| 74P/Smirnova–Chernykh | |
| Discoverer: | Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh |
| Discovery Date: | March 4, 1975 |
| Designations: | 1967 XV; 1975 VII; 1984 V; 1992 XXI |
| Epoch: | May 1, 2009 |
| Semimajor: | 4.173 AU |
| Perihelion: | 3.557 AU |
| Aphelion: | 4.790 AU |
| Eccentricity: | 0.1485 |
| Period: | 8.53 yr |
| Inclination: | 6.647° |
| Last P: | January 26, 2018[1] July 30, 2009[2] |
| Next P: | 2034-Jun-14 |
74P/Smirnova–Chernykh is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (TJupiter > 3; a < aJupiter), and is a Quasi-Hilda comet.[3] It was discovered in late March 1975 by Tamara Mikhajlovna Smirnova while examining exposures from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.[4] In the discovery images the comet had an apparent magnitude of ~15.[4] In the year of discovery, the comet came to perihelion on August 6, 1975.[4]
The comet had been photographed during 1967, but was identified as an asteroid and assigned the designation 1967 EU.[2]
The comet is estimated at 4.46 km in diameter, and currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter.[5]