Could Halley's Comet have broken up?

[willpittenger]

When Halley's Comet last visited Earth, as it was leaving, I remember hearing that it got really bright and then vanished sooner than expected.&nbsp; This had me thinking that it might have broken up.&nbsp; However, Wikipedia doesn't even mention Halley's exit.&nbsp; So is my memory bad? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[Carrickagh]

<p>Halley did exit with a memorable outburst. You are correct. Although dramatic, I don't think it signified a break up.</p><p>Also, I believe about 5 years back the VLT actually imaged Halley. The comet was in one piece, at that time. And in the right place. The image set some sort of record for imaging a comet at a large distance (about 30 AU, IIRC).</p><p>CK</p><p>UPDATE: Here is the image from the ESO site...Halley is the fuzzy at dead center. Link to article.</p><p><br /><div style="text-align:center"><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/8/1a80a8ad-eb9b-4b99-980e-cc95ae4dd4e7.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></div></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Halley did exit with a memorable outburst. You are correct. Although dramatic, I don't think it signified a break up.Also, I believe about 5 years back the VLT actually imaged Halley. The comet was in one piece, at that time. And in the right place. The image set some sort of record for imaging a comet at a large distance (about 30 AU, IIRC).CKUPDATE: Here is the image from the ESO site...Halley is the fuzzy at dead center. Link to article. <br /> Posted by Carrickagh</DIV></p><p>Oh, now that is sweet!!!!&nbsp; Thank you for sharing that image. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>