Sir Edmund (also spelled Edmond) Halley (1656-1742), the astronomer and mathematician who calculated the orbit of the comet named for him, Halley's Comet, was born in London, England.

As Isaac Newton once observed, "If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent."

A close friend to Newton, Halley encouraged the great scientist to write The Principia Mathematica (1687) and paid for its publication.

Halley used Newton's Theory of Gravitation to predict in 1705 that the brilliant comet seen in 1607 and 1682 would return in 1758.

It did.

"Come celebrate with me in song the name Of Newton, to the Muses dear," Halley wrote. "For the Unlocked the hidden treasures of truth... Nearer the gods no mortal may approach."

In addition to his famous comet discovery, the versatile Halley cataloged the southern stars in 1679. He proved that comets moved in elliptic orbits around the sun and studied barometric pressure, ocean salinity, and rainbows. The remarkable English astronomer also studied the moon and measured the lunar effect on ocean tides.

Celebrate the changeless order of life.