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Comet · 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 3

Schwassmann–Wachmann 3

A Jupiter-family comet that began fragmenting in 1995 and has since broken into dozens of pieces — a rare chance to watch a comet disintegrate over successive returns.

Comets

Imagery

Fragments of Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Hubble Space Telescope is providing astronomers with extraordinary views of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3.

NASA · Public domain

Source archive ↗

Classification & origin

Class:Jupiter-Family Comets
Source reservoir:Scattered Disc

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

  • NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics

    Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.