96P/Machholz

Author(s): John van Vliet

Release date:

Last updated:

Comet Machholz 1, also known as 96P/Machholz, is a periodic sungrazing comet about 6.4 km in diameter, which completes one orbit around the Sun every 5.29 years. Its unusual composition compared to other comets led some scientists to theorize it was a former interstellar object captured by the Sun. It is the third comet discovered by astronomer Donald Machholz

Artist's impression of what the nucleus of 96P/Machholz might look like

Comet 96P/Machholz as seen by the STEREO-A spacecraft

Help us translate this page here.

Open in Celestia (Recommended) or Download

How to install add-ons? Find out here.