Ÿ         The definition of a comet is a small gaseous body, travelling through the Solar System, consisting of a head and a tail which typically revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.  

Ÿ         The most famous comet is probably Halley’s which has been known since at least 240 BC.  The comet was seen in 1066 AD when it was seen right before the famous Battle of Hastings.

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      It was named after Edmund Halley, who correctly predicted that the object followed a 76-year orbit.  The nucleus of Halley is elliptical in shape and measures approximately 10 by 5 miles.

Ÿ         Another famous comet is Comet Hale-Bopp.  Its nucleus is larger than Halley's Comet---actually six to 24 miles in diameter.

Ÿ        People have feared for years that a comet would destroy the Earth.  Actually, Comet Hyakutake passed within several million miles of Earth in 1996.  However, a comet has never been known to do any damage to our planet.