| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | N. R. Pogson |
| Discovery date | 3 December 1872 |
| Designations | |
| "Pogson's Comet" | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Perihelion | 0.0637 AU[1] |
| Eccentricity | 1.0 |
| Inclination | 148.44° |
| Last perihelion | 16 December 1872 |
| Physical characteristics | |
X/1872 X1, occasionally referred to as "Pogson's Comet", was a probable cometary astronomical object seen from Madras (now Chennai) on December 3 and 4, 1872, by astronomer N. R. Pogson.
Pogson believed the object to be the lost Comet Biela, but subsequent orbital calculations have suggested that this was unlikely.[2] Neither Biela's Comet nor Pogson's object have been recovered since, and the episode remains one of the most puzzling in solar system astronomy.