What historical events have coincided with Halley's comet?

Answer 1

Hale-Bopp was discovered on July 23, 1995 at a great distance from the Sun, raising expectations that the comet would brighten considerably by the time it passed close to Earth. Hale-Bopp met or exceeded most predictions when it passedperihelion on April 1, 1997. The comet was dubbed the Great Comet of 1997.

The passage of Hale-Bopp was notable also for inciting a degree of comet related panic. Rumours that an alien spacecraft was following the comet gained remarkable interest, and inspired a mass suicide among followers of the Heaven's Gate cult. Probably helped by UFO enthusiasts, who concluded that there was an alien spacecraft following the comet. Choosing the appearance of the comet as a signal for their mass suicide. They claimed they were leaving their earthly bodies to travel to the spaceship following the comet.

Its lengthy period of visibility and extensive coverage in the media meant that Hale-Bopp was probably the most observed comet in history, making a far greater impact on the general public than the return of Halley's Comet in 1986, and certainly seen by a greater number of people than witnessed any of Halley's previous appearances. It was a record breaking comet the furthest comet from the Sun discovered by amateurs, with the largest well measured cometary nucleus known after Chiron, and it was visible to the naked eye for twice as long as the previous record holder. It was also brighter than magnitude 0 for eight weeks, longer than any other recorded comet.

Answer 2

In 1705, Edmond Halley, an astronomer, predicted that a comet that came in 1531, 1607 and 1682 would reappear in 1758. He didn't live to see it come, but he was correct. More recently, Halley's Comet appeared in 1910 and 1986.

Answer 3

Wikipedia has a chronology of events around the apparitions of Halley's Comet. Perhaps most notable was the 1066 passage, which was widely regarded as a heavenly omen by both Harold II of England and William the Conqueror prior to The Battle of Hastings.

Answer 4

Battle of Hastings followed its appearance the following day.

Lord Horatio Nelson was born on the day of its appearance.