Mandy's Hunt for History - Revisiting Halley's Comet in 1910

A century ago El Pasoans witnessed an extraordinary event - Halley's Comet! 

Halley's Comet, also known as Comet Halley, is a short period comet whose orbit around the sun averages about 75 years to complete (Halley's orbit periods have been recorded to be as short as 74 years and as long as 79 years). Which means that every 75 years or so, Halley's Comet returns and is visible to us on Earth. Halley's Comet is named after English astronomer, Edmond Halley. He proposed comets could repeat orbits and not just have a single trip across the solar system as was previously believed. He proposed the comets sighted in 1531, 1607, and 1682 were in fact one, single comet repeating its orbit. Based on his research, he calculated the comet's next appearance would be in 1758-1759. He was correct! The comet reappeared in Earth's vicinity in 1758 and was named in honor of Halley in 1759.   

Since 1758, Halley's Comet has orbited the sun three additional times, in 1835, 1910, and 1986. Scientists and astronomers have been following Comet Halley for centuries but it wasn't until 1910 that they were able to do much more than observe it, they were able to photograph it! That's right, Comet Halley was photographed for the first time in 1910. Check out the photo of Halley's Comet in El Paso below!

Photo Courtesy of the El Paso Public Libray, Border Heritage Center's Picture File Collection

Mandy decided she needed to see Halley's Comet for herself and set out to revisit the early morning hours of May 16, 1910 in El Paso. Can you spot Mandy in the photo? 

Halley's Comet was most visible in the El Paso sky in the months of April and May of 1910. According to news reports, Halley's Comet was best seen in the El Paso sky in the early morning, at about 4:00 a.m. Mandy was wondering why the street was so empty! The news brief below notes Mr. Henry Cappell first saw Halley's Comet in El Paso on April 20, 1910.

El Paso Herald, April 20, 1910, front page, captured May 13, 2020 from microfilm

Tomorrow, May 16, 2020, is the 110 year anniversary of when the photo was taken. The back of the photo provides us with some important information - how the library came to have the photo. Mandy realized an interesting coincidence as well!

Photo courtesy of the El Paso Public Library, Border Heritage Center's Picture File Collection

Halley's Comet is set to return to Earth's vicinity in 2061, 41 years from now. Mandy can't wait to share the experience with you all then!