COMET TALES FROM INDIA: DONATI'S COMET OF 1858 (C/1858 L1 DONATI)
Journal: Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
Year: 2021

On 02 June 1858 at the Observatory of Florence, Giambattista Donati (1826-1873) discovered a faint nebulous patch what was destined to become one of the most brilliant comets in history. Named after him, Donati's Comet (1858 VI; C/1858 L1 (Donati)) enthralled sky watchers in Europe and elsewhere like never before. This paper brings together tales of the observations of this comet made in India. Ironically, the celestial visitor happened to rise in India's most turbulent times. It was seen by man