The Monk Who Recognised Halley's Comet First

I have to confess though, as a thirteen year old boy during the comet's last visit in 1986, I understood Eilmer's sense of recognition perfectly. The monk witnessed the comet's 989 appearance as a youth, then saw it return 77 years later in 1066, close to the comet's actual 76 year average period. Duke William of Normandy interpreted the comet as a favourable omen, while the English saw it as portending disaster, a prophecy fulfilled when William's forces killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings in October.

Author: Mark Thompson, Mark Thompson (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/mark)

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