comet Comparison Table

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comet comparison table

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Encke's comet The comet with the shortest known period (3.30 years) (a = 2.21 AU, e = 0.847, i = 12^°.4). It has been observed at every apparition since its discovery in 1819. Its period is gradually decreasing. Named after J. F. Encke, who computed its orbit. (It was discovered by Pons.)

Halley's comet Probably the best known of all comets. Its orbit was computed by Edmund Halley in 1704, at which time he predicted that the bright comet of 1682 would return in 1758 (Halley died in 1742, before he could see his prediction verified). Records of Halley's comet (a = 17.8 AU, e = 0.967, i = 162^°.3, P = 76.2 yr perihelion distance 0.587 AU) have been traced back to 240 B.C. Last appearance 1910, next appearance 1986.

Subject	has definition
Encke's comet	The comet with the shortest known period (3.30 years) (a = 2.21 AU, e = 0.847, i = 12^°.4). It has been observed at every apparition since its discovery in 1819. Its period is gradually decreasing. Named after J. F. Encke, who computed its orbit. (It was discovered by Pons.)
Halley's comet	Probably the best known of all comets. Its orbit was computed by Edmund Halley in 1704, at which time he predicted that the bright comet of 1682 would return in 1758 (Halley died in 1742, before he could see his prediction verified). Records of Halley's comet (a = 17.8 AU, e = 0.967, i = 162^°.3, P = 76.2 yr perihelion distance 0.587 AU) have been traced back to 240 B.C. Last appearance 1910, next appearance 1986.

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