List of numbered comets

This is a list of periodic comets that were numbered by the Minor Planet Center after having been observed on at least two occasions. Their orbital periods vary from 3.2 to 366 years. As of April 2025^[update] there are 499 numbered comets (1P–499P). There are 405 Jupiter-family comets (JFCs), 38 Encke-type comets (ETCs), 14 Halley-type comets (HTCs), five Chiron-type comets (CTCs), and one long-period comet (153P). 75 bodies are also near-Earth comets (NECs). In addition, eight numbered comets are principally classified as minor planets – five main-belt comets, two centaurs (CEN), and one Apollo asteroid – and display characteristics of both an asteroid and a comet.

Occasionally, comets will break up into multiple chunks, as volatiles coming off the comet and rotational forces may cause it to break into two or more pieces. An extreme example of this is 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, which broke into over 50 pieces during its 1995 perihelion.

back to top

back to main list

This is a list of 51P/Harrington (3 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

This is a list of 57P/du Toit–Neujmin–Delporte (2 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

In 1995, comet 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, broke up into several pieces and as of its last perihelion date, the pieces numbered at least 67 with 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann C as the presumed original nucleus. Because of the enormous number, the pieces of it have been compiled into a separate list.

This is a list of 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann (68 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

This is a list of 101P/Chernykh (2 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

This is a list of 128P/Shoemaker–Holt (3 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

This is a list of 141P/Machholz (3 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list) and CBAT.

back to main list

This is a list of 205P/Giacobini (4 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

This is a list of 213P/Van Ness (2 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

back to main list

This is a list of 332P/Ikeya–Murakami (10 entries) with all its cometary fragments listed at JPL's SBDB (see list).

• List of interstellar comets
• List of comets by type
• List of non-periodic comets
• List of periodic comets