9P/Tempel

9P/Tempel is a periodic comet that orbits the Sun roughly every 5.7 years. It’s composed of ice, dust, and rock, which vaporize as it approaches the Sun, creating a glowing coma and a tail. Named after the astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Leberecht Tempel, it’s notable for its predictable orbit and visibility from Earth during close approaches. Observing 9P/Tempel helps scientists study the composition of early Solar System materials and the behavior of comets as they travel through space.