Updated 29 October 2001, 16.27

			Fact File
	Halley's comet
		Named after 18th century astronomer Edmund Halley
		Can be seen from earth every 76 years
		Last seen in 1986
		Next appears in 2062
		Apparently seen in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings

Hundreds saw it on Saturday night and panicked.

They rang 999 as they thought a giant meteor was about to crash into the earth.

But scientists say it was probably the size of a small boulder which burned up as it entered earth's atmosphere.

Bright

Dr Jacqueline Mitton, an expert from the Royal Astronomical Association, said the Orionid was probably left behind by Halley's comet when it passed through our solar system in 1986.

Orionids are usually extremely bright and leave a trail of dust. The earth apparently travels through the fragments left by Halley's comet twice a year.