The Anthropocene

Every 72 to 80 years, our night skies are dazzled by a cosmic sight to see. Halley’s comet is the only short period comet visible from the naked eye. Halley is also viewed as the most famous comet; this is because it was the first time astronomers realized comets can revisit our night skies. Halley’s comet has been observed for over 2000 years and was even recorded in the famous Bayeux tapestry, which recounts the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Because of the nature of Halley, people are usually only lucky enough to see Halley once in their lifetime. In John Greens book, The Anthropocene Reviewed He gives a review on Halley’s comet. He gives a lot of information on Halley, he also makes a perspective-changing observation.

“When you measure life in Halley’s rather than years, things start to look different… In 2021, we are 5 lifetimes removed from the building of the Taj Mahal, and two lifetimes removed from the abolition of slavery in the United States. Like human life, is at once incredibly fast, and agonizingly slow.”

- John Green, The Anthropocene Reviewed

I have also always had a fascination in the cosmos. Reading Greens chapter on Halley’s comet had me looking at the events in our history differently. Between the beauty and vastness of the stars above us, and the stories told by the ancient civilizations for thousands of years, the potential for discovery is inspiring. The Anthropocene is just a musical depiction of the inspiration and wonder that is sparked within people upon gazing at the stars above and experiencing the beauty that is Halley’s Comet.