List of long-period comets

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The following list is of comets with very long orbital periods, defined as between 200 and 1000 years. These comets come from the Kuiper belt and scattered disk, beyond the orbit of Pluto, with possible origins in the Oort cloud for many. For comets with an orbital period of over 1000 years (semi-major axis greater than ~100 AU), see the List of near-parabolic comets.

Comet designation Name/ discoverer(s) Period (years) e a
(AU)
q
(AU)
i
(°)
Abs. mag (M1)Last observed perihelionNext perihelion
C/1811 W1 Pons 7550.980982.8811.581731.25541811/11/112566
C/1840 U1Bremiker2860.965943.4531.4857.90431840/11/142126
C/1843 D1 Great Comet of 1843 5130.99991464.2670.005527144.35481843/02/272356
C/1846 J1 Brorsen 5380.99041466.11310.63376150.68091846/06/052384
C/1853 G1 Schweizer 7810.98928684.81360.908693122.19551853/05/102634
C/1855 G1 Schweizer 5000.96518563.00522.193526128.57641855/02/052355
C/1855 L1 Donati 2520.9857839.91310.567564156.87071855/05/302107
C/1857 O1 Peters 2350.98041438.13150.74684332.75651857/08/242092
C/1861 G1 A. E. Thatcher4150.98346555.68190.920779.77331861/06/032276
C/1861 J1 Great Comet of 18614090.9850755.08270.82238485.44241861/06/122270
C/1874 Q1 Coggia 3060.96282245.40281.68798534.12671874/07/182180
C/1882 R1-AGreat September Comet of 18826690.99989976.73270.00775142.01121882/09/172551
C/1882 R1-BGreat September Comet of 18827590.99990783.34410.007751142.01111882/09/172641
C/1882 R1-CGreat September Comet of 18828740.99991591.18820.007751142.01051882/09/172756
C/1882 R1-DGreat September Comet of 18829520.9999296.86250.007749142.00931882/09/172834
C/1885 R1 Brooks 2750.98226442.23890.74914959.0971885/08/102160
C/1886 H1 Brooks 7680.99678383.86790.26980333.86791886/06/072654
C/1887 B2 Brooks 9990.98369499.97211.630145104.27381887/03/172986
C/1894 G1 Gale 9580.98988497.1760.98303286.96661894/04/132852
C/1898 F1 Perrine 4190.98045456.0351.09526172.52921898/03/172317
C/1905 F1 Giacobini 2200.9361.11401905/04/042125
C/1906 V1 Thiele 4200.979561.212256.351906/11/212300
C/1930 F1Wilk4850.99219461.7230.4818167.14091930/03/282415
C/1931 O1Nagata3570.97920350.33911.04690342.29571931/06/112288
C/1932 G1Houghton-Ensor3020.97212745.00521.25443174.27761932/02/282234
C/1932 P1 Peltier Whipple 2910.97636943.89141.03719871.71951932/09/012223
C/1932 Y1Dodwell-Forbes 2620.97238640.94981.13078824.50251932/12/302194
C/1935 A1 Johnson 9010.99130493.27830.81114865.42511935/02/262836
C/1936 O1Kaho-Kozik-Lis8880.99438992.39050.518403121.94171936/06/152824
C/1937 P1 Hubble 5990.97249971.03951.95365711.58061936/11/142535
C/1940 O1 Whipple Paraskevopoulos 4250.98084356.49261.08222854.69061940/10/082365
C/1941 B1Friend-Reese-Honda 3550.98122150.15520.94186426.27561941/01/202296
C/1952 H1 Mrkos 6450.98281674.64481.282696112.02821952/06/082597
C/1955 L1 Mrkos 3560.98936150.23210.53441986.50161955/06/042311
C/1961 T1 Seki 7590.99181283.18620.681129155.7071961/10/102720
C/1963 A1 Ikeya 9320.99337795.4460.632139160.64871963/03/212895
C/1963 R1 Pereyra9030.99994693.79630.005065133.58211963/08/232866
C/1964 N1 Ikeya 3910.98464353.50990.821752171.921964/08/012355
C/1965 S1-A Ikeya Seki 8800.99991591.60.007786141.86421965/10/212845
C/1973 H1 Huchra 8290.97297788.23362.38433748.3291973/03/112802
C/1974 O1 Cesco 5510.97957967.23231.372951173.15851974/05/122525
C/1975 T2 Suzuki-Saigusa-Mori 4460.98565358.41270.838047118.23321975/10/152421
C/1979 S1Meier3910.97319753.42991.43208167.0841979/10/172370
C/1979 Y1 Bradfield 3030.9879245.10.54526148.60248.41979/12/212282
C/1983 H1 IRAS-Araki-Alcock 9680.9898797.860.991339973.252612.5991983/05/212951
C/1984 U2 Shoemaker 2700.97090541.74291.2145113.88121985/01/032255
