Skyscript Astrology Forum

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a modern book that looks in detail at the phenomenon of Comets in the history of astronomy and astrology?

Also what do people think are the best sources from the tradition?

Al H. Morrison (CAO TIMES) published an astrological ephemeris for Halley's comet. I can't recall whether there was an interpretation in that pamphlet. Then there is the work of Nigel Calder published in 1981 "The Comet is Coming".

Ptolemy does comment the influence of comets, although A.J.Pearce "Textbook of Astrology" is the book you probably are looking for. He includes 11 pages on the influence of comets and his work is full of interesting references.

Thanks Andrew,

I did know of Ptolemy but AJ Pearce is not something I have come across. I know several people here have recommended his 'Textbook of Astrology' before so I better put that on my list once I recover from my latest book buying frenzy.

Apart, from the traditional sources I am interested in the popular view of comets throughout history.

I have tracked down the following book which looks of particular interest to astrologers:

''Comets, Popular Culture, and the Birth of Modern Cosmology'' by Sara Schechner Genuth
http://www.amazon.com/Comets-Popular-Cu ... 0691011508

The book has a whole chapter devoted to Comets and their delineation by zodiac placement, house and colour/shape/motion etc.

Its selling remarkably cheap on the Amazon marketplace so there is no excuse to be looking up at the next big Comet in ignorance...

I do have another book here somewhere on The influence of the great comets, but I dare say I will have to dig around a bit. I will get back to you when it comes to surface.

I did post an article on the comets in the Astrological Journal the last time Halley's Comet came around.

For anyone interested, I scanned AJ Pearce's chapter on comets.
The first page can be viewed here: http://www.astronor.com/comets1of6pearce.jpg
The rest should be self-explaining. 2of6... 3of6... etc.

My article from the Astrological Journal Autum 1985 may be viewed here: http://www.astronor.com/comets1of2bevan.jpg
Same principle, with the 2nd page loaded under 2of2...

Cheers!

Thanks Andrew,

Very nice of you to share this with us.

I better confess now though that I am quite a technophobe and only seem to be able to print off the first page of each link.

Mark

Try turning the page 90 degree and see if that helps!

There is another informative article on comets at www.crystallinks.com
with links to other resources.

You might check it out:
http://www.crystalinks.com/comets.html