Latest news with #Halley'sComet
News18
11 hours ago
- Science
- News18
600-Year-Old Inscription Found In Andhra Temple Refers To Sighting Of Halley's Comet
Last Updated: The discovery comes from a 15th-century Vijayanagara copper plate inscription, dated June 28, 1456 CE A remarkable archaeological discovery at the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam, present-day Andhra Pradesh, has seemingly revealed India's earliest known epigraphic mention of Halley's Comet. This discovery comes from a 15th-century Vijayanagara copper plate inscription, dated June 28, 1456 CE. The copper plate inscription records a land grant by Vijayanagara king Mallikarjuna to a Vedic scholar, says a report in The New Indian Express. What makes this inscription exceptional is its detailed reference to a bright celestial object visible at the time, which historians and astronomers have identified as Halley's Comet. Astronomical data confirms that Halley's Comet was spectacularly visible during the summer of 1456, marking one of its historically significant apparitions observed in Europe and Asia. The inscription's date corresponds to Śaka 1378, dhātr̥ āṣāḍha ba. 11 in the Indian calendar, which translates to Monday, June 28, 1456 CE, matching the comet's known appearance. While ancient Indian texts like the Rigveda, Atharvaveda, and Brihat Samhita contained metaphorical references to comets, none offered a specific date for an actual astronomical event. This Srisailam inscription is the earliest concrete epigraphic reference to Halley's Comet in India, providing evidence of its observation and the cultural importance ascribed to it during the Vijayanagara period. Written in classical Telugu with parts in Sanskrit, the inscription follows the traditional copper plate grant format of the time. Including the astronomical event alongside details of the land grant indicates that such celestial phenomena were significant enough to be recorded in legal, religious, and administrative documents. The inscription notes that the land grant was made to Vedic scholar and astronomer Limgaṇarya to counteract the perceived negative effects of the comet's appearance and an associated meteor shower, reflecting the ruler's concern for his kingdom's well-being. Halley's Comet, last seen in 1986, is expected to return in 2061. First Published: June 22, 2025, 04:12 IST
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
10 Eerie predictions from history that shockingly came true
Predictions have fascinated humanity for centuries, whether they came from prophets, scientists, or writers. While most forecasts miss the mark or fade into obscurity, a rare few have turned out to be incredibly accurate. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These striking insights offered glimpses into the future that seemed almost too precise to believe. Some were rooted in deep observation, while others appeared to be the result of sheer intuition. From world wars and space travel to the internet and organ transplants, these predictions came true in ways that continue to amaze us today. Here are ten historical forecasts that remarkably became reality. From Wi-Fi to World War, predictions that came true across the world 1. The Cold War- Alexis de Tocqueville (1840) French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville predicted the rise of two dominant global powers during his travels in the United States. In Democracy in America, he wrote that Russia and America would one day "hold the destinies of half the world in their hands." This seemed unlikely in the 19th century, but Tocqueville's foresight was remarkable. His prediction came true during the Cold War era in the 20th century, when the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers locked in a tense global rivalry that shaped world politics for decades. 2. His own death- Mark Twain (1909) Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was born shortly after Halley's Comet passed in 1835. In 1909, Twain made a striking prediction about his own death. He famously said, 'I came in with Halley's Comet… it is coming again, and I expect to go out with it.' This eerie prediction proved accurate when Twain died on April 21, 1910—just one day after the comet's return. His statement is often cited as one of the most personal and accurate prophecies ever made by a public figure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 3. Wireless communication- Nikola Tesla (Early 1900s) Nikola Tesla was far ahead of his time in predicting the future of communication technology. In 1909, he envisioned a world where wireless messages could be transmitted easily and widely, so simple that anyone could own and operate their own device. Tesla also described a 'global brain' connected by wireless networks, anticipating the modern internet. His remarkable foresight paved the way for mobile phones, Wi-Fi, and other wireless technologies that have become essential to everyday life, transforming the way people communicate, access information, and interact worldwide. 4. World War II- Ferdinand Foch (1919) French general Ferdinand Foch expressed deep concerns over the Treaty of Versailles, signed after World War I. He believed the treaty was far too lenient on Germany and warned that it was not a true peace but merely an armistice that would last twenty years. His fears were tragically realized in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, triggering World War II. Foch's statement showed his sharp understanding of the political realities and tensions that would soon escalate into another devastating global conflict just two decades after the end of the first. 