Asteroids & comets · Periodic comet
Halley's Comet
Returns every 75–79 years · Light crosses it in 37 millionths of a second
- Across
- 11 km
- Vs Earth
- 1/1,200 of Earth
- Mass
- 2.2 × 10¹⁴ kg
Open Halley's Comet in Cosmic Scale
About
Halley's Comet is the most famous comet of all: the first known to return on a schedule, and the only bright one that does so within a human lifetime. Its dark, peanut-shaped nucleus was photographed up close by ESA's Giotto probe in 1986.
Last seen in 1986; it swings back past the Sun in 2061.
At a glance
| Nucleus | About 15 × 8 km |
|---|---|
| Orbit | 75–79 years |
| Last seen | 1986 |
| Next return | 2061 |
Did you know
- Edmond Halley predicted its return in 1758; it came back on time, 16 years after he died.
- Its nucleus is one of the darkest objects in the Solar System, reflecting only about 4% of light.
- Dust it has shed makes two meteor showers every year: the Eta Aquariids and the Orionids.
Real photo
- Halley's nucleus, photographed by the Giotto probe in 1986 — NASA/ESA/Giotto Project · source