96P/Machholz
Also known as 1986 J2; 1986 VIII; 1991 XII
Comet 96P/Machholz, also known as Machholz 1 is a periodic sunskirting comet discovered on 12 May 1986, by amateur astronomer Donald Machholz on Loma Prieta peak, in central California using binoculars. On 6 June 1986, 96P/Machholz passed from the Earth. 96P/Machholz last came to perihelion on January 31, 2023. The comet has an estimated diameter of around .
Key facts
- Comet.name
- 96P/Machholz
- Comet.image
- 96P 20070403 000500 HI1A.png
- Comet.caption
- Comet Machholz 1 as seen by the STEREO-A spacecraft in April 2007
- Comet.discoverer
- Donald E. Machholz
- Comet.discovery_site
- Loma Prieta, California
- Comet.discovery_date
- 12 May 1986
- Comet.mpc_name
- P/1986 J2
- Comet.epoch
- 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
- Comet.observation_arc
- 38.17 years
- Comet.obs
- 1,559
- Comet.aphelion
- 5.946 AU
- Comet.semimajor
- 3.031 AU
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Orbit
- Perihelion
- Observations
- 2001/02 perihelion
- 2007 perihelion
- 2012 perihelion
- 2017 perihelion
- 2023 perihelion
- Unusual composition
- Notes
- References
- External links
Comet 96P/Machholz, also known as Machholz 1 is a periodic sunskirting comet discovered on 12 May 1986, by amateur astronomer Donald Machholz on Loma Prieta peak, in central California using binoculars. On 6 June 1986, 96P/Machholz passed from the Earth. 96P/Machholz last came to perihelion on January 31, 2023. The comet has an estimated diameter of around .
This comet is the parent body of both the Kracht and Marsden sungrazer families.