Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is a periodic comet in our solar system which is currently in the process of breaking up into small pieces and disintegrating.
This image shows fragment C of the comet.
The comet was discovered on 2nd May 1930, disintegration of this comet started in 1995 when it broke into 4 large pieces.
As of 2006 it had already split into at least 8 fragments.
It is only a question of time before this comet will have disappeared completely. (it is currently known to have split into 66 pieces already !)
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Object info
| Name | 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, fragment C |
| Type | Comet |
| Discovered | 1930 |
| Aphelion | 5.18 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.94 AU |
| Orbital period | 5.36 yr |
| Inclination | 11.37° |
| Next perihelion | Aug. 25, 2022 |
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