Event #28: Comet in the process of breaking up: "surrounded by stars"

Babylonian cuneiform tablet BM 45608 gives an account of a comet seen sometime within the 4th month of -209. A translation by Herman Hunger (1996) says it “appeared in the path of Ea in the region of Scorpius; it was surrounded by stars; its tail was toward the east.” Hunger says the 4th month began on -209 June 23 and ended on July 21. Since Scorpius is in the evening sky during the reported time period, the comet was apparently in the evening sky. This is further confirmed by the eastward pointing tail.

Full moon: July 6

BM 35030

Obv.’
3 - […] much […], thick rain, much PISAN DIB (a term linked with rain), it rained large hail stones.
4 – The 6th, very overcast; in the afternoon, lightning flashed, much heavy thunder.

Rev.’
12 - […a come]t(?) appeared in the path of Ea in the region of Scorpius; it was surrounded by stars (?); its tail was toward the east.
21 - [… a “fall of fi]re” (in July/August) occurred in Tintir on the river bank.

210 BC, June-July, Babylon. During the interval June 24 to July 22, a comet was seen with its tail directed toward the east.