Comets

The Comets consist of ice, dust, and loose rock, developing a glowing coma and usually a characteristic tail when approaching the Sun.

Comets are named after their discoverers. For instance, C/2023 A3 is named by appending the names of its discoverers.

C: Long-period comets with orbital periods over 200 years

P: Periodic comets with orbital periods under 200 years

12P/Pons-Brooks

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is a Halley-type periodic comet discovered on July 21, 1812, by French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons, and it is expected to reach its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on April 21, 2024 ...

C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)

Comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) is a long-period comet discovered on May 21, 2017, which reached its closest point to the sun (perihelion) on December 19, 2022 ...

C/2021 A1 (LEONARD)

Comet C/2021 A1 (LEONARD) was a long-period comet discovered on January 3, 2021, which reached its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on January 3, 2022 ...

C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is a long-period comet discovered on March 2, 2022, that reached its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on January 12, 2023, becoming one of the brightest comets observed in recent years ...

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a long-period comet discovered on January 9, 2023, that reached its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on September 27, 2024 ...

C/2025 A6 (LEMMON)

Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon is a bright, long-period comet discovered on January 3, 2025, that will reach its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on November 8, 2025, making it a promising and accessible target for astrophotographers due to its potential naked-eye visibility and photogenic tail structure ...