169P/NEAT

169P/NEAT is a periodic comet discovered on July 29, 2002, by the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) program. This program, conducted at Palomar Observatory in California, is designed to search for near-Earth objects, including asteroids and comets. The "169P" designation indicates that it is the 169th periodic comet to be officially numbered.

The comet's orbital period is approximately 7.3 years. During its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun), it comes relatively close to Earth's orbit, making it a target for observation by both professional and amateur astronomers. Observations of 169P/NEAT have been used to study its composition, activity, and orbital characteristics. Its nucleus is relatively small compared to some other comets. As with other comets, it exhibits cometary activity, producing a coma and sometimes a tail as it approaches the Sun, due to the sublimation of volatile materials like ice. Understanding the behavior and evolution of comets like 169P/NEAT is important for studying the formation and early history of the solar system.