short-period comet

A short-period comet is a comet (Sun-orbiting object with a coma and possibly a tail) with an orbital period of no more than 200 years. (Those with periods of greater than 200 years are termed long-period comets.) Among the subtypes of short-period comets are: Encke-type comets with orbits not exceeding Jupiter's, Jupiter-family comets (JFCs) with periods under 20 years along with a low orbital inclination (less than 30° from the ecliptic), and Halley-type comets (HTCs) with periods of 20-200 years such as Comet Halley with its 76-year period. Sungrazing comets, comets that come within tens of thousands of kilometers of the Sun's photosphere include both long-period comets and short-period comets.