Halley's Comet
The English astronomer Edmund Halley In 1705 used Newton's theory of gravitation to determine the orbits of comets from their records. He found that the comets of 1531, 1607, and 1682 had almost the same orbits, and when he accounted for the gravitational perturbation on the comets orbits from Jupiter and Saturn, he believed that these comets were the same comet. He then used his gravitational calculations to predict the return of this comet in 1758. And it did. On Christmas eve the comet returned and was named in Halley's honour.
On this website you can find out about the History, the Astronomer, the Superstition behind it all and most important of all the Comet
The History:
In this page you find out about Halley's Comet's long history going back to 240BC. You will learn about how different civilisations studied the Comet.
The Astronomer:
Here you can find out about Edmond Halley himself. Edmond Halley has been the founder of astronomical studies on comets. He was the first to ever plot the orbit of the comets in our solar system.
The Superstition:
Superstition has followed Halley's Comet through the ages. People believed that it was the bringer of evil, the Chinese believed that it was a clearer of evil for the heavens and some thought it would hit Earth and kill everyone.
On this website you can find out about the History, the Astronomer, the Superstition behind it all and most important of all the Comet
The History:
In this page you find out about Halley's Comet's long history going back to 240BC. You will learn about how different civilisations studied the Comet.
The Astronomer:
Here you can find out about Edmond Halley himself. Edmond Halley has been the founder of astronomical studies on comets. He was the first to ever plot the orbit of the comets in our solar system.
The Superstition:
Superstition has followed Halley's Comet through the ages. People believed that it was the bringer of evil, the Chinese believed that it was a clearer of evil for the heavens and some thought it would hit Earth and kill everyone.