HALLEYS COMET - TENDENCIES IN ITS ORBITAL EVOLUTION AND ITS ANCIENT-HISTORY

In this paper, we explain the method used to study the orbital evolution of Halley's Comet during the past three thousand years. The discussion is based on the result of calculation of the motion of the comet, taking into account the perturbations by the nine major planets over the last three thousand odd years. The main part of the discussion is centered on the historical records and their identification with returns of the comet. As a result, several problems concerning chronology have found probable explanations. © 1979.