141P/Machholz

Comet 141P/Machholz or 141P/Machholz 2 is a Jupiter-family comet with an orbital period of 5.3 years. It was discovered by Donald Machholz on 13 August 1994. A few days after the discovery a number of condensations were found near the main component of the comet, indicating that the comet had fragmented between 1987 and 1989, during its previous perihelion.

== Observational history == The comet was discovered visually on 13 August 1994 by Donald E. Machholz, using a 0.25m reflector telescope. The comet then had an estimated apparent magnitude of 10. On 18 August 1994, Michael Jäger reported that a fragment was located 48 arcminutes northeast of the comet. Three more fragments were then found. The fragments were given the letters A to E, with A being the main component. Component D was found to be split in two on 5 October 1994, with the two components being 7 arcseconds apart. The fragments formed two groups; And B formed the southern group and C, D, and E formed the north group. A dust trail connected all the components. Fragment B faded rapidly in November 1994 while fragment D was observed during the 1999 apparition.