Comet Ikeya-Zhang
Comet Ikeya-Zhang is a periodic comet that passed near Earth in 2002.
Ikeya-Zhang on April 1, 2002
Credit: Philipp Salzgeber
Facts About Comet Ikeya-Zhang:
- This comet has the longest known orbit of any periodic comet (366.5 years).
- It came close to Earth in March 2002, and was the brightest comet since 1997.
- It was probably observed in 1661 by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius, and possibly by Chinese astronomers the same year.
Classification: Comet (orbiting Sun)
Names: Comet Ikeya-Zhang, 153P/Ikeya-Zhang
Discovered: 2002 by Chinese astronomer Zhang Daqing and Japanese astronomer Kaoru Ikeya (independently).