What orbital period duration defines a comet as a short-period comet?
Answer
Less than 200 years
Comets are classified based on how long it takes them to orbit the Sun. Those designated as short-period comets are characterized by relatively quick returns, completing a full revolution around the Sun in a period shorter than 200 years. These types of comets typically originate from the Kuiper Belt and tend to follow orbits that are more circular and remain closer to the plane where the major planets reside, known as the ecliptic.
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