the entire world eagerly await it? We are talking about the famous Halley Comet, also known as Comet Halley.
According to NASA, Halley’s Comet is considered one of the darkest, or least reflective, objects in the solar system. Astronomers have now linked its appearances to observations dating back over 2,000 years.
Considered a remarkable event, Halley’s Comet has been well-documented for decades. The comet is named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley, who first recognised its periodic nature and predicted its return.
In 1705, Edmond Halley suggested that the bright comets that passed by Earth in 1531, 1607, and 1682 were, in fact, the same comet. He then correctly predicted the comet’s return and stated that it would pass by Earth in 1758. Since then, the periodic comet has been named after him.
The last time Halley’s Comet was visible in the Earth’s skies was in 1986. During its last appearance, five interplanetary spacecraft flew past the comet: two Japanese spacecraft, two Soviet Union spacecraft, and a European Space Agency spacecraft that passed only 596 kilometers from the comet’s nucleus.
Now, the periodic comet is set to return to Earth’s skies in the next 37 years, specifically in 2061.
Courtesy : IndiaToday