1910 Halley's Comet (apr 10, 1910 – apr 20, 1910)
Description:
The 1910 approach to the comet, which occurred around 10 April and reached perihelion on 20 April, was the first approach with photographs and spectroscopic data. The comet's close approach of 0.15 au made it a spectacular sight. On 19 May, Earth passed through the comet's tail, revealing the toxic gas cyanogen. This led to press misquoting astronomer Camille Flammarion, who claimed the gas would impregnate the atmosphere and potentially snuff out all life on Earth. Despite reassurances from scientists, the public panicked, buying gas masks and experimenting with "anti-comet pills."Added to timeline:
Date:
apr 10, 1910
apr 20, 1910
~ 10 days