![Star Gazers](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/GpbucRO-white-logo-41-esjFEbm.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Why is Halley's Comet So Famous?
Special | 1m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Let's dive into the story of Halley's Comet!
Let's dive into the story of Halley's Comet! First seen in 239 B.C., Halley's Comet is arguably history’s most famous comet. With an orbital journey spanning at least 16,000 years, Halley's Comet defies aging, passing through Earth's atmosphere every 76 years. Join Star Gazers host Trace Dominguez as we explore the mysteries and wonders of this comet!
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation
![Star Gazers](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/GpbucRO-white-logo-41-esjFEbm.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Why is Halley's Comet So Famous?
Special | 1m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Let's dive into the story of Halley's Comet! First seen in 239 B.C., Halley's Comet is arguably history’s most famous comet. With an orbital journey spanning at least 16,000 years, Halley's Comet defies aging, passing through Earth's atmosphere every 76 years. Join Star Gazers host Trace Dominguez as we explore the mysteries and wonders of this comet!
How to Watch Star Gazers
Star Gazers is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipnot all of you, would say - Halley's Comet.
So what# exactly makes Halley's Comet so famous?
## The short answer is that Halley' Comet was the first time# astronomers understood that comets came back.## They could be repeat visitors in our night# skies.
See before Halley's Comet was discovered,## the common belief was that comets made only one# pass through our solar system and then disappeared,## but in the early 1700s, astronomer Edmond Halley figured out that all these bright comets that## were reported over hundreds of years, it wasn't# many comets, but just one that was periodically## making return trips through our solar system,# and that comet was named after him, Halley's Comet.## And in fact Halley's comet has been connected to# ancient astronomical observations going back## over 2,000 years.
It's famously featured in an# ancient tapestry that chronicles the Battle of## Hasting in 1066.
Halley's Comet is connected to tons of# other human history too, but my personal favorite## is the American author Samuel Clemens.
He was born# in 1835, the same year Halley's Comet flew by.
It was## coming back in 1910 and so in 1909, the author# wrote, "They came in together, so they must go## out together."
That author Sam Clemens is actually# known as Mark Twain and he died the day after the## comet reached its perihelion, so he was right.# Now Halley's Comet has been in orbit for at least## 16,000 years and it's shown no signs of aging, so# it's got quite the impressive lifetime.
It shoots## past Earth every 76 years, which makes its next# predicted appearance to be in 2061, so you can## sit back and relax for a bit before that happens,# but in the meantime, Star Gazers, keep looking up!## For more Star Gazers, click the video below.
Don't# leave me hanging.
Come on, click it, click it.
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation