who discovered halley's comet

Halley's Comet was not originally discovered by Edmond Halley. The comet had been observed for at least 2,000 years prior, with the earliest recorded sighting around 240 BC by Chinese astronomers. Edmond Halley, an English astronomer, realized that the comets observed in the years 1531, 1607, and 1682 were actually the same comet returning approximately every 76 years. Based on Newton's law of gravity, he predicted its return in 1758, which confirmed its periodic nature. The comet was subsequently named Halley's Comet in his honor, recognizing his crucial role in understanding its orbit and predicting its return, even though he did not live to see it himself.