So, what makes Halley’s Comet so special?
Well, for starters, its reoccurrences have made it an anticipated event throughout human history.
Scroll down to read six facts about Halley’s Comet.
Photograph of Halley’s Comet, taken on May 29, 1910 by professor Edward Emerson Barnard at Yerkes Observatory, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. (Image viaWikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Halley’s Comet is named after an astronomer.
The orbit of Halley’s Comet.
(Photo:nagualdesign,CC BY 4.0)
It is made of ice and debris.
Halley’s Comet, taken on April 8/9, 1986 from Kuiper Airborne Observatory. (Photo:NASA, Public Domain)
Did you know that shooting stars are just large balls of space debris and ice?
Well, the same goes for Halley’s Comet.
But in this case, it is mostly rubble that is kept together by gravity.
The orbit of Halley’s Comet. (Photo:nagualdesign,CC BY 4.0)
Recent observations have proven that the comet is also covered with a layer of black dust.
It creates its own atmosphere.
Illustration of Halley’s Comet in 1835 and other comets seen during the last century.
Illustration of Halley’s Comet in 1835 and other comets seen during the last century. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
(Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Halley’s Comet coincides with two meteor showers.
Halley’s Comet is associated with two major meteor showers.
However, the current orbit of Halley’s Comet does not influence the meteor activity.
Illustration of Halley’s Comet in 1835. (Image viaWikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Halley’s Comet is shrinking.
Every time the comet approaches the sun it loses some of its mass.
But, this is still thousands of years away.
Watercolor painting of people viewing Halley’s Comet in 1835 by John James Chalon. (Image viaWikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Illustration of Halley’s Comet in 1835.
(Image viaWikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
When Will Halley’s Comet Return?
Watercolor painting of people viewing Halleys Comet in 1835 by John James Chalon.
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