Halley's Comet - Definition, Examples, Quiz, FAQ, Trivia

What is Halley's Comet?

Halley's Comet is the most famous comet in our solar system. A comet is like a giant "dirty snowball" made of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun. Halley's Comet, officially known as 1P/Halley, is special because it's visible from Earth every 75-79 years.

When Halley's Comet approaches the Sun, heat causes its icy surface to turn into gas, creating a glowing head called a coma and two spectacular tails - one made of dust (which reflects sunlight) and one made of gas (which glows). The tails always point away from the Sun due to the solar wind.

History of Halley's Comet

Halley's Comet has been observed for thousands of years! The earliest recorded sighting was by Chinese astronomers in 239 BCE. One of the most famous historical appearances was in 1066 when it was depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry showing the Norman conquest of England.

The comet is named after Edmond Halley, an English scientist who studied reports of comets appearing in 1531, 1607, and 1682. He realized these were actually the same comet returning periodically. Halley predicted it would return in 1758, and though he died before seeing it, his prediction was correct!

Orbit and Return

Halley's Comet follows a long, elliptical orbit around the Sun. It takes about 75-79 years to complete one orbit. This makes it a short-period comet and the prototype for a class of comets called Halley-type comets.

The comet travels from just beyond Venus (at its closest to the Sun) all the way out beyond Neptune (at its farthest point). Its next predicted return is in 2061.

When is Halley's Comet next visible? You'll have to wait until mid-2061! But you don't have to wait that long to see evidence of Halley's Comet - it leaves behind debris that causes meteor showers every year.

Meteor Showers

Even when we can't see the comet itself, we can enjoy pieces of Halley's Comet every year! As the comet travels, it leaves behind a trail of dust and debris. When Earth passes through these trails, the particles enter our atmosphere and burn up, creating meteor showers.

Halley's Comet is responsible for two annual meteor showers:

These meteor showers are named after the constellations from which they appear to originate (Aquarius and Orion). Under ideal conditions, you might see 20-30 meteors per hour during peak times!

Halley's Comet Quiz

Test your knowledge about Halley's Comet with this quiz! Answer all 5 questions to see how much you've learned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about Halley's Comet:

Fun Halley's Comet Trivia

Discover some amazing facts about Halley's Comet!