Comet Kohoutek (C/1973 E1)

A comet discovered in 1973, well in advance of its perihelion passage, when it was near the orbit of Jupiter. Suggestions that it would prove spectacular turned out to be incorrect. However, it was subject to an extensive, coordinated professional observing programme, which included observations from the orbiting laboratory Skylab. Much new information about comets was obtained, including the first direct proof of the presence of silicates in the dust tail of a comet.