This is a list of parabolic and hyperbolic comets in the Solar System. Many of these comets may come from the Oort cloud, or perhaps even have interstellar origin. The Oort Cloud is not gravitationally attracted enough to the Sun to form into a fairly thin disk, like the inner Solar System. Thus, comets originating from the Oort Cloud can come from roughly any orientation (inclination to the ecliptic), and many even have a retrograde orbit. By definition, a hyperbolic orbit means that the comet will only travel through the Solar System once, with the Sun acting as a gravitational slingshot, sending the comet hurtling out of the Solar System entirely unless its eccentricity is otherwise changed. Comets orbiting in this way still originate from the Solar System, however. Typically comets in the Oort Cloud are thought to have roughly circular orbits around the Sun, but their orbital velocity is so slow that they may easily be perturbed by passing stars and the galactic tide. Astronomers have been discovering weakly hyperbolic comets that were perturbed out of the Oort Cloud since the mid-1800s.
Prior to finding a well-determined orbit for comets, the JPL Small-Body Database and the Minor Planet Center list comet orbits as having an assumed eccentricity of 1.0. (This is the eccentricity of a parabolic trajectory; hyperbolics will be those with eccentricity greater than 1.0.) In the list below, a number of comets discovered by the SOHO space telescope have assumed eccentricities of exactly 1.0, because most orbits are based on only an insufficient observation arc of several hours or minutes. The SOHO satellite observes the corona of the Sun and the area around it, and as a result often observes sungrazing comets, including the Kreutz sungrazers.
The Kreutz sungrazers originate from the progenitor of the Great Comet of 1106. Although officially given an assumed eccentricity of 1.0, they have an orbital period of roughly 750 years (which would give an actual eccentricity of ~0.99988), and an inclination of 144 degrees. Many of the Kreutz sungrazers do not survive perihelion, as they are quite literally "sungrazers" – their average perihelion distance is 0.0050 AU, and the radius of the Sun is 0.0046 AU; i.e. they pass 50,000 km above the surface of the Sun. See the list of Kreutz sungrazers article for a more complete list of parabolic comets belonging to this group.
Three other sungrazing groups, the Meyer, Marsden, and Kracht groups, have respectively a perihelion distance of 0.035, 0.044, and 0.049 AU, an inclination of 72, 13, and 26 degrees, and a period of at least a decade, 5.6, and 3–4 years.
Some comets in this list are designated with an X-designation. This is used for comets whose orbits have not been calculated for various reasons: often they were observed so long ago that nobody recorded their location accurately enough for an orbit to be determined, or they were observed in modern times over such a short period that their long-term orbit was too uncertain to calculate.