5. Photo and colour technology- John Elfreth Watkins (1900) In 1900, engineer John Elfreth Watkins published an article titled What May Happen in the Next Hundred Years. He made several striking predictions, including the ability to 'telegraph photographs from any distance,' foreseeing real-time image sharing and live broadcasts. Watkins also anticipated the development of full-color photography at a time when black-and-white photos were the norm. His vision accurately forecasted technological advances that have since revolutionized media, communication, and entertainment, shaping how people capture and share moments in vibrant color and instant detail. 6. Organ transplants- Robert Boyle (Mid-17th Century) Robert Boyle, a founder of modern chemistry, imagined future medical breakthroughs long before they were possible. Among his scientific hopes was the 'cure of diseases by transplantation,' despite having no scientific basis or technology to achieve this at the time. Nearly three centuries later, Boyle's vision became reality when the first successful human kidney transplant was performed in 1954. His foresight reflects the spirit of scientific progress—anticipating life-saving treatments that continue to evolve and transform modern medicine today. 7. The Moon landing- Jules Verne (1865) Jules Verne's science fiction novel From the Earth to the Moon described a manned mission to the moon launched from Florida. The story included a capsule called the 'Columbiad,' carrying three astronauts who splashed down in the ocean upon return. Verne's imaginative details were astonishingly accurate. Exactly 100 years later, NASA's Apollo 11 mission launched from Florida with a spacecraft called 'Columbia,' a crew of three astronauts, and a splashdown recovery in the ocean. His visionary writing remains a remarkable example of fiction predicting reality. 8. The Titanic disaster- Morgan Robertson (1898) In his novella Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan, Morgan Robertson eerily described the sinking of an 'unsinkable' giant ship named Titan, which struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The story included details such as a lack of enough lifeboats, resulting in massive loss of life. Fourteen years after the novella's publication, the real Titanic met almost the exact same fate in 1912. The parallels between Robertson's fictional ship and the Titanic's disaster continue to fascinate and shock readers and historians alike. 9. Satellite communications- Arthur C. Clarke (1945) In 1945, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke proposed using geostationary satellites to enable global communications. At the time, this idea was purely theoretical. Clarke's vision became the blueprint for modern satellite technology, which today supports GPS navigation, television broadcasts, and worldwide internet connectivity. The orbit Clarke described is now known as the 'Clarke Orbit,' and his prediction helped shape the way people around the world communicate and access information from space-based systems. 10. Smartphones and AI assistants- Ray Kurzweil (Early 1990s) Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil foresaw a future where people would carry portable devices connected to a global network, offering real-time information and voice interaction. In the early 1990s, Kurzweil predicted the rise of smartphones and AI-powered digital assistants like Siri and Alexa. Today, these technologies are a part of everyday life, transforming communication, productivity, and personal convenience. His predictions highlight how artificial intelligence and mobile computing continue to reshape society in profound ways.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Win a copy of Happy Is The One by Katie Allen in this week's Fabulous book competition
ROBIN knows the date he's going to die – born on the day Halley's Comet last appeared, he's destined to check out when it returns. He's methodically planned his life around this, but that all changes when he has to go home to care for his ailing dad. Warm and tender, this will really make you think. 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition. To win a copy, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on June 7, 2025. For full terms and conditions, click here.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
When is the next full moon? How to see May's flower moon and Eta Aquariid meteor shower
May flowers are here, and so is the flower moon. The latest full moon will be visible in the sky on Mother's Day, giving mothers a lunar gift for the holiday. Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it's called a 'blue moon' — hence, the saying 'once in a blue moon.' The next one will occur on May 31, 2026. Here's what to know about May's full moon. The next full moon, a flower moon, will be visible on May 12 at 12:56 p.m., according to May's full moon is also a micromoon. Ahead of the full moon, a first-quarter moon will appear on May 4 at 9:52 a.m., followed by a last quarter moon on May 20 at 7:59 a.m. and a new moon on May 26 at 11:02 p.m., according to Almanac. The full moon in May is called the flower moon and symbolizes the flowers that bloom during the month, according to May's brightest moon phase is also known as the 'milk moon' from the Old English word 'rimilcemona,' which means three-milkings-month and signifies the cows that were milked three times a day during this time of year. Other Celtic and Old English names for May's full moon include 'mothers' moon,' 'hare moon' and 'grass moon.' Native American names for the month's full moon are the 'egg-laying moon' and 'planting moon.' Elsmere news: Heated meeting leads to Elsmere mayor's abrupt