List of numbered comets

This is a list of periodic comets that were numbered by the Minor Planet Center after having been observed on at least two occasions. Their orbital periods vary from 3.2 to 366 years. , there are 516 numbered comets (1P–516P). There are 442 Jupiter-family comets (JFCs), 45 Encke-type comets (ETCs), 15 Halley-type comets (HTCs), five Chiron-type comets (CTCs), and one long-period comet (153P). 79 bodies are also near-Earth comets (NECs). In addition, nine numbered comets are principally classified as minor planets – six main-belt comets, two centaurs (CEN), and one Apollo asteroid – and display characteristics of both an asteroid and a comet.

Occasionally, comets will break up into multiple chunks, as volatiles coming off the comet and rotational forces may cause it to break into two or more pieces. An extreme example of this is 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, which broke into over 50 pieces during its 1995 perihelion.

Comets visited by spacecraft are highlighted in lime, while those proposed to be visited are highlighted in yellow.

List 1 to 100 Comet designation MPC designations Discoverer(s) or namesake(s) Period(years) e a(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Class NEC Ref 1P/Halley E. Halley 75.91 0.9679 17.928 162.19 5.5 5.5 km HTC 2P/Encke J. Encke 3.30 0.8483 2.215 11.78 15.6 2.43 km ETC 3D/Biela W. Biela 6.65 0.7513 3.535 13.22 7.1 0.25 km JFC 4P/Faye P/1843 W1P/1850 W1 H. Faye 7.40 0.5845 3.798 8.16 11.0 1.77 km JFC – 5D/Brorsen D/1846 D2 D/1857 F1 T. Brorsen 5.46 0.8098 3.101 29.38 8.3 – JFC 6P/d'Arrest H. d'Arrest 6.54 0.6127 3.497 19.51 15.9 1.6 km JFC – 7P/Pons–Winnecke J.-L. PonsF. Winnecke 6.32 0.6376 3.419 22.33 16.0 2.24 km JFC 8P/Tuttle H. Tuttle 13.61 0.8198 5.700 54.98 14.6 2.25 km JFC 9P/Tempel W. Tempel 5.58 0.5098 3.146 10.47 12.8 3.0 km JFC – 10P/Tempel P/1873 N1P/1878 O1 W. Tempel 5.37 0.5363 3.065 12.03 14.3 5.8 km JFC – 11P/Tempel–Swift–LINEAR W. TempelL. SwiftLINEAR 5.96 0.5774 3.289 14.44 15.2 0.6 km JFC – 12P/Pons–Brooks J.-L. PonsW. Brooks 71.20 0.9545 17.178 74.19 5.0 2.2 km HTC 13P/Olbers H. Olbers 68.70 0.9306 16.774 44.65 4.3 10 km HTC 14P/Wolf P/1884 S1P/1891 J1 M. F. Wolf 8.75 0.3575 4.247 27.94 15.6 3.16 km JFC – 15P/Finlay P/1886 S1D/1893 K1 W. Finlay 6.52 0.7202 3.490 6.80 14.9 1.21 km JFC 16P/Brooks P/1889 N1P/1896 M1 W. Brooks 6.20 0.5690 3.375 4.31 12.2 1.59 km JFC – 17P/Holmes E. Holmes 6.91 0.4302 3.626 19.07 9.4 1.71 km JFC – 18D/Perrine–Mrkos C. D. PerrineA. Mrkos 6.72 0.6426 3.560 17.76 11.5 – JFC 19P/Borrelly P/1904 Y2P/1911 S1 A. Borrelly 