Claims: Did a medieval flying monk spot Halley's comet, twice? It's complicated

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  1. title: Did a medieval flying monk spot Halley's comet, twice? It's complicated (alleges; supported) Source
  2. url: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/06/did-a-medieval-flying-monk-spot-halleys-comet-twice-its-complicated/ (alleges; supported) Source
  3. summary: Early in the 11th century, a young Benedictine monk named Eilmer jumped from the 150-foot tower of his abbey in the small English town of Malmesbury, wearing a pair of crude wings he’d fashioned from willow wood and cloth. Eilmer managed to glide a good 600 feet, passing over the city wall before crash-landing in a small valley near the river Avon. The fall broke both his legs, crippling him. Malmesbury Abbey still boasts a stained-glass window in honor of Brother Eilmer. This legendary experime… (alleges; supported) Source
  4. published: Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:02:53 +0000 (alleges; supported) Source