C/1985 T1Thiele7000.98329778.85651.31714139.06921985/12/192685
C/1986 E1 Shoemaker 5550.9467867.52843.593864159.8091986/03/112541
C/1987 B2Terasako7240.99512580.61950.3930240.85431986/12/242710
C/1992 Q2 Helin Lawrence 4520.96536558.85542.038458106.84811993/03/152445
C/1992 W1Ohshita7190.9972180.21910.664134115.12321992/11/012711
C/1994 E1 Mueller 4080.96817155.02181.75129145.14251993/11/282401
C/1995 Q2 Hartley-Drinkwater4240.96651856.42291.889153168.00751995/08/022419
C/1997 O1Tilbrook8110.9842286.961.371807115.802481997/07/132808
C/1998 K1 Mueller 4910.9451162.23.4165935.636181998/09/012489
C/1998 K5 LINEAR 6160.9866972.390.96354699.9271416.11998/07/172613
C/1999 L3 LINEAR 683.50.9743777.591.988917166.099288.82000/01/042683/06/01
C/2000 J1 Ferris 3700.951512.541798.7814.22000/05/112370
C/2001 S1 Skiff 3880.929553.23.749139.13225.92001/06/022389
C/2002 Q2 LINEAR 4200.977561.302996.7616.42002/08/17~2450
C/2003 H2 LINEAR 235.90.9429338.182.1785372.21814.22003/05/172239/05/01
C/2003 K1 Spacewatch 2500.947402.086129.8114.42002/12/202250
C/2003 S4-A LINEAR 2240.89536.93.87440.7112.32004/05/302230
C/2003 S4-B LINEAR 2530.904403.8440.4312.42004/05/232250
C/2004 DZ61 Catalina (CSS) LINEAR 309.810.95602745.7862.0133366.8092912.42004/05/262314/04/01
C/2004 HV60 Spacewatch 347.800.93849.463.0792.53132003/12/162351
C/2004 K3 LINEAR 4380.980957.71.10334111.927916.92004/06/302440
C/2005 H1 LINEAR 314.40.8968746.244.768681.51219.82004/10/282319/04/01
C/2005 N4 Catalina (CSS) 4440.960458.22.30373116.629814.22005/07/022450
C/2005 O1 NEAT 3650.929751.13.5909155.9816.32005/05/172370
C/2005 P3 SWAN 2790.9876842.70.5257889.70814.22005/08/092285
C/2006 S5Hill961.70.97300297.4302.63043410.131389.62007/12/092969/08/28
C/2007 D2 Spacewatch 4200.97771561.2457178.61815.42006/11/242425
C/2007 E1 Garradd 524.060.98021865.0011.2858628174.39413.72007/05/232531/06/01
C/2007 H2 Skiff 351.670.971749.8221.410552.19115.92007/02/172358
C/2007 K5 Lovejoy 3400.9766491.149164.884122007/05/012350
C/2007 T5Gibbs320.980.9136246.884.04925445.61521102008/05/242328/05/01
C/2008 H1 LINEAR 3710.946551.62.7602675.49210.42008/03/162380
C/2008 J5 Garradd 6160.9728872.41.9638493.27110.62008/04/012625
C/2008 X3 LINEAR 289.60.9565443.771.9021366.475111.82008/10/102298
C/2009 B2 LINEAR 2700.944341.82.32762156.873132009/03/072279
C/2009 E1Itagaki254.670.98507340.1770.5997215127.453413.52009/04/072263/12/01
C/2009 F5 McNaught 7180.97280.22.2453484.990510.22008/11/042726
C/2009 K4Gibbs2680.962841.61.548934.824813.82009/06/192280
C/2010 D4 WISE 520.10.8894764.677.14822105.659658.42009/03/302519/05/01
C/2010 DG56 WISE 5550.9764467.541.591452160.4173414.32010/05/152565
C/2010 F1 Boattini 5660.947668.43.5875264.9366.32009/11/102575
C/2010 F3 Scotti 497.70.9132762.85.446694.647589.82010/08/042508
C/2010 G2Hill943.410.979407796.191.9807735103.74529392011/09/022955/02/01
C/2010 J1 Boattini 222.50.953836.721.69566134.384911.42010/02/042232
C/2010 KW7 WISE 997.70.9742599.842.570441147.0608712.32010/10/113008
C/2010 L4 WISE 7170.964780.12.8255102.81812.82010/02/232726
C/2011 KP36 Spacewatch 238.030.87286238.40774.88308118.9859207.32016/05/272254/06/05
C/2011 Q4 SWAN 282.350.97415743.0391.112228147.8430711.82011/09/212294/01/27
C/2011 W3 Lovejoy 6980.999929478.70.0055538134.35615.32011/12/162710
C/2012 F1Gibbs6300.965742.5509129.396813.82012/02/192645
C/2012 Y1 LINEAR 233.80.9468737.952.016220.959415.12013/01/182246
C/2013 J6 Catalina (CSS) 4630.959659.92.4157285.05512.72013/04/092475
C/2013 K1Christensen7130.9881179.80.94826342.341518.42013/05/302725
C/2013 N4 Borisov 3330.97480548.041.21040537.0352310.62013/08/212346
C/2013 PE67 Catalina (CSS) Spacewatch 415.10.96680655.641.847072116.7175413.32013/12/092429/01/01