6.85 0.6379 3.607 29.32 9.8 4.0 km JFC – 20D/Westphal D/1852 O1D/1913 S1 J. Westphal 61.87 0.9198 15.642 40.89 8.8 – HTC 21P/Giacobini–Zinner P/1900 Y1P/1913 U1 M. GiacobiniE. Zinner 6.55 0.7105 3.500 32.00 13.1 1.0 km JFC 22P/Kopff P/1906 Q1P/1919 O1 A. Kopff 6.39 0.5486 3.444 4.74 11.9 3.0 km JFC – 23P/Brorsen–Metcalf T. BrorsenJ. H. Metcalf 70.52 0.9720 17.069 19.33 7.8 5.0 km HTC 24P/Schaumasse P/1911 X1P/1919 U1 A. Schaumasse 8.26 0.7048 4.086 11.73 12.0 0.91 km JFC 25D/Neujmin D/1916 D1D/1926 V2 G. N. Neujmin 5.43 0.5668 3.089 10.64 12.5 – JFC – 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup J. GriggJ. Skjellerup 5.30 0.6339 3.038 22.41 16.8 1.3 km JFC 27P/Crommelin A. Crommelin 27.42 0.9193 9.093 29.22 12.7 6.0 km HTC 28P/Neujmin P/1913 R2P/1931 S1 G. N. Neujmin 18.45 0.7736 6.982 14.31 13.2 9.7 km JFC – 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann P/1902 E1P/1927 V1 A. SchwassmannA. Wachmann 14.87 0.0448 6.047 9.36 10.1 30.2 km JFC – 30P/Reinmuth P/1928 D1P/1934 V1 K. W. Reinmuth 7.33 0.5018 3.774 8.13 13.7 3.9 km JFC – 31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann P/1929 B1P/1934 X1 A. SchwassmannA. Wachmann 8.74 0.1930 4.243 4.55 7.2 3.1 km JFC – 32P/Comas Solà P/1926 V1P/1935 P1 J. Comas Solà 9.56 0.5560 4.506 9.97 10.6 2.52 km JFC – 33P/Daniel P/1909 X1P/1937 B1 Z. Daniel 8.09 0.4624 4.030 22.39 15.4 0.91 km JFC – 34D/Gale D/1927 L1D/1938 J1 W. F. Gale 11.01 0.7607 4.944 11.73 10.5 – JFC 35P/Herschel–Rigollet C/1788 Y1C/1939 O1 C. HerschelR. Rigollet 155.11 0.9741 28.844 64.21 8.3 HTC 36P/Whipple F. L. Whipple 8.50 0.2582 4.165 9.94 10.5 2.55 km JFC – 37P/Forbes P/1929 P1P/1942 L1 A. F. I. Forbes 6.42 0.5345 3.456 8.96 11.5 1.1 km JFC – 38P/Stephan–Oterma E. StephanL. Oterma 37.93 0.8593 11.289 18.35 11.5 3.435 km HTC – 39P/Oterma P/1943 G1P/2001 P3 L. Oterma 20.13 0.2293 7.399 1.47 7.1 3.0 km CTC – 40P/Väisälä P/1939 CBP/1949 Y1 Y. Väisälä 10.98 0.6316 4.940 11.49 11.7 2.05 km JFC – 41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák H. P. TuttleM. GiacobiniL. Kresák 5.42 0.6613 3.085 9.23 16.9 0.44–0.56 km JFC 42P/Neujmin P/1929 P2P/1951 J1 G. N. Neujmin 10.77 0.5842 4.876 3.98 13.2 0.69 km JFC – 43P/Wolf–Harrington P/1924 Y1P/1951 T2 M. F. WolfR. G. Harrington 6.13 0.5949 3.350 15.97 8.6 2.38 km JFC – 44P/Reinmuth P/1947 R1P/1953 N1 K. W. Reinmuth 7.09 0.4262 3.691 5.90 14.4 1.61 km JFC – 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková P/1948 X1P/1954 C1 M. HondaA. MrkosL. Pajdušáková 5.26 0.8240 3.026 4.25 13.7 0.6–0.65 km JFC 46P/Wirtanen P/1948 A1P/1954 R2 C. A. Wirtanen 5.44 0.6588 