May 19, 1910: Halley's Comet Brushes Earth With Its Tail

1910: Earth passes through the tail of Halley?s comet. The anticipation of its arrival creates quite a stir. In some circles, the comet?s unusually close approach is seen as a sign of impending doom, a notion the down-market press does little to dispel.

The comet was named for British astronomer Edmond Halley, the first to determine its orbit and accurately predict its return to the Earth?s night sky. Although Halley died 16 years before his prediction could be tested, the comet appeared on Christmas night 1758, right on schedule. It?s been Halley?s comet ever since, appearing at regular 74- to 79-year intervals.

The 1910 pass of Earth was especially close and, thanks to expansive newspaper coverage, eagerly anticipated by the general public. In fact, Earth?s orbit carried it through the end of the comet?s 24-million-mile-long tail for six hours on May 19, earning the story the day?s banner headline in The New York Times.

While most reporters of the day turned to astronomers to get the facts straight, the yellow press chose to pursue the story in more fanciful ways, helping to fuel the fears of the impressionable that the end of the world was nigh. Despite some published reports leading up to the event, the comet?s tail did not contain poisonous gases, and there was never any danger of a celestial collision, either.

In anticipation of the comet?s arrival, telescope sales shot up, and hotels in large cities offered special packages that included rooftop viewings. President William Howard Taft had a look-see at the U.S. Naval Observatory and came away suitably impressed. Not everyone was taken in, though: The sitting pope, Pius X, dismissed the entire show as overblown.

The comet was at its closest, therefore its brightest, between May 14 and 22.

We can?t file this item without mentioning Mark Twain?s famous connection to Halley?s comet. Twain (nee Samuel Clemens), America?s pre-eminent man of letters, was born in 1835 as the comet passed over. In 1909, knowing that Halley?s comet was due to make another pass the following year, Twain predicted he would die when it did. Observatory telescopes picked up the comet on April 9, 1910, and followed it as it reached perihelion on April 20. Twain died the next day.

Halley?s comet is scheduled to make its next appearance in late July 2061.

Source: Various

Photo: NASA

Source: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/wired/index/~3/xOv-7zIJTkU/

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