SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Halley is often called the most famous comet because it marked the first time astronomers understood comets could be repeat visitors to our night skies. Astronomers have now linked the comet’s appearances to observations dating back more than 2, 000 years.

Detailed explanation-2: -Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein-also known as C/2014 UN271 (and illustrated, far right)-is much larger than other known comets. It’s about 120 kilometers (75 miles) wide. The famous comet Hale-Bopp is about half as wide. And Halley’s comet is just 11 kilometers (7 miles) across.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mark Twain was born in 1835 as Halley’s Comet made its regular 74 year appearance.

Detailed explanation-4: -Halley’s Comet is arguably the most famous comet in history. As a “periodic” comet, it returns to Earth’s vicinity about every 75 years, making it possible for a person to see it twice in their lifetime. It was last here in 1986, and it is projected to return in 2061.

Detailed explanation-5: -To honor Halley’s prediction, astronomers named the comet after him and today it is officially known as 1P/Halley, the P denoting it is a periodic comet. The Library of Congress. Right: Comet Halley as it appeared in 1986. Halley’s Comet continued its periodic return to the inner solar system in 1835, 1910, and 1986.