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long-period comet

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | 293 words | Copyright

long-period comet A comet with an orbital period greater than 200 years. Examples include Comets Donati, Tebbutt, and West. The Kreutz sungrazers are also long-period comets. The shortest computed period for a comet in this category is 226 years (C/1905 F1 Giacobini). See also periodic comet.

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