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  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    The Feudal System Life in a Castle Life in a Medieval Village Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community The Black Death
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Virtual Bodiam Castle Virtual Skenfrith Castle Virtual Middleham Castle Virtual White Tower Virtual Etal Castle
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
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  1. Home
  2. Timelines by Category
  3. Timeline of Comet Sightings
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Timeline of Comet Sightings

891

...
A bright comet is seen
Several cultures around the world report seeing a large comet in the skies.

905

...
A comet is seen in the skies
The chronicles report a comet seen in the skies at the end of the year.

1066

Apr
Halley's Comet
A comet appeared in the skies and is shown on the Bayeux Tapestry. It is thought to be the same comet that was named after Edmund Halley who accurately predicted its return in 1758.

1095

...
A comet is seen
A comet was seen for several weeks with its tail pointing east.

1106

...
A comet passes by
A comet was seen and reported by several civilisations around the World. Lasting for forty days the comet grew steadily in brightness until finally fading away.

1110

Jun 8
A comet is sighted
The comet was visible from England for three weeks.

1132

Oct
Possible comet sighting
The Chronical of Florence of Worcester mentions the sighting of a comet seen for several days in October.

1145

...
Halley's Comet
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742 that returns approximately every 75 years.

1178

Jun 18
Possible impact on the Moon
A report from Gervase, a medieval chronicler at Canterbury, appears to indicate that the Moon was hit by a comet and resulted in flaming debris being ejected into space. Further reports state that people were killed by the debris hitting the Earth. So did the comet hit the Moon or just burn up in the atmosphere?

1222

...
Haley's Comet
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742 that returns approximately every 75 years.

1264

...
Possible comet sighting
From the Chronicles of Meaux Abbey came the report of the siting of a comet which was said to return every three hundred years. Rising from the east with more brightness than had ever been seen by a living person.

1301

...
Halley's Comet
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742 that returns approximately every 75 years.

1337

Jun
A comet is seen over France
A comet was seen in the skies of France and was viewed as a bad omen and that war was on the horizon.

1338

Apr
A comet seen in Europe
A second? comet trailing fire is seen in the skies over Europe.

1378

Nov
Halley's Comet
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742 that returns approximately every 75 years.

1456

Jun
Halley's Comet
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742. The comet returns approximately every 75 years.

1531

Aug
Halley's Comet
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742 that returns approximately every 75 years.

1556

Mar
The Great Comet
A bright comet was seen and reported by many countries in Europe. As usual, the siting of such an unusual object in the skies was seen as inauspicious and spread fear. This comet has been linked to a similar siting in 1264 but no evidence links the two.

1577

...
The Great Comet
A large comet entered the Solar System and was visible and recorded by many around the World. Chief amongst them was Tycho Brahe who was able to measure the position of the comet. Although his model of the Solar System was wrong his investigations led to the improved understanding of comets.

A Medieval Mystery

There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.

1: Location

Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.

2: Alignment

Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.

3: Size

Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?

Learn More

Medieval Heraldry

Learn about medieval shield design.

Design your own medieval Coat of Arms.

Explore the White Tower

Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

 

Adventure Game - Early Access

Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.

 

Medieval Town - Early Access

Explore the medieval town.

 

Medieval Village - Early Access

Explore the medieval village.

 

Medieval Abbey - Early Access

Explore the medieval abbey.

 

Medieval Theatre - Early Access

Explore the medieval theatre.

 

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