What dichotomy might be the true source of a comet's power regarding its appearance versus its actual trajectory?
Answer
A near-instantaneous visual spectacle representing something ancient and slow-moving.
A fascinating contrast exists between the visual experience of a comet and its underlying physical reality, and this contrast might be the true source of its persistent symbolic power. The visual event is a near-instantaneous spectacle—a sudden, bright appearance that historical observers interpreted as signaling imminent, rapid consequence. However, the object itself is an artifact of deep time, following an orbit dictated by gravity over vast timescales spanning years or even centuries, making it fundamentally ancient and slow-moving relative to its momentary flash across the sky.
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