Decorative ceramic plate made to commemorate the return of Halley's comet in 1985-86.
It depicts (clockwise from top)
1) Diagram of the interception of Halley's Comet by the Giotto spacecraft.
2) Detail from Giotto's Adoration of the Magi showing Halley's Comet as the Star of Bethlehem
3) An early twentieth century newspaper artist's impression of comet inspired destruction
4) Composition of Comet
5) A nineteenth century caricature of the human fear of a comet striking Earth.
6) Detail of a seventeenth century woodcut illustrating a common belief that comets brought plague.
7) Giotto spececraft
8) Detail of an advertisement playing on the comet theme.
9) Detail of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting Halley's Comet.
Centre) Dr Edmond Halley 1656 - 1742, Astronomer Royal 1720 - 1742.
