Farmer’s Star
Farmer’s Star (official designation: 1P/Farmer), sometimes Farmer’s Comet, is a periodic comet in the Solar System, discovered by the Spanish astronomer Jose Farmer on May 12th, 1830. This faint comet is notable for its systematically decreasing orbit and Earth-crossing path. Commentators have identified this body with the mythical Wormwood, and several otherwise unexplained or supernatural events have been linked to its appearance in the skies.
Strange comets have always been a good source for B-Movie menaces and superpowers. In the DC Universe alone, we have dozens of strange meteors and eradiating phenomena that create baneful or positive effects (c.f. TV Tropes: Magic Meteor), with prominent examples including Captain Comet, Vandal Savage, the Orb of Ra, Gorilla City, the Prometheon from Superman: TAS, the Wildstorm event (often forgotten from the old Wildstorm Universe) to name a few. The central conceit of Farmer’s Comet is that all of these phenomena are caused by a single periodic comet and its oddly energetic debris. The concept is a tip of the hat to the Wold Cottage Meteorite. This meteorite proved the interplanetary origin of meteorites, which Philip Jose Farmer later used as the mutating foundation for the Wold-Newton Universe of adventure heroes. The name “Farmer’s Comet” is a homage to P. J. Farmer.
The Asteroid
Discovery
In 1795, a meteorite impact was observed at Wold Cottage, near Wold Newton in Yorkshire, England. Following this event, reports of a mysterious comet sighting and unusual auroral activity emerged. These strange phenomena reappeared in 1830, prompting astronomer José Farmer to hypothesise that this celestial visitor was periodic and was the same comet observed decades earlier.
Farmer embarked on the first calculation of the comet’s orbit. His report to the British Royal Astronomical Society weaved together fragments of historical sightings and pieced together a timeline of the comet’s potential prior appearances. However, it was not until its otherwise uneventful return in 1863 that Farmer’s accounts were widely accepted. This led to the object being formally described as “Farmer’s Star”.
Catalogued Information
The 120th Edition of Blake’s Astronomical Almanac describes Farmer’s Star as:
A faint Earth orbit-crossing short-period comet or asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit. Farmer’s star is an unremarkable peanut-shaped Near Earth body with a long-axis dimension of 3-miles and a width of 1.4-miles. Its composition is mainly iron-nickel. It has been identified with several meteorite falls, the result of the Earth passing through its debris trail.
This body’s orbit has long puzzled scientists as it appears to be shortening with each successive circuit. Its present-day period is believed to be close to 33-years. It was first reported in the scientific literature in 1830 by Spanish astronomer Jose Farmer. The last closest approach of Farmer’s Star was on 1996 Aug 08, coincident with the “wild storm” auroral event, although no evidence linking the two events has been found.
On its outer orbit, the body receives so little sunlight that its long “winter” phase is perpetually dark and barren. Somehow it has acquired a mantle of ice and could be mistaken for just another comet. The current appearance of Farmer’s Star is only revealed when it’s highly elliptical orbit carriers it close to the Sun. When its orbit carries it inwards the light from the Sun becomes strong enough to trigger a thaw in the ice mantle. This causes a visible plume and the creation of a tenuous atmosphere as the ice sublimates. What holds this atmosphere to such a low gravity body is not understood.
While this is accurate, it does not tell the whole story.
Orbit
Farmer’s Comet has an orbital period of 33 years. However, close observation of its perihelion, the nearest approach to the Sun, shows that its orbital period is decreasing with time. Its returns to the inner Solar System are becoming more frequent, and its perihelion, the distance of the closest approach to the Sun, is decreasing.
For calculation reasons and neglecting calendar changes, we take the year 1795 to be our zero point with an orbital period of 35 years. The orbital period then increases/decreases by approximately 1.3% for each repeat before or after that. The actual coefficient is taken as 0.987 or 1/0.987 as relevant.
Timeline for Farmer's Star
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Pseudo-Historical Kesel chains the Prometheon
The Celestial Kesel, leader of the War Phalanx of New Genesis, battles the parasitic titan called the Prometheon on pre-historic Earth. The Prometheon is undefeatable whilst rooted to the Earth itself, so Kesel sacrifices his life to detonate the supervolcano beneath the future Lake Toba, Indonesia. The Prometheon is thrown into orbit, captured by the other Celestials, and bound to an asteroid that is thrown into deep space. One bystander is killed in the battle, the first human to be killed in a battle between Celestials/Powers. The echo of him in the Platonic Field will eventually form the basis of the persona of the Unseen One.
