Overview

On Christmas night, 1758, a comet appeared in the skies over Europe. First seen by German amateur astronomer Johann Georg Palitzsch, its appearance was a landmark event in the history of both astronomy and physics. For the first time, using Isaac Newton's (1642-1727) laws of gravitation and motion, a comet's appearance had been successfully predicted. By so doing, Edmond Halley (1656-1742) had not only launched a new era in predictive astronomy, but had also proven the accuracy and value of Newton's revolutionary new physics.

Background

For millennia, comets were viewed as harbingers of change, both good and bad. A comet appeared when Julius Caesar was murdered; another comet was said to have marked the death of Alexander the Great. Throughout history, comets were seen as messengers, portents, or...