Interstellar objects generally have strongly hyperbolic orbits, for example the first known object of this class 1I/2017 U1 ʻOumuamua has an eccentricity of 1.192. Solar System comets may also become interstellar after close planetary flybys like in the cases of C/1980 E1 (Bowell) and C/2024 L5 (ATLAS).
Ancient and Medieval Times Before 1 AD Comet designation Name/ discoverer(s) e q(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Perihelion date Ref X/-2287 1.0 "The Lost Tomb", Kent Weeks, , p. 198 — X/-611 N1 1.0 -611/07/15 X/-531 V1 1.0 -531/11/01 — X/-516 N1 1.0 -516/07/15 — X/-502 X1 1.0 -502/12/15 — X/-467 1.0 -467 X/-433 1.0 -433 — X/-371 Aristotle/Ephorus(see Kreutz sungrazer) 1.0 0.007 139 60 km -371/01/20 X/-341 Aristotle 1.0 -341 X/-325 Aristotle 1.0 -325 X/-305 1.0 -305 — X/-303 1.0 -303 — X/-296 1.0 -296 — X/-240 J1 1.0 -240/05/16 — X/-238 G1 1.0 -238/07/10 — X/-234 A1 1.0 -234/01/15 — X/-233 1 1.0 -233 — X/-233 B1 1.0 -233 X/-233 3 1.0 -233 — X/-233 4 1.0 -233 — X/-214 1.0 -214 — X/-204 P1 1.0 -204/08/15 — X/-172 1.0 -172 — X/-157 T1 1.0 -157/10/16 — X/-156 U1 1.0 -156 X/-155 N1 1.0 -155/07/15 — X/-154 A1 1.0 -154/01/15 — X/-154 C1 1.0 -154/02/15 — X/-148 J1 1.0 -148/05/15 — X/-147 E1 1.0 -147/03/14 — X/-147 P1 1.0 -147/08/06 — X/-147 T1 1.0 -147/10/15 — C/-146 P1 1.0 0.43 71 -146/06/28 X/-138 E1 1.0 -138/03/15 — X/-138 J1 1.0 -138/05/15 — X/-138 P1 1.0 -138/08/15 — X/-137 K1 1.0 -137 X/-137 T1 1.0 -137/10/15 — X/-135 N1 1.0 -135/07/15 — X/-135 R1 1.0 -135/09/15 — X/-134 N1 1.0 -134/06/15 X/-120 1.0 -120 — X/-119 K1 1.0 -119/05/15 X/-110 L1 1.0 -119/06/15 — X/-109/-108 1.0 -109/-108 — X/-84 E1 1.0 -84/03/15 — X/-77 R1 1.0 -77/09/15 — X/-76 J1 1.0 -76/05/15 — X/-73 J1 1.0 -73/05/10 — X/-72 Q1 1.0 -72/08/20 — X/-70 P1 1.0 -70/08/04 — X/-69 C1 1.0 -69/02/15 — X/-61 N1 1.0 -61/07/15 — X/-49 G1 1.0 -49/04/15 — X/-48 G1 1.0 -49/04/15 — X/-47 L1 1.0 -47/06/15 — X/-44 1.0 -44 — C/-43 K1 Caesar's Comet 1.0 0.22 110 -43/05/25 X/-32 C1 1.0 -32/02/15 — X/-5 E1 Star of Bethlehem(?) 1.0 -5/03/05 X/-4 G1 1.0 -4/04/15 —
1 to 499 Comet designation Name/ discoverer(s) e q(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Perihelion date Ref X/13 X1 1.0 13/12/15 — X/22 V1 1.0 22/11/05 — X/39 E1 1.0 39/03/13 — X/54 L1 1.0 54 X/55 L1 1.0 55/06/04 — X/57 1.0 57 — X/60 P1 1.0 60/08/09 X/61 S1 1.0 61/09/27 — X/65 L1 1.0 65/06/04 — X/68 1.0 68 — X/71 E1 1.0 71/03/06 — X/72 1.0 72 — X/75 N1 1.0 75/07/14 — X/76 P1 1.0 76/08/09 — X/77 B1 1.0 77/01/23 — X/79 F1 1.0 79 X/81 1.0 81 — X/84 K1 1.0 84/05/25 — X/102 A1 1.0 102/01/27 — X/110 A1 1.0 110/01/15 — X/131 1.0 131 — X/149 U1 1.0 149/10/19 — X/160 1.0 160 — X/161 L1 1.0 161/06/14 — X/165 1.0 165 — X/178 R1 1.0 178/09/15 — X/180 1.0 180 — X/182 P1 1.0 182/08/15 — X/185 X1 1.0 185/12/07 — X/188 E1 1.0 188/03/15 — X/192 T1 1.0 192/10/15 — X/193 V1 1.0 193/11/15 — X/195 1.0 195 — X/200 V1 1.0 200/11/07 — X/204 X1 1.0 204/12/15 — X/206 C1 1.0 206/02/15 — X/207 V1 1.0 207/11/10 — X/213 A1 1.0 213/01/15 — X/222 V1 1.0 222/11/04 — X/225 X1 1.0 225/12/09 — X/232 X1 1.0 232/12/04 — X/236 V1 1.0 236/11/15 — X/236 W1 1.0 236/11/30 — X/238 R1 1.0 238/09/15 — X/238 W1 1.0 238/11/29 — X/240 V1 1.0 240/11/05 — C/240 V1 1.0 0.37 44 240/11/10 X/245 S1 1.0 245/09/18 — X/247 B1 1.0 247/01/16 — X/248 G1 1.0 248/04/15 — X/251 Y1 1.0 251/12/21 — X/252 F1 1.0 252/03/25 — X/253 X1 1.0 253/12/15 — X/255 C1 1.0 255/02/15 — X/257 X1 1.0 257/12/15 — X/259 W1 1.0 259/11/23 — X/262 X1 1.0 262/12/02 — X/265 L1 1.0 265/06/15 — X/268 D1 1.0 268/02/18 — X/275 A1 1.0 275/01/15 — X/276 M1 1.0 276/06/24 — X/277 C1 1.0 277/02/15 — X/279 G1 1.0 279/04/15 — X/281 R1 1.0 281/09/15 — X/281 X1 1.0 281/12/15 — X/283 H1 1.0 283/04/22 — X/287 R1 1.0 287/09/15 — X/290 J1 1.0 290/05/15 — X/296 J1 1.0 296/05/15 — X/300 G1 1.0 300/04/15 — X/301 A1 1.0 301/01/15 — X/301 J1 1.0 301/05/15 — X/302 J1 1.0 302/05/15 — X/303 G1 1.0 303/04/15 — X/304 J1 1.0 304/05/15 — X/305 R1 1.0 305/09/15 — X/305 W1 1.0 305/11/21 — X/329 P1 1.0 329/08/15 — X/336 D1 1.0 336/02/16 — X/340 E1 1.0 340/03/05 — X/343 X1 1.0 343/12/08 — X/349 W1 1.0 349/11/23 — X/358 N1 1.0 358/07/01 — X/363 P1 1.0 363/08/15 — X/363 1.0 0.008 12.5 km 363/11/15 — X/369 E1 1.0 369/03/15 — X/373 E1 1.0 373/03/09 — X/377 1.0 377 — X/386 G1 1.0 386/04/15 — C/390 Q1 1.0 0.92 36 390/09/05 X/393 E1 1.0 393/03/15 — C/400 F1 1.0 0.21 32 400/02/25 X/401 A1 1.0 401/01/02 — X/402 V1 1.0 402/11/12 — X/408 1.0 408 — X/410 1.0 410 — X/412 N1 1.0 412 — X/413 1.0 413 — X/415 M1 1.0 415/06/24 — X/416 B1 1.0 416/01/26 — X/416 M1 1.0 416/06/27 — C/418 M1 1.0 0.35 110 418/10/05 X/419 C1 1.0 419/02/07 — X/422 F1 1.0 422/03/21 — X/422 M1 1.0 422 X/422 Y1 1.0 422/12/17 — X/423 C1 1.0 423/02/13 — X/423 U1 1.0 423/10/15 — X/434 1.0 434 — C/442 V1 1.0 1.53 106 442/12/15 X/448 1.0 448 — X/449 V1 1.0 449/11/11 — X/450 1.0 450 — X/467 C1 1.0 467/02/15 —
500 to 999 Comet designation Name/ discoverer(s) e q(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Perihelion date Ref X/501 C1 1.0 501/02/13 — X/501 G1 1.0 501/04/14 — X/532 A1 1.0 532/01/06 — X/535 X1 1.0 535 — C/539 W1 1.0 0.16 19 539/11/06 X/560 T1 1.0 560/10/04 — X/561 S1 1.0 561/09/26 — X/565 H1 1.0 565/04/21 — C/565 O1 1.0 0.83 121 565/07/15 X/565 O2 1.0 565/07/22 — C/568 O1 1.0 0.87 4 565/08/27 C/574 G1 1.0 0.73 54 574/03/25 X/574 K1 1.0 574/05/31 — X/575 H1 1.0 575/04/27 — X/588 W1 1.0 588/11/22 — X/594 V1 1.0 594/11/10 — X/595 X1 1.0 595 X/601 1.0 601 — X/607 G1 1.0 607/04/04 — X/607 U1 1.0 607 X/615 N1 1.0 615/07/15 — X/616 N1 1.0 616/07/15 — X/616 T1 1.0 616/10/15 — X/626 F1 1.0 626/03/26 X/634 S1 1.0 634/09/22 — X/639 G1 1.0 639/04/15 — X/641 P1 1.0 