Comet 1P/Halley, more commonly known as Halley’s Comet, is arguably the most famous interstellar traveller to pass the Earth.
Halley barrels around the Sun on a short periodic orbit lasting between 74 and 79 years.
During this incredible journey through the solar system, the comet sheds bits and pieces of debris which later slam into the Earth’s atmosphere as meteors.
Halley’s cosmic rubble is associated with two prolific meteor showers each year, one of which peaks this month.
In October, the Earth passing through Halley’s celestial highway gives birth to the Orionids meteor shower.
Then in early May, the Earth crosses Halley’s orbit again, giving rise to the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
This year, the Orionids will peak on the nights of October 21 and October 22, producing tens of shooting stars every hour.
But while astronomers are preparing to witness the shower in full glory, some are left wondering when Comet Halley itself might make an appearance.
When is Halley’s Comet back over Earth?
The last time we saw Comet Halley zip through space was 32-years-ago in 1986.
According to NASA, the comet takes approximately 76 years on average to complete a trip around the Sun.
This means we will have to sit tight for at least another 43 years to see Halley again.
NASA said: “Halley will not enter the inner solar system again until 2061.”
What is Halley’s comet?
NASA describes comets as “cosmic snowballs of frozen gas, rock and dust” and Halley’s Comet is no exception to this.
Unlike asteroids, which are typically just hard rock and metals, comets are built from more volatile materials that ionise in the Sun’s heat and leave a glowing trail behind them.
Halley’s Comet is believed to have been first observed some 2,200 years ago but it was not until astronomer Edmond Halley in 1705 that the comet was officially recognised.
The astronomer was the first scientist to correctly predict Halley’s return in 1758 and Halley was honoured by having the comet named after him.
But the comet has been sighted by different civilisations “for millennia” and was even spotted during the battle of Hastings – you can see it stitched into the Bayeux Tapestry.
NASA said: “Comet Halley’s dimensions are 10 x 5 x 5 miles – 16 x 8 x 8 kilometres.
“It is one of the darkest, or least reflective, objects in the solar system.
“It has an albedo of 0.03, which means that it reflects only three percent of the light that falls on it.”