"End of the World!": The Day the Earth Passed Through Halleys' Comet 24-Million-Mile Tail

Halleys comet's 1910 pass of Earth was especially close and, thanks to extensive newspaper coverage, eagerly awaited by the general public. In fact, Earth’s orbit carried it through the end of the comet’s 24-million-mile-long tail for six hours on May 19, earning the story the day’s banner headline in The New York Times.

While most reporters turned to astronomers to get the facts straight, the yellow press helped fuel the fears that the end of the world was imminent  -that the comet’s tail contained poisonous cyanide gases, and there was danger of a celestial collision with Earth.

In 1910 that spectroscopic studies of comet tails conducted by Sir William Huggins revealed that among the organic molecules found in comets was the gas cyanide. As the Earth was then expected to travel through the tail of Comet Halley, speculation ran riot that people would be asphyxiated by the cyanide molecules. 

Gunter Faure and Teresa Mensing note what happened in their textbook Introduction to Planetary Science: The Geological Perspective:

"During the night of May 18/19 of 1910, when the Earth passed through the tail of comet Halley, some people took precautions by sealing the chimneys, windows, and doors of their houses. Others confessed to crimes they had committed because they did not expect to survive the night, and a few panic-stricken people actually committed suicide. Enterprising merchants sold comet pills and oxygen bottles, church services were held for overflow crowds, and people in the countryside took to their storm shelters. A strangely frivolous mood caused thousands of people to gather in restaurants, coffee houses, parks, and on the rooftops of apartment buildings to await their doom in the company of fellow humans."

But the Earth survived unscathed, passing through only a small part of the comet’s tail. A more substantial passage through a comet’s tail had also occurred in 1861 without incident

Jason McManus

Source:

http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=14433&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rosetta-a-southern-hemisphere-landing

Comments

[Nuel2080]

the power of ignorance...it's amazing isn't it?

[Hernan]

Nuel2080, ohh and you have the power of knowledge? your comment isn't necesary, you have the power of knowing how that story ended, why don't be that arrogant talking about the future?

Good article

[Occam]

Cool article...reminds me of a current 'imminent disaster' scenario that is feeding on the fears of the ignorant. The reasons are more practical (money) but the delivery is the same.

[Alfgonloe]

Hernan, Nuel2080 in no way reffers to his incredible knowledge, but only to the fact that it is incredible what lack of knowledge can lead people to do and think. So, the comment that is unnecessary is yours....Oh, and check your spelling...

[Spiderman]

ohh, sorry guys, i wouldn't be able to hang this.

[juggalo]

People worry about the wrong things. Trans fats in foods are killing millions and people shrug. Yet, heaven forbid someone brings fingernail clippers on a plane. Oh my God, or shampoo!

[zhu zhu pets]

These animal rubber bands wholesale are made of silicone. wholesale Animal Shaped Rubber Bands are not just pretty,Animal Rubber Bands wholesale are also quite clever because they recover their original shape after each use, so you can use them over and over again.
They are rich-looking and most attractive and very popular with our other customers. We have business conections all over the world.

[S]

My penis spoke to me today. Actually spoke to me. In words. I'm not telling you what it said though - thats between me and my penis, and to be honest, I'm offended you even asked.

[S]

Oh alright then I'll tell you. It was registering a complaint, alright? Yhea I know, my penis talks to me for the very first time and the first words jt comes out with its whining like hell. Huh? Oh I dont know, something about my testicles. Jeez you just are'nt going to let this drop are you? Okay, my penis was telling me that my testicles keep talking about it behind its back and calling it names like dick head and stuff like that. It was asking whether I could get them to stop. Well what do you think I said, I told it to wind its neck in and stop being so sensitive.