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Atlantean Chronicles First appearance of Farmer's Star
This year, the Star of Lanis was seen for the first time in the east.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles Fragment #11. The asteroid prison of the Prometheon returns to the inner Solar System for the first time. Lanis, for whom Lansinar is named, is potentially the Lansinarian name for the Prometheon; if so, they are identifying him as an ancestral figure. -
Atlantean Chronicles Birth of Mneseus and Autochthon
This year, the Star of Lanis is seen again in the sky. Cleito of Lansinar, daughter of Evanor, begat the fifth and sixth Princes, Mneseus and Autochthon, by the will of the Old God. Autochthon is born beyond the Curtain.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles Fragment #96. Atlantean tradition holds that Autochthon was the first of the Old Ones born outside the city of Lansinar. -
Atlantean Chronicles The 666 Monsters of Chaos awaken
160 year of March of the Atlanteans:
In this year the Star of Lanis is seen again in the sky. That which was chained is awakened; the 666 Monsters of Chaos do roam.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. The passing of Farmer’s Star seemed to have awakened some of the imprisoned Old Powers. These and the remaining free ones are the 666 Monsters of Chaos. Aurakles (470), the champion of Lansinar, would spend the next millennium battling the monsters on and off. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Atlanteans begin to age
In this year the Star of Lanis is seen again in the sky. The Grace of Lansinar fades from the Followers of Atlan. Age comes to the oldest.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. The Atlanteans would have been immortal under the Auroral Curtain of Lansinar; in exile, they still lived for thousands of years, but that lifespan would slowly shorten over the ages. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Old God stirs
The Star of Lanis is seen again this year. Thanks and gifts are made to the Old God. He begins to stir. The doubting of Orin.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. From this point, the Old God begins to awaken and makes more demands on the Atlanteans. Orin, Atlan’s heir, begins to see the error of his people. -
Atlantean Chronicles Star of Lanis is seen
688 year of reign of Orin Atlaneas:
The Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles -
Atlantean Chronicles Star of Lanis is seen
1610 year of reign of Orin Atlaneas:
The Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles Star of Lanis is seen
2520 year of reign of Orin Atlaneas:
The Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles -
Atlantean Chronicles Marriage of Calculha and Majistra
744 year of reign of Calculha:
The Star of Lanis is seen again. Calculha (1678) the Wise and Majistra of Mu are married.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Uxas aids Kronus
Behind Queen Helga’s back, Uxas instructs Matron Moreau to unleash the Three Faces of Evil, a captured and conditioned Elder Thing, to attack the New Genesis allied cities of Lansinar and Atlantis on Earth. The creature Boom Tubes into the Sol System, in deep space, and establishes a nest on Farmer’s Star while it waits for the asteroid’s orbit to intersect with that of Earth.
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Atlantean Chronicles The Three-Header Serpent appears
2483 year of reign of Calculha:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. The Thrice Headed Serpent, the Herald of Sin, is seen in the skies for the first time.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. To Atlanteans, symbols of a multi-headed dragon with an even number of heads are lucky, but signs with an odd number are unlucky and an omen of death. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Thrice Headed Serpent attacks Atlantis
673 year of reign of Ahri'ahn:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. The Thrice Headed Serpent is repulsed by Lansinar’s Curtain and the champion Aurakles, it turns upon Atlantis. The mage Queens Ahri'ahn (2384) and Majistra turn the Serpent aside.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. At this time, they would be the Queen Regent (ruling in her own right) and the Dowager Queen (the Queen Consort of the former King). -
Atlantean Chronicles The War of the Eternals
1514 year of reign of Ahri'ahn:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. The unseen wars between the Eternals are halted by the third visitation of the Thrice-Headed Serpent. Calculha and Majistra, with three other Eternals, engineer two mountains, one from the home of the Timeless Ones, one from their dark enemy, and trap the Thrice Headed Serpent between them. The Pax Calculha is agreed between the Eternals. They will sit in Council to create a balance between themselves and the sit-in judgment against those who reject the Pax.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. This entry relates to the defeat of the Thrice-Headed Serpent (also known as the Herald of Sin or as the Three Faces of Evil) and the creation of the Rock of Eternity. Eternals are sorcerers that have transcended mortal life; their concerns are deeply esoteric and the obscure politics of others of their kind. In these early days, the War of the Eternals was fought in secret. However, their combined existence was threatened by the Herald of Sin, forcing most of them to band together to defeat it. The prison they formed was called the Rock of Eternity and was forged from two mountains, one from New Genesis and one from Apokolips. Their ad-hoc alliance was made permanent as the Council of Eternity. The Council would meet in session in a chamber deep within the Rock of Eternity. Their first leader was Calculha, and he gave his name to the peace created between them. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Star of Lanis is seen again
2345 year of reign of Ahri'ahn:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. Kronus collects meteorites of promethinite scattered by the asteroid’s passage and begins forging the Chaos Sycthe. -
Atlantean Chronicles Altantiades the Elder dies
3165 year of reign of Ahri'ahn:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. The death of Atlantiades the Elder (4098).