C/2013 UQ4 Catalina (CSS) 471.430.982153860.5721.08097487145.2585611.42014/07/052485/12/09
C/2014 G3 PANSTARRS 4210.916456.24.6986155.82685.52015/02/022436
C/2014 S3 PANSTARRS 9000.977902.049169.32117.72014/08/132900
C/2015 D4 Borisov 7000.9890778.80.8616877.30179.42014/10/282714
C/2015 F2Polonia237.60.9684438.361.21055228.693714.92015/04/282252/11/29
C/2015 T4 PANSTARRS 812.20.97362087.052.29637687.917187.02016/06/182828
C/2016 A8 LINEAR 207.60.9463535.061.881129148.2118410.32016/08/302224
C/2016 C2 NEOWISE 5120.9756364.001.55975138.156513.82016/04/192528
C/2016 R3 Borisov 997.760.995599.8490.446853.06718.12016/10/103014
C/2017 A1 PANSTARRS 8000.974902.29049.8113.12017/05/172800
C/2017 A3Elenin285.450.91143.353.854598.59.72017/01/302302
C/2017 C2 PANSTARRS 976.330.975398.4142.431118.584122017/01/212993
C/2018 E1 ATLAS 403.050.950454.56342.705572.479611.72018/4/172421
C/2019 A9 PANSTARRS 242.220.963338.85741.426484.34029.02019/07/262261
C/2019 J1 Lemmon 609.240.9655171.86502.478824.550211.82019/04/092628
C/2019 Y4-D ATLAS 491.160.99662.250.2545.8813.52020/05/312511
C/2020 B2 Lemmon 559.270.95967.882.76855.70417.22020/01/262579
C/2020 K4 PANSTARRS 299.660.960444.77951.7723125.90716.92020/03/062320
C/2020 Q1 Borisov 454.780.9777659.1371.315142.92411.62020/08/142501
C/2020 R4 ATLAS 933.770.9892495.53311.0283164.46216.02021/03/012955
C/2020 U3Rankin519.340.9647764.612.276230.17711.92021/02/052540
C/2020 X4Leonard312.030.8867946.005.208380.48599.12020/11/112332
C/2021 A4 NEOWISE 280.220.9732542.821.1455111.5713.72021/03/202301
C/2021 A10 NEOWISE 894.040.9863392.8041.269151.5219.62021/03/152915
C/2021 B2 NEOWISE 206.660.938234.9532.160119.4913.92021/03/102227
C/2021 C3 Catalina (CSS) 503.890.964063.3212.2765122.1616.12021/02/122525
C/2021 D1 SWAN 947.050.990496.440.901831.2713.32021/02/272969
C/2021 G1Leonard646.490.954775.5353.424131.5713.72021/07/222667
C/2021 Q3 ATLAS 641.700.930074.3965.20577.786.82022/01/262662
C/2021 U4Leonard300.590.960144.8721.787152.8818.82021/12/212322
C/2022 J1Maury-Attard329.620.966447.7161.604105.9311.92022/02/192351
C/2022 J2Bok877.300.980191.6421.827149.0918.32022/10/272900
C/2022 JK5 PANSTARRS 283.530.937743.1582.68716.8313.462023/04/282306
C/2022 N1Attard-Maury224.280.959936.9131.482164.7414.92022/09/102247
C/2022 U2ATLAS937.030.986195.7551.32848.2513.52023/01/142960
C/2022 V2Lemmon223.120.94436.7862.06498.9113.62023/11/012246
C/2023 P1 Nishimura434.70.99657.3860.225132.4712.72023/09/172431
Used sources:
  1. MPC—List Periodic Comet Numbers [1]
  2. IAUCBAT: 200 Most Recent IAUCs [2]
  3. IAU–CBAT: Astronomical Headlines [3]
  4. PDS SBN—Planetary Data System Small Bodies Node: Periodic Comet Names and Designations [4]
  5. JPL Small-Body Database Browser [5]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">4015 Wilson–Harrington</span> Periodic comet with 4 year orbit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">78P/Gehrels</span> Periodic comet with 7 year orbit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost comet</span> Comet which was not detected during its most recent perihelion passage

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naming of comets</span>

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References

  1. "Periodic Comet Numbers". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  2. "Minor Planet Circulars, 200 Most Recent IAUCs". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. "Astronomical Headlines". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. "Periodic Comet Names and Designations". Planetary Data System Small Bodies Node. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. "Small-Body Database Browser". JPL. Retrieved 1 January 2015.