In 1705 Edmond Halley calculated that the comets seen in 1531, 1607 and 1682 were the same body, and predicted its return in 1758. On Christmas night 1758 the German farmer and amateur astronomer Johann Georg Palitzsch spotted it, a few weeks ahead of the professionals. It was the first time that the return of a comet had been forecast, and it confirmed that Newton's gravity governs objects far beyond the planets. Halley had died in 1742 and did not live to see the vindication. The comet was named in his honour.
Before and after
- 28 November 1757Birth of William Blake
- 5 December 1757Battle of Leuthen
- 28 April 1758Birth of James Monroe
- 6 May 1758Birth of Maximilien Robespierre
- 25 December 1758Halley's Comet returns as predicted
- 1759Construction of British Museum
- from 16 January 1759 to 19 January 1759Invasion of Martinique
- 25 January 1759Birth of Robert Burns
- 14 April 1759Death of George Frideric Handel
More in Universe & space
- 11 November 1572Tycho's Supernova
- 1576Founding of Uraniborg
- 8 October 1604SN 1604
- 25 October 1671Discovery of Iapetus
- 21 March 1684Discovery of Tethys
- 9 December 1743Discovery of Great Comet of 1744
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.