"A bright comet suspended in the sky at dawn or dusk

is an im pressive sight, exciting to scientists and

nonscientists alike. The visual spectacle is created by

the light scattered from the comet s tail, whose image

can stretch from horizon to horizon

"All aspects of cometary studies have been discussed

in articles and other items in Scientific American.

We begin this reader with an article touching on the

general interest in comets as revealed in art and history.

One of the fascinating aspects of comets is the public

reaction to them. This reaction is revealed in part by the

coverage of Halley s Comet at its last apparition in 1910

--coverage which included descriptions of the recovery

of the comet and of Halley s original work

"An introduction to cometary astronomy precedes

this collection of Scientific Arherican articles.

This introduction will help the reader to appreciate the

~ -~-development of cometary astronomy, its present state,

.- and its prospects."