resignation. What happened and why? When a full moon or new moon is at its farthest point from earth, called apogee, it is known as a micromoon, the opposite of a supermoon, according to Almanac. A micromoon looks approximately 14% smaller than a supermoon, with its illuminated area appearing 30% smaller, reports. May's micromoon is reported to be the last one in 2025. Aside from the full moon, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower (also written as "Eta Aquarid") will occur in early May. The meteor shower runs through May 28 after peaking on May 5 and 6. The Eta Aquariids occur when Earth passes through debris or ice and dust left behind from Comet 1P/Halley, commonly known as Halley's Comet, hundreds of years ago, according to 'Halley's Comet is named after English astronomer Edmon Halley, who examined reports of comets approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682,' accurately predicting the return of the comet in 1758 and confirming his theory that the sightings were of the same comet. Halley's Comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun. It will not enter the solar system again until 2061. This comet is also the parent comet of the Orionid meteor shower in late October. 'Comet crumbs' heat up as they enter Earth's atmosphere when they pass through the comet debris, creating the shooting stars seen from below. The Eta Aquariids are known for a high percentage of persistent trains. The meteor shower produces up to 50 meteors per hour, which is more than a usual meteor shower can produce. The meteor shower is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. The Eta Aquariids are visible in the hours before dawn. Their radiant culminates at around 8 a.m., which leaves a short observation window between the rise of the radiant and morning twilight, according to No special equipment is needed to watch the Lyrids meteor shower. All you need is a comfy blanket to sit on and an open sky to look up at. Organ donation in Delaware: 'From the bottom of our heart': How organ donation helps Delawareans gain, and give, new life Looking ahead, June's full moon is called the 'strawberry moon,' named after the small wild strawberries that ripen at this time of the year. It will be visible on June 11 at 3:43 a.m., according to Almanac. The strawberry moon is also known as the 'hot moon,' 'green corn moon' and 'berries ripen moon' to Native American tribes; the 'horse moon,' 'rose moon' and 'dyan moon' in Celtic culture; and the 'mead moon' to Anglo-Saxons, a nod to the moon occurring during a time of year meant for mowing the meads, or meadows, according to Around every 20 years, the strawberry moon coincides with the summer solstice, occurring on either June 20, 21 or 22. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is the next full moon May 2025? How to see May's flower moon
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Utterly disappointed': Eta Aquarids meteor shower fizzles over Singapore
Lianhe Zaobao photojournalist Jason Lee said he saw only one meteor over 3½ hours. SINGAPORE – Hopes for a celestial spectacle were running high, but skywatchers across Singapore were left largely disappointed during the peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in the early hours of May 6 and 7, with several reporting spotting just one meteor over a number of hours. This particular meteor shower occurs annually when the Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley's Comet – arguably the most famous comet in history, known for being visible with the naked eye roughly every 76 years. The meteor shower is typically more visible in the Southern Hemisphere, where observers may catch up to 50 meteors an hour under ideal conditions. In Singapore, however, clear skies offered little payoff. In the early hours of May 6, Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao photojournalist Jason Lee, who was on assignment at Champions Green – a housing estate near Singapore Sports School in Woodlands – said he saw only one meteor over 3½ hours. Speaking with The Straits Times, the photojournalist said: 'It didn't feel worth the wait.' He added that the meteor 'looked quite different from what one would normally expect a meteor to be'. A netizen, who goes by 'Mycandidphotoshot Gates' on Facebook, said in a post that he had tried his luck at one of the least illuminated areas in Singapore – Changi Beach Park – in the early hours of May 6. 'Skies were mostly clear. I spotted one meteor with a light trail that lasted about two seconds while setting up my camera,' he wrote. 'I was stoked and thought more would follow. I was wrong.' He added that he spent the next four hours scanning the sky in vain, even double-checking the coordinates. 'It was supposed to be more active in the south-east. Utterly disappointed,' he said. In response to previous queries regarding visibility of cosmic events from Singapore, the Science Centre Singapore observatory said that light pollution, erratic weather and frequent cloud cover can all impact the chances of observing cosmic events from the island. 'Meteor showers are relatively faint, and dark, clear skies are required to view them,' the observatory added, noting that visibility also depends on the nature of the specific cosmic event. Meanwhile, overseas enthusiasts had better luck. Social media was filled with vivid photos and videos from countries with darker skies and better visibility, showing bright streaks lighting up the early morning heavens. The Eta Aquarids will continue until late May, but given the poor visibility even during its peak, further sightings in Singapore are unlikely. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
