In 1910 you could buy comet insurance and anti-comet pills
In 1910, Halley's Comet made a close approach to Earth, captivating the public's imagination. Many people, including an 8-year-old boy named John Doughty, were filled with awe and fear as they witnessed the comet's brightness and tail. The event was widely reported in newspapers, which fueled both excitement and superstition about the comet's arrival.
- ▪Halley's Comet first appeared in Chinese records in 240 BC and is named after Sir Edmond Halley, who predicted its return in 1758.
- ▪The comet has a nucleus that is a mix of ice and dust, leading to its description as a 'dirty snowball.'
- ▪In 1910, the comet's return was highly anticipated, with newspapers promising a spectacular display as Earth passed through its tail.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
by Library Docent Volunteer Andy Ludlum Computer reconstructed image of Halley’s Comet processed from an original black-and-white plate taken in 1910 at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona., via Wikimedia Commons. Even after 76 years, John Doughty’s memories as an 8-year-old in 1910 were as clear as if it were yesterday. The Simi Valley man said his mother, Annie, began crying and yelling when she first spotted Halley’s Comet. She fell to her knees and waved her arms up and down in prayer. She was certain the comet was a sign from God, “a cyclone that would burn a hole through the Earth.” John was “scared to death” by his mother’s reaction but braved a look at the celestial intruder.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Museum of Ventura County.
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