# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Great Comets and Great Disappointments - A public talk
- **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 at 07:30 pm – Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 at 09:15 pm
- **Event Description**: Great Comets and Great Disappointments

About the Talk

Comets are occasional ghostly visitors to our skies and they hold the key to our understanding of the conditions in the early Solar System. They are fascinating objects to observe but their behaviour is very difficult to predict. The very best comets can be spectacular.

This talk will cover what makes a comet "Great" and give some examples through history. I'll also cover those cases where comets have not lived up to their early hype and explain why disappointment is more common these days than it was.

About this month's speaker

Nick is Director of the Comet Section of the BAA and also Assistant editor of The Astronomer Magazine.

He works in the space industry leading a team responsible for implementing highly sensitive and accurate systems for receiving and processing signals from deep-space spacecraft.

He also a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ambassador trying to encourage more young people to take up science and engineering as a career.
—-

Anyone is welcome – beginner or expert – and there is no need to pre-book. A small charge applies to help us cover costs (typically £3 for non-members; £2 for NEAS members; U16s free). Cash only. 

Doors open at 7.30pm and the talk starts at 8.00pm. 

Note that if you are using satnav system, the postcode may not take you directly to the hall – please check this Google Maps link if you aren’t sure: https://goo.gl/maps/fNxmg9qnAYm
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/witham/great-comets-and-great-disappointments-a-public-talk/200029631424122
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 9

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: http://facebook.com/200029631424122?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=witham-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Witham
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: The Henry Dixon Hall, Henry Dixon Road Rivenhall End, Essex, CM8 3HR
- **lat**: 51.81892
- **long**: 0.66565
- **full address**: The Henry Dixon Hall, Henry Dixon Road Rivenhall End, Essex, CM8 3HR, Henry Dixon Hall, Henry Dixon Road, Witham, CM8 3HR, United Kingdom

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: North Essex Astronomical Society (https://allevents.in/org/north-essex-astronomical-society/11348254)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/b49e43b5e3f72a401bb5961667d8b39320b587c0fc32003393382fe839e950fe-rimg-w1200-h1408-dceff0f0-gmir?v=1771044533
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://dyn-image.allevents.in/generate-image?v=4&title=Great+Comets+and+Great+Disappointments+-+A+public+talk&date=18+Feb

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 at 07:30 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** The Henry Dixon Hall, Henry Dixon Road Rivenhall End, Essex, CM8 3HR, Henry Dixon Hall, Henry Dixon Road, Witham, CM8 3HR, United Kingdom
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** North Essex Astronomical Society
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Great Comets and Great Disappointments - A public talk ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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