If you can see it

It is the most famous comet of all to return to Earth. Halley’s comet reached aphelion—its farthest point from the sun—on December 8, where it began its long journey back to the sun.

For the first time in 38 years, according to space.com, the speed of snow will begin to increase on its return trip.

At aphelion, Halley slowed to just 2,034 mph. At its latest perihelion—its closest point to the sun—it was traveling at 121,572 mph. That was back in 1986.

Before you start making travel plans to get the best view of the comet, you should know that the world won’t be able to see it until June 19, 2061, according to space.com, reached perihelion July 28 that year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says the average life expectancy for Americans is 76.4 years. This means you have a better chance of seeing the comet if you were born in the 80s or later.

And, lucky for us, Halley’s orbit will delight viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, the website says.

“Interestingly, 2061 is the mirror image of the comet’s last appearance in the winter/early spring of 1986,” wrote space.com. “At that time, the comet was invisible and on the other side of the sun in the middle of winter; but in the middle of the summer of 2061 the comet will be on the same side of the so like us, in the whole scene, and show about 10 times. It will fall down quickly, and when it enters the sky in the evening, it will gradually become happy in southern areas.

“But for observers in mid-northern latitudes the comet should still be a spectacular sight, even though it is low in the west-northwest sky on an early August evening, ” it continued.

In fact, it depends on many developments that occur in the next forty years. Bright lights can block any visible comets.

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