When were comets first observed?

Comets have been observed by humans for thousands of years, with records dating back to ancient civilizations. Historical texts from cultures such as the Babylonians and the Chinese contain accounts of comets that were witnessed in the night sky. For instance, one of the earliest known records is the appearance of Halley's Comet, which was noted by astronomers as early as 240 BC. This indicates that the observation of comets began well before the Middle Ages, Renaissance, or the 20th century, making ancient times the correct answer. The fascination with and study of comets have continued throughout history, but their initial observations clearly place them in ancient times.