Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 orbits the sun every 1,990 days (5.45 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 5.21 AU from the sun.
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 has 1 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 11, 2070 | 18,091,450 | 11.921 |
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 13, 2016. It was last officially observed on Feb. 15, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 512 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.