Halley’s Comet over Glasgow, 17 August, 1682.

On 17 August, 1682, a new comet appeared in the night sky over Glasgow.

Its arrival and appearance was recorded by the minister of Easter Kilpatrick:

‘August 1682, did a comet appear in the north-west, and in the north-east. Its first appearance at Glasgow was on the 17th of that month; the star was big, and the tail broad and long, at the appearance of four yards, and continued till 20 days was at an end.’ (Law, Memorialls, 234.)

Today, we know the comet as Halley’s Comet, but in 1682, the motions of comets were not known or understood. The minister of Easter Kilpatrick was very interested in comets, astrology and strange portents and wonders. He also observed, the Great Comet of 1680.

For other “wonders” of the 1680s in Scotland, see here.

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