Infrared: Encke and its dust trail
Comet
Comet Encke
Comet Encke is a comet. It is about 5 km across – about as wide as Lake Zurich is long. At 3.3 years, Encke has the shortest orbital period of all known bright comets.
Fact file
- Type
- Comet
- Diameter of the nucleus
- 4.8 km
- Mean distance from the Sun
- 332,107,273 km
- Orbital period
- 3.3 years
- Shape of orbit (eccentricity)
- 0.848 – a very elongated ellipse
- Closest point to the Sun
- passed on 22 October 2023
Interesting facts about Comet Encke
- At 3.3 years, Encke has the shortest orbital period of all known bright comets.
- After Halley, it was only the second comet whose return could be calculated (Johann Franz Encke, 1819).
- Its dust gives us the shooting stars of the Taurids in autumn.
Frequently asked questions about Comet Encke
How long does Comet Encke take to orbit the Sun?
Comet Encke orbits the Sun once in about 3.3 years.
Origin
Encke has been on its short orbit for a very long time and has lost a lot of ice – it is an “old” comet.
Coma and tail
It loses more material every time it passes close to the Sun, so its tail is rather faint.
Exploration
In 2007 NASA's STEREO probe filmed the solar wind tearing off its tail – and the tail growing back.
Connection with Earth
At its closest point to the Sun, Encke comes nearer to the Sun than Mercury.
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