“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also.” Genesis 1:16.
Astronomers tell us that there are innumerable comets throughout space — more than a trillion in our Milky Way galaxy alone and millions more circling the sun. Many of these, in elliptical orbits, take thousands or even millions of years to complete their circuits. Some comets have heads 50,000 miles in diameter and tails 100 million miles long.
However, from these many comets there are only about two dozen which are known whose circuit brings them close enough to earth that we can see them. One of these, Encke’s comet, appears every third year; Biela’s and Brooks are two that show up at about seven-year intervals; Halley’s comet, which is the most well known of all the comets, comes within sight at 76-year intervals. It is the only one generally seen without special telescopes.
Halley’s is thought to weigh about six billion tons and is distinct from all the others with its great fiery tail streaking across the sky. During its path near earth it attracts untold numbers of people across America, Europe and other countries who watch it with amazement and awe from open fields, hillsides or out on the seas. It is due to appear next in February 1986, just a year from now. Plans are well under way for astronomers with their instruments to go up in a space ship for a closer look, hoping to learn more about it.
No one seems to know what Halley’s comet is really made of. Some think of it as solar dust and gases squeezed tightly together, and others guess it is a great frozen ball of ice mixed with dust. But whatever it may be, it is evident that as it draws near the sun the intense heat breaks some of it down into great volumes of vapor. This vapor trail streaking out behind it as a tail millions of miles long and which is exposed to the sun’s brilliance, provides the wonderful exhibit admired by so many. Actually, only a small part of the comet is drawn off each time, so its life will continue for whatever period of time the Creator has determined for it.
It is the gravity of the sun that keeps Halley’s and other comets in their orbits, drawing them close and then swinging them out great distances into space on precise schedules. This is another example of the wonders of God’s creation, for although the sun determines the orbits, it is God who controls them, just as He controls the untold number of stars throughout space.
As David gazed with wonder at the starry skies he exclaimed, “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad.” Psalms 96:11. “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory.” Psalms 97:6. When you think of all this glory, what does it mean to you? Is the One who made and controls it your Saviour as well as your Creator? Can you say, “This is my Lord and Saviour. I have put my trust in Him"?
ML-02/10/1985