3.093 11.75 16.6 0.6 km JFC 47P/Ashbrook–Jackson P/1948 Q1P/1955 H1 J. AshbrookC. Jackson 8.34 0.3188 4.114 13.05 12.0 2.95 km JFC – 48P/Johnson P/1949 Q1P/1956 P1 E. L. Johnson 6.95 0.3678 3.642 13.66 9.8 2.2 km JFC – 49P/Arend–Rigaux P/1951 C2P/1958 B1 S. ArendF. Rigaux 6.72 0.6003 3.563 19.05 14.3 5.0 km JFC – 50P/Arend P/1951 T1P/1959 N1 S. Arend 8.27 0.5300 4.088 19.16 13.8 0.95 km JFC – 51P/Harrington [] P/1953 P1P/1960 P1 R. G. Harrington 7.15 0.5420 3.710 5.42 18.6 2.01 km JFC – 52P/Harrington–Abell P/1955 F1P/1962 B1 R. G. HarringtonG. O. Abell 7.58 0.5401 3.859 10.23 11.8 1.43 km JFC – 53P/Van Biesbroeck P/1954 R1P/1965 J1 G. Van Biesbroeck 12.56 0.5511 5.405 6.61 10.0 3.33–3.37 km JFC – 54P/de Vico–Swift–NEAT F. de VicoE. SwiftNEAT 7.38 0.4270 3.790 6.07 13.1 2.35 km JFC – 55P/Tempel–Tuttle W. TempelH. P. Tuttle 33.24 0.9056 10.338 162.49 10.0 1.8 km HTC 56P/Slaughter–Burnham P/1959 B1P/1969 V1 C. SlaughterR. Burnham 11.47 0.5073 5.086 8.15 9.3 3.0 km JFC – 57P/du Toit–Neujmin–Delporte [] D. du ToitG. N. NeujminE. Delporte 6.41 0.4998 3.450 2.85 15.8 0.78 km (A) JFC – 58P/Jackson–Neujmin P/1936 S1P/1970 R1 C. JacksonG. N. Neujmin 8.25 0.6626 4.083 13.11 9.1 0.6 km JFC – 59P/Kearns–Kwee P/1963 Q1P/1971 O1 C. KearnsK. Kwee 9.52 0.4764 4.491 9.34 10.4 0.76 km JFC – 60P/Tsuchinshan P/1965 A2P/1971 S1 Tsuchinshan 6.58 0.5385 3.510 3.61 9.3 0.69 km JFC – 61P/Shajn–Schaldach P/1949 S1P/1971 S2 P. F. ShajnR. D. Schaldach 7.06 0.4255 3.680 6.01 13.9 0.64 km JFC – 62P/Tsuchinshan P/1965 A1P/1971 Y1 Tsuchinshan 6.37 0.5974 3.437 9.71 8.2 1.09 km JFC – 63P/Wild P/1960 G1P/1973 A2 P. Wild 13.21 0.6509 5.588 19.78 6.5 1.46 km JFC – 64P/Swift–Gehrels D/1889 W1P/1973 C1 L. A. SwiftT. Gehrels 9.41 0.6873 4.456 8.95 14.5 1.61 km JFC – 65P/Gunn P/1954 P1P/1970 U2 J. E. Gunn 7.64 0.2500 3.880 9.19 10.5 5.4 km JFC – 66P/du Toit P/1944 K1P/1974 F2 D. du Toit 14.78 0.7866 6.023 18.67 15.7 0.46 km JFC 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko P/1969 R1P/1975 P1 K. ChuryumovS. Gerasimenko 6.44 0.6409 3.462 7.04 12.9 1.7 km JFC 68P/Klemola P/1965 U1P/1976 P1 A. R. Klemola 10.84 0.6403 4.899 11.18 11.2 2.5 km JFC – 69P/Taylor D/1915 W1P/1976 X1 C. Taylor 7.67 0.4136 3.889 22.04 17.3 0.83 km JFC – 70P/Kojima N. Kojima 7.04 0.4540 3.675 6.60 12.2 1.84 km JFC – 71P/Clark P/1973 L1P/1978 G1 M. Clark 5.56 0.4945 3.139 9.44 11.1 0.83 km JFC – 72P/Denning–Fujikawa D/1881 T1P/1978 T2 W. DenningS. Fujikawa 9.04 0.8194 4.340 9.17 17.6 0.6 km JFC 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann [] D/1930 J1P/1979 P1 A. SchwassmannA. Wachmann 5.44 0.6855 3.091 