A short-period comet will complete its orbit in less than 200 years.

At least 8 dust trails - their source is thought to be short-period comets.

The accumulation of dust layers over time would change the physical character of the short-period comet.

For an Oort cloud object to become a short-period comet, it would first have to be captured by the giant planets.

"We think it's a member of the Kuiper belt, which is where the short-period comets come from."

This trans-Neptunian population is believed to be the source of many short-period comets.

It is estimated short-period comets remain active for about 10,000 years before having most of their ice sublimated away and going dormant.

Many short-period comets, including the centaurs, also orbit in this region.

These centaurs are then sent farther inward to become the short-period comets.

Due to a limited number of initial observations, it took more than a year to recognize this object as a short-period comet.