http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-54344/Comets-Definition Half a million years is certainly longer than 200 years (the lower limit for a 'long-period' comet). Speculation: Perhaps the orbit must be known with precision, or it must return within a reasonable length of time with respect to human history? Going to wait for West to return, Dale? ;o) --- Dale Hooper <Dale.Hooper@sdl.usu.edu> wrote:
Comet West certainly was a beautiful one. I'm curious; wikipedia states that Comet West has an orbital period of ~558,000 years. So, why doesn't it have a periodic comet designation? i.e. XXX/P
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