Halley's Comet Embarks on Epic Return Journey to Earth

Halley's Comet, also known as 1P/Halley, has reached aphelion, the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun, and has begun its journey back towards Earth. It is expected to pass by Earth in 2061. Despite its underwhelming appearance during its last visit in 1986, six spacecraft were able to observe its structure. Halley's Comet is a short-period comet that orbits the Sun every 75 to 79 years. Its predictable behavior and short period led to its discovery by astronomer Edmond Halley, who predicted its reappearance in 1705. The comet has been around for at least 16,000 years and creates two meteor showers each year: the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in May and the Orionid meteor shower in October.