Halley’s Comet Dates
The last appearance of Halley’s Comet was 37 years ago in 1986 and the next scheduled appearance is 38 years away in 2061. This means that the comet is roughly currently at its furthest distance from our planet.
The earliest recorded sighting of Halley’s Comet can be traced back to ancient Chinese astronomers who documented its appearance as early as 240 BC. However, it was the English astronomer Edmond Halley who made groundbreaking observations and calculations in 1682, accurately predicting the return of the comet. His work led to the comet being named in his honor.
Halley’s Comet 1986
In 1986 I was living in Melbourne Australia, when Halley’s Comet was due to make one of its closest passes to Earth. At the time, Australia was one of the best locations on earth for observing the comet as it approached. On February 9, 1986, Halley’s Comet reached its perihelion—the closest it got to the Sun during its short trip into the inner Solar System and between the orbits of Mercury and Venus—before disappearing into the depths of the outer Solar System.
In April of that year, I drove up Mount Dandenong with my two daughters, Melissa and Donna, in order to get a clear view of the sky. That night we witnessed the appearance of the comet from the side of the mountain road. Viewing Halley’s Comet is a once-in-a lifetime event for most people. However, for both Melissa and Donna, they will most likely have the opportunity to witness its appearance twice in their lifetime, something quite extraordinary in the history of humanity.
On 11th April 1986, the comet reached its closest point to Earth. However, it was still nearly 63 million kilometres away but close enough to be observed by the naked eye. Its tail is 20 million miles long.
The 1986 appearance was highly anticipated, and a fleet of space craft was launched into the upper atmosphere to observe its dramatic return.
This is a medallion that I have kept for 37 years. It was produced to commemorate the event…
Halley’s Comet 1910
The previous sighting of Halley’s Comet was in 1910, the year that my father was born. Since then, the comet followed its elliptical orbit of the sun to the furthest reaches of our solar system. In 1948, just after my birth, it had reached its outer limit of 5.2 billion kilometres.
The 1986 sighting of Halley’s Comet was a momentous occasion, captivating millions of people around the world. Astronomers and space agencies, armed with advanced telescopes and spacecraft, eagerly studied the comet, unraveling its mysteries and shedding light on its composition and structure. Halley’s Comet follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with an average period of about 76 years. In 1986, it made a remarkable journey through our inner solar system. During its closest approach to Earth, the comet reached a mere 39 million miles (63 million kilometres) away, offering a spectacular celestial display.
When will Halley’s Comet return?
The next anticipated sighting of Halley’s Comet is expected to occur in the year 2061. Given its approximate 76-year orbit, this eagerly awaited return will mark yet another opportunity for sky watchers and scientists to witness this cosmic spectacle. As technology continues to advance, the upcoming appearance of Halley’s Comet promises to offer even more detailed insights into its characteristics and behavior.
The return of Halley’s Comet in 2061 will undoubtedly generate immense interest and excitement. Amateur astronomers, professional scientists, and space enthusiasts alike will eagerly await its arrival. Preparations are already underway to optimize observation techniques and deploy cutting-edge instruments to study the comet’s nucleus, coma, and tail. Additionally, space agencies may seize this opportunity to launch specialized missions to rendezvous with Halley’s Comet, as was done during the 1986 appearance when the European Space Agency’s Giotto spacecraft successfully approached and imaged the nucleus. These future missions could provide unparalleled close-up views, revealing new details about the comet’s composition and shedding light on the origin and evolution of our solar system.
Halley’s Comet has a highly elliptical orbit of the Sun and will return to the inner Solar System in 38 years, reaching its perihelion on July 28, 2061. It’s set to be much brighter than in 1986 because Earth will be closer to the comet.
Halley’s Comet, with its remarkable history and periodic returns, continues to capture our collective imagination. From ancient civilizations to modern-day astronomers, its appearances have left an indelible mark on human culture and scientific exploration. As we await the next sighting in 2061, the return of Halley’s Comet promises to be an awe-inspiring event that will once again unite humanity in marveling at the wonders of our universe.
Ron Sheldon July 2023
