In the 19th century there were a number of spectacular or anticipated comets visible to the naked eye that generated significant popular as well as specialist interest. This popular interest and the commercial opportunities it provided is illustrated by this diagram, which responded to the discovery of a new comet by Giovani Battista Donati on 2 June 1858. It made its nearest approach to Earth on 10 October 1858, just five days after this print was published.

This diagram was based on observations by John Russell Hind (1823-1895), Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac Office, and Richard Farley, Chief Assistant at the NAO. The central dial can be moved round to calculate the position of the comet against the background of the principal constellations and text on the card gives instructions to the user.