641/08/01 — X/663 S1 1.0 663/09/29 — X/667 K1 1.0 667/05/24 — X/676 A1 1.0 676/01/03 — X/676 N1 1.0 676/07/07 — X/676 P1 1.0 676/10 X/676 R1 1.0 676 X/681 U1 1.0 681/10/17 — X/683 H1 1.0 683/04/20 — X/684 Y1 1.0 684/12 X/707 W1 1.0 707/11/16 — X/708 F1 1.0 708/03/30 — X/708 S1 1.0 708/09/21 — X/729 1.0 729 — X/729 1.0 729 — X/730 M1 1.0 730/06/30 — X/739 G1 1.0 730/04/15 — X/760 K2 1.0 760/05/20 — X/767 A1 1.0 767/01/12 — C/770 K1 1.0 0.58 117 770/06/05 X/773 B1 1.0 773/01/17 — X/815 G1 1.0 815/04/15 — C/817 C1 1.0 1.1 120 817/03/03 X/821 D1 1.0 821/02/27 — X/821 E1 1.0 821/03/07 — X/828 N1 1.0 828/07/05 — X/829 X1 1.0 829/12/15 — X/834 T1 1.0 834/10/09 — X/837 H1 1.0 837/04/29 — X/837 J1 1.0 837/05/03 — X/837 K1 1.0 837/05/21 — X/837 M1 1.0 837/06/17 — X/837 M2 1.0 837/06/26 — X/837 R1 1.0 837/09/09 — X/838 B1 1.0 838 — X/838 V1 1.0 838/11/11 X/838 W1 1.0 838/11/21 — X/839 B1 1.0 839/02/07 X/839 E1 1.0 839/03/12 — X/840 F1 1.0 840/03/20 — X/840 X1 1.0 840/12/03 — X/841 N1 1.0 841/07/15 — X/841 Y1 Nithard 1.0 841/12/22 X/844 1.0 844 — X/851 G1 1.0 851/04/15 — X/856 S1 1.0 856/09/27 — X/864 H1 1.0 864 X/864 M1 1.0 864/06/21 — C/868 B1 1.0 0.42 65 868/03/04 X/869 R1 1.0 869/09/15 — X/874 1.0 874 — X/875 L1 1.0 875 X/877 L1 1.0 877/06/15 — X/882 C1 1.0 882 — X/885 1.0 885 — X/886 L1 1.0 886/06/13 — X/891 J1 1.0 891/05/12 X/892 X1 1.0 892/12/15 — X/893 J1 1.0 893/05/06 — X/894 C1 1.0 894/02/15 — C/905 K1 1.0 0.2 140 905/04/26 X/906 1.0 906 — X/923 1.0 923 — X/928 T1 1.0 928/10/14 — X/930 1.0 930 — X/936 U1 1.0 936/10/28 — X/941 P1 1.0 941/08/07 — X/941 R1 1.0 941 X/941 S1 1.0 941/09/18 — X/941 V1 1.0 941 — X/942 1.0 942 — X/943 V1 1.0 943/11/05 — X/956 E1 1.0 956/03/13 — C/962 B1 1.0 0.63 119 961/12/28 X/975 G1 1.0 975/04/15 — X/975 P1 1.0 975/08/03 X/976 1.0 976 — X/979 1.0 979 — X/998 D1 1.0 998/02/23
1000s Comet designation Name/ discoverer(s) e q(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Perihelion date Ref X/1003 Y1 1.0 1003/12/23 — X/1014 B1 1.0 1014/02/10 — C/1014 C1 1.0 0.56 117 1014/04/06 C/1018 P1 1.0 0.62 35 1018/08/27 X/1035 S1 1.0 1035/09/15 — X/1036 B1 1.0 1036/01/15 — X/1049 E1 1.0 1049/03/10 — X/1056 P1 1.0 1056/08/15 — X/1066 H1 1.0 1066/04/24 — X/1080 A1 1.0 1080/01/06 — C/1080 P1 1.0 0.681 6.9 1080/09/10 C/1092 A1 Great Comet of 1092 1.0 0.77 124 1092/02/22 X/1095 W1 1.0 1095/11/17 — C/1097 T1 1.0 0.3 41 1097/09/22 X/1097 X1 1.0 1097/12/06 —
1100s Comet designation Name/ discoverer(s) e q(AU) i(°) Abs. mag (M1) Nucleus radii Perihelion date Ref X/1106 C1 Great Comet of 1106 1.0 0.05 144 1106/02/10? — C/1110 K1 1.0 0.83 137 1110/05/18 X/1126 K1 1.0 1126/05/20 — X/1126 X1 1.0 1126/12/15 — X/1131 R1 1.0 1131/09/15 — X/1132 A1 1.0 1132/01/05 — C/1132 T1 1.0 0.736 106.3 1132/08/30 X/1133 S1 1.0 1133/09/29 — X/1145 L1 1.0 1145/06/04 — C/1147 A1 1.0 0.12 110 1147/01/28 X/1147 C1 1.0 1147/02/12 — X/1151 Q1 1.0 1151/08/21 —
1200s