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles, Time Travel The Sun King verus the Dark Traveller
744 year of reign of Atlantiades (the Younger):
The Star of Lanis was seen again. The visitation of the Dark Traveller was recorded. The Sun King (2803) (the son of Paean, grandson of Dyeus Pitr of Lansinar, who had once been fostered in Atlantis), challenged the legitimacy of Atlantiades the Younger (1872) to rule. He demanded that Atlantiades cede the throne, or he would destroy Atlantis. The Dark Traveller from times unknown and Aurakles (11860) of Lansinar defeated the Sun King. The Dark Traveller was lost to time. The opposite shore to Thule was changed, and Sun King was entombed within.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. This relates to the appearance of a time-lost Batman battling the Sun King with the aid of Aurakles. The Sun King unleashed Barbatos the Hyper-Adaptor on Batman, causing the reshaping of the Maine coastline into the Gotham islands. ] -
Atlantean Chronicles The Star of Lanis is seen again
1542 year of reign of Atlantiades (the Younger):
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Old Faith returns to Atlantis
680 year of reign of Sun Prince:
The Star of Lanis is seen again. There are mutterings that the Old Faith has returned to distant parts of Atlantis.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Star of Lanis is seen again
440 year of reign of Tocih:
The Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Star of Lanis is seen again
1208 year of reign of Tocih:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. Melias Attacus, the son of Lord Durgeda and Lady Tarmioba of Domus Arbouneas, is born.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. That Melias Attacus was born under the sign of the Star of Lanis did not go unnoticed during his lifetime, albeit more openly in relation to the tragedy at the end of his life. -
Atlantean Chronicles The Star of Lanis is seen again
346 year of reign of Melias Attacus:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles The arrival of Gloriana
1832 year of reign of Melias Attacus:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. The Court of Melias Attacus (2244) is visited by fair Gloriana from parts unknown. She bewitches the King and disappears as quickly as she appeared.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles Marriage of Melias and Gloriana
2560 year of reign of Melias Attacus:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. Fair Gloriana returns to the Court of Melias Attacus (2972), lifting him from the fugue. They get married at the end of the year.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles -
Atlantean Chronicles The Star of Lanis is seen again
151 year of reign of Poseidon:
In this year, the Star of Lanis is seen again. All Atlantis is alert to the return of Gloriana, but she is never seen in again in this Age.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
The Immortal Vandal Savage
A fragment of Farmer’s Star, the celestial cage of the Prometheon, passes close to Earth. A bright chunk of promethinite from it impacts the Fertile Crescent as a meteorite and is discovered by the wandering Vandaa (45) while he is separated from his tribe. Vandaa sleeps next to the meteorite for warmth and is transformed by its energies into an immortal (the future Vandal Savage). Classic origin of Vandal Savage from whatever version you wish to quote.
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The Ra-Meteorite
During a close approach of Farmer’s Star, a meteorite composed almost entirely of astro-promethinite impacts in Egypt. A group of priests witnesses its fall and attributes its descent and strange glowing form to an act of the god Ra.
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Historical The Wold Newton Meteorite
An agricultural worker witnesses a meteorite impact near the village of Wold Newton in Yorkshire. The discovery leads to research that confirms the astronomical origin of meteorites. Around the same time, a mysterious comet and unusual auroral anomalies are reported but are not connected to the meteorite’s appearance.
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Farmer's Star discovered
Astronomer José Farmer connects the appearance of a comet associated with unusual auroral anomalies to a comet that accompanied the Wold Newton meteorite. His exhaustive historical research, identifying prior sightings of the same comet, is presented to the Royal Astronomical Society.
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Confirmation of Farmer's Star
The comet discovered by José Farmer is observed from Earth once more, confirming his earlier hypothesis. In the popular press, the comet is nicknamed “Farmer’s Star. “
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