What is the official comet designation of the Perseid parent comet in 2026?

The official designation of the Perseid parent comet is 109P/Swift–Tuttle.

The number 109 identifies it within the system used for periodic comets. The letter P indicates that astronomers classify it as a periodic comet, meaning its orbit is established and it returns to the inner Solar System on a comparatively predictable schedule. Swift–Tuttle is also known by the surnames of its two independent discoverers.

The designation matters because several famous comets are associated with different meteor showers. 55P/Tempel–Tuttle produces the Leonids, while 1P/Halley is linked to the Eta Aquariids and Orionids. The similar-looking names can cause confusion in astronomy quizzes and popular explanations.

The comet’s debris is distributed along its elongated orbit. Earth meets part of that stream every August, producing the Perseids even though the comet itself is usually far away. The annual shower is therefore a recurring encounter with old comet material, not a yearly return of 109P/Swift–Tuttle to Earth’s neighborhood.