Halley's Comet

Hey everyone, this week's astronomy essay will be about Halley's Comet, the only known comet that can be seen from earth periodically with the naked eye. First, a little history on Halley's Comet. William the Conqueror saw the comet and thought it was a sign that his upcoming invasion of England would be successful. Well, it probably wasn't a sign, but he did end up succeeding with his plans in 1066.

Halley's comet returns to Earth around once every 75 years, so you're probably not going to see it more than once in your life. The comet is named after English astronomer Edmund Halley who was the first to predict it returning in 1705. It was first photographed by the European spacecraft Giotto, which photographed the comet's nucleus. Halley's Comet is the most well-known comet because of its periodic return to Earth's line of sight.