Halley’s Comet in the pages of Jornal Feira Hoje

A Study on the Science Communication of the Antares Astronomical Observatory in 1986

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the scientific communication carried out by the Antares Astronomical Observatory (OAA), with the participation of the newspaper Jornal Feira Hoje (JFH), in Feira de Santana, Bahia, during the passage of Halley’s Comet in 1986. The text describes the communication strategies adopted by the OAA around the Halley Project, widely disseminated in Jornal Feira Hoje. By articulating scientific networks, the OAA connected science, tourism, and culture through commitments from public entities, actions with private companies, and educational activities. The analysis of the sources made it possible to verify how the OAA and JFH created expectations about the phenomenon, contributing to the creation of a media spectacle as well as to the social and scientific frustration resulting from the low visibility of Halley’s last passage. In light of the uncertainties of astronomical events, the Halley Project gains importance, as it demonstrates the challenges of carrying out public communication of science.