Comet Encke is a periodic comet with the shortest orbital period of any known comet, circling the Sun in about three and a third years. It was first recorded by the French astronomer Pierre Mechain in 1786, and was observed again by Caroline Herschel in 1795 and by other observers in 1805 and 1818. In 1819 the German mathematician Johann Franz Encke worked out that these sightings were the same object moving in a short orbit, and he predicted its return correctly. It was only the second comet, after Halley's, to be recognised as periodic. Debris from Comet Encke is believed to be the source of the Taurid meteor showers.
Before and after
- 1 January 1785Launch of The Times
- 7 March 1785Birth of Alessandro Manzoni
- 1786Founding of Reykjavík
- 1786Publication of Ode to Joy
- 17 January 1786Discovery of Comet Encke
- 1787First Fleet
- 1787Publication of Don Giovanni
- c. 1787Birth of Shaka Zulu
- 1787Discovery of strontium
More in Universe & space
- 8 March 1772Discovery of Biela's Comet
- 7 August 1839Founding of Pulkovo Observatory
- 10 October 1845Founding of United States Naval Academy
- 3 April 1867Discovery of Tempel 1
- 6 November 1892Discovery of Comet Holmes
- 1895Founding of Yerkes Observatory
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.