Tempel-Tuttle Comet

astronomy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The Tempel-Tuttle comet is the parent body of the Leonid meteor shower, which occurs annually around November 17th. This comet has an orbital period of approximately 33 to 34 years. As the comet travels near the Sun, it heats up, causing its icy components to vaporize and release dust and grains. This debris forms a meteor stream along the comet's orbit. When Earth passes through this stream, a meteor shower is observed. The Leonid meteor shower is known for its spectacular displays, which can occur every 33 to 34 years, though the meteoroids are gradually dispersing along the comet's orbit.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

meteor shower
…period of its associated comet, Tempel-Tuttle), and occasional records of its appearances have been traced back to about ad 902. Since about 1945, radar observations have revealed meteor showers regularly occurring in the daylight sky, where they are invisible to the eye.
Read More
…period of its associated comet, Tempel-Tuttle), and occasional records of its appearances have been traced back to about ad 902. Since about 1945, radar observations have revealed meteor showers regularly occurring in the daylight sky, where they are invisible to the eye.
Read More