29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann
Also known as 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, 29P
Comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann–Wachmann 1, was discovered on November 15, 1927, by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann at the Hamburg Observatory in Bergedorf, Germany. It is well known for being observable throughout the whole orbit and having frequent outbursts. The most recent outbursts were in May 2025, December 2025, and February 2026. The comet came to opposition on 11 March 2026, and will come to aphelion on 30 September 2026. It crossed the celestial equator in late 2025 and is headed further into southern skies until April 2029 when it will have a de
Key facts
- Comet.name
- 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann
- Comet.image
- The Heart of a Centaur (iotw2149a).tiff
- Comet.caption
- 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann imaged by Gemini Observatory in 2021
- Comet.discoverer
- Arnold SchwassmannArno Arthur Wachmann
- Comet.discovery_site
- Hamburg Observatory
- Comet.discovery_date
- November 15, 1927
- Comet.mpc_name
- P/1902 E1; P/1927 V1
- Comet.designations
- 1908 IV; 1927 II; 1941 VI; 1957 IV; 1974 II; 1989 XV
- Comet.epoch
- January 1, 2023 (JD 2459945.5)
- Comet.observation_arc
- 13.83 years
- Comet.earliest_precovery_date
- 4 March 1902
- Comet.obs
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Discovery
- Orbit and physical properties
- Outbursts
- References
- External links
Comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann–Wachmann 1, was discovered on November 15, 1927, by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann at the Hamburg Observatory in Bergedorf, Germany. It is well known for being observable throughout the whole orbit and having frequent outbursts. The most recent outbursts were in May 2025, December 2025, and February 2026. The comet came to opposition on 11 March 2026, and will come to aphelion on 30 September 2026. It crossed the celestial equator in late 2025 and is headed further into southern skies until April 2029 when it will have a declination of −31.
== Discovery == It was discovered photographically, when the comet was in outburst and the magnitude was about 13. Precovery images of the comet from March 4, 1902, were found in 1931 and showed the comet at 12th magnitude.