From Punch 41 (1861) page 34, July. \The age of the comet ascertained to a nicety. The antediluvians recognise an old acquantance of 1372\". Preh
From Punch 41 (1861) page 34, July. \The age of the comet ascertained to a nicety. The antediluvians recognise an old acquantance of 1372\". Prehistoric reptiles (modelled after Waterhouse Hawkins' Crystal Palace reconstructions at Sydenham), stare through telescopes at \"the Great Comet of 1861\". The comet was visible to the naked eye for three months in that year. The comet is now formally designated C/1861 J1 or 1861 II. The cartoon supposes the dinosaurs saw the same periodic comet during their reign on earth. This comet came within AU of the Earth - during which time the earth was within the Comet' tail. By day the comet's gas and dust even dimmed the sun. The cartoon gains poignance in light of the comet's near approach and recent theories about the dinosaurs' demise. The closest dinosaur is modelled after Hyaeolosaurus, mid distance Teleosaurus, furthest away iguanodon."
Size: 3778px × 4626px
Photo credit: © PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1861, 19th, alvarez, artwork, asteroid, black, black--white, caricature, cartoon, century, comet, cretaceous, crystal, dinosaur, extinction, hawkins, humour, hyaeolosaurus, iguanodon, illustration, mass, monochrome, palace, punch, sydenham, telescope, victorian, waterhouse, white
