Comets Throughout History

Abstract

Comets have been objects of both fascination and fear since time immemorial. Often conspicuous and spectacular in appearance, they seem to stand apart from the more usual varieties of astronomical phenomena. Even their movement across the sky is different. Like the “wandering stars” that we today know as planets, they do not remain in a set position among the fixed stars. In fact, they are even less constrained than the planets because, unlike the latter, they move at varying rates and are not even confined to the region of the zodiac. Comets can appear anywhere in the sky, move in any direction at just about any speed. Even the polar region is not exempt from their presence. It is as if these strange objects belong to a different order from the other astronomical bodies.