Tonga Niuafo’ou year 1986 stamps ☀ Halley Comet Complete set SG64-73 ☀ MNH**
Halley’s Comet is a famous periodic comet that is visible from Earth approximately every 76 years. It is named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley, who, in 1705, predicted its return based on observations of its previous appearances in 1531, 1607, and 1682. The comet is one of the most well-known celestial objects in human history, with records of its sightings dating back thousands of years.
The nucleus, or core, of Halley’s Comet is composed of ice, dust, and various other organic compounds. When the comet approaches the Sun during its orbit, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, releasing gas and dust particles that form a glowing coma (a cloud of gas and dust) around the nucleus. The solar wind then pushes this material away from the Sun, forming the comet’s distinctive tails: a dust tail and an ion tail.
Halley’s Comet has been observed and recorded by various civilizations throughout history. Its appearance has often been associated with significant events or omens in different cultures. For example, the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066, includes a depiction of Halley’s Comet, believed by some to symbolize the downfall of King Harold II.
In modern times, Halley’s Comet last passed through the inner solar system in 1986 and won’t return until 2061. During its 1986 apparition, numerous space missions were launched to study the comet up close, including the European Space Agency’s Giotto spacecraft, which provided valuable data and images of the comet’s nucleus.
Halley’s Comet remains a source of fascination for astronomers and skywatchers alike, and its periodic return continues to captivate the public’s imagination, reminding us of the vastness and wonder of the cosmos.
