published his orbit calculations for the returning object now known as Halley's Comet. The 1758-1759 return of Halley's Comet was the first comet appearance predicted in advance.

The extraterrestrial origin of meteors (shooting stars) was only recognised on the basis of the analysis of the 1833 Leonid meteor shower by astronomer Denison Olmsted. The 33-year period of the Leonids led astronomers