11.24 14.3 0.96 km JFC 74P/Smirnova–Chernykh P/1967 EUP/1975 E2 T. SmirnovaN. S. Chernykh 8.50 0.1477 4.166 6.65 6.8 2.23 km ETC – 75D/Kohoutek D/1975 C1D/1980 P1 L. Kohoutek 6.67 0.4963 3.543 5.91 10.5 1.7 km JFC – 76P/West–Kohoutek–Ikemura P/1975 D1P/1980 V2 R. M. WestL. KohoutekT. Ikemura 6.47 0.5384 3.471 30.48 15.4 0.31 km JFC – 77P/Longmore P/1975 L1P/1981 A1 A. Longmore 6.87 0.3542 3.612 24.34 9.1 2.01 km JFC – 78P/Gehrels P/1973 S1P/1981 L1 T. Gehrels 7.22 0.4616 3.736 6.25 9.0 4.28 km JFC – 79P/du Toit–Hartley D/1945 G1P/1982 C1 D. du ToitM. Hartley 5.28 0.5941 3.031 2.89 17.4 0.56 km JFC 80P/Peters–Hartley D/1846 M1P/1982 N1 C. H. F. PetersM. Hartley 8.07 0.5994 4.023 29.93 11.8 JFC – 81P/Wild P/1978 A2P/1983 S1 P. Wild 6.41 0.5375 3.450 3.24 9.8 2.75 km JFC – 82P/Gehrels P/1975 U1P/1984 P1 T. Gehrels 8.41 0.1233 4.135 1.13 7.6 0.71 km ETC – 83D/Russell D/1979 M2D/1985 G1 K. S. Russell 6.10 0.5172 3.338 22.66 14.0 – JFC – 84P/Giclas P/1978 R2P/1985 M1 H. L. Giclas 6.95 0.4945 3.641 7.28 14.2 0.90 km JFC – 85D/Boethin D/1975 A1D/1985 T2 L. Boethin 11.81 0.7812 5.185 4.30 – 0.7–4.6 km JFC 86P/Wild P/1980 G1P/1987 B3 P. Wild 6.85 0.3722 3.605 15.47 17.2 0.42 km JFC – 87P/Bus P/1981 E1P/1987 B4 S. J. Bus 6.38 0.3893 3.441 2.60 12.7 0.29 km ETC – 88P/Howell P/1981 Q1P/1987 E1 E. S. Howell 5.48 0.5631 3.109 4.38 12.1 0.96 km JFC – 89P/Russell P/1980 S1P/1987 N1 K. S. Russell 7.26 0.4080 3.751 12.08 11.2 0.89 km JFC – 90P/Gehrels P/1972 T1P/1987 Q2 T. Gehrels 14.95 0.5098 6.069 9.64 7.0 2.64 km JFC – 91P/Russell P/1983 L1P/1989 A4 K. S.Russell 7.67 0.3302 3.890 14.09 7.7 1.26 km JFC – 92P/Sanguin P/1977 T2P/1989 J1 J. Sanguin 12.40 0.6593 5.358 19.44 11.1 2.08 km JFC – 93P/Lovas P/1980 X1P/1989 N2 M. Lovas 9.20 0.6127 4.389 12.20 12.5 2.6 km JFC – 94P/Russell P/1984 E1P/1989 X2 K. S. Russell 6.58 0.3641 3.511 6.18 13.4 2.6 km ETC – 95P/Chiron P/1977 UB C. T. Kowal 50.78 0.3764 13.713 6.92 5.6 126 km CEN/CTC – 96P/Machholz P/1986 J2 D. E. Machholz 5.29 0.9592 3.035 58.14 13.6 3.2 km JFC 97P/Metcalf–Brewington D/1906 V2P/1991 A1 J. H. MetcalfH. Brewington 10.52 0.4569 4.800 17.86 15.2 2.36 km JFC – 98P/Takamizawa P/1984 O1P/1991 D1 K. Takamizawa 7.42 0.5606 3.806 10.55 14.6 0.42 km JFC – 99P/Kowal P/1977 H2P/1991 D2 C. T. Kowal 15.20 0.2296 6.136 4.34 6.7 4.8 km JFC – 100P/Hartley P/1985 L1P/1991 E1 M. Hartley 6.35 0.4138 3.428 25.58 10.0 2.48 km JFC – Comet designation MPC designations Discoverer(s) or namesake(s) Period(years) e a(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Class NEC Ref

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