Great Comet of 1882 observed by David Gill

Background. The Great Comet of 1882, designated C/1882 R1, became very bright in September 1882. Classified as a Kreutz sungrazer, it passed within one solar radius of the Sun's photosphere. The comet was visible in the daytime sky next to the Sun at perihelion. It appeared in the morning skies of September 1882, with reports suggesting first sightings from the Cape of Good Hope as early as 1 September.

David Gill's Observations. Sir David Gill, a Scottish astronomer serving as Her Majesty's Astronomer at the Cape, reported watching the comet rise a few minutes before the Sun on 18 September. He described the nucleus as undoubtedly single, measuring under four arcseconds in diameter, and resembling a first-magnitude star seen by daylight. Gill was a pioneer in astrophotography, making some of the first photographs of the Great Comet of 1882.

Astronomical Context. The comet made its closest approach to Earth on 16 September 1882 and reached perihelion the next day. Some sources claim it was the brightest comet ever recorded, reaching a peak magnitude of -17. Gill's observations of the comet formed part of his work at the Cape, where he was a pioneer in astrophotography, making some of the first photographs of the Great Comet of 1882.