A bright comet appeared over Greenwich, England, prompting extensive scientific observations by the Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed and his young colleague Edmond Halley. By applying Isaac Newton's newly formulated gravitational principles to the comet's precise trajectory, Halley realized its path matched comets recorded in 1531 and 1607. He boldly predicted its regular return every 76 years, successfully establishing the concept of periodic comets and dealing a final blow to traditional astrological omens.

Halley's brilliant prediction and the comet's regular nature inspired Alexander Pope and other Augustan-era poets to write structured satirical and philosophical verses. They utilized the predictable return of comets as a literary metaphor for human reason conquering ancient fears.