On 22 January 1471, the Great Comet, designated C/1471 Y1, achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the closest comet to Earth in modern recorded history.
Passing within a mere 10 million kilometres, this celestial body dazzled observers with its brightness and prominence in the night sky.
The comet's proximity allowed medieval astronomers to study it more closely, sparking a wave of fascination and fear, as celestial phenomena were often interpreted as omens in those times.
This event remains one of the closest encounters with a comet documented in human history.