Eastern Kentucky University - Milestone Yearbook (Richmond, KY)

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ALLEY Student Life 17

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What was once greeted with fear was met with anticipation. The reappearance of Halley ' s Comet was more closely watched than any other celestial event in history. Comets were once said to be the source of natural disasters. People believed that their lives were governed by the position of the stars and planets. If a cosmic object violated the established or- der of the heavens it was called a sick star (or disaster, from the Latin word meaning ill star. ) The first sighting of Halley ' s Comet was probably a Chinese report of 240 B.C. The comet has appeared every 76 years since then. Edmund Halley observed it in the 1600 ' s and predicted it would return in 1758. He died 16 years before its return but his theory was proved when a Ger- man farmer spotted the comet on Christmas night 1758. The 1986 return of the comet was its worst visit in 2000 years, according to Jack Fletcher, Direc- tor of Hummel Planetarium at the University. This is because when the comet was at its bright- est, it was on the opposite side of the sun from the earth. Nevertheless, working togeth- er, scientists from all countries compared photos and studied its composition. The comet was viewed by mil- lions of non-scientific people who weren ' t seeking to develop theories. Instead they were seek- ing only a glimpse of the long awaited comet in their attempt to touch a part of history. SKY Nov. 1985

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imiminiimiiKiKSiiiiminanHmn Top: The space shuttle Challeng- er was the first in-flight disaster in 56 manned U.S. space mis- sions. Above: The Challenger di- saster cost NASA seven crew members, including high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space. Opposite Page: The Trans World Airlines jet with 145 passengers and crew members was hijacked in Ath- ens, Greece, in June. Sheite hi- jackers killed one American hos- tage